Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Fearless Love Meg Benjamin's Konigsberg


Today, I am happy to post my review of Meg Benjamin's most recent Konigsberg, Texas book, Fearless Love. This Contemporary Romance is book Seven in the series, and is available now from Samhain Publishing. Meg will be awarding a $10.00 Gift Card, winner's choice, for Amazon, Sur la Table, iTunes, or Lush to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Before the blurb, excerpt and my review, here is a bit about Meg Benjamin.

Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of contemporary romance. Her Konigsburg series for Samhain Publishing is set in the Texas Hill Country. Book #3, Be My Baby, won a 2011 EPIC Award for Contemporary Romance. Book #4, Long Time Gone, received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Indie Press Romance. Book #5, Brand New Me, won the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers and was nominated for Book Of the Year at Long and Short Reviews. Meg lives in Colorado with her DH and two rather large Maine coon kitties (well, partly Maine Coon anyway).  Her Web site is http://www.MegBenjamin.com and her blog is http://megbenj1.wordpress.com/. You can follow her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1), Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/megbenjamin/), and Twitter (http://twitter.com/megbenj1). Meg loves to hear from readers—contact her at meg@megbenjamin.com.

Breathless Love Blurb

Konigsberg, Texas, Book 7.

MG Carmody never figured her musical dreams would crash against the reality of Nashville. Now the only thing she has going for her is her late grandfather’s chicken farm, which comes with molting hens that won’t lay,
one irascible rooster, and a huge mortgage held by a ruthless opponent—her
Great Aunt Nedda.

With fewer eggs to sell, MG needs extra money, fast. Even if it means carving out time for a job as a prep cook at The Rose—and resisting her attraction to its sexy head chef.

Joe LeBlanc has problems of his own. He’s got a kitchen full of temperamental cooks—one of whom is a sneak thief—a demanding cooking competition to prepare for, and an attraction to MG that could easily boil over into something tasty. If he could figure out the cause of the shy beauty’s lack of self-confidence.

In Joe’s arms, MG’s heart begins to find its voice. But between kitchen thieves, performance anxiety, saucy saboteurs, greedy relatives, and one very pissed-off rooster, the chances of them ever making sweet music are looking slimmer by the day.

Fearless Love Excerpt

The rooster gave a cackle of triumph and she dove for the gate, fiddling frantically with the latch. Already she could feel the air from his wings. Any second, it would be accompanied by pecks around the ankles and, if she was really unlucky, a few scratches from those talons on his feet.

“Shit, shit, shit.”

“Allow me.” The voice at her side was close to basso profoundo.

MG started so violently she almost dropped the basket, which would have been a victory for Robespierre even if he hadn’t caused it.

The man standing on the other side of the fence was massive. Or maybe he only seemed massive because he was blocking her path to freedom. His bald head shone with perspiration, along with his face and his biceps. Now that she looked at him, she could see the damp sweat marks on his T-shirt stretching down his broad chest. Running shorts. New Balance shoes. Okay, that at least explained what the hell he was doing up and around this early in the morning, although how he came to be standing outside her chicken yard was still a bit of a mystery.

“Who are you?” she blurted.

He gave her a lazy grin. “Darlin’ you’re being attacked by a rooster. Does it really matter who’s getting you out of there?”

Something sharp hit the back of her leg. She glanced over her shoulder to see the enraged leghorn rooster dancing around behind her.

“Ready?” the man asked, his hand on the latch.

MG nodded, dodging around Robespierre’s forays. “Don’t let the rooster out, okay?”

“No ma’am,” he rumbled, then pulled up the latch and opened the gate slightly. MG darted through, then turned to see him pull the gate closed behind her before Robespierre could adjust, flipping the latch across.

“Got yourself a mean one there.” He gave her another slow grin that suddenly made her toes curl.

She nodded. “He’s got attitude.”

“Joe LeBlanc.” He extended his hand in her direction.

MG blinked. “Pardon me?”

The grin became slightly dry. “My name. Which you requested.” 

