Category Archives: Excerpt

Excerpts posted by guests on this blog.

Dec 13 2011

Louisa Masters with Inter-Office Relations

Ah, the dreaded interview. Some authors cringe while others seem to embrace it like breathing. I’m happy to say that today’s guest falls into the latter category. When Louisa Masters and I first starting conniving, I mean collaborating, I mentioned interview and she jumped at the chance. Naive or glutton for punishment?  I dunno, but I think she’s a natural. (wink) Here’s what Louisa had to say in our recent “chat” about writing and her new novella, Inter-Office Relations.

All right, Louisa, when did you start writing?

Hee—there’s an interesting question! I started telling stories as soon as I could talk. It took a while for me to understand the difference between truth and storytelling! When I learned to write, my parents encouraged me to write my stories down. Things snowballed from there.

How long did it take you to finish your current book?

With my day job interfering, about a month. Of course, it helps that it’s a novella! That’s not including the extensive editing that comes after, of course. I hate that part, but I wouldn’t have a readable story without it.

Yep. Edits. :P Who’s your favorite character in this book and why?

I have a soft spot for Tim. When I wrote Inter-Office Relations, I had a tiny crush on a guy I was working with at the time, and Tim is (loosely) based on him. The crush passed, but the fond feelings remained. And no, I never did any of the things in the story with that guy!

Uh-huh. LOL The road to publication is long and tedious for most, what would you do differently if you could start over?

I’d start networking a lot earlier. Not only are the connections great for promo, but the support and creative mojo you get from other like-minded authors and readers is essential. I couldn’t do without some of the people I’ve met over the past twelve months. Big shout out to the ladies at RWA Online!

What’s your favorite kind of hero and why?

Strong, with a vulnerable edge. I don’t want a superhero, I want a regular man with weaknesses as well as strengths. He will, of course, be amazingly sexy in his own special way—the sexiest man I met was ugly as sin, but smelled incredible.

Heroine?

She’s not allowed to be perfect! The perfect heroine—beautiful, intelligent, kind, talented at everything she tries, and universally adored—makes my teeth hurt! I want to read—and write—about people that I could conceivably meet one day, and be friends with. So a heroine with some faults, but still eminently likeable, is what I like best. I think Jeannie from Inter-Office Relations fits this mold. She’s a nice person, good at her job, and hopelessly in lust with her friend and colleague. She’s too insecure to ask him out, but when the chance comes to proposition him without losing face…

Mmmm, sounds intriguing. What’s your favorite type of romance?

If you mean genre, then this is impossible to answer! In general, it has to have a happy ending. Romeo and Juliet is not a romance, it’s a tragedy!

Amen!!

Otherwise, I’ll read any kind of romance, provided there’s a real give-and-take relationship between the hero and heroine. And I hope that’s what I write!

If you could talk to any author alive or dead who would it be?

Nora Roberts is my idol, mostly because of her discipline. I’m a champion procrastinator, and I truly admire people with the kind of discipline that allows them to turn out that many books per year. Plus, I love her writing.

Well, I think I’ve  made everyone wait long enough. Please, Louisa, tell us about your book! :)

Have you ever had a crush on a colleague and wished you could pull them into the photocopy room and have your wicked way with them? That’s how Jeannie feels about Tim…

With her resignation submitted, Jeannie Price has one last task she’s itching to perform before leaving her job. After months of sitting next to hot, sexy colleague Tim Harding, it’s time to turn fantasy into reality with a scorching invitation to collaborate on matters of the flesh in Conference Room B. Then she can walk away without regrets.

Tim’s dreams of wild, sweaty sex with Jeannie come true when he accepts her offer, but he’s stunned to learn she doesn’t want to see him again after their steamy tryst. She may be trying to brush him off as just one more item on her To-Do List, but he’s determined to convince her there’s nothing taboo about inter-office relations.

Hot-cha-cha! And here’s an excerpt!:

“Do you want to have sex in Conference Room B?”

