The Entangled Gag Reel

Ever wonder what your favorite authors look like behind the scenes? Did you miss the RT conference? Well, Entangled Publishing is launching a youtube channel! Woot! And, they've released their first video---appropriately title The Gag Reel. I think you'll really enjoy this!



Don't forget to subscribe to their channel for more great fun! Uh, and yeah, I'm not one of these authors. I'm not that brave and I didn't make RT this year. :)

Make Believe Wednesdays #4

Please help me welcome another Rachel to the blog. She'd dreamin' with me today! :)

Imagination, make believe, daydreams, fantasies…yep, I have an intimate relationship with these traits. In fact, some would maybe say that I’ve perhaps embraced them a bit too fiercely.

(*grin*)

One of my earliest memories is my cute as a button three-year-old pink tutu bedecked self, imagining the entire cast of Guiding Light in the waiting room of my ballet class, watching me like I watched them with my grandmother. Okay, so maybe my television habits weren’t appropriate for a child, but that’s beside the point. And, that was just the beginning. As I grew older, more imaginary friends joined the fray, better allowing me to follow all my fantastical whims.

Whenever I played Saved by the Bell with my loving, wonderful cousin Danielle—who had the unfortunate circumstance of being born four years after me and also had to follow along with said whims—I was always Kelly, and I could always perfectly imagine Zach there, holding my hand and staring deeply into my eyes. For Full House, when I was DJ (naturally), I had Kevin Quinn and later Steve (who would later become Aladdin) right beside me. And when New Kids on the Block hit the scene, it was entirely too easy to imagine their bus breaking down outside our house and having them all fall madly in love with me. Even though I was at least nine years younger…but I digress.

Anytime I’m asked why I became a writer, or how I’m able to create my characters and imaginary worlds, I just grin and think back to that dance class, that day at the pool pretending Jordan Knight was swimming next to me, and that ride in the car with Mark Paul Gosselaar.

Those days when I was completely able to let go and let my imagination run wild shaped who I was. They gave me an escape from the world of snotty little girls and awkwardness. They made me who I am today, still embracing the world of make believe, but now doing so in a much more socially acceptable way for an adult. And I don’t know, maybe it was the early soap opera watching, or maybe it was the days of play when all the hot boys on my television fell in love with me, but my childhood even led me to the kind of writer I am. A writer who adores happy endings, falling in love along with my characters, and being elevated to a world where love and romance reigns. 

As a homeschool mom to two more budding authors who spend much of the day wrapped in their own make believe worlds, I can’t help but smile as I listen to the stories they create….and wonder if perhaps the Jonas Brothers are playing alongside them.

As a teen, Rachel Harris threw raging parties that shook her parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels. As an adult, she reads and writes obsessively, rehashes said embarrassing fodder, and dreams up characters who become her imaginary friends. When she’s not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find her homeschooling her two beautiful princesses, hanging out with her amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate. MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is her first novel. She had her own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn’t televised.

You can visit Rachel at her website www.RachelHarrisWrites.com, on Facebook www.Facebook.com/RachelHarrisYA, on Twitter (where she practically lives) www.twitter.com/RachelHarrisYA, and at Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5347676.Rachel_Harris

Dark Mercy Blog Tour

Dark Mercy Excerpt, used with permission. Copyright 2012 Zoe Winters

“A-Angeline. I haven’t seen you here in awhile.” Could he not get that schoolboy stutter out of his voice?

“I was fighting temptation,” she replied coyly.

Hadrian cleared his throat. “And did you succeed?”

“No.”

She glided closer—or floated. The length of her dress made it impossible to tell which. She stopped mere inches in front of him. He should have taken a step back, should have excused himself, but her strange eyes locked with his. They drew him in, hypnotizing him.

If he were another type of man, he would have proclaimed she was a witch putting him under a spell, but it was just as much his responsibility as hers for not moving away. It was his fault for not finding a replacement for midnight Mass.  His mind became fuzzy.

What was I just thinking about?

Her eyes pulled him in, making the rest of the room swirl around him in a slow blur. If he’d looked down to find them both floating and spinning in the air, he wouldn’t have been surprised. He was dizzy from the delicious scent emanating from her.

Her voice was a siren’s song when she spoke again. “Forgive me, Father, for I’m about to sin.”

Angeline’s mouth tasted like hot cinnamon candy as her lips descended on his. Her lip gloss left his mouth tingling. She might burn him alive with a single kiss. She chuckled as she continued her exploration of his mouth, as if he’d stated his thought aloud and she found it amusing.

Somewhere deep inside him was the place that was screaming that this must not happen, but it sounded like it was shouting from far away down a long, dark hallway, disappearing into a tinny echo. Quickly overtaking that voice was one penetrating thought that refused to release him.

I want her. I want her. I want her. I want her. The thought happened in rhythm to the beat of his heart.

Her lips left his mouth and made a burning trail over his cheek and up to the lobe of his ear. “Father Hadrian.” It was a breathy pant that held all the promise of a new universe unfolding.

He couldn’t remember what she said after that or even if she said something after that. The pounding of his own blood rushing through his ears—and other blood racing south in response to her nearness—had drowned out his ability to think or hear anything else but the lilting magic of her voice calling his name.

“Father Hadrian… ”

Her tone had gone from that of an angel to a writhing serpent as she rubbed her sinewy body against him. This was wrong. The thinking part of him clawed to get out. Something was all wrong about this, beyond the breaking of a vow. But he couldn’t form a coherent thought.

I want her. I want her. I want her.

“And you shall have me. Forever,” she said.

Had he spoken out loud? He wasn’t sure.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me right now,” he said, as her fingers slid under the Roman collar.

It startled him. His collar. Where were his vestments? There were more layers of clothing, or there had been a few moments ago. He glanced down to find the vestments somehow on the floor of the sanctuary. He started to pull away.

“No, Father. Eyes right here on mine. Stay with me.”

His gaze shifted back to her eyes and his will merged with her again. He didn’t realize his shirt was off until the air from the chilly room hit his bare chest.

“Oh, what a surprise. You must work out. Don’t be shy, Father Hadrian. It’s a crime you never get to be inside a woman with this body.”

***

My Review!

This book, again, is not for the faint of heart. This is a story of temptation, betrayel, salvation, and excorcism...but not in the way you might think. I loved Ms. Winters' vampires and her dark world. There is something very simple in this introduction. It's the basic of human nature. Lust, Fear, and Hope.

Without revealing too much, I will say that I think I like Father even more after he's stepped over...And by the end I hate his Angel, but love her too.

Intrigue? Read the book. It's a great introduction into a world I can't wait to dig into.

I give this short read a huge 5 Star Rating. You can add Dark Mercy to your TBR on Goodreads HERE!

Creating Fate Update

I'm so excited that I'm done with my revisions to Creating Fate. It is now off and in the hands of my critique partners. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have them all back and clean it up this weekend. My goal is to start sending it out to reviewers in May. :)

So, what now? Well, I'm working on a Contemporary Romance, so I'll start working all those details this week. I'm hoping to have it done by the end of May. We'll see. I'm really behind in my word count for the year, so it'll be lots of writing for this lil' mess.

I hope you guys have a great week. See you tomorrow! :)

Crimson Sunrise Cover Reveal

Crimson Sunrise…

Saari Mitchell attends a Tueri conference in Las Vegas, Nevada to strengthen her bonds with Dhelis Guidry and Brogan Vincent—and see if they can make their three-sided relationship work. But when Saari and her vampire brother Mag’s lives are threatened, her trip to paradise soon becomes a surreal fight for survival.

Dhelis and Brogan’s psychic abilities are no help in finding Saari. Desperate to save their mate, they call in favors from the psychic and preternatural community, but the information leads only to more questions. Is the threat against Saari personal or part of a larger plan that threatens every human and Tueri’s existence?

Crimson Sunrise is the second novel in the Tueri Fated Souls Series.

Said of the first novel in this series, Moonlight Bleu:

“Moonlight Bleu  by Renee Rearden is one of those ‘blow your socks off’, totally awesome, amazingly entertaining and, completely wonderful stories that make you want to yell about it, at the top of your lungs, from every roof top you can get to! Rearden’s talent is fresh and brings a new face to the world of the paranormal genre.”
           ~YzhaBella’s BookShelf

“Renee Rearden has exploded onto the paranormal fiction scene with this debut novel—Moonlight Bleu! The concepts in this novel are fresh and creative, and I look forward to seeing future developments…from an exciting new author to watch!”

            ~Digigirl’s Library


www.reneerearden.com
www.reneereardenblog.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/ReneeRearden
www.facebook.com/ReneeRearden
www.goodreads.com/ReneeRearden

Make Believe Wednesdays #3 with @michellemclean

Please help me welcome another Entangled Publishing author, Michelle McClean! :)

The majority of my play as a child revolved around make believe games. This probably had a lot to do with the fact that we only had maybe four good channels and I’d never seen a computer (and holy cow does writing that make me feel old! Lol). In any case, my siblings and friends and I were always coming up with new games to play.

            We played school (I was the teacher). Doctor (the clean version ;) and I was the doctor). Grocery Store (I was the mommy). Post Office (I was the postman). Library (I was the librarian…I’m starting to see a pattern here…). Library was especially fun for me. We’d go into my dad’s office. The back wall was one big book shelf and my friends and younger brother would gather stacks of books, bring them up to me at my “counter” and I’d scan them with a small lamp with the lamp shade removed.

