The Romance Reviews

The Romance Reviews

Monday, July 29, 2013

Pick Me Up Monday - Wolverine My All Time Hero

Happy Monday!
 
Wolverine Opened July 26th and no, I haven't been able to see it yet, but you can bet I won't let this pass me by.
 
Well, it's been quite a busy time for me with the release of Dark Hunter on the 17th I've been all over the blogosphere, with the help of some wonderful authors. Today I'm over at Carlene Love Flores blog, Tuesday is a quick jog to Elyzabeth Valey's site. Then on the 31st join me at Author Island for my Cyber Launch Party where I will be holding a giveaway!
On August 1st you can find me on the lovely and talented Doris O'Connor's Blog. Whew! And the wonderful craziness keeps coming!
 
To recap last weeks Author spotlights/giveaways I want to congratulate Mary Preston who won a copy of Douglas Blacks new release A Secret Love.

Carlene Love Flores decided she couldn't pick just one winner and gave every commenter a copy of her release Sin's Flower. Thank both of you for your generosity. I'm sure all my readers appreciate not only the gift, but getting to know you both better.

Now what's up in my writing world? I'm getting close to completing Soul Fire so it will soon be in edit mode. Dark Desire is coming along at a fast clip and my Christmas story is developing very nicely also. Looks like I'm on a roll and am enjoying the ride, letting my muse take the front seat while I just write it down as quickly as I can. If things keep up as they are I will have made my New Years Eve Resolution of four published works this year, plus one extra!

Well, best get back to it. Have a wonderful week and we will talk again on Monday. I might just sneak in a few hours with my favorite hero ever. Wolverine here I come!


Thursday, July 25, 2013

Author Spotlight on Shyla Colt and her new Purgatory Series

I'm happy to present to you a great talent and someone I'm lucky to call friend. Shyla Colt's work can only be described as addicting. When you pick up one of her books you better be ready not to put it down. Her characters reach out from the pages and suck you in. I was thrilled when she accepted my invitation to introduce her newest series here. It, no doubt will be a big hit with anyone who reads it. Now here's Shyla, I know she will captivate you as quickly as she did me.
 
Keys to Heaven,
I want to thank Shannan for allowing me to stop by and talk about my release, Keys to Heaven. When I started to write this one I had the concept of an angel and a devil, A sassy, smart mouthed, witty, and rebellious heroine. Heavenleigh is a fighter. But she has to be because as the product of an angel and a demon she never really fit in. When I started to write something clicked and the words just flow. There’s something I love, truly love, in each of my stories. It’s what sets them apart in my mind. With this one it has to be the banter. The conversation between the characters charmed me. I know it sounds funny because I’m the writer. But as the story unveils I’m experiencing it for the first time too.
This isn’t your average angel story, and it’s my hope you’ll enjoy it.
 
Blurb:
Born to a fallen angel and a demon, Heavenleigh Spirit has never truly fit in. Shunned, tested, and ridiculed, she’s hardened her heart, building a wall around her none are allowed to scale. Carving a life for herself running the neutral bar, Purgatory, she caters to all things winged , clawed, and other. Provided they play nice. When she breaks her middle of the road stance to rescue a newly fallen angel she gets more than she bargained for.

The amnesic angel awakes in the bed of the only woman he’s ever lusted after with nothing more than the knowledge he was sent to protect her. Struggling to remember who he is, and why she’s in danger, he fully embraces the passion between them that blazes hotter than hell fire. When the truth about his mission comes out he must fight to convince herthe love they share is real, and he’s not going anywhere.

In an ironic twist of fate the woman cast aside for a birthright she never asked for holds the keys to the worlds ruin or salvation.
 
Excerpt:
For the first time he saw past her carefree façade. Her eyes darkened and she shook her head. “I don’t see long term in the cards for someone like me.”


“Like you?” He shook his head. What does that mean?
“Let’s just say I’m the kind of different most people can’t handle.” She rinsed of her plate, back ramrod straight as she avoided looking at him.

“What if I want to try?” The words stunned them both. Where did that come from?

“You can’t even remember your name Angel Man.” Sorrow tinged her voice, and she shook her head.

“And yet I remember you.” Acting on instinct he pressed her into the sink, placing both arms on either side of her body. He bent down buried his nose into her silky, soft, hair and inhaled. She smelled like floral musk. “I know I’ve spent days wondering how you’d smell, and if you hair would be as soft as feather down.” He nudged her hair away with his nose and nuzzled her neck. “How you’d taste.” Her breath caught. He ground his erection into her firm ass. “I’ve whiled away hours dreaming of being inside you, so much that now when I don’t even know anything about myself you remain the vibrant, sexy, center my world orbits around.”

“Jesus Angel man, you went from clueless to seducer in zero to sixty.”

“I get the feeling I’ve never done this before ,so I’m glad I’m doing it right.” His voice shook. Being here with her like this was his birthday and Christmas rolled into one. She leaned back, wound her arms around his neck and purred.


“How about I break you in nice and proper and we figure the rest out later.
Her voice was liquid sex. He couldn’t ignore it had he wanted to.

“I was trying so hard to be a good girl and let you go unscathed, but then you lay this secret admirer bit on me.” Her lips puckered into a pout.

“Every word is true.”
She turned her head to peer at him over her shoulder. Her eyes glowed amber mixed with red.
“I know you aren’t human and I’m fine with that… I get the feeling I’m not either.”
“Angel Man I’m going to take you for a ride you’ll never forget.”
His cock twitched. Lighting fast reflexes had her spun in his arms, her full breast pressed against his chest. “I wouldn’t have it either other way.” Breathless with anticipation he stood stock still.

“Don’t just stand there, lift me up.” Her whispered words tickled his ear. He gripped her thighs and lifted her up onto the counter beside the sink. Moving between the long legs she spread wide, he groaned. The heady scent of her arousal filled his nostrils, and her heat practically singed him. Her eyes burned the strange amber-red that gave him butterflies.

“I need to know if you’re as tempting as you smell.” He flicked his tongue out to caress the seam of her lips, she opened her mouth and he slipped inside. Surrounded by the taste of sweet syrup and Heaven Leigh his head swam. Her nails dug into his back and their tongues battled. He gripped her hips squeezing tight as he used her as his anchor. His heart swelled, threatening to overflow with heady emotions he could barley wrap his healing brain around. More than an object of lust, or infatuation, this woman was a lifelong dream fulfilled.

She pried her lips from his. “Bed now!” Her husky command called him to attention like a general as she wrapped her legs around him. He lifted her from the counter. Their lips met again and he stumbled down the hall, collapsing on to the bed with her in his lap. “Oh!” She ground in to him rolling her hips into his lap, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood. Her tongue caressed the wound and he watched transfixed as she swallowed taking a part of him inside her, a prelude to the act to come. Her body shook. “You burn so good going down, like whiskey.” Tilting her head she offered up her neck. “Want a taste?”
A feral impulse rose, from a dark, and possessive place. Clamping down on her skin until he drew blood he lapped the wound. The thick liquid singed his tongue and his throat and he growled. When he pulled away the wound healed like magic. An image of black wings flashed in his mind. Fairy?

She placed a hand on the center of his chest, pushed him down and bent down to graze his lips with hers. “How about I take the reins this time?”

Mute he nodded.
“First thing we need to do is get these clothes off you. I want to see the goods.” She winked and he laughed at her sassiness.
“I want to see you.”
A devilish smile showcased two dimples on either side of her face. “Then that’s what you’ll get. Scoot to the end of the bed.”
He complied and she stood from the bed. Power swept through the room and music sounded. The raw, edgy rift of a guitar rent the air, followed by the low thrumming of bass. Heavenleigh’s hips swayed. Eyes closed she was one with the rhythm, interpreting the lyrics with her body. Clutching the edge of her shirt she pulled it over her head, barring her pink bra with black skulls. Her breasts were high and firm, and her waist was trim where it dipped in before swelling out into hips he wanted to wrap his fingers around. The urge to mar her skin with his mark burned bright in his belly. He gripped the sheets below him, licking his lips as she unbuttoned her skirt, hooked her thumbs in the side, and swiveled her hips making love to the air Saliva filled his mouth. She pushed the denim down and revealed a set of fishnet underwear with pink bows on the side, and he did his best not to drool all over himself.

