Sunday, July 7, 2013

A few of my favorite authors

I know, I know. I shouldn't be promoting other authors when I'm supposed to be on here promoting my own books. I can't help it. I love these guys. So, if you're looking for a new book to read, check out my Sutton Capital Series and then grab one of these authors, too!

  • For a book that manages to be both sexy and funny, I recommend Jill Shalvis and Penny Reid. Those guys always make me laugh. 
  • For a little mystery mixed in with your romance, I highly recommend Bev Pettersen (she's my favorite author) and Marie Force's Fatal Series. 
  • Want somethign more erotic? Check out Jasinda Wilder. Want something really erotic? Like dirty erotic? Check out Shayla Black and Lexi Blake? 
  • Looking for something small towny? Nora Roberts has a bunch but so do Robyn Carr, Barbara Bretton and Susan Mallery. 
  • Want edgy? I loved Real by Katy Evans and The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski.
Happy Reading!

~~ Lori

Lori lives with her husband, two children, three dogs and cat in Austin, Texas. She is the author of the Sutton Capital Series. She loves to hear from fans! Visit her fan group on Goodreads.com.  You can buy her books on Amazon in both print and kindle versions.


Book Two Exclusive Preview & Giveaway

When a mysterious curse threatens to transform everyone into shadowy demons, a magical eleven year-old girl must travel to a sunken city ruin—fighting pirates, monsters, and an undead sorcerer along the way—to find a weapon that can save her world.

The following excerpt is from the second book in the Ennara series, to be released in early 2014.






Exclusive Excerpt from Ennara and the Writ of Shadows

A soft rap sounded at the classroom door, interrupting Mr. Tyilasun’s lecture on the origin of the races of Lan. He sighed, lifting the chalk mid-line between a line of trolls and a mountainous tribe of humans on the largest continent, in the pre-comet world.

         Tyilasun opened the door and murmured something. A familiar voice responded. He turned back tot he class. “Ennara, someone is here for you.”

         Ennara gathered her books and looked at Cinna. Her best friend raised a thin brown eyebrow. Ennara shrugged.

         She stepped out of the classroom to find Kithe, out of breath, in the hallway. He wore his fencing jacket and trousers, his cheeks red from exercise. “What are you doing here?”

         “Gevin’s here.” He beamed.

         “Gevin?” She’d last seen him three months ago, during her and Kithe’s summer break in Hogin. He’d been stationed in Dordonne a short time for training.

         “He’s on shoreleave. He sent a message up to the house. Tork’s given us permission to leave class to get him.” Kithe started to walk down the hall. “I’m getting changed. Meet me out front?”

         “Okay.” Ennara grinned. Gevin had never seen Icelan before. She couldn’t wait to show him around. She ran to her locker to get her book bag and jacket.


Angela Myron is the author of the middle grade fantasy series Ennara, the upcoming paranormal mystery A Hair of the Dog that Bit Her, and a stack of technical manuals on everything from nonlinear editing to data encryption. She lives in Whittier, California, with her husband and their twins.

Learn about Angela Myron's stories at: www.angelamyron.com | Facebook/AngelaMyron | Twitter @AngelaMyron | Goodreads/AngelaMyron

Want more? Buy the e-book or paperback of Ennara and the Fallen Druid now, and add Ennara and the Writ of Shadows to your Goodreads list!
               

For Goddess Fish Party goers only, get 30% off the Ennara and the Fallen Druid ebook today! Just enter EnnaraJuly as the discount code before checking out. Use this link to Buy Now! (Offer expires July 8, 2013.)

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THANK YOU + ONE MORE CHANCE FOR GIVEAWAY

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by! I'm so pleased you took time out of your weekend to check out the books at this release party.

I'll wait until midnight in my corner of the world (Pacific Daylight Time) to draw today's winner of a $9 gift card. And if you miss that drawing, please visit my web site <www.GenieGabriel.com> or my Halo Legacy Series blog <http://oshealegacyseries.blogspot.com/> for more chances to win gift cards this Tuesday, July 9, at the Super Book Blast celebrating my latest release, LEGACY REBORN, and all the books of my Halo Legacy Series.



Posted by: Genie Gabriel

What Fate Has to Do With Wanted: One Ghost and $5 Gift Card Drawing

 Fate has always played a big part in my life. Each moment in time is guided by decisions we may or may not be making for ourselves, leading us to where we are now.

Kind of deep if you think about it for too long.  I came to the conclusion that my life was not necessarily guided by my decisions but by a 'greater plan'.  I had originally joined the United States Navy to become a Journalist (at the time) 20+ years ago. What happened was a mix-up in paperwork, classes and rating that to this day I attribute to Fate having a guiding hand.  There is no other explanation to how I ended up where I am and with the wonderful family and opportunities I've had since then.

Wanted: One Ghost, my debut novel from Crescent Moon Press is a symbol of how Fate intervenes and takes us into situations we never dreamed we'd face. Here is a heroine with a love for history and Fate has led her in an unlikely situation. Nothing else could have prepared her for it, or led two people to meet as they did.

Granted, my novel is a paranormal romance, a fantastical story. But if we truly sit and ponder where we are in life, doesn't it make you think?

How has Fate led you to where you are?

Would love to hear from you. Don't forget about the $5 Gift Card drawing!

STAR ATTRACTION - Final Excerpt [PG-13]

“There’s no one here,” I whispered to Raul.

He shook his head. “There is. You just can’t see them.” My skin crawled at the realization of what he was saying.

Algol. Ghost-like aliens that would take over my body given half a chance. My hand tightened on my prod. “Where?” He didn’t answer, but then, he didn’t need to; behind the plastic sheet to our right was a dark shadow outlined in blue-white light. I took a step back and raised my prod. The sheet billowed. The Algol drifted toward us.

It was vaguely similar to Raul in his alien form, in that it had longer arms and fingers than a human, but beyond that it wasn’t like anything I’d ever seen. It looked more like an absence of matter, like a black hole. There was no face, no indication of gender, just a large black shape edged by light.

I wanted to scream, but found myself unable to utter a sound.

I couldn’t move, either. It was as if the damn thing had transfixed me. The outline grew brighter, making my eyes water. A black hand lifted, one finger extended.

You will come. 

The voice sounded inside my head, an echoing whisper of demand that was hard to resist. It tugged at me and I wavered.

You will— Its wordless order dissolved into a scream that tore through my brain. I could move again and dropped my prod even as Raul moved forward, his weapon raised and active. White lightning crackled from the end, enveloping the Algol. It screamed again.

“I could feel it in my head!” I was on the verge of hysterics.

“I know.” Raul brought his prod down, bringing the shade to its knees. “It was going to take you, and I couldn’t let that happen.” He glanced at me. “I won’t let that happen.” My hysteria banked at the surety of his tone. I swallowed and picked up my prod, then looked at the alien at his feet. “It’s not dispersing,” I noted.

“No, I don’t believe I’ve calibrated the voltage correctly.”

“So, now what?”

“Turn on your prod and aim it at the Algol.” I had to pause, even after feeling the effect of the creature, because what Raul suggested was cold-blooded murder. Assuming this thing had blood. I looked at him.

“Raul...”

“It’s them or us, Megan,” he said, voice firm.

Observatory tour guide Megan Shaw has always had stars in her eyes, so when she all but runs down the otherworldly Raul, she barely blinks. It doesn’t hurt that Raul is hot – whether in his human form or his natural one – and that there’s an immediate mutual attraction.

But Raul is on the run from his alien overlords and soon Megan finds herself fighting against a foothold situation with nothing more than a couple of cattle prods and Muse for soundtrack.

However Earth is not the only planet at risk and with his species desperate to escape generations of oppression, will Raul’s loyalties shift as easily as his physical appearance?

Daddy Daughter Conflict


Rys Rising: Book I by Tracy Falbe, a passionate epic told from many angles.



The relationship between fathers and daughters is fertile ground for conflict in storytelling. Little girls love that their fathers protect them, but when they mature into young women they no longer want him guarding the gates.