            Our two favorite games though were Dukes of Hazard and Milk Monster. For Dukes of Hazard we’d use one of my parents’ vehicles, slid in the window like they did on the show, and get chased around by a pretend Boss Hog for hours. I was usually Daisy (as was my bff Melissa). My younger brother and his bff Ricky were Luke and Bo. We loved it when Daisy’s cousin joined the show because then there were girl parts for both of us girls J

            And then Milk Monster. I’ve written a picture book about this one LOL We had this big metal jungle gym in our backyard. And there were all these milk weeds that grew in the grass (those dandelion looking things; when you snap the stalk a milky sap comes out). Well, that’s where the whole Milk Monster thing came into play. So we’d climb all over the jungle gym – you couldn’t touch the ground or the Milk Monster would capture you and take you off to his dungeon (Dad’s shed). Of course, that happened repeatedly and the others would have to come rescue us. It seems awfully simple when trying to describe it now, but at the time, it was a full-on epic fantasy :)

            When I think back to my childhood and all the make believe that was going on, there really isn’t anything else I could do but grow up to be a writer :) I still live a huge chunk of my life in Make Believe Land. It’s a grand way to live :)

Michelle McLean writes historical and paranormal romance, picture books, and educational non-fiction. Her historical romance novel, Treasured Lies, will be published this winter by Entangled Scandalous. Her NF Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers (Career Press 2011) is available now. She is a contributing author on the Operation Awesome Blog and Pots & Pens Blog, has an insatiable love of books, and more weird quirks than you can shake a stick at. She is also a mom to two, stepmom to two more, and wife to one :)

Find Michelle:

Personal Blog - http://michellemclean.blogspot.com/

Website - http://www.authormichellemclean.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/michelle.m.mclean
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/michellemclean
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4253087.Michelle_McLean

New Trailer for The Carny by @brookemoss4

I'm very excited about the new trailer I finished tonight. My Entangled Pub sista' and great friend, Brooke Moss took advantage of my trailer sale this month and let me work on her book The Carny!




Be sure to let me and Brooke know what you think. I'm sure she'll be by at some point today. :)

Oh, and if this is something that might interest you, be sure to add it to your Goodreads TBR! HERE!

Sasha Summers Cover Reveal @SASHAWRITES

Give some Cover Love to my friend Sasha! :) I can't wait for this book

Blurb:

It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a monster...

Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She's no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.

Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.

Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.

"This tragic and beautiful retelling of one of the world's oldest stories tackles the eternal battle between duty and happiness. Medusa, A Love Story broke my heart then filled in the cracks with joy. Sasha Summers is simply a mesmerizing new talent." ~Stephanie Dray, Author of the critically acclaimed Song of the Nile                                                                                                                      

Webpage/blog: www.sashasummers.com

Twitter

Facebook Page

Pinterest

Add this book to your TBR and get ready for some bit of amazing! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13498668-medusa-a-love-story

The Last Girl by @Kitty_Thomas Review & Excerpt

Please help me welcome Kitty Thomas to the blog! I've had the pleasure of reading The Last Girl and will be posting a short review after her Excerpt. I hope you'll enjoy. Oh, and isn't the cover, dreamy??!?  

The Last Girl excerpt used with permission, copyright 2012 Kitty Thomas

I feel absurd being a nineteen-year-old virgin, a fossil from another time. Part of me is just glad to do the deed and get the fucking thing over. I feel like I’ve got a white V emblazoned on me, or as if I give off some type of scent. I don’t like the idea that something that should be private feels as if it’s somehow being broadcast.

I open the door a little bleary-eyed, my hair still mussed from oversleeping.

“Did I wake you?”

He’s got this stupid grin on his face. And flowers. I want to smack him. I know this is all because I’ve decided to give in and put out after three months of dating. I feel like I should love him if I’m going to do this.

I run my hands self-consciously through my hair.

“You look great,” he says, holding out the flowers.

No I don’t. I know it. He knows it. He’s just so happy to be getting laid tonight that he’s seeing me through horny-guy glasses. I’m still too sleepy to be annoyed.

I put the flowers in a glass of water and slip some flip flops on. It’s Southern Florida. Flip flops are a year-round joy here.

He’s got something romantic planned at the beach. Black cloth goes over my eyes as we get out of the car—a blindfold. I almost panic, but then I realize if I make a fuss, it will invite questions I can never answer. So I smile shakily and allow him to lead me down to the beach. My flip flops are still in the car. I breathe slowly in and out, listening to the waves crash against the shore, inhaling the crisp, salty scent of the sea, feeling the instability of sand collapsing beneath my feet.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back. I’ve got to get a couple of things.”

I try not to be in that dark closet. I try, but I can’t help it. I’m there again, my eyes squeezed tightly shut, silently begging not to be found, not to be killed. A hand is on my arm again, leading me away and I come out of the fog, remembering I’m here with Devon. Everything’s okay.

“Where are we going?”

“Shhh”

My heart starts to hammer faster in my chest. Then it pounds and vibrates in my head. My entire being is one rapidly thudding heartbeat with no slowdown in sight. Something is wrong here, but I can’t make myself remove the cloth from my eyes.

You’re being ridiculous. It’s just Devon. He has a surprise.

I find myself in the passenger seat of a car. It’s not Devon’s car. I just know. Even blindfolded I know. This is the point where I should rip the scrap of fabric off and run. There is no evidence this person has a weapon, and he or she hasn’t spoken to me yet. But before my hands can move to the blindfold, the driver’s side door is shut and the car has started.

It’s so fast, I assume there must be more than one person involved. Tears gather and absorb into the thick cloth covering my eyes. Terror freezes me, keeping me from taking off the blindfold, from trying to leap out of the car that’s moving too fast now anyway. I’m suddenly thirteen again. The dream is real, and I believe that if I don’t see them, they won’t kill me.

I’m silent and they are silent. The only sound is the wheels scraping against the rough road and the occasional bump. My tears are coming harder now. Why can’t I fight back? Scream? Beg? Try to escape? Just take the fucking blindfold off! But I can’t do it. I may as well be tied up because I’m so scared I don’t know what to do or what to think.

A little while passes and the car stops. Again, too fast for me to react, my door is open and someone is helping me out. How many are there?

I cringe away but find my feet moving in the direction I’m being led. “Don’t hurt me. Please.”

Then I feel stupid. What if it’s Devon? What if this is part of some stupid frat thing he’s gotten himself into? It would be just like him to combine my deflowering with a secret frat party or something.

I expect someone to start giggling or say I’m a spaz, but fingers gently grasps my wrist, lifting my hand. I feel the planes of his face as he guides me to see him. I shake my head in disbelief.

No.

I was good. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t tell anyone anything. This can’t happen. I did what I was supposed to do. But it’s him. It’s my nightmare.

“I missed you, Juliette.”

Christian.

MY Review!

This is my first Kitty Thomas book and I wasn't sure what to expect from the cover. Dark and sensuous? Probably. Disturbing and horrific? Maybe. Well, it was Darkly Disturbing and Sensuously Horrific. And I mean that in the best way.

I read this novella in one sitting. Couldn't put it down. Holy smokes, couldn't put it down. Now, does that mean that everyone will like it? No. Probably not. There is an abusive element to the relationship that has a romantic twist at the end, and somehow I found myself completely rooting for the beastly Christian. Hoping, with all hope that he'd find his heart again.

I can't tell you too much without giving much away, but...if you are looking for something very different, something that will make you consider the other side of reality...then this is definitely the right read for you.

I adored it and give it 5 Solid Stars! :)

Keep reading for more fun!

Purchase HERE!

Kitty Thomas

Kitty Thomas writes dark literary fiction that explores power dynamics and sexuality (back in the olden days people called it erotica). This work is fiction and meant for an adult audience. The author does not endorse or condone any of the behavior carried out by characters in her stories.

Her work is not “erotic romance”. Often on some level it is about love and/or obsession. Often the couple in some way ends up “together”, but the work should not be expected to follow the conventions of any type of genre romance, erotic or otherwise. If you are looking for genre romance (erotic or otherwise), please read a different author. Erotic romance is “more explicit romance”. This is something different.

Inspiration for Kitty’s work comes from many sources including Story of O, Nine and a Half Weeks, and the work of Claudia D. Christian.




This is where you can find Kitty
Blog/Website
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon

Don't forget to subscribe to Kitty's newsletter by sending an email to kittythomas29@gmail.com with the word subscribe in the subject line, Kitty runs amazing contests for her followers!

Updates, Working, and the Inspirational @SillyJillyStein

Hey everyone. I've had a lot of guests on lately and just wanted to give you a quick update. Creating Fate is coming along nicely. I'm really very happy with the way this story is falling together. It's been a while since one has fallen into place without any hiccups. :)


The day job has been busy and great as usual. I learn so much everyday from the folks I work with. Seriously.


Hmmm...Next on my plate is Jillian's story. It's a total contemporary romance and makes me squeal everytime I work on it. Mostly because the inspiration is from my very fave @sillyjillystein. If you're not following her, you so should. :)


Well, that's pretty much it for me right now. Writing/Working/Raising kids/Working/Revising/Writing/Reading/etc.....


What's up in your world? Come on, give me those updates!

Make Believe Wednesday--#2 with @AngelPerch

Please help me welcome, Sarah Gilman to the blog today! She's taken on the challenge of sharing her personal make believe stories. Oh, and there are some good ones. I think my fave was the shopping bag parachutes. :)

***

I was a kid long before cell phones and social media. Computers existed…games involved multiple black floppy disks that you had to switch around. While I admit to spending a lot of time on that old Apple, I spent more time outside and in worlds created by gray matter.