Strutting over she sat in his lap facing him. She ground her hips to the music, reached behind her and popped the bra. The reveal of the caramel mounds sent him over the edge. Darting forward he sucked a dime size, nipple into his mouth.

She moaned, dug her fingers into his hair, and arched her back. “Don’t forget the twin, she’s mighty lonely.” Heeding her advice he moved his hand up to massage her right breast, alternating between them both. Wetness escaped her panties and soaked the front of his pants.

“Bite them Angel Man. I like to be handled with a rough touch.” He bit down on the beaded tip and she gasped.
 
Interested in Reading more?
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Where you can find her
 


Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Wicked Scavenger Hunt - Spend the day on the dark side



Welcome to the dark side. Where sexy, dark and oh so yummy supernatural's  go bump in the night. I'm not talking about stumbling into furniture either! If you have a taste for all things paranormal I'm your gal. Without further delay here is my question for you to answer.


 
Look around my blogsite for an October reader event, it shouldn't be too hard to find. What, you may ask am I doing for the giveaway? I'm sending the lucky winner an autographed copy of my book Dark Passion Rising. The first book in my Dark Breed Enforcer Series. Nothing better to prime you for the second book Passion's Flight and just released Dark Hunter novella. Here is a small teaser for Dark Passion Rising.
 
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 Yeah. 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:
Tambra gave him an incredulous look.  “Are you telling me I am turning into a…a dog?” She jumped up, pulling the comforter around her, and headed for the door.  “Look buddy, I don’t know what your damage is, but I want no part of it, okay?  I’ll just call a cab and be on my way.”
     Marcus moved to the door in a burst of speed, and stopped with his arms folded across his chest, lips compressed into a thin line as he glared at her.  He drew his brows low in a scowl.
“W…what the hell are you?” she stammered, unable to mask her unease.    
“I am not here to harm you.  I have been the one tending to you as your body adjusted.” “You haven’t answered my question,” she pushed.
     “That’s because it’s not relevant to the situation.”
     “Like hell, asshole.  If it affects me then it is my business.”
     Marcus liked her toughness, finding it remarkably refreshing.  Her strength was impressive, not many could make it through the beginning stages of the change when turning from human to Were, yet she had fought through it.  She had overcome it all, despite how badly she had been injured. 
     He used his most reasonable tone to calm her, knowing that the next few minutes was crucial to keeping her receptive to what he had to say.  He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, making his tone as calm as he could manage.  “At this time the only thing we need to focus on is your change.  You are not out of the woods as of yet.  There are too many things that could go wrong.”
 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.”
     “Ha, ha, laugh it up big guy.  You don’t have to worry about fleas.”
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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Spotlight on the deliciously wicked Tamsin Baker


 

I have a special treat for all of you. Welcome erotic romance author Tamsin Baker. She's here with her newest release Heart's Truth. This is a M/M romance which heats up the pages and primed to tantalize.





 
BLURB:
Marcus is a 30-year-old successful architect. He wants someone to love and knows the right man will turn up when he least expects it. That moment arrives at his friend’s party. He sees Danny for only a moment, yet his interest is piqued. What could be more irresistible than a blue-eyed beauty who is completely untouched?
Danny knows he doesn’t find women attractive, but how is he going to find out if he’s gay? His sister’s party answers his prayers and the most gorgeous guy he has ever seen asks him out. But can their love survive when Marcus wants more than a closeted partner and Danny wants nothing more than to hide forever?
And my website is: www.tamsinbakererotic.com
 
Buy Links:
 
 

Monday, July 22, 2013

Pick Me Up Monday-Busy blog week ahead

Happy Monday!
I love this picture and yeah, I'd be touching those abs myself!
 