Tim Harding jerked his head up from the cost analysis on his computer screen. Jeannie Price was leaning on the partition between their desks, her dark eyes fixed on his face. He took a moment to admire them as he pondered her words.

“Is this a hypothetical question?” he asked finally. “Because—”

“It’s not a hypothetical question. It’s an invitation.”

Her words slammed straight to his cock. Was she joking? Had she guessed that she was the star of his late-night fantasies? He’d even pictured taking her in the office—okay, he’d imagined the boardroom, but he was flexible.

He swallowed, hard, his cock twitching. She’d been very flexible when he imagined her on his balcony. And in his shower. And…

“I’ll tell you what,” she said. “I’m going to be working in Conference Room B for the next half hour. You think about it, and if you decide to join me…” She shrugged, and her long brown hair slid forward, drawing his eyes to her breasts. In his dreams, her hair flowed over her naked breasts, her nipples peeking through the locks, and when he drew her down over him, it would swing forward, surrounding them like a silken tent…

She straightened, gathered up her laptop and notepad, and handed him an inter-office envelope.

“This may help you make up your mind.”

He watched her walk away, the sway of her hips and the way her dress slid across her ass making him shift uncomfortably. After a whole year of working with her, he was used to being in a constant state of arousal, but that didn’t make it any easier.

She disappeared into the conference room, and he sat back in his chair. Was she serious? Or was he going to walk in there and find half the office waiting, ready to point and laugh? He shuddered at the thought. No, Jeannie wasn’t like that. That was actually part of the problem. If she wasn’t so nice, and friendly, and incredibly fun to be with, he probably could have overcome the sexual thing by now.

Yeah. Right.

He looked at the envelope in his hand. Help him make up his mind?

He ripped it open.

The first thing to fall out was a strip of condoms. A whole strip? He could work with that.

The second was a piece of fabric. Frowning, he picked it up, then dropped it when he realized what it was.

Panties.

He stood up so fast his chair slammed into the partition behind him.

He didn’t care.

Condoms in one hand, panties in the other, he was already halfway to Conference Room B.

Wow! And if you think that was hot, check out the cover! Holy-schmoly!!

Inter-Office Relations is now available from The Wild Rose Press. You can buy it here.

I’ll be giving one lucky commenter a copy of Brodie’s Bride by Amie. (Whoop!)You have until midnight Wednesday before I make my choice! And don’t forget to check out my other blog visits this month at www.louisamasters.com

Big thanks to Amie for having me today!

Louisa

xxx

And a big thanks right back to Louisa for coming to visit and another thanks to everyone who stopped by!

Lots of <3–Amie

Dec 9 2011

Jennifer Jakes-Twice in a Lifetime

If you’ve been around me any in the last couple of months, you probably already know that I am OBSESSED with self-publication. So whenever the opportunity arises where I get to talk with someone who has taken that plunge, I start drilling them with questions. Last week, that poor soul was Jennifer Jakes, author of the award winning Rafe’s Redemption. She has recently released her own self-published novella, Twice in a Lifetime. So, of course, being Wild Rose Press authors as well, I had to ask her (read grill her incessantly) about her journey into the growing world of self-publishing.

Amie:  Jennifer, I admire your bravery and dedication! I’m sure there are a lot of writers out there who are interested in self-publication but don’t know where to start. (namely, me!) I’d love to hear anything you’d like to share about your self-publication experience. And of course I want to pick your thoughts a little as well! Here we go…

When did you decide to take the self-pub plunge?

Jenn:  I’ve been kicking the idea around for about 6 months – my main thought being it would be a great avenue for novella length stories.

Amie:  Is your book available in print as well as in e-formats?

Jenn:  No, but only because it’s 40 pages.

Amie:  How did you find the printer?

Jenn:  If you are going to sell on Amazon – which of course you should – they offer a service (CreateSpace) to get your story to print.

Amie:  Tell me about the art work. who did the cover? And how much of a hand did you have in determining the final look?

Jenn:  I used Kim Killion from HOT DAMN Designs. And honestly, she does the best work. She’s even contracted with Publishing Houses to do their covers, so you know you’re getting quality. Her prices are very fair – around $125. Kim sends you a lengthy questionnaire and she will tweak the design after you get “first peek” and make any changes you decide.

Amie:  And now for the dreaded edits…who did your edits and how many reads did you have before you said, “it’s time.”?

Jenn:  LOL – I did my own edits – well, me and my Critique Partners. The 3 of them can find plot holes and typos better than anyone! I can’t recommend anyone publish something without someone taking a look at it for typos and such. It’s too hard to find stuff like that in our own writing. And that’s even after going over and over and over it. I’m guessing I read TWICE IN A LIFETIME at least 20 times. I suggest doing a final read aloud. You’ll find things you missed before.

Amie:  Tell me about the stumbling blocks.

Jenn:  Well, this one went pretty easy. But I think the reason it did is because I admitted my limitations. I am not techy, so I hired out the formatting. For $15 a woman changed my Word .doc into the formats I needed for Amazon and Smashwords. She also gave me HTML and MOBI copies, but I didn’t use those. I’ve heard of people spending days agonizing over getting the formatting right and I just didn’t want to go through that. Best money I ever spent in my opinion.

Amie:  Successes?

Jenn:  I say making the decision to hire out the formatting and the cover. If you put a lesser quality book out there – even if it’s .99 cents – you’re going to get horrible reviews.

Amie:  Things you wished you’d done differently

Jenn:  I made the decision to NOT overly pre-promo in case something went wrong. Since everything went smoothly, I wish I’d done more promotion, but it was a case of weighing the odds and I worried if the formatting didn’t look right or the sky started falling (LOL) I would have stuck my neck out at the wrong time. So I’m not sure I would do it differently because I am a cautious person when it comes to me handling technology. ;)

Well, I guess I’ve made y’all wait long enough. Here’s the blurb and excerpt for Twice in a Lifetime:

Be Careful What You Wish For. . .

No-nonsense stuntwoman Isabella Douglas will do anything to stop an unwanted divorce and reclaim the happy life she had, even allow her old friend to concoct a magical spell to turn back time. But when the spell goes awry, Izzy finds herself trapped aboard a 1768 Caribbean pirate ship with a captain who’s a dead ringer for her sexy as sin husband, Ian. Convinced he’s playing a cruel joke, she’s furious – until she realizes he doesn’t know her or believe they’re married.

Captain Ian Douglas does not have time to deal with an insane woman who claims to be his wife; he has to save his kidnapped sister. But as Izzy haunts his dreams and fills him with erotic memories he can’t explain, he’s forced to admit he feels more than lust.

Trapped in a vicious cycle of past mirroring present, Izzy knows they only have days to find Ian’s sister and prevent disaster from striking a second time. If she doesn’t, their marriage will be destroyed again – along with the man she loves.

WOW! Twice in a Lifetime sounds FABULOUS!! Here’s more…

Her fingers threaded in his thick hair as she traced his mouth with the tip of her tongue. “Kiss me.”

He hesitated, then groaned and covered her lips in a breath stealing kiss. Hot, wet, silky. Her nipples hardened, ached for his touch, the tug of his fingers, the pull of his mouth.

“Touch me.” She pressed a kiss to his throat, then licked his collarbone. “I need your hands on me.”

He grunted and slid his hands down her back. Rough palms gripped her cheeks, grinding her against his erection. His gaze burned through her as he moved his thigh between her legs.

“Yes. Please.” She tilted her hips, rubbing, needing release more than air. “Oh, God, yes.” Desire roared through her, the ache building. Building. The orgasm so . . .damned. . .close.

A sharp knock sounded at the door. “Captain? The men are ready to go ashore.”

Ian pulled back and swallowed hard, his expression hungry, his heart thumping against her breast.

“Captain?”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll be right there.” His heavy lidded gaze skimmed her body. Possessive. Aroused. Regretful as he set her aside.

Her mind crawled to process what was happening while her body was doused with disappointment. “You’re still going?”

He raked through his hair, then nodded. “We need provisions before sailing for Jamaica. I’ll only be a few hours.” He stepped to the door, but turned and pinned her with a hard stare. “But when I return . . .”

“Yes?” Her heart thumped in anticipation of some explicit description of what he would do to her. Oh, but his tongue was naughty in all the right ways.

“. . . I expect an explanation.”

Izzy drooped against the door, her thoughts racing even though her legs collapsed. This was going to be the shortest second chance in history.

Whew! Okay, Jenn (deep breath), back to business…

Amie:  Where did the story idea come from/how did it come about?

Jenn:  I had this idea of a stuntwoman sent back in time (I love time-travel historicals) and what fun it would be because she would be such a strong kick-ass heroine. So I built the story from that little seedling of an idea.

Amie:  Your favorite character?

Jenn:  Well, I always love my heroes J – but this time my favorite it Izzy, the heroine. And she’s probably the most like me than any heroine I’ve ever written.

Amie:  And the most dreaded question of all—are you going to try your hand at self-publishing again? 

Jenn:  Definitely. I’m almost finished with a Christmas Free Read, then I’m going to work on another short story – an erotic western historical twist on a classic Fairy Tale.

Amie:  Any words of advice for self-publishing hopefuls out there (like me)?

Jenn:  My advice would be start researching now – ie: join a self-publishing loop or two. The advice there is priceless! I’m on the RWA Forum Self-pub loop and a couple of Yahoo Self or Indie loops. Oh, and follow blogs that talk about self-pubbing. A good one is Writer’s Guide to E Publishing.

About the Author

After trying several careers—everything from a beautician to a dump truck driver—Jennifer finally returned to her first love, writing. Maybe it was all those Clint Eastwood movies she watched growing up, but in her opinion there is no better read than a steamy western historical.

Married to her very own hero, she lives on fifteen acres along with two beautiful daughters, three spoiled cats, three hyper dogs and one fat rabbit.

During the summer she does Civil War re-enacting and has found it a great research tool, not to mention she has continued appreciation for her microwave and hot water heater.

Visit Jennifer Jakes at www.jenniferjakes.com

Thanks so much for being here, Jennifer! Pirates *and* time-travel…doesn’t get much better than that folks! Now I’m off to buy my copy of Twice in a Lifetime.

Thanks for stopping by! <3, Amie 

Nov 29 2011

Scorpio Rising by Monique Domovitch

I love doing book reviews. Love, love. love. Not only do I get to read and write (two of my favorite things), I get to meet people I may not have met otherwise. And I sometimes get to read books that I might not have found left to my own devices. Scorpio Rising is one of those books. Now, most of you know how nosy I am, and not only did I get to read Scorpio Rising, I got to review it and interview the author! How great is that? So here she is, author of Scorpio Rising, Monique Domovitch.

Hello Amie, Thank you for inviting me to your blog. It is a real honor to be here.

And thanks for allowing me to participate in your Book Blog Tour. Now, (rubs hands together), Let’s get the standard out of the way first–where’d the idea for Scorpio Rising come from?

The idea for The Scorpio Series came to me shortly after my divorce. Like a lot of women, I was hurting and angry. By the same token, I was familiar with the world of real estate and knew some successful men whose ambitions came before all else. But for all the hurt and anger that I poured into this series, there were also many positive emotions like the hope of finding love again and the courage to build a new life.

That is not to say that this series is based on my life—not at all. It is only based on my emotions—love, hope, betrayal and others, which are universal.

What do you feel is your biggest challenge in writing a series?

My biggest challenge in writing any series is in making the characters memorable. I always strive to create people with qualities as well as flaws. I also like for the reader to know how they became they way they are, which means having to build a character’s life from birth—at least in my mind if not on the page. It’s a lot of work, but worth it. I believe that knowing a character intimately makes for a better reading experience.

Is there another book out there for Alex and Brigitte?

Right now, I am enjoying such lovely comments and reviews from my readers, many of them asking for a third installment, that I am toying with the idea of another Scorpio book.  This one would be about Richard, and I would name it The Son of Scorpio. But at the moment, I am contracted for three books with Obisidian, and I also have another four books that I am working on independently. So we would be looking at something about two or three years down the road. All I’m saying is…maybe.

What was your inspiration to self-publish?

As any author wannabe will tell you, these days it is almost impossible to get published the traditional way. I was just plain lucky to get a three-book contract with Penguin. But this luck came after a long time of trying. I wrote my Scorpio books years ago and got turned down by a couple of dozen agents. I finally found an agent, Natalie Fischer Lakosil, by submitting another novel, a chiclit titled Getting Skinny.

Do you have any advice for anyone who is interested in self-publishing?

Anybody interested in self-publishing should approach it in the same way they would approach starting a business. Starting a business, in essence, is exactly what self-publishing is. You will be competing with millions of other authors for readers to buy your book. Therefore you have to do your homework, starting with finding out what sells, what covers attract attention, which publishing formats are most successful, what marketing works and budgeting. You have to be a writer, an advertiser, a publicist and a businessperson. If those jobs don’t appeal to you, you’d better arm yourself with a heck of a good budget, because if you don’t do them, you’ll have to pay someone to do them for you…or watch your novel sink and drown.

I always want to know about the cover art. I love the vibrant colors with the black. It’s very bold. Who did the cover art and how much of a hand did you have in its actual design?

One of the most important marketing tools for any novel is its cover. I knew I wanted images representing construction, the skeletons of buildings, construction equipment, and I also wanted an artist and an easel and lettering reminiscent of a scorpion’s tail. Before choosing a background, I went to the bookstore and walked through aisle after aisle, looking at displays, trying to figure out which colors most caught my eye. I couldn’t decide between yellow and red so I came up with the yellow and red ombrée, which symbolized passion and ambition.   For the second book, which was more about the coldhearted pursuit of success, I chose a cityscape, and a large diamond on a blue ombrée background.

You’ve had the sort of life that most people cannot imagine. From modeling to televised financial adviser, how has your life experiences shaped your writing?

When I look back at my life, I recognize how incredibly fortunate I’ve been. I’ve enjoyed incredible careers, jet-setted with the rich and famous, but I’ve also had huge setbacks and heartbreaks. As I always say, I’m a lucky lady, but luck is a double-edged sword. All those experiences have formed an incredibly rich life experience, which—for a writer as for an actor—can be the foundation of their art.

What’s next for Monique Domovitch (and for Carol Ann Martin)?

Next, I am planning my Taurus series, The Eye of The Bull and Charging Bull, both set in the investment world. After ten years as an investment advisor and financial planner, I know a little about that world. And, believe me, there are lots of stories there to inspire me.

As you might have guessed by now, I’m planning to write an entire series based on Astrological personalities. I’m, however, simultaneously working on another two series, my Looming Murder Series for Obsidian of Penguin, and also my Chiclit series, the first of which, is Getting Skinny, still unsold. I’m thinking of self-publishing it in the New Year.

Thanks again, Monique, for sharing your thoughts and Scorpio Rising with us. I was fortunate enough to get to read Scorpio Rising. The full review will be posted November 30, at my review site http://www.amiesreviews.wordpress.com/ be sure to swing by and check it out.

Also, don’t forget to stop by Monique’s Blog Tour Webpage and leave a comment for a special giveaway.

http://chicklitplusblogtours.wordpress.com/authors-on-tour/monique-domovitch/

Visit Monique’s website!

Find Monique on Facebook!

Follow Monique on Twitter!

Thanks, everyone for stopping by today! Lots of <3, Amie

Oct 6 2011

Cherie Marks and her SCORCHING hot book

Months after he stole her affections—then her executive chef position—Shyann and Luke meet again under sizzling circumstances, competing head-to-head on a televised cooking show called Kitchen Twist. Each arrives with a motive: Luke intends to win back Shyann’s heart, even as she wants closure on the not-so-tasty heartbreak he once served up.

Luke knows culinary masterpieces require a delicate touch, but that knowledge is tossed out with the leftovers as he works to show Shyann he’s not such a bad guy. Now he pushes his skills to the limit to win the competition and satisfy a bet. Can two top chefs resist each other as they move out of the pan and                                                                   into the fire?

I told you it was scorching!

Here’s more–

Silence reigned for half a minute before he reached out a hand and touched hers like a breezy whisper. Her head went a little fuzzy at the warm contact. He shouldn’t still be able to affect her so strongly.

“I regret it went down the way it did, but why did you show me the exit before giving me a chance to explain, not to mention—dress? Enlighten me, sugar cheeks?”

With a jerk, she pulled her hand free. He was really asking for it. Sugar cheeks? Seriously? Now she knew he was only messing with her. She could give as well as she got.

“Tell you what. You win tonight, and I’ll give you your chance. You lose, we go our separate ways, and you walk out all by yourself, big boy.”

A crooked grin formed on his face as he reached a hand toward her hair. He fingered an escaping curl before she pulled away, leaving his hand hanging in mid-air.

“You can call me big boy all you want, but I’ll do you one better. How about if I win, I take you to dinner, and you let me explain the whole situation?”

She felt her eyebrow rise and knew he’d read it as interest, but she didn’t care at the moment. “I honestly don’t want to hear any explanation from you now or ever, but if I win? Which I will, of course.”

“Then I’ll leave it up to you. If you want me to walk away, I will.” He took a step closer, placed his hand on her shoulder, and leaned down, his mouth right next to her ear. “But if you want me to call you darling, sweetheart, and sugar cheeks all night long, I’ll do that too.”

I love to hear from readers, writers, and in-betweeners, so please e-mail me at authorcheriemarks@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cheriemarks or catch me on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/qRl1lD. 

 

 

 

Buy Link: Into the Fire

Book Trailer:

Oct 5 2011

Elizabeth Means and sexy footwear

I’m proud to say that I have Elizabeth Means here today talking about a subject that’s near and dear to my heart–BOOTS!! Elizabeth–do you know what my day job is? ;)

Fall’s Sexiest Accessory is Back: Boots!

Fall weather has arrived and so has my favorite cool weather accessory. Boots! Tall boots, short boots, stiletto, platform, fuzzy, sleek, cowboy…you name it I’ve probably got it. In my very biased opinion boots are the sexiest item a gal can wear. They can transform a ho-hum outfit into a head-turning ensemble in seconds.

But what about guys? What do we think about men in boots? Let’s take a look at some of the choices.

Cowboy boots – are they sexy?

I think yes.

What about…

Rugged hiking boots?

Or…

Firemen’s boots?

How about Pirate Boots? Johnny Depp anyone?

Combat boots?

Or what about riding boots?

Riding boots are one of my personal favorites. The hero in my Victorian romance novel wears various styles of boots, the sexiest probably being his tall black riding boots with snug fitting trousers tucked in.

So what’s your opinion? Boots on men…hot or not?

BLURB: Dangerous Charade

To escape an arranged marriage Gabrielle Broussard flees her home to become an undercover investigator with an elite, all-female investigative agency. Her first assignment, as governess at Westford castle to investigate the suspicious death of the Countess of Westford, quickly becomes complicated when she finds herself attracted to her number one suspect.

Lord Julian Blackwell is a survivor. After his father’s bankruptcy, he becomes a self-made man in Victorian England’s booming industrial era. Trapped into a loveless marriage, he has survived the shock of his wife’s sudden death. But now he must survive rumors and outright accusations. Hiring a private agency to investigate and prove his innocence seems like a good idea…until desire threatens to compromise both the case and the life of the investigator.

EXCERPT: Dangerous Charade

Gabrielle raced across the lawn toward a side entrance most often used by the servants at Westford. Dawn was breaking and she needed to move fast. If anyone saw her, she would be hard-pressed to explain why she was returning from a ride at this time of day, in the dark. And carrying a fancy parasol, no less.

She’d almost reached the door when Julian’s voice cut through the still morning air like a knife.

“Gabrielle.”

“Oh!” Her free hand flew to her mouth as she whirled toward the sound of his voice. He stood close to the building, hidden in the shadows. “My lord, you nearly scared me to death! I didn’t see you there.”

“Clearly.”

“Just what are you doing out here, lurking about in the shadows?” she demanded, adrenaline pumping.

“What am I doing?” He stared at her incredulously. “Not that I owe you any explanation for my actions while on my own estate, but I came out to watch the sunrise. What the devil are you doing?”

“I was…checking on Buttercup. I’m told she’s been acting strangely.” Gabrielle took a few more steps toward the building. “But—good news—it appears she’s doing fine.”

In a flash Julian was between her and the door. He regarded her closely. “That doesn’t explain why you’re lugging a parasol around in the dark.”

Gabrielle swallowed hard. She saw his green eyes narrow. “One never knows what one might

encounter lurking about in the shadows. I may have needed it to defend myself from something. Or someone,” she added pointedly.

Julian stepped closer to her; they were less than an arm’s length apart. “Do you think you need it now?” The suggestive tone in his voice was unmistakable.

Her breathing quickened, and she averted her gaze. “What I think is that you are most unnerving.”

Julian reached out and tilted her chin up with his fingers. “What kind of game are you playing, Gabrielle?”

She didn’t answer. And he didn’t ask again. Instead he brought his head down very slowly and claimed her mouth with his own.

Author Website: www.elizabeth-means.com

Buy link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Charade-Elizabeth-Means/dp/1601549520/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316371873&sr=8-1

Buy link to TWRP: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=4639

Thanks for coming by, Elizabeth! I’d like to cast my vote right now for motorcycle boots. Not the Harley kind (though those are great) the kind the police officers wear. Rawr. (uh, my husband won’t see this right?)

Lots of <3–Amie

Oct 2 2011

Sarah Grimm–on After Midnight …and kissin’

Can a kiss really be perfect? Is ‘true love’s’ kiss actually powerful enough to wake the dead? Does anyone really know? I don’t.

What I do know is that there is something very powerful about a kiss. Think about it. In movies as well as books, the anticipation of the first kiss is…WOW.

You know what I’m talking about. Heck, you probably vividly remember your first kiss. (I know I do)

The heightened sense of awareness.

The wonder.

The SweeTarts…

Sorry, that was my first kiss. Yuck! I still cringe when I recall it.

Wikipedia states “Anticipation is the central ingredient in sexual desire.” That sounds about right. Which is why we authors do all we can to make that first touch, that first kiss as great as it can be. To get everything just right.

I love writing the first kiss. When I hit that moment in the story, I think I’m just as nervous as my characters. Okay, the characters aren’t necessarily nervous, but I usually am.

It’s a very important moment in the story. Sometimes it’s slow and passionate. Sometimes a bit edgy and heated. It can even be possessive and a bit rough—like staking a claim. Whatever else it is, a kiss is always emotional.

Sure, the emotion doesn’t have to be sexual or even pleasant. Take for instance the kiss of death from Godfather II. But as a romance author, these pleasant, sexual emotions are the ones I aim for.

Not just in the hero and heroine’s first kiss, but in every kiss between them. And not always with a kiss on the lips. After all, a kiss doesn’t have to be on the lips to provoke an emotional response, does it?

Noah Clark, the hero in AFTER MIDNIGHT, understands the importance of a kiss, a touch, the brush of fingertips across a lover’s skin even if Isabeau doesn’t…

~*~

“It’s not supposed to be just about the finale. It’s about the journey. It’s all about touch, Isabeau. Soft caresses. Slow, deep, wet kisses. Why would you settle for anything else?” Her tongue darted out and wet her lips, and Noah wