The Romance Reviews

The Romance Reviews

Monday, April 30, 2012

Pick Me Up Monday


Happy Monday! Hope this gets you off to a great week.

I am pleased to announce the winner of my Spring Fling Blog hop is Desi the Blonde. She won a copy of Passion's Flight. Congrats Desi and happy reading.

I took the weekend off from the usual which is writing, writing and more writing. Twice a year I get with some good friends of mine who have the same passion as I do for Renaissance Fairs. My guild's name is Jade Skye Isle and I want to thank them for letting a sporadic member of their guild come out and play last weekend. For three days I get to be another person. As a Privateer I am allowed to harass the paying patrons of Fair. The great thing is, they love the harassment. Even when I threaten to sell them for livestock!
 I had a wonderful time and my muse in now fully charged and ready to go.

This week I have Karen Gerrard as my guest this Thursday so be sure to stop by and say hi to this prolific writer.
I am finishing up The Knights Druid and have started the third and final installment of the Knights of Excalibur series. I also am just about ready to start on Zeke's book in the Dark Breed series.  I'll have more on that later.

Well now that I'm back and things are getting back to normal it's time to get to writing!
Have a blessed week and I'll see you next Monday.


Friday, April 27, 2012

Special Spotlight Presentation - Leigh Savage


I am please to bring you a very special Author I was lucky enough to find in one of my Facebook writing groups. In doing my research I found her books on the very top of my TBR pile. I'm looking forward to reading her work and I know you will be as happy as I am to find such a treasure.
To make it even better she is giving away an autographed Copy of her first novel in the Vampire Series Angel of Death.
                      Entering to win is easy.  Simply leave a comment below on my blog and she will announce the winner on May 1st


 


Angel of Death

Description:  The task at hand? Save the elder vampires from the plague of "the endless sleep." As a hired assassin, Mika Shadow knows not to let emotions get in the way. Given her skills and gifts, she's known as the Chosen One amongst her people. During her mission to steal the formula for anti-aging, and the elixir of life for the vampires, Mika finds herself facing the kidnappers who shattered her world as a young girl and abducted her from her mother. Her past comes roaring back to life! As she is dealing with those demons, Mika also finds herself falling for her target. She only has four strict rules for selecting a mission or dismissing it. The fourth and final one - No emotions allowed - falls flat the minute she meets Domonic.


Excerpt:  His body seemed to be drawing closer to her instead of backing away. She was more beautiful than he could have imagined. Her skin was so pale and flawless against her raven black hair that she seemed as if she didn't belong in this world. He stared into those emerald eyes that shimmed and glowed. Her eyes reminded him of something he just could not place his finger on. Her tongue traced her lips giving him the urge to trace those lips with his own tongue. He drug his eyes off her lips and back to those beautiful eyes and that's when it hit him. Her eyes reminded him of cat's eyes that glowed in the night. The he noticed that anger flashed in her eyes, the most deadly sort. But that was impossible; she was far too beautiful to be dangerous.



Shadows of my Past


Description:  Visions of death, sorrow, and anguish are common for Desi while working with the St. Louisville Police Department as a consultant in tracking down kidnappers and murders. However, a single touch from Barcuilai and her visions were of another time and place. Why then was the man in her visions standing right in front of her in the present? Desi wasn't sure how to handle these visions of sorrow that she saw when she touched Barcuilai. They troubled her in a way that made her feel as if her very soul was being torn apart. She wanted to flee; just as much as she wanted to erase the pain from his golden eyes. Together Barcuilai and Desi could not deny the connection they felt for one another. Will Barcuilai find love once more only to lose it again when Desi becomes the target of the very serial killers she's helping the police track down or will Desi just become another shadow of his past?


Excerpt:  Desi was staring into the depths of emotion reflected in his eyes.  She felt drawn to him as if an invisible force was pulling their bodies closer together.  She was suddenly aware of her lips being dry and her tongue darted out to moisten them.  She was aware of the hunger and desire that rose up in the depths of his eyes as he gazed at her trembling lips.  She wanted to run to safety but she couldn’t bring herself to move.  She had the feeling of being stared down by a hungry wolf only he didn’t want to gobble her up but devour her heart and soul. 
     Then his lips touched hers softly at first as if to ask permission for his touch.  When she didn’t pull away he deepened the kiss taking full possession of her mouth.  Branding her body, heart and soul so that she knew that she was his and his alone; she knew she’d never be the same again.  Every rational thought left her mind as heat flooded her body. 

You can buy Angel of Death and Shadows of my Past at….







Now get comfy and meet Author Leigh Savage

Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write?   Yes, I love to have music playing softly in the background…

 Which authors inspire your writing?  There are so many to name a few…my late Father Kain Savage, Christine Feehan, Heather Graham, Laurell K. Hamilton and so many more.

What is your favorite book, character and why?  Phantom by Susan Kay…I’ve always had a fondness of the story of Phantom of the Opera and wanted to know more about this troubled tortured soul…Susan takes you through the life of the Phantom from a unwanted child that’s a genius and takes you through is life merging with the original storyline of his obsession with Christine.  It’s a beautifully haunting love story.

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet?  I prefer to write erotic…if it doesn’t make me want to attach my husband then it’s not written hot enough J

Which famous person, living or dead, are you drawn to?  I’m very drawn to Marilyn Monroe as well as Vivien Leigh they were both very talented actresses but very troubled in their personal lives and often struggled with spells of depression.


Where do you see yourself in five years?  Hopefully still writing the books that I love just with more readers J  

Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when…I’m on an Author Panel in a Conference and not sitting in the audience?

What advice would you give aspiring writers?  First this may sound like a broken record but it rings true is to never give up.  My second bit of advice is to promote, promote and promote some more…no one is going to sell your story better than you.

 What do you see yourself writing in the future?  I have 3 projects in the works right now…   
    Dream Dragon the Dark Side of Poetry coming soon!
            Surrender to the Night (Novella a Prequel to Angel of Death) unknown release date
            Embrace of the Immortal (Book 3 of my Vampire Series) unknown release date

If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?  I’d like to be able to shape shift because being able to turn into a eagle and fly or turn into a wolf and run free in the woods would be freeing.

What time of the day are you at your best to write?  Night Time is when I do my best writing.


And now for something completely different…


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

Explain your perfect day?  I have always wanted to have a day at the spa, be pampered from head to toe and for that single day not have to worry about cooking, cleaning or anything else except for relaxing. 

What is the most decadent desert you can’t say no to?  Chocolate covered strawberries and Cheesecake  

Do you have a favorite holiday what is it and what makes it special to you?  Christmas, my children make it special for me seeing them with wonder in their eyes on Christmas morning is a peaceful beautiful thing.

What key words describe you best?  Dark

Follow Leigh Savage: 





 
 
 

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Author Spotlights Sandy Nachlinger and Sandra Allen -I.O.U.SEX

I am ecstatic to bring not one but two awesome authors to my blog today. They will be talking about their latest release which sounds very scrumptious. Thank you both for coming over to the dark side. Lol! Don't worry my reader's only nibble.


After I.O.U. SEX was published, readers asked us where we came up with the idea for the book. Here’s what the two of us have to say about that: Blame it on a teenager’s diary!

   
Sandy Nachlinger
Sandra Allen
                  
                                                                                            

Actually, we could say it started when we met at Stockard Junior High School in Dallas, Texas, back in the 1960s. We went to the same high school too, and our friendship continued to grow. We have remained the best of friends ever since, staying in touch over the years through snail-mail letters, phone calls, emails, and visits back and forth whenever possible. Now one of us lives in Washington State (Sandy N.) and the other (Sandra A.) lives in North Texas.

Several years ago, on one of Sandy N.’s visits to North Texas, she brought her high school diary to share—just for laughs. We thought the entries were hilarious! As we read the pages, we giggled, guffawed, and gasped for breath until tears ran down our cheeks. Every time we’d read about making out with our boyfriends at the drive-in movies—while we still remained good girls, of course—we’d crack up all over again. How frustrated those poor guys must have been! Were we really so goody-goody back then? We speculated about what our first high school loves might be doing these days.

Since we’re both avid readers, it didn’t take long before we decided that the search for old boyfriends would make an excellent plot for a book. And so we wrote it, and I.O.U. SEX was born!

People also ask us, “Which one are you? June, Kiki, or Peggy?” They want to know if the characters or events in I.O.U. SEX are based on our own lives, circumstances, or experiences. We promise, the only things that came straight from the diary’s pages were the places—Dallas, Austin’s Barbeque, the Dairy Queen, and the drive-in movie theaters we went to during our teenage years. (OK. Sure. We do admit we made out with our boyfriends.) We even gave the high school a fictitious name. The characters and plot were the direct result of our warped brains and creative imaginations. Besides, neither of us would be brave (or foolish) enough to hunt down our old boyfriends. Would we?

Here’s a more recent photo of us.



                    So now that you know the inside scoop, here’s the synopsis of I.O.U. Sex.


What happens when three women, friends since high school days in Dallas, decide to search for old boyfriends decades later? That’s the plot of I.O.U. SEX.

When June, Kiki, and Peggy graduated from high school, all three of them were still virgins. After all, they were good girls. Years later, when the three women read June’s diary from their senior year, they joke about the sexual frustration they caused their steady boyfriends back then. That’s when Kiki makes a startling statement. “When you think about it, and I’m only trying to be fair, we owe those guys sex.” With bawdy jabs and tipsy laughter, they vow to track down their old boyfriends and just DO IT, which is something they definitely did NOT do years before.

Lives intertwined, the three friends share their quests with sexy, poignant, and sometimes hilarious results. Is each woman’s sexual I.O.U. paid in full? Will everyone get what he or she deserves? Or is this just another one of Kiki’s crazy ideas?

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment below, and we’ll enter you to win an eBook copy of I.O.U. SEX. If you’d like to tell us what became of your old high school boyfriend, we promise we won’t question your judgment in dating him, let anyone else know, or laugh about it. Okay, perhaps we’ll laugh, but at least you won’t hear us.

I.O.U. SEX is available in eBook and paperback formats:


Smashwords (various formats): http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/51464

We’d love for you to follow our blog too:  http://iousex.blogspot.com/

Monday, April 23, 2012

Spring Flight Blog Fest Paranormal Romance and Wines!



This Blog is right up my alley! Not only do I read and write Paranormal Romance's but I love wine. I think being raised in a French family and living near a winery in California has a lot to do with that. I dearly love my hometown winery Corbet Canyon Vineyard located on the Central Coast of California. If you are not sure where the Central Coast  is it's about an hour north of Santa Barbara. It's truly a beautiful area and if you ever get the chance I strongly encourage anyone to visit.


Now, to the good stuff. I'm giving away a copy of my newest release. The second novel in the Dark Breed Series, Passion's Flight. All you need to do is leave me a comment on this blog. I will be picking the winner on Saturday 4/28 through Random Number. Org and my contest is open to US, Canada and Internationally too!
 Good Luck and now, here is a little about the book.

BLURB:

Tegan Murin has his hands full these days. Feral attacks are increasing, targeting humans, and now he is ordered to find and destroy a deadly artifact known as Oman’s Seal, deal with his estranged step-father and find a missing archaeologist. He’s a bit irritable. Add into the mix a recurring dream of one sexy seductress leading him to his death… well, you get one very pissed off were-panther.
Kyra Navarone is more than what she seems. Escaping from the Ferals who captured her, she ends up running into a brooding, irritating man who makes her blood run hot just with one look. Her life depends on the betrayal of this compelling man, but how can she live with herself afterward?
More than their lives hang in the balance. In order to survive they must learn to trust one another before the world they know and the one hidden beneath the waves are destroyed forever.
 EXCERPT:
   His gaze caught once again on her face as she stopped at arm’s length away from him. Her eyes, he noted slanted up at an exotic angle enhancing a heart shaped face. Her nose was small, straight with a small upturn at the tip and her lips, Gods those lips were made for a man to kiss! Full and pale pink, he had the sudden urge to see if they were as soft and lush as they looked.
“You are different from the others,” she stated it as fact in a husky voice, filling his mind with all kinds of lecherous ideas.
“Yeah, I’ve been accused of that before,” he replied giving her a slow smile.
Her arched brows angled down in a frown. “No, I mean I think you are here for me.”
“Any other time, sweetheart, but this is hardly the place for a conversation. We need to get out of here fast before some real bad guys come back here.”
“Yes, it is not safe here. You must go,” she agreed turning to head back into the forest.
He quickly grabbed her arm turning her to face him. “Whoa there, no way am I leaving you alone, lady. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
She pulled back from him. Her voice brushed over him like velvet, yet her words rang with steel. “I am quite capable of taking care of myself. Just get out of here now. I will not be the cause of more deaths.”
“I know how to handle myself, so don’t worry your pretty little head about it,” he purred, giving her his best seductive smile.
He watched those gorgeous eyes narrow with irritation at him. “My pretty little head? You just didn’t say that to me did you? Of course you didn’t. Because if you did that would mean I was dealing with a real imbecile. No, I take that back. I would be talking to a chauvinistic, egomaniacal jerk who had the IQ of a rock.”
“Wow, a rock huh?” His eyes narrowed, all thoughts sexual dissolving in an instant, “Who the hell are you, lady?” He felt his temper rise, never a good sign when his cat prowled just under his skin.. “I’ve been called worse things in my life, and though I would love to stand here and argue with you, I just don’t have that kind of time, so if you don’t mind, move your ass.”
“I have never met a more disagreeable person in all of my life,” she huffed.
“That life will be very short and painful if we don’t get the hell out of her. Now!”
“I just so happen to know this area very well and I don’t need to be saved,” she snapped back at his abruptness. Moving swiftly away from the burning bodies and out to the main path. They walked for some time in a strained silence stretching between them, tension spiking between them until she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Are you always this… exasperating?”
“Baby, that’s my middle name,” he drawled. “Now get that pretty little ass moving.”
“Do you have to use such base language? Honestly, it shows a lack of intelligence.” she grumbled as he marched her out of the settlement to a small overgrown trail.
“Didn’t your mama ever tell you it’s dangerous to judge a book by its cover? It may just take your head off,” he advised dryly picking up the pace. “By the way, do you have a name or should I just call you pain in the ass?”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re a jerk?”
“Every minute of every day.” He chuckled. “Your name?”
She huffed out an irritated breath. “I am Doctor Navarone, Kyra to my friends, which by the way you are not.”
Don't forget to check all the great participants and enter for you chance to win!



Sunday, April 22, 2012

Sunday Snippits


Here is a hot hunk for the Hunky Hero's Blog Hop that just ended. Humm, I wonder what he is thinking? It sure don't look like he's working out a shopping list Lol!

I am pleased to announce the winner of the Hunky Heros Blog Hop Giveaway is Krysykat. She just won a PDF of Dark Passion Rising. Congratulations Krysykat and I hope you enjoy the book.
I am gearing up for another Blog Hop this one is the Spring Fling Blog Hop starting tomorrow and  goes through Friday 4/27. I will be giving away a PDF of Passion's Flight. The second Dark Breed novel. Also this week I have a very talented pair of Authors on my Thursday Authors Spotlight and a very special Spotlight this Friday showcasing the extraordinary talent of Author Leigh Savage so be sure to check in this week.

Now I'm off to put the finishing touches on the second novella of the Knights of Excalibur titled The Knight's Druid. This one is quite hot and I am very excited to get it out to you this summer. More on it's release later.

Since I won't be doing Pick Me Up Monday on the 23rd have a great week and my regular post will be coming next week.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Author Spotlights Michael Taylor

Welcome friends, I'm happy to introduce you to a very talented Author I'm sure you will love to put on your list to read Michael Taylor. Thanks Michael for being here today and sharing a bit of your book and yourself with us today.


BLURB:

"One night, seven teenagers wake completely alone and in the dark. Their parents are gone, and it seems everyone on earth has disappeared as well. Worse, the electricity is off. Surrounded by darkness, their differences no longer matter; they are the sole survivors of an alien attack and the last hope for humanity. But in the black of night, can they outrun the hulking creatures with the glowing red eyes?
Priya is the exotic girl who says what she thinks. Will was a star athlete before the attack. They find Trevor and Aiyana, the twins; Alex and Ricardo, the tough guys; and finally, Lindsey, the innocent. Together, the seven of them are the last humans on earth—but are they really humans at all? They have no idea that the government has known of the incoming alien attack for decades; to prepare they created special children with very special abilities.
The chosen seven are part alien and part human, and they exist to fight off the otherworldly forces, threatening to conquer the planet. But with such differing personalities, will the seven be able to put their pride be-hind and work together? They must move beyond the grief of lost friends and family and find the strength to go on; if they don’t, the world will die, taken over by monstrous creatures that can smell your fear."
Sounds like a good read to me and it made me very curious to know more about the writer behind Survival of the Fittest.
Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write?

I listen to ambient music.  Usually something dark or sad.

 Which authors inspire your writing?

I’m inspired by Terry Trueman, Neal Shusterman, and Scott Kenemore

What is your favorite book, character and why?

My favorite book is Zombie, Ohio.  I love the main character Kenemore created because he told the story through the POV of the zombie.  It was nice to read a story that exits the fight to live for humans and read something that shows what a zombie might be thinking.

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet?

Neither.  But I do include sweetness between my characters who fall in love.

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

Henry David Thoreau.  If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I think I’m him.  I know that sounds strange, but Walden felt as though I had written it.  Our feelings seem to be exactly the same.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I will continue to teach, it’s what I love.  I will still be writing because that’s my passion.  So, look for more from me in the future.

Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when_______________?
Someone tells me they loved my book.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Never give up.  Follow your dream.

What do you see yourself writing in the future?

Some fantasy, some zombie-type works, and some highly dystopian society pieces.

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

True magic.  I would love to be able to zap things up, create new things, disappear, anything that magic would allow me to do.  Think Bewitched (Elizabeth Montgomery).

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

Early evening.


And now for something completely different…

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

Face.

Explain your perfect day.

Any day in Reno, Nevada.  It’s the MOST BEAUTIFUL place on Earth.

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

Anything chocolate.

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

I’m not big on holidays.

What key words describe you best?

Hardworking, funny, dark, sad, lonely

Monday, April 16, 2012

Hunky Heros Giveaway Blog Hop


Whoot! Naturally I had to get into this yummy giveaway. Riverina Romantics, I must say knows how to put on a proper Giveaway Hop. I'm giving one lucky commenter a chance to with the first book in my Dark Breed Series Dark Passion Rising. Just leave me a comment and I will pick the winner at the end of the hop through Random Number. Be sue to check out all the wonderful authors and great giveaways.

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.


Excerpt:
Her eyes widened in horror as she took a shaky step backward.
“Oh, God.  This isn’t happening.  It can’t be real.  Werewolves don’t exist.”
     “Believe me, they do exist.  Denying what you have seen will be foolish and dangerous, for you and everyone you’re around.”
     “No.  I don’t believe this.  I won’t believe it.  There has to be some logical explanation for what I saw.”  The sharp edge of hysteria rose in her voice.  “I will not turn into a dog.   I don’t even like dogs.”
     That made him smile despite the seriousness of the situation.  She was absolutely adorable and he was in deep shit because of it.  Yet, he couldn’t seem to make himself care. “Wolf, not dog.  You were bitten by a Lycan, not Lassie.”


Sunday, April 15, 2012

Spotlight on Melisse Aires

Refugees on Urloon--Meet My Hero!   Thanks for hosting me!
My new release is a scifi romance set on an exotic waterworld planet.
Captain Liam Ringel: Mid forties, tall, thin but strong, overgrown iron gray streaked black hair. Some ancient Terran Asian ancestry.
Captain Liam Ringel has been in the Confederated Worlds military since his teens. His affluent family sent him to the best military academy at the start of the Asha Rebellion. The war against the Asha rebels has lasted since his teens. Now he is the much decorated instructor at the elite Military Academy, teaching young men and women from wealthy and powerful families throughout the Confederation. Their training vessel gets to observe the Asha Armada as a new and powerful weapon is deployed. The backlash of the weapon hurls the small training ship through a wormhole, into deep space. 
 BLURB:
Two weary refugees, two moons and a life-changing fertility festival. 
Watch out for a whole lot of sensuality. Under normal circumstances, Svana, non-military maintenance crew, and Captain Liam Ringel, a highly respected military instructor, would never have crossed paths. A sudden anomaly, however, thrusts them into deep space where they are rescued by the inhabitants of an exotic and isolated waterworld, Urloon. 
With no rescue forthcoming, the refugees can choose between adapting to the sea or farming the land. Svana is saddened when her budding friendship with Liam changes due to their different choices. However, when they are invited to an alien fertility festival, the Moonfest, they are given the opportunity to create a memory that will impact and intertwine both their futures. 
WARNING: Alien fertility festival, aurora lights, dancing alien beasts, body paints and hot pheromones. M/F Sensual.
You can read Liam's story in Refugees On Urloon,
*Lyrical Press*  http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=511


Amazon http://tinyurl.com/Refugeesamzn
ARe* http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-refugeesonurloon-771355-143.html
Fictionwise*
http://tinyurl.com/Refugeesfctnwise
More information can be found on my   Refugees On Urloon Celebration Blog Tour! http://melisseaires.blogspot.com/2012/04/refugees-on-urloon-april-celebration.html Melisse Aires