In Rys Rising: Book I the character of Princess Demeda was my vehicle for visiting the darker side of the daddy daughter dyad. She learns that she will be forced into an arranged marriage with the king of her tribe’s greatest enemy. Demeda is told that this will maintain peace, but her fury cannot be quelled by duty. She does not want to be sent over to the enemy tribe, and the fact that she would be the king’s fourth wife is especially insulting to her.

Naturally the course of the story gives her an exciting opportunity to get back at daddy. The increasingly notorious warlord Amar has reasons of his own to disrupt the treaty marriage between tribes. Known by the name dro-shalum or “curse demon” he has rapidly gained notoriety among tribal leaders. He now seeks to disrupt tribal stability so that his mercenary society can benefit.

Against this backdrop Demeda throws herself at Amar, hoping to gain her freedom. He had thought that his ambitions superseded mere desire for female company, but Amar is captivated by her daring character. When he lays hands upon her body, he declares, “No bargains. No promises.”

Demeda’s personal quest for independence is only one part of the saga begun in Rys Rising: Book I. Her tale is woven with the adventures of many others. But her reckless teenage deeds remain one of my favorite parts of the story.

To meet her and the other characters from the Rys Rising series, please read Rys Rising: Book I. It could be your gateway to a new reading addiction. You can download free samples, enjoy bundle discounts, join my readers’ list, or find links to your favorite ebook retailers at Brave Luck Books http://www.braveluck.com

CELEBRATION TIMES NINE + GIVEAWAY!

Since the release of LEGACY REBORN, the ninth and wrap-up book to my Halo Legacy Series, I've been celebrating to the nines!

Books specially priced at 99 cents! Gift cards for $9! And culminating with a Super Book Blast on July 9!

I'm getting a head-start on giving gift cards by drawing the name of one lucky commenter today to receive a $9 gift card. Hope to see your name in the comments!



The heroine of LEGACY REBORN, Phoenix, has many past memories that have driven her to put the needs of everyone else before her own. Learning she deserves her own happiness is difficult, but CJ's quiet, steadfast love and the blunt helpfulness of her soul sisters finally convince Phoenix to allow love into her life. Here's an excerpt near the end of LEGACY REBORN that reflects the sweetness of that realization.

***


As the sun stretched its morning rays gently over the farm, Phoenix rose quietly and walked onto the newly constructed deck. Tears misted her eyes once again. 

"Do you like it?" CJ asked. 

Phoenix turned to stare at the man standing several feet away from her. The man she was going to marry today. 
She couldn't speak, but nodded and held out her hand to him. 

CJ took her hand and led her to stand in front of the sliding glass doors that enclosed the deck, making it a cozy retreat with a fire burning in the outdoor fireplace. 

"You have blisters on your hands." Phoenix turned CJ's hands up and looked at the palms. 

"Love blisters." 

Phoenix laughed as she shook her head. "I'm sure I have some ointment I've used for the llamas that will help those." 
"I don't want to upset Romeo by using all his ointment." 

They laughed together, then lapsed into silence. After a moment, CJ asked, "Are you okay with getting married?" 

Slowly, Phoenix nodded. "I still can't quite believe something so beautiful has come into my life. Then all the old fears and doubts start crowding into my head. But my sisters helped me see love is a gift we should treasure and not a regret we passed up." 

Turning his palms up, Phoenix kissed the blisters on CJ's hands. One by one. 


***

(Copyright Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel.)
www.GenieGabriel.com

Sizzlin' Summer of Contemporary Romance Giveaway

Sizzlin' Summer of Contemporary Romance Giveaway 

Reese Ryan here again. If you love contemporary romance as much as I do--I've got exciting news. I've teamed with fellow Carina Press authors: Kat Latham, Tamara Morgan, Alison Packards, and Kelsey Browning to celebrate our sizzling summer contemporary romance releases! The Sizzlin' Summer of Contemporary Romance event runs July 15 - September 6. As part of the Sizzlin' Summer of Contemporary Romance I will be doing a Grand Prize giveaway in conjunction with my Making the First Move Blog Tour running Monday, July 22nd to Sunday, August 4th. I'm giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card and ALL FIVE of our contemporary romance titles listed below. Want to enter the giveaway or add your blog to the tour? For more information and scheduled tour stops, visit the tour page here. Each author is running a separate giveaway. To learn more about the giveaway the others will be offering, visit the individual author websites listed below.