Okay, sounds good, doesn't it? Well, having read this one, I can honestly say I could not put it down. I had forgotten how much I love visiting Konigsberg, but one chapter into this one, I was caught up in the life of this Texas town, with all of its many intriguing characters, some of them old friends, and some new ones as well. 

The lead characters are a delight. What I like most about Ms Benjamin's characters is that they aren't these perfect, iconic beings, but real, down to earth folks, with flaws and quirks and insecurities, just like most of us. MG and Joe are no different, and I enjoyed getting to know them both, along with the supporting cast: even the chickens in this one have distinct personalities.

Of course, there are bumps in every road, and both MG and Joe have secrets in their pasts, and yet both are able to face adversity and push on. There are some very sweet moments, and some very hot moments as well. And the lengths MG's aunt Nedda will go to in order to try and get the farm away from MG and back where Nedda thinks it belongs - with her. Add to the tension, there is the thievery at the Rose, and who is behind all the problems in the kitchen there, and the cooking competition that gets sabotaged before it even starts, all adding up to some fast paced, can't put it down action. 

When MG and Joe finally learn each others' secrets, I enjoyed watching them work together to find the solutions to what is happening, and come out on the happy ever after side. This is an excellent addition to the Konigsberg books, and I look forward to more.

            



Healing Notes Super Book Blast



 Today is the Super Book Blast for Maggie Jaimeson's Healing Notes, A Romantic Woman's fiction book available now from Windtree Press. There are lots of blogs participating, and I will post them at the end for you to visit and increase your chances to win her prizes. Maggie is giving an autographed cover flat to one randomly drawn commenter at each stop, and one lucky person on the tour will win a $25 GC to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner's choice).


Cover Flat




Maggie Jaimeson writes romantic women’s fiction and romantic suspense with a near future twist. She describes herself as a wife, a step-mother, a sister, a daughter, a teacher and an IT administrator. By day she is “geek girl” – helping colleges to keep up with 21st century technology and provide distance learning options for students in rural areas. By night Maggie turns her thoughts to worlds she can control – worlds where bad guys get their comeuppance, women triumph over tragedy, and love can conquer all.

HEALING NOTES is the second book in the Sweetwater Canyon Series of four books.  The final two books will be available in 2013.

Website: http://maggiejaimeson.com
Blog: http://maggiemeandering.blogspot.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Jaimeson/118916694787820
Twitter: @maggiejaimeson

Healing Notes Blurb:

Forgiving yourself is the first step, but helping others forgive may be just too hard.

Rachel Cullen grew up in Scotland with a fiddle in her hand from the age of four. She couldn't imagine life as anything but a musician. When her husband brought her to America she was immediately embraced by the Celtic and Bluegrass communities. But after her divorce, Rachel's life is a mess.

A year of trying to prove to herself that she's woman enough for any man, and then a vicious rape while on tour with the band, leaves Rachel reeling. When she meets Noel Kershaw, an English teacher who is poetry in motion, she is definitely attracted. But he has a young child and he's suffering from his own divorce. The last thing Rachel needs in life is more baggage.

First, Rachel must reconcile who she is, what she wants, and how to get there. Maybe then she'll know how to be a part of the family she's always wanted.

Healing Notes Excerpt:

Claire crawled onto a stool on the other side of the island and smiled.  Neither of them talked for several minutes as they listened to the water in the pot heat.

“When I grow up, I’m going to play with Sweetwater Canyon all the time.”

“Are you sure you want to hang out with all us old folks?”

“You’re not all old. Well maybe a little old. But Kat isn’t old.”

Rachel smiled. “That’s true. She’s only seventeen.” And going on twenty-five it seemed sometimes.

“Oh, seventeen? That is old.” Claire put a finger to her lips and furrowed her brow. “How old do I have to be to play in the band all the time?”

“Probably at least eighteen.”

“But, you just said Kat—”

“Kat is different, because her mother plays in the band and can watch her all the time.”

“Well, you can watch me all the time. You can be my mother.”

Rachel gulped.

“Well, can’t you?”

“Can’t she what?” Noel walked in the room and lifted Claire off the chair in a big hug, swinging her around the room. “Can’t she what? She can do anything she wants.”

“See,” Claire leaned forward and looked at Rachel over Noel’s shoulder. “See, even Daddy thinks you can be my mother.”

“Whoa.” Noel set Claire back on the stool. “I’m not sure what I walked in on here.” He sent an accusing glance to Rachel. “You already have a mother, Claire.”

“I know. Not my real mother. My second mother. You know, like my friend, Megan. Her mommy and daddy got divorced and her daddy married a new mommy. So, Megan has two mommies now.  See?  Rachel can be my second mommy. Okay?”

Okay, this one sounds terrific, and I will post a review of it in a few weeks. I promise. Now, also as I promised earlier, here are the other blogs on the Super Book Blast. Thanks for visiting.


1. Bodice Ripper Novels
2. Sharing Links and Wisdom
3. ¡Miraculous!
4. Tina Donahue Presents
5. My Devotional Thoughts
6. Anne Patrick
7. Happily Ever After
8. Wake Up Your Wild Side
9. Kaisy Daisy's Corner
10. Vintage Vonnie
11. Freda's Voice
12. Book 'Em North Carolina
13. Live To Read ~Krystal
14. Books Are Magic
15. Welcome to My World of Dreams
16. Sandra's Blog
17. It's Raining Books
18. MK McClintock Blog
19. Sexy Adventures, Passionate Tales
20. Bea's Book Nook
21. Secrets of 7 Scribes
22. Carrie Ann Ryan's Blog
23. DanaSquare
24. Kacey's Konnections
25. The Romance Writer's Reads
26. Fantasy Pages.
27. My Odd Little World
28. Rogue's Angels
29. Western Romance and Mystery
30. A Pen and Fire
31. Novel Natterings
32. Romancing the Book
33. Wicked Readings By Tawania
34. SnifferWalk
35. Cathie Dunn writes...
36. Desiree Holt Tells All
37. Every Day Is An Adventure
38. Killer Chicks
39. Hope. Dreams. Life... Love
40. Sugarbeat's Books
41. United By Books
42. Loose the Hounds
43. The Masquerade Crew






Friday, October 12, 2012

Get "Breathless" with Breathless Press



Today I am happy to focus on five new paranormal romances from Breathless Press. There are five books to check out today: 





The Songwriter by Brooke Adams
Enchantment by Nina Croft
Wildfire by Yazmin Subha
Mage's Bane by Chacelyn Pierce
Helike Dreaming by Cat Castania 


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Book Blast for Whisper of a Witch


Today I am featuring a Super Book Blast for Whisper of a Witch by Suza Kates, a paranormal romance currently available from Icasm Books. This is a one day Book Blast, and I will be posting links to the other blogs inolved at the end of today's post.

Suza will award signed cover flats and pens to a commenter at every stop, a total of five $15 Amazon/BN GCs to randomly drawn commenters during this tour and her Name Before the Masses tour, and gift basket to one commentator from both this tourand her Name Before the Masses tour. So be sure to leave your e-mail address when you comment.

Suza Kates can’t remember a time when she didn’t love books, but two particular memories stay with her. “As a young girl I picked up Little Women, read it straight through, and promptly turned to page one to start all over again. The next book I did that with was Mind Hunter by John Douglas, tales about profiling serial killers.”


Thus a twisted romantic was born.

Throughout her teenage and young adult years, she read everything from horror to historical romance yet never imagined writing anything of her own.

It was during a long, cold winter in a tiny apartment in Germany that Suza picked up a pen and notebook to entertain herself. “The apartment was so tiny, my bed also served as my living room couch. Plus, I shared it with three cats.”

Missing the warmth, the hospitality, and the food of the South, she wrote about those things with a huge dose of family thrown in. She says she still has a sweet spot in her heart for her first book, Southern Moon, but to date, she hasn’t revisited it for submission to her publisher.

Suza followed her heart to Savannah, Georgia, and it was the gorgeous city with its moss-covered oaks and secrets of history that inspired her to consider paranormal romance. “I had an idea about sisters and magic, so I went to work on the first book of The Savannah Coven Series, Whisper of a Witch. The series is still going strong, and I am grateful every day that I took a chance on paranormal romance, a genre I wasn’t very familiar with and had never actually read before writing it.”

Suza has since joined RWA and can’t say enough about this organization. “The education and support are unparalleled. I am so grateful to all of my fellow writers who have offered advice.”

Suza still resides in Savannah and is currently working on her next book. She considers it a perfect day when she can sit at the keyboard with coffee in her cup and one of her cats purring in her lap.

www.suzakates.com

http://www.facebook.com/authorsuzakates



BLURB:


Biologist Shauni Miller, a beautiful as she is compassionate, harbors a secret that could alter her life forever. If she chooses to share it. Dr. Michael Black helps Shauni in her time of need, but sees more in the raven-haired temptress than she ever meant to reveal. He knows she’s hiding something, but then, so is he. Both Shauni and Michael have a role to play and decisions to make as a centuries-old prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. Only the fates know if they are meant to be together. Or if one of them has to die.

    Excerpt:   Willyn opened her mouth to speak, but paused and looked down at the stone floor. All of the women stilled and listened.

They sensed.

Shauni grasped Hayden’s arm just above the elbow when she felt a low but very distinctive vibration. It was more like a hum and came from the floor, the walls, possibly the ceiling. It was all around them, and judging by the others’ faces, they felt it, too. “What is that?” she whispered.

A new voice spoke gently but with the authority of one who was well acquainted with privilege and position. “What you’re all feeling is the power of the nine.”

They turned to find another had joined them. Sable brown hair fell around her shoulders and brilliant blue eyes held warmth and welcome above a serene smile. “You’ll get used to it, so that you probably won’t even notice. And it only occurs when we’re all together.” Her lips spread into a playful grin. “Just wait until we link.”

“Cool,” Kylie said. “Hey, Anna.”

Shauni remained where she was but zeroed in on the elegant woman, still very young to be so comfortable wearing the unseen but almost palpable cloak of power. “Link?”

“You know why we’re here?” Paige asked. “Because I’m ready for some…”

“Answers,” Anna finished for her. “Yes, I know.” She stepped back and swept a hand toward a door in the back of the room. An invitation. “And I have some.”



1. Books & Other Spells

2. Hesperia Loves Books

3. It's Raining Books

4. Welcome to My World of Dreams

5. My Odd Little World

Friday, October 5, 2012

It's "Meant to Be" with Karen Stivali



Today, I have invited Karen Stivali to visit, and she has answered my questions without reservation. Her new book, Meant to Be, is a women's contemporary fiction book with strong romantic elements, and was available August 26, 2012. Karen will award the winner's choice of a backlist ebook to one commenter at every stop. A grand prize of a $20 Amazon GC will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour. But before the interview and book info, here's a bit about Karen.



Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic love stories filled with sarcasm and sexy details. 

Karen has published three erotic romances with Ellora’s Cave: Marry Me (June 2012), Long-Distance Lovers (co-written with Karen Booth, March 2012) and Always You (Passionate Plume First Place Novella Winner, RWA 2012).

Karen’s first full-length novel, Meant To Be, will be published by Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012.   Its sequel, Holding On, will be released on November 26, 2012. A prequel to these novels, the short story All I Need, appears in the Foreign Affairs Anthology (Turquoise Morning Press, August 2012).

For more information about my current and upcoming projects please visit my website: http://karenstivali.com
I can also be found on:

The Writer
What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?

The best things about being a writer are getting to create characters and stories and make whatever you want happen…and having other people read what you’ve written and really enjoy what you’ve created.

The worst thing is all the waiting. Whether you’re waiting to hear back from someone reading your draft to critique it, or you’re waiting for an answer on a story you’ve submitted for publication, or you’re waiting for a contract, or your editor to get the next draft back to you, or a publishing date, or reviews, or the paper version of your book to release, as a writer you’re ALWAYS waiting for something. I’m not a big fan of waiting. But I do it, because that’s just how it works.

What inspired you to write your current release?


I was thinking about how people change over time and drift in and out of one another’s lives. I’d read the saying “people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime” and I realized that you never really know who’s there for which of those purposes. People you think will be in your life forever can wind up actually being there for a very short time. Others who you think you’ll probably only know briefly--- a co-worker, a neighbor--- may end up being significant in your life forever. That’s the premise of Meant To Be--- you never know who your “lifetime” people will be.

How important is the setting/world in your books?

Minimally. My books are all contemporary (set in modern day) stories with normal human characters, so I don’t need to do much in the way of world-building. Setting and world are only important to my stories in terms of how they help define the character and their daily lives---whether they’re in a small town or a big city---a teeny apartment or a spacious house---simple, real life issues that tell the reader about the character’s everyday world.

What drives your books? Is it the hero, the heroine, the conflict?

That varies a little from book to book. Some are more hero-driven, some more heroine-driven, and there’s always a love story driving both of them. All of my books are very character heavy. In my opinion, books need to have a plot, because stuff has to happen but if you don’t know the characters well and adore them, then you don’t care what happens to them. I fall in love with my characters then tell their story.

What is the best advice you ever got as a writer? The worst? If you could go back in time and give your beginner-writer-self some advice, what would you say?

The best advice I ever got as a writer was being told “Whatever you do, don’t put this in a drawer.” I had been submitting Meant To Be for a while and had gotten discouraged---I’d had positive feedback but kept getting told it was too hard to place because it crosses genres between women’s fiction and romance. I won a critique session with Janelle Denison, a best selling author, and after she read the first 1/3 of my book we had an hour long phone chat. She encouraged me to keep submitting it because she’d enjoyed it so much. Without her advice I might have stopped sending it out and then I wouldn’t be working with my awesome publisher, Turquoise Morning Press.

I’ve been very lucky during my writing journey and I’m not sure anyone’s ever given me horrible advice. If they did, I’ve effectively blocked it out or forgotten it.

The only thing I would tell my young writer self would be to go for it sooner. I’ve enjoyed writing since I first learned to form all the letters, but I was always hesitant (okay, terrified) to let people read what I’d written. I’d tell younger-me to get over myself, that it never stops being scary, but that’s okay---do it anyway.

Can you tell us a bit about what book(s) you have coming out next and what you’re working on now?

My next release is the novel Holding On. It’s the sequel to Meant To Be but it can be read as a standalone book. It takes place one year after Meant To Be ends.
             
I just signed a contract with Samhain Publishing on a new contemporary romance. That’s a second-chance-with-an-old-crush story and it will release in May 2013. I’m also currently writing two projects. Both are contemporary romances with variations on the friends-to-lovers theme.


The Person

When you get a chance to read, what books do you love to read?

I like books where you come away feeling like you know the characters personally. People fascinate me---fictional ones and real life ones---so I want to get to know them well and see how they interact. If there’s a love story involved, all the better. And if there’s witty dialogue, sexual tension and a happy ending, odds are I’m hooked.

What bores you as a reader?

I’m not a fan of long passages of description. I like to know what characters are thinking and feeling. Lengthy paragraphs about setting are things that tend to make me skip them, and if that happens too many times I’ll lose interest in the book altogether.

What is your favorite food and what is your guilty pleasure food?

Chocolate is hands down my favorite food, and I honestly never feel guilty about eating it. My guilty pleasure indulgence would have to be something totally sinful, like eating whipped cream, by the mouthful, sprayed right out of the can.

If you could go anywhere on a vacation where would you go?

If I had to pick someplace I’ve never been before, I’d pick Australia. I’ve always wanted to go there but have never had the opportunity. Plus I have some friends who live there who I’d love to see. For places I’ve already been, I’d choose Florence, my favorite city. I’ve vacationed there several times and adore everything about it---the architecture, the art, and oh my God, the food. That said, my favorite vacations can really be absolutely anywhere that I’m with people I love. Life is so hectic my ideal vacation is just relaxing with people whose company I enjoy and sharing great meals with them.

Do you have a secret talent?

Yes, several, and one of them is that I’m really good at keeping secrets, so unfortunately I can’t tell you the others.

What do you think is romantic? What does the word Romance mean to you?

 A million things can be romantic. Bringing someone a candy bar because you know they had a bad day. A glance across a crowded room where your eyes lock with someone else’s. Listening when the other person talks. It all depends on the situation and the people involved. Romance, for me, means something that connects two people, allows them to share a moment or a secret or an emotion and makes them feel good/cared about/special.

Randomness

Aliens have landed on the planet. What are the three things you would tell them that are great about this planet?

Books, movies and pizza.

You’ve been given the honor of naming a planet, what would you name it?

Edward. After my dad. Because he’d have thought that was goofy but really cool.

You’re having a dinner party, what five people would you invite?

I have friends who are scattered around the globe who I never get to see or share a meal with, so I’d invite five of them. They’re not famous (well, one is, but that’s not why that person would be invited), they’re just people I love and don’t get to spend enough face time with, so nothing would make me happier than to have them all at my house and cook them a fabulous meal.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to figure out a book?

In the sequel to Meant To Be I had to make sure that I had the ages of some characters correct, which included accounting for new births and the year of time that was skipped between the books. Since the two books together span about eight years, this was not an easy task. I had to recreate a timeline and go through it backwards and forward tracing the storyline and making sure I was getting it correct. My critique partner and I must have discussed it a dozen times and sometimes one of us would still say “Wait…if that was springtime then the following fall would be three years…” and I’d have to start counting all over again. Seems like it would be simple, but it wasn’t, at all. I had about 20 diagrams on my desk before I was sure it was right.

What book was the most fun to write? Which was the hardest to write?

I have to say I’ve had an inordinate amount of fun writing all of my books. If a story stops being fun for me to write, I know it’s not working and I’ll set it aside. That’s only happened once. Everything I’ve finished has been a blast.

eBooks or print forever?

I was slow to accept the e-book craze, but I have to say I love the convenience of being able to just click a button and have the book right that second. It’s also a heck of a lot easier to carry 100 e-books. That said, I adore paper books. I love browsing in brick and mortar bookstores, turning the physical pages---and I love having bookcases full of books in my house. Three of my titles will be out in paper in the next week or so and as happy as I am that they’ve been available digitally and that readers have been able to download them at a moment’s notice, I can’t wait to actually hold the paper copies in my hands.

You are offered your final meal. You can have anything you want. What would it be?
I’m a total foodie (even though I’m not a big fan of the term “foodie”), so that’s a tough question. I love all sorts of foods but have unfortunately become allergic to some of my favorites over the years. If I were offered a last meal of anything I wanted, I’d probably pick some of the things I love but haven’t been able to eat for years. A seafood buffet filled with lobster, crab and shrimp followed by a sinfully decadent ooey-gooey chocolate and peanut butter dessert.
Flash round (don’t think, just answer)

Ice cream, vanilla or chocolate?  Twist, please.
George Clooney or Brad Pitt?   Yum!
Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Aniston?  Jennifer Aniston
Steak or salmon? Steak- grilled. Salmon- smoked.
Heels or sandals? Heels.
Harry Potter or Twilight? Yes.
Dogs or cats? Have cats, love both.
Snakes or Spiders? Snakes. But still, ewww.
Beer or girly drink with umbrella? Beer with pizza, girly drink with party snacks.
Boxers, briefs or commando? Boxer briefs.
Vampire, demon or shifter? Vampire.
Mountains or seashore? Mountains to live, seashore for vacation.
Hmmmmm...I sense some indecision or just plain waffling here, but that's okay with me, I couldn't choose between George and Brad, either!!


BLURB:

Sometimes you’re already committed to the wrong person when fate finally brings you the right one.

When NYU professor Daniel Gardner’s career-obsessed wife convinces him to move to the suburbs, he hopes it’s a first step toward starting the family he longs to have. Instead of domestic bliss he finds his neighbor, Marienne Valeti. She loves her freelance design job, but must contend with a growing sense of isolation created by her husband’s indifference. A penchant for good books, bad movies, and Marienne’s to-die-for brownies sparks a powerful bond between them. Passion simmers, but they resist its lure, surrendering only in the seclusion of their minds. Their friendship helps them weather every hardship, from divorce to widowhood, leaving them both secretly wondering if it can survive a first kiss.

EXCERPT:

Daniel stopped and stared at the chocolate as it cascaded into the red enameled pot. He hadn’t realized quite how much he missed having dessert. Justine never kept sweets in the house, saying they were too much of a temptation. Other than the occasional candy bar he grabbed between classes or on his ride home Daniel almost never ate anything sugary anymore. The sight of the chocolate, creamy and inviting, made his mouth water.

“I forgot the marshmallows,” Marienne said, as she placed the spoon back into the bowl.

“I’ll get them,” Daniel said, hands extended, offering to take the bowl back into the kitchen for her.

“Thanks.” She handed it over. “And yes, you can lick the bowl.”

He laughed. It was like she’d read his mind.

He headed into the kitchen and was standing at the counter, licking the chocolate-covered spoon, when he heard someone behind him. He turned to see Marienne smirking at him.

“You look very at home licking a big spoonful of chocolate. I take it this is not your first time.”

“Hardly. My mum baked all the time and I was the official spoon and bowl licker. Good work if you can get it.”

“I know. Frank’s not big on desserts, so I’m usually the one left to clean out the bowls.”

“Well, I live right there.” He pointed toward his house with the now clean spoon. “And I’m available for all sorts of baking bowl emergencies.”


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Claiming Magique Blurb Blitz Tour


Today it is my pleasure to feature Claiming Magique, the new release by Tina Donahue for Ellora's Cave. Tina will be awarding an ebook copy from her backlist to one random commenter at each stop of the tour, so be sure to leave your email address when you comment.



Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews, chose her erotic romance Sensual Stranger as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark, Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.


Website/blog: www.tinadonahue.com



Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/

 
Blurb for Claiming Magique

A man at the center of power. A woman who won’t be ruled. They call her Magique.

Sought out by the District’s elite, she’s no ordinary call girl, deciding who will pleasure her for the evening. Her preference is for several men at once. Games of bondage and submission heighten her arousal and desire to have a strong male take her.

Hunter is only looking for a good time, not a woman who unleashes a hunger so deep it changes his world. He won’t stop until Magique is his alone, a prisoner of his lust, powerless against his growing need for her body and heart.

With this man, resistance isn’t allowed. For this woman, he’ll create a world of sensual delight and yearning like none she’s ever known.

Reader Advisory: Magique’s sensual journey includes some brief ménage and BDSM elements.

Excerpt for Claiming Magique


On the other end of the room was a wet bar. And Magique.

Hunt stepped closer, unable to help himself.

Her back was to them. She made no move to turn around despite David’s nervous throat clearing.

Her hair was glossy and black with blue highlights, worn so long the ends dangled over her ass. From his vantage point, Hunt could see her right leg. She wore strappy gold heels, three inches high. He estimated her to be about five-seven or eight without them. Her dress, a simple sheath, was of an amazing gold material, slightly shiny and so snug she might as well have sprayed the damn thing on.

It wasn’t gauzy lingerie, but it did reveal her every curve.

Adrenaline pumped through Hunt, making it difficult for him to stand still. His mouth went dry.

Her figure leaned more toward a Victoria’s Secret model than the waiflike look of high couture. The dress’s left strap had fallen down, making her seem more accessible, oddly vulnerable. Light glanced off her bare shoulder and arm as she moved, lifting a glass, tipping a bottle. Her skin was an ivory shade, looking delicate and seductive as hell.

He pulled at his tie’s knot, needing to loosen it so he could breathe more easily. The air, so fresh a moment before, seemed suffocating now. His fingers ached. He’d been making fists. To control himself? Damn right.

He longed to cross the room and turn her around so she’d notice him, her expression saying she not only approved, she wanted him more than the others, her actions affirming her reckless desire.
 
What an intriguing first peek into what is a very sexy book. Can't wait to read more. Remember to comment for your chance at one of Tina's books from her backlist.