All right now back to work, I have two guest spots this week plus a special blog post for the scavenger hunt I'm in. First on the 23rd I have Tamsin Baker here talking about her new M/M release Heart's Truth.
Then on the 25th Shyla Colt is introducing her new paranormal series called the Purgatory Series. The first book The Key's to Heaven just released and promises to be a great read.
On the 24th my blog goes live with Close Encounters of the Wicked Kind Scavenger Hunt. I have a question you need to find on my blog site. Sound like fun?
 
I'm also busy with Dark Desire, Soul Fire which will be through the first draft around the same time, plus a special Christmas story for an anthology I'm working on with three other talented authors. I'll talk more on this little project closer to release time.
 
Well I better get back to work, these books don't write themselves no matter how much I want them to. Have a great week and we will talk next Monday.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Spotlight on Carlene Love Flores -Sin's Flower and Contest!

 
I'm happy to have Carlene Love Flores here today talking about her new release, Sin's Flower. She is holding a week long contest on my blog. Yep, that's right, you have until next Wednesday 7-24. You can win an e-copy of her latest book.  All you need to do is answer the following question and Carlene will randomly pick the winner.
Question:  If you met the person who you thought might be The One, and they asked you to move out of state to be with them, would you do it? How long would it take you to decide? A heartbeat? A couple of weeks? 
 
Please leave your email address with your comment so she can contact you if you win. Now, I'm happy to bring on Carlene to my humble blog.
 
Hello Shannan, it’s wonderful to be here at your place today with my new release, Sin’s Flower. This is the second book in the Sin Pointe Novel series and when I started thinking about the inspiration, honestly and truly, it was the first book that inspired this second one. When I finished Sidewalk Flower, I realized that although I’d helped Trista and Lucky to overcome their demons and find their happy ending, I’d left the boys of Sin Pointe in the dark. They needed redemption and a way to happiness just as badly as their dearly departed assistant. It was a complete surprise to me who Jaxon chose as his heroine. When he hinted it was Lily, Trista’s younger sister, I went from shocked to anxious to having to write their story. I hope you and your readers enjoy this sneak peek. Love stories rock!
Xoxo,
Carlene Love
 
Sin’s Flower Blurb:
When Jaxon James, a sexy rock star and struggling single-father, is invited to ditch California and spend Christmas in Tennessee with his estranged family, he hesitantly accepts for his young daughter’s sake.  But his attraction to his best friend’s baby sister, Lily Elstone, threatens to unravel the bonds he’s made for his daughter.  The honorable thing to do would be to give up Lily.  But his instincts are telling him she’s exactly the one who could bring light to his life and the missing fire to his bed.  Unfortunately, Lily's too sweet for his world.  He fears his rock and roll life style will taint her.   How far are Jaxon and Lily willing to go to find what’s missing at home?
 
 
 
Sin’s Flower Excerpt:
Jaxon watched Lily’s hands sinking down into the sand from behind as hesitancy chopped up his steps.  Years of ending up in dire situations had made him a decisive man when he needed to be.  He was making one of those executive decisions right now.  It didn’t matter why she’d come.  And he was close to dismissing his reluctance over whose baby sister she was.  Not when she wore that swishing angelic lavender top that covered her from neck to shoulder to fingertip, driving him insane with curiosity.  God, and that flaming hair which had gone from neon just yesterday to a flattering shade of cinnamon temptation tonight.  His grip tightened around the folding chairs he’d gone to fetch.  Purposefully, he slowed down. 
Then stopped. 
Wanting her was one thing, but hurting this young woman was not okay.
Standing back, he took another couple minutes to contemplate what could happen tonight.  What he could control and make happen. 
He knew they should talk.  He just hoped she didn’t mind how close he intended on being to her while that happened.  His grip loosened and one of the folding lounge chairs fell to the sand.  There would be plenty of room for the both of them on the one.  He walked until he made it back to her side and unfolded the chair to its full length. 
“Uh, hi,” she said shyly, her brow furrowing in concentration.
“Hey.”  He sat down and held his arms out to assist her.  “Sit with me?”  He hadn’t given her much of a choice and caught her eye scanning the sandy trail where he’d come from.  “Yeah, I figured we didn’t need that one.”
“Oh, okay.  Wait, just so we’re clear here.  You want me to sit, where exactly?”
God, she would kill him tonight.  That amount of cute couldn’t be faked.  “Here, with me.”  Her eyes widened in disbelief so he scooted until he was flush with the back of the nylon chair and then opened his legs, letting one straddle each side.  “There’s room.”
“You’re crazy,” she said shaking her head.
He let out a faked huff.  His quick decision had been too fast for her and she wouldn’t believe this was his way of comforting her.  “I’ll go fetch the other chair.”
She gouged her hand into her hip.  “Wait.  It’s just…I really don’t think I’m gonna fit.”
A hurricane couldn’t have swayed her decision to stay put.  But she eventually bent her knees, bracing herself with strong hands, and lowered herself until her squeezable bottom met the chair.  Because he wanted her closer, he took the liberty of placing his hands at each side of her waist and scooted her back until she was flush with his chest and his lap. 
On second thought, that was way too close. 
Someone would kill him for the throbbing going on so close to their little sister.  He wiggled an inch of space between Lily and his now obvious and straining erection.  The last thing he wanted to do was leave her thinking he was incapable of a conversation without sex ending up front and center.  He had amazing amounts of control in that department.  It came along with all the years he’d practiced on the road.  Tonight, plainly put, he just wanted to be close to someone, to Lily.  And this was the way he knew how to do that.
“So what did you want to talk about?” he asked.
“I, I don’t know.”  It sounded like nerves had her.
They didn’t have to start with words.  Fuck him for his appetite but he could say more by doing this anyway. 
Hey you, horny fucker.  This is the part where you pat her on the head, say you’re sorry, and send her back to her big sister.  This is not the time for indulging.  Pack it up, Jaxon.
Yeah, no questions about it.  That’s what he should do.
 
Buy Links for Sin’s Flower:
 
 
A bit about Carlene:
Carlene Love Flores is a big fan of the stars (especially Orion), honest music (especially Depeche Mode), and her travelling family (no favorites there-she loves them all). These things have always inspired her to think up edgy, intimate love stories and continue to do so. If she could touch someone’s heart with her writing the way others have done for her, she’d say truly there never lived a luckier girl.
 
Find Carlene Here:


Monday, July 15, 2013

Special Author Spotlight and Contest - Meet Douglas Black

I am excited to bring you a great talent from Scotland I was lucky enough to meet through my publisher Evernight. Through chatting with this very charming man I just had to invite him over and was thrilled when he accepted.
And I am very pleased to offer everyone a very special treat. Douglas has agreed to do a week long contest! Here is your chance to win A Secret Love. So how do you go about entering for your chance to win? Just leave a comment to Douglas's question:
In A Secret Love, James and Mark Head off for a romantic weekend getaway in a remote hotel in the Scottish highlands. (Boy, sounds good to me I'd be there with bells on.)Unfortunately nothing goes remotely as planned.
 The question is:
What has been your most disastrous romantic weekend/date?
When commenting please be sure to leave your email address, so he can contact you. The winner will be chosen next Monday from those who are the worse/funniest and will supply a copy of A Secret Love in whichever format the winner prefers.
Author Info
Douglas Black was born and raised in bonnie Scotland. He started writing erotica as a means of paying the bills when he was a student at university, but after graduation he found he no longer had the time to write. Over the summer of 2012, Black picked up a pen once more. After a brief, successful flirtation with self-publishing, Black’s novella ‘Business or Pleasure’ was picked up and released in April 2013. It quickly made the publisher’s best-sellers list. Douglas Black’s short story, ‘A Secret Love’, was published in July 2013 by Evernight Publishing.
Links
Inspiration for A Secret Love
‘A Secret Love’ is a short story about two men – James and Mark - who have spent many years hiding their relationship. They are forced to meet up in secret, and their work and life commitments mean it is impossible for them to see each other as often as they want. They manage to get away to be together once every few months at most. After years of enduring such strain on their relationship, they have decided to leave behind everything they know so they can be together.
With six months left in which they still have to continue their love affair in secret, they meet up in an isolated hotel for a weekend together. While they are there, their actions attract the attention of an interfering older couple who make their disgust apparent. Their weekend together threatens to be overshadowed by the actions of others, but worse than that, it may blow their cover and ruin not only all their hard work over the years, but also destroy any chance of them achieving the future together they so desperately want.
The idea of people having to hide not just their sexuality, but also their relationship because of societal pressures was appealing to me and was one that I wanted to explore. With the recent leaps and bounds made in the fight for marriage equality and equal rights in general, this story could seem out of place, but it is a sad reality that so many people throughout the world have to hide their relationships, whether because of their jobs, pressure from the media or their families, or any number of other reasons.
This simple reality was the main inspiration behind ‘A Secret Love’. While the story focuses mainly on the (often steamy!) interactions between the two main characters, I wanted to look at how outside pressures on a relationship might impact those involved. In my story, the characters rise above the pressure, deciding to move and build a new life for themselves abroad, but I am aware that not all secret relationships end that way. James and Mark got their happy ending. I look forward to the day when that outcome doesn’t put them in the minority.
Blurb
James is nervous when he pulls into the car park of the secluded and conservative Caledonian Hotel. He slips off his wedding ring, gives a false name at reception and checks into his room.
When Mark finally arrives James expects their time together to conform to the usual pattern, but Mark surprises him. Mark wants candlelit dinners and walks on the beach. James, well, James just wants to make up for lost time. More importantly, he doesn’t want to get caught. They have six months left before they can leave behind everything they know and start a new life together and James is desperate to be discrete. Unfortunately, he never could control himself around Mark. Throw in an interfering old couple and some very public displays of affection and Mark and James’s short hotel stay might just be about to destroy not only the secrecy that has always shrouded their relationship, but also their plans for a future together.

Excerpt
Mark returned the kiss passionately. James trembled in his arms. Tension coursed through his body and he could feel it mirrored in Mark’s. He could almost taste the other man’s nerves in his kiss. James savoured Mark’s strong arms around him. He pushed his hands inside Mark’s suit jacket and clung to the warm, toned body underneath. The body was so familiar despite the amount of time that had passed since their last meeting.
            “God I’ve missed you,” James said when he finally pulled away. Mark was breathless and didn’t respond at first, but the sexy, playful smile on his lips told James everything he needed to know. James took his hands and led him further into the room.
            It was a large suite with living area and a huge bathroom. Mark swung a new sports bag, bright orange and emblazoned with sponsorship logos, off his shoulder and dumped it onto one of the two couches. He paused momentarily, reaching into his suit pocket.
James watched as Mark pulled out his phone and turned it off without checking for messages. He waited patiently until Mark had tucked it safely into his bag and smiled at him when he had finished. “Difficult getting away this time?” he asked.
            Mark nodded. “I left as soon as I could. I was so scared I was going to miss the flight. I’m sorry it had to be mid-week this time. Will you get in trouble at work?”
            “I have the flu.”
            Mark smirked. “You look perfectly healthy to me.”
            “It came on all of a sudden,” James said, closing the space between them. “Unexpected. Probably be gone in a few days. You know how these things are.” Mark nodded and James slipped into his arms once more. With his head on Mark’s shoulder, he turned to whisper against the other man’s neck. “I wouldn’t have been able to stand it if you had missed the flight, if you had cancelled. It’s been so long. It’s always so long.”
Buy Links