The Winning Season by Alison Packard
The Winning SeasonPublication date: July 15, 2013 Kelly Maxwell has finally landed her dream job, publicist for the San Francisco Blaze. But the team’s newest member, handsome bad boy catcher Matt Scanlon, is refusing every interview. She’s got to get him to open up before the season ends, or she may not be back next year. And after everything she overcame to achieve her dream, Kelly’s not about to let that happen. Matt Scanlon just wants to be left alone to rebuild his life and his career. After a year of masking the pain of a recent loss with hard partying and fast women, he finally hit rock bottom and was traded to a team he’s loathed his entire life—a team with little or no chance at the post-season. Butting heads is getting Kelly and Matt nowhere but annoyed, and with the team’s schedule on the road, they can’t avoid close quarters—or their surprising attraction to one another. As the season winds down, Matt finds his growing feelings for Kelly have brought his numbed emotions back to life. But when betrayal shatters their fragile trust, winning it all seems more impossible than ever.
Read an excerpt Buy it at Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Carina Press | Books-A-Million Follow Alison on Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
  Making the First Move by Reese Ryan
Making the First Move by Reese RyanPublication date: July 22, 2013 Melanie Gordon has spent the past five years obsessing over her career to dull the pain of a devastating breakup and the loss of her father. Her effort pays off when she receives the promotion that could be her big break. Only it means returning to her hometown to face her past while leaving behind the man who could be her future. Selfless (and insanely sexy) philanthropist, Raine Mason, is committed to his cause. But his passion for rescuing high-risk young males from the road to disaster is fueled by his own dark and tragic past. When Raine is ready to take his casual friendship with Melanie to sizzling new heights, her one-way ticket to Cleveland is already booked. A steamy night of passion leaves them both wanting more. But just when she thinks she is finally ready to give her heart to him she discovers startling news that causes her to question everything she knows about him. Worse, he is harboring a dark secret that threatens to shatter any hope of a future for them unless he can convince her that their love is worth the risk.
Read an excerpt. Buy it at Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Carina Press | Books-A-Million Follow Reese on Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website
  Knowing the Score by Kat Latham
Knowing the Score - Kat LathamPublication date: August 5, 2013 Book one of the London Legends Rugby player Spencer Bailey is determined to win a spot on England’s World Cup team. But with a month break before the selectors start watching him, he’s eager to have fun with a woman who knows the score: the relationship will end when rugby season begins. The lovely American Caitlyn Sweeney seems perfect for the role of temporary lover, since her visa will run out soon anyway. Caitlyn works for an international disaster relief organization and can handle the world’s worst crises, but she flinches from her own. Her past has left her with a fear of intimacy so deep that she has trouble getting close to anyone—until she meets sexy Spencer. His hot body and easygoing nature are too much for even her to resist. Neither Caitlyn nor Spencer expects to fall hard for each other. But with their relationship deadline approaching, the old rules of the game seem less important than before…until past secrets surface, challenging everything they thought they knew about each other.
Read an excerpt Buy it at Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Carina Press | Books-A-Million Follow Kat at Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | katlatham.com
Personal Assets by Kelsey Browning
Personal Assets by Kelsey BrowningPublication date: August 26, 2013 Book one of the Texas Nights series Sex therapist Allie Shelby has the professional credentials, but she could use a bit more practical experience. Finding the right man to bring out her inner bad girl is tough in a population-challenged Texas town. So when sinfully sexy Cameron Wright rolls back into Shelbyville, Allie wastes no time inviting him to join her in some hands-on research. Cameron has come home to fulfill his dream of restoring classic cars. Back in high school, he knew the town princess, Allie Shelby, was way out of his league. Today he has even less in common with Allie, so he's shocked as hell when she propositions him. Still, he's only human, so he accepts her offer—and with each encounter, she shows him another, wilder side. Before long, he's thinking about more than just sex. But while her personal life heats up, Allie's business is about to crash and burn. And she has to convince Cameron that she's one princess who's not looking for a prince to ride to her rescue.
Read an excerpt Buy it at Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Carina Press | Books-A-Million Follow Kelsey at Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | KelseyBrowning.com
  The Derby Girl by Tamara Morgan
The Derby Girl by Tamara MorganPublication Date: August 26, 2013 Book Two of the Getting Physical Series Roller derby girl Gretchen “Honey Badger” Badgerton lives in the moment, no apologies. Like every woman in Pleasant Park with a pulse, she finds Dr. Jared Fine irresistible, but she’s taken by surprise when her unattainable new neighbor asks her out. On paper, Jared is the perfect man: gorgeous, wealthy and charitable. But his golden image is just that, and opening an upstate practice is a welcome chance to start a new life. When Gretchen stops to help him with a flat tire, he’s intrigued by her feisty attitude—and her sexy body art. There’s something refreshing about being with a take-charge woman who doesn’t expect him to be anything but himself. Though Gretchen is hesitant to shatter Jared’s “bad girl” illusion of her, she has to face facts: she’s fallen for the good doctor. She’s used to putting everyone else’s needs before hers, but as their relationship heats up, can she handle having someone take care of her for a change?
Buy it at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million Find Tamara at Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website

Corporate Merger Excerpt #3 and Giveaway (ADULT CONTENT)

Please enjoy this adult excerpt from Corporate Merger. Don't forget to comment to win a copy of book one in the series, Advertising for Love.



“You have a nice place.” Derrick’s eyes scanned Amy’s apartment.

“Don’t lie.” She closed the door behind him and let her purse fall to the floor as she watched his powerful form stride into her cramped living room. “It’s a dump, but it’s close to work and cheap.” He had kissed her for the first time in the cab ride over. One small, sweet kiss. Amy was ready for more. “Can I get you a drink?”

He turned to face her. “No, thank you.” She couldn’t stop herself from giving him the once-over. Now that he was in her well-lit apartment, she indulged her eyes and took in every sexy detail. Tall. Brown skin. Hazel eyes. Perfect smile. Broad chest. Black shirt. Dark-blue jeans. What do you have going on inside of those jeans? And can I have it? Derrick chuckled, snapping Amy out of her dirty thoughts and her eyes back up to meet his.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, the familiar heat rising to her face.

“Hey, no need to apologize.” He walked toward her slowly. “I like the way you look at me.” Reaching down, he took her hand and placed it on his shirt, coaxing her fingers toward the buttons. “Do you want to see more?”

Oh hell yes. Amy nodded and watched as her hands unbuttoned his shirt. What am I doing? I can’t believe I’m doing this! Wow. This is great.

Inch by inch, his shirt fell away to reveal contours of muscle covered with smooth, flawless skin. Amy had the urge to lick him, to run her tongue over his solid chest, but she fought against it and instead slid her fingers over his pecs and down his abs.

Derrick laughed softly and moved away. “Sorry, I’m a little ticklish.”

“Oh.” Amy removed her hands from his midsection.

“No.” He grabbed them again, placing them on his belt this time. “Don’t stop.”

What? He wants me to— She looked up at him to make sure. He raised one eyebrow, which encouraged her to keep going.

Amy tugged on his belt and quickly loosened it, moving it out of the way to undo the button. The zipper slid down easily, revealing his maroon boxer-briefs. She could see the outline of his dick straining hard against the fabric and gingerly traced it with her finger. Derrick gasped.

Oh fuck yeah. This is going to be fun.

With both hands, she grabbed the sides of his jeans and yanked them to the floor. Once they were out of the way, she plunged into his underwear. Derrick groaned as she ran one hand up and down the length of his dick and used the other hand to cup his balls.

He then grabbed her and pulled her to him, covering her mouth with deep kisses. As his tongue consumed hers, he hitched up her dress and slid his hand down her panties. When his finger brushed against her slick clit, Amy’s legs almost collapsed.

“Bedroom. Let’s go to the bedroom,” she whispered into his mouth.

In her tiny apartment, they didn’t have far to go, and seconds later Amy found herself lying down on her bed, in a race with Derrick to see who could take her dress off first. “The zipper’s in the back. The zipper’s in the back.” She struggled to reach it. “Shit.”

“I got it. I got it.” Derrick fumbled around for the small piece of metal. “Wait. Turn over.”

Amy rolled onto her stomach, and Derrick was able to undo her zipper. She sighed as the dress fell away. Amy rolled back over, shimmied out of it and kicked it to the floor. She had lost her shoes at some point during their mad dash, so she didn’t have to worry about them, and in two seconds she had unhooked her bra, taken off her panties, and thrown them both across the room.

Derrick laughed as he discarded his own clothes before pouncing on top of her. She squealed as his lean, muscular body covered hers, and then inhaled sharply as he kissed his way eagerly down her neck, alternating between using his lips, teeth and tongue.

His dick.


He stopped and looked up at her. “What?”

“I want to see it.”

That sexy smile slowly made an appearance, and he rolled over to his side. Damn. She dragged her fingers up his dick from base to tip, and it jumped slightly in response to her touch. Perfect.


*********************
Elisabeth Roseland spends her days dreaming up ways to throw sexy heroes and strong heroines together. Her characters explore the wonderful, agonizing, joyful, heartbreaking and complicated human experiences that are sex and love. She also hopes to inspire readers to grab the nearest consenting adult and do something fun. She lives in Chicago with her very own Happily Ever After.

Check out her website: www.elisabethroseland.com
Connect on Twitter: @E_Roseland
Find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/EbonyNights

Pre-order links:  Samhain Website  | Amazon  | Barnes and Noble |



Living Backwards by Tracy Sweeney Excerpt

Getting excited as I prep for my upcoming Goddess Fish Virtual Tour.  Here's an excerpt from one of my favorite scenes in LIVING BACKWARDS and one of the reasons I loved writing Luke so much.  He says it like it is:

Sometimes, the things you want to savor the most seem to pass by the fastest. Sometimes there are moments you wish you could freeze and revisit whenever you wanted. As I looked at Jillian, lying on my bed—with her pale skin against the dark fabric—I knew this was one of those moments because everything would inevitably move by so fast.


Articles of clothing rained down on my bedroom floor as we pulled and yanked off the remainder of each other’s clothes. Then it was just us. No bullshit. No pretenses.

The feeling was so intense and consuming and kept building and building—becoming everything I was and replacing everything I had. When I was finally able to let go and let the fire within me burn, I was never so happy to be reduced to ashes because I always felt at home in her flames.

And when we were both still and the room was quiet, I didn’t mourn the fact that the moment had passed and it was over. I knew from the fire, there’d be rebirth—something stronger, something better and something to remind me why it was all right to burn.





What is Your Purpose in Telling a Story?

Every author has a reason for telling a story. Sometimes it’s for pure entertainment or to exorcise your own demons or to recapture another place and time. For others, it’s the love of a specific genre and fulfilling the interests of a particular type of reader. Some writers love research and the telling of a person’s life story.

As for myself, I love characters and understanding what makes them tick and how they relate to others in their world. Stories are about us all and trying to understand the human condition. In DREAMING OF LAUGHING HAWK there is one truth that runs through the story line: Everybody who wants something bad enough will risk their life or their soul—for power, for love, or for something greater than themselves.


Hunting for Treasure--Riddle #4 Giveaway



Win this book!
If you just joined the party, see Hunting for Treasure for details about what the heck is going on. 

Bottom line--solve the puzzles for a chance to win a free book!


Riddle #4
What kind of dog do I have—large, medium, or small?


~Contest ends at 7:00 PM~

Winner will be notified by 7:30 PM