I grew up in Vermont, which meant my friend Vanessa and I played outside more often than not. It also meant lots of near death experiences involving bikes and red wagons and mountains—yes, we got airborne. A lot. But when we weren’t courting certain demise at the hands of physics, we occupied our time doing what we had to do to make our Vermont childhoods a little more entertaining.

Like hunting leprechauns. We did catch a few of those buggers.

We also found a ton of golden horseshoes. The quest to find all the shoes involved trekking all over a sprawling horse farm, finding clues in the mud or snow.

When there weren’t any leprechauns or golden horseshoes to find, we’d go swimming in the pond or the river, where we became mermaids or seahorses. In the event of a vacation to Florida, we’d introduce ourselves to the girls we met by the pool with our mermaid names.

When swimming got boring, we’d head to the sandpit. (Not a sandbox…imagine a two-story tall, forty-five degree or steeper cliff of sand dug out of a slope by large construction equipment.) We’d run and jump off the top of that sucker, pretending to fly (see courting certain demise, above), sometimes with shopping bags as parachutes, sometimes with just our arms spread.

We scared ourselves silly watching Garfield in the Rough, repeatedly. We saw the panther’s glowing eyes outside the living room window, and hid under my father’s desk (*looks at desk*… We were that small? OMG).

A different friend and I had a game that was a little…creepier. The elementary school playground had a large, empty field adjacent to some private homes. The teachers discouraged us from going to that end of the field, but we did, anyway. We had to check out the snake grave (a tall, thin stone common in rural areas as old property markers)! However, we had to run back and touch the pavement, or the snake ghost would catch us.

And there was my cousin. On Christmas, we’d become blind cats and crawl back and forth through the wrapping paper that covered the living room floor, making as much noise as possible. In warmer !

Today, I write paranormal fiction. I still live in Vermont—and there still isn’t anything better to do! J Thanks for having me today, Rachel!

Sarah Gilman started her first novel in third grade. She never finished that story, but never gave up the dream. Her fascination with wings also began at that age, when images of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis captured her imagination and never let go. Now a paranormal romance writer, she employs her love of writing to bring the allure of winged creatures to the pages of her novels. Sarah lives in Vermont with her supportive husband and two spoiled cats. Find Sarah around the web:
Twitter: AngelPerch

Blogs: Sarah Gilman Books. Sarah also contributes to the The Naked Hero blog

***

“Lovely, powerful, and soaring…a thoroughly delightful debut.”
- Laura Bickle, author of EMBERS and SPARKS

In a violent world where fallen archangels are hunted for their valuable plumage, Wren knows one thing for certain: the human woman who saved him from a poacher attack will die if she stays with him. The demon responsible for his parents’ gruesome deaths two decades ago pines for the chance to rip apart any woman who stands under Wren’s wing.

Wren doesn’t expect Ginger to stay by his side once she discovers his ability to drain life with a mere touch, yet she lingers. When an unusual talent of her own reveals the location of Wren’s father, Wren’s isolated world implodes. With the help of the demon protectors he’s sworn never to trust again, Wren risks everything to rescue his father, confront the demon who stalks his and Ginger’s every step, and claim his eternity with the most courageous woman he’s ever known.

Laura Kaye's WEST OF WANT Preview & PrizesEvent

I'm very excited to host fellow Entangled Publishing author, Laura Kaye today! She's having some fun with prizes in preperation for her yummy new release.

Happy WEST OF WANT Preview & Prizes Event, everyone! Today, April 10, was the original release date for Book 2 in my Hearts of the Anemoi series, West of Want. And then some really cool things happened: my publisher, Entangled Publishing, signed a huge deal with the nation’s biggest book distributor, which means for the first time ever, my books will be shelved in brick-and-mortar bookstores. And then, West of Want received a very nice pre-sales estimate by the booksellers and Barnes and Nobles bought it for all their stores nationwide (and it got bought for airports, too—squee!). The only bad news in this whole scenario was this: the release date got pushed back, by three LONG months! LOL So, I thought I’d celebrate the original release date with a preview of the book and a big contest, and give you a small taste to whet your appetite until the actual release date arrives.

"Laura Kaye’s captivating writing and vibrant world-building will have readers hooked on the gods of the Anemoi. WEST OF WANT is steamy, spellbinding, and a must-read for all romance fantasy fans."

~Elisabeth Naughton, author of the Eternal Guardians series

Forty sites are celebrating with me today, and there are different posts at those different sites. To see the whole list of participants, click here. Now, without further ado, here’s the book blurb and one of four different never-before-seen excerpts from the book available for you to enjoy:

WEST OF WANT BLURB:

Betrayal is all he's ever known, but in her, he'll find a love strong enough to be trusted...

When Marcella Raines' twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she's gravely injured--and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce--Ella fights to survive.

Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn't protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he's sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph's heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her.

Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting...everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want--a love that can be trusted.

WEST OF WANT EXCERPT:

Zeph’s arms gripped her tighter, yanking her fully against him. The rigid line of his erection pressed into her belly. “You don’t understand how much you intrigue me.” His head dropped so his lips caressed her ear. “You don’t understand how much you attract me. You’re in my head. All the time. You make my heart beat faster, my body ache with want.” He kissed the shell of her ear and moved sinuously against her.

Her body came alive, tightening, opening, preparing. Ella gasped as he nipped and licked down her neck.

Then he growled. “What is this?” He tugged at the fleece collar around her neck.

“What?” she asked, trying and failing to keep up through the haze of lust.

“This…is this a man’s shirt?”

Ella looked down. “Oh, yeah.”

“I cannot abide it.” His mouth dropped open and the dark blue of his eyes flared. “Please,” he rasped.

Ella frowned. “I don’t understand,” she said, but she stepped back enough to pull the fleece over her head. She tossed it to the futon. “It was just my br—”

Zeph’s mouth crushed to hers. His big hands buried in her hair. He pursued her, devoured her. His passion overwhelmed and overpowered. She stumbled back a half step here and there, until

her shoulders hit the hallway wall.

Male spice filled her nose and tantalized her taste buds. Jesus, she couldn’t get enough of him. She met him kiss for kiss, stroke for stroke. She sucked his tongue until he groaned deep in his throat, and then she did it again.

He grabbed her hands in one of his and braced them over her head, against the wall. He pulled away from the kiss, but kept their faces pressed together. They were both panting, chests heaving, their clothing wet everywhere they touched. He stroked her face, her neck. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…I…” He pressed his lips to her cheek. “I couldn’t stand seeing another man’s belongings on you.”

Pre-order West of Want on Amazon | B&N

So, what d’ya think? Want more Zephyros and Ella? Visit more participating sites to read all the excerpts, meet the characters, see the the West of Want romance trading cards, and enter to win! Thanks for reading! July 10 can’t get here soon enough for me! *grins*

~Laura Kaye

“Using ancient winter mythology as an allegory for grief, Kaye has written a sexy story that packs a powerful emotional punch. NORTH OF NEED is pure winter magic and Kaye’s sparkling talent warms the heart.”

~Stephanie Draven, author of the Mythica series about

multi-award-winning Book 1 in the Anemoi series, North of Need

WEST OF WANT PREVIEW CONTEST!

Seven participants who enter through the Rafflecopter form will win gift cards from winners’ choice of Amazon or B&N valued between $15 and $100! Those prize winners will be announced on West of Want’s release day, July 10, 2012. As a special thank you to those who have pre-ordered the print West of Want through Amazon or B&N, you'll receive extra entries - just enter your order confirmation number on the appropriate Rafflecopter line. Pre-orders are hugely important for an author because they determine how many books bookstores will actually stock andthey count toward an author’s first-week sales which is when most authors have their best chance to hit the big bestseller lists. However, pre-orders/purchases are not required to enter. Commenting is the only required entry. Open to international.

One commenter from each participating blog site will win a West of Want bookmark and the romance trading cards for North of Need and West of Want. Simply comment to enter to win and be sure to leave your email address. These prizes will be announced soon after May 10. Open to international.

About Laura Kaye:

Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is a bestselling and award-winning author paranormal and contemporary romance. Hearts in Darkness is the EPIC eBook Award Winner for Best Novella, Forever Freed won the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Greta & The Goblin King--Cover Reveal

COMING NOV 13, 2012

ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR NOW!

BLURB

While trying to save her brother four years ago, Greta was thrown into the witch’s fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon.


To survive, seventeen-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape.


But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back…

Barnes and Noble pre-order

Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she'd at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers.

Additional links to Chloe’s pages:

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All I can say about this cover is, "Wow! Take me to the Goblins!" Entangled Publishing has once again given us an amazing cover. :) Congratulations, Chloe. To my readers: What's your favorite aspect of this cover? I'd love to know.

Blog Stopping (not hopping) with Rue Allyn

I have a lovely new to me author on today! Rue Allyn is here to share a tiny tidbit about her new release and I'm off to check out her last release! Woot! :) Enjoy the spicy excerpt at the end.


I want to thank Rachel Firasek for inviting me to stop at her blog a while during my whirlwind blog tour. Blog hopping is all well and good, excellent even, when free books are involved but sometimes it’s nice to rest a bit and enjoy a short detour, smell the virtual roses so to speak. One of those roses is my April 1, erotic romance, Off Limits, from Red Sage Publishing. Admittedly I’m biased, and even my characters (hunky Senior Chief Hank O’Mara and hottie Lieutenant Bethany Morton) might object to what they think is a wussy metaphor. However, I believe I could persuade them that a rose does not a wuss make just because it’s beautiful and smells sweet. Those thorns can do serious harm at the same time making it impossible to let go. To prove my point, I toss Hank and Beth into an emotional bed of roses (thorns and all). Below is a small early sample of the thorny problems Hank and Beth will confront on their way to a Happily Ever After. You can find more information about Off Limits at Red Sage and the Rue Allyn websites.

Short Bio for Rue Allyn:

I wrote my first story around the age of five and read my first romance at the age of eight. I’ve been in love with being in love ever since. I’m happily married to my sweetheart of many, many years. We share the home of two cats, who condescend to allow me to feed them and clean their litter box. They occasionally permit me to pet them but demand my love and attention as their right. I am in awe of their feline ability to dominate with half a glance or a mere twitch of tail. I am insatiably curious, an avid reader and traveler. I love to hear from readers about your favorite books and real life adventures. I also love my work. Seriously, what could be more fun than sharing love and adventure with all your friends. That’s what I do when I write and publish a story. I’m delighted you are here to join me in the love of reading and writing.

Off Limits excerpt

He started to peel off his shirt. Time to swim for shore and retrieve the dinghy.

“Am I too late?”

Hank nearly jumped out of his skin. I am not happy to hear her voice. He wiped surprise off his face and turned around. “Lt. Morton.”

“It’s Bethany. We’re out of uniform and off base. So we can be friends. No rank, right?”

Hank blinked at her where she sat, leaning over to secure the dinghy to the buoy. She sure was out of uniform. The hot pink tank suit didn’t look like any Navy issue he’d ever seen. He clenched his teeth and tried not to pant. The suit left very little to the imagination. “Hank,” he said. He reached out his hand and held her stare. “I ’spose we can be friendly, Slugger.”

It was the wrong answer. The UCMJ strictly forbade fraternization between officer and enlisted personnel, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. He knew the Navy would turn a blind eye as long as their relationship stayed off base, off duty, and out of sight.

His mind drifted to that kiss, that one too hot, too short, soul soaring on a wind of need kiss, and his body reacted instantly. The feel of her in his arms, her breasts warm against him, her lips urging him on. How he’d broken away he didn’t know. In that moment she’d become like the sea in his blood. Without the sea he’d wither and die. Without Bethany…? It was way too soon to be thinking like that, besides she was out of his reach both by background and by law.

Unease rocked in his belly. Sneaking around, breaking family rules—Navy rules—was wrong, just wrong. As an officer, Lt. Morton inspired loyalty and adherence to the strictest standard. As a woman…breaking rules to have a woman like Bethany was a man’s duty. How often did a woman like her cross his path? He wasn’t a rule-breaker by nature—he considered himself to be smarter than his gonads—he could get through one afternoon with her. After that, forget it. He’d make sure he never saw her alone again. He swiped his hands over his cutoffs.

“So, how about it? Are we going to take this beauty out for a spin?” She asked.

Something was spinning all right, but Hank knew it wasn’t the beauty with him, woman or boat. “Why not? There’s plenty of daylight left.”

“Great.” She tossed her small duffel onto the cat’s trampoline then leapt lightly aboard. “I’ll stow my gear and start rigging the jib.”

“Sure.” He pulled the mainsail out of the bag he’d just finished stuffing the cloth into. He watched Beth secure her duffel to the mast, while he rigged the mains’l.

Completely at ease, Bethany finished hoisting the jib and tied off the sail’s halyard. Hank moved lightly to the stern of the cat and settled by the tiller. Beth shifted to the bow to slip the bowline from the buoy ring. He watched her cast off then make her way back to the crew station with feline grace.

She teased the jib sheet the way a woman might tease a man with short pull and release strokes that maintained perfect tension while adjusting for changing conditions. She worked as a part of the sail, moving in sync with the wind to hold the boat at top speed.

Every other date, Hank had taken out on the cat—and there hadn’t been that many—had worked hard at sailing, even those who professed to like it. Not this woman.

Bethany played, had fun with every slap of wave. She grinned at the drenching spray. She laughed when a gust picked one hull out of the drink, then let go and dropped her down hard.

The resulting spray soaked her suit highlighting her chill pebbled nipples. Hank’s mouth went dry. The water seemed as much Bethany’s home as Hank’s. He felt a twinge of jealous unease. His two women shouldn’t get along so well.



Other Books By Rue Allyn:

New To Me Authors-Sasha Summers

I think I'm going to make Fridays be my Introduce a New Author to you! I'll sneak onto sites and snitch the bios. :) Then share. Woot! Here's our first new author to experience together. I had her on earlier this week for her Cover Reveal of Hollywood Ever After. So, please enjoy Sasha Summers and if you want, go hunt her down and tell her about the blog. :)


I’m a writer. 2011 ended on a super high note for me. I’m going to be published!

Crescent Moon Press will be publishing Medusa, A Love Story AND For the Love of Hades. Available in both ebook or in print. *SIGH*

My series, Loves of Olympus, recounts several known, and some not-so-known, Greek myths. But my versions enter the ‘what if’ territory, with a heavy dose of romance and amped up tragedy. I love what I write. And I’m delighted to have found a press that loves what I write too!

Hollywood Ever After, my steamy contemporary romance will be released July 21, 2012 by InkSpell Publishing! Happily, InkSpell releases both digitally and in print. I guess you could say I’m on a roll. Here’s hoping it keeps on going… and going! I’m already at work on Book 2, a yummy follow-up with two characters from Hollywood Ever After. Let the fun begin.

Stories are powerful things. Whether reading/writing a book or watching a film, I love it when my heart picks up, I’m scared senseless or my insides turn to jelly.  The word, whether spoken or read, is such a miraculous thing! I feel supremely privileged when something I’ve written affects a reader. I hope my stories will find their way into your hands and, hopefully, what you read will touch you in some small way !

I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Dallas Area Romance Authors, the Austin Romance Writer’s Association, Future, Fantasy and Paranormal RWA and the one and only Shake a Spear Critique Group. Yes, I love my RWA community

Have questions, thoughts or an interest in writing, or how to get started? Let me know &  Thanks for visiting my Blog.

In addition to writing and reading I’m a bit of a movie addict. I tend to post a LOT of reviews and commentary on all things film. I’ve a wealth of information and knowledge on most films – their actors, directors, scores, and other useless bits of Hollywood trivia.



You can find me, Sasha Summers, on Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the group blog: Plotting Princesses. Please ‘like’, ‘follow’,  and ‘friend’ me – and Thank You!

My Publishers:

Sunshine Award, Me?

I'm nominated for a Sunshine Award!

The author of one of my very fave contemp rom books ever, nominated me for the Sunshine Award, and on top of that, she's letting me crit for her newest adventure! Woot! If you don't know, Brooke Moss, you are missing out on one of the funniest people I know.

Here are the rules for the game:

1. Include the award logos in your post or in your blog

2. Answer 10 questions about yourself (Any ten questions will do, though I stuck with Brooke's questions, mostly because I was rushing to get this in.)

3. Nominate 10-12 other fabulous bloggers

4. Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blog, letting them know they are nominated.

5. Share the love and link the person who nominated you.

What is your favorite color? Oh, I love black. I'd wear it all the time, except my hubs gets annoyed and claims that people often ask him who died. :)

 

 

What’s Your Favorite Animal? Oh, this is going to get people angry, but I'm not an animal person. I don't like any kind. Here's the irony: we have 18 sheep, 3 dogs, and 1 goldfish.

 

 

Do you have a nickname, and what is it? I had the normal nickname of Rae, and Rach (which I hate), but when I married, my hubs had a different idea of pet name for me. He gave me the names, Raebob and Raycharles and sometimes demon. :)

What’s your favorite non-alcoholic drink? I'm not a big drinker either! :)

Starbucks, Mocha Frap all the way!

Favorite day of the week? As weird as this will sound. Monday's are my fave day. I'm a workaholic and the idea of tackling a new workload gives me all kinds of shivers.

Do you have a plan for the zombiepocalypse? If you can't escape a zombie, there is something seriously wrong with you. I mean, come on. If Woody Harrelson and those kids can figure out a way to find twinkies and an amusement park, then we should all be okay.

What is it? I'm going to wack the people running around screaming in hysteria and leave them to feed the masses.

Do you prefer Twitter or Facebook? Twitter. :) I'm a tight writer. So this is great practice.

What’s your favorite TV show? SWAMP PEOPLE I have a serious crush on Troy's accent. Oh, and I like to watch them wrestle those monsters.

What’s your favorite book? I have about a million. It's always the latest best read. I just finished Inhale by Kendall Grey, so for now, that's my fave. :)

 

 

So here are my nominees:

 

Kendall Grey---Because she gave me a story full of everything I love.

Lynn Rush---Because she just might be the nicest person I know.

Keta Diablo---This is a way cool author with some serious style and talent.

Kinley Baker---for making me love fantasy.

Rachel Harris---because I can't wait to read her YA! :)

Caridad Pineiro---This is an author that always has a smile for a friend.

Hildie McQueen---She's just awesome!

D. F. Krieger---one of my first Facebook author friends.

Lisa's World of Books---I'd be lost without her.

Rhonda---She checks on me when I'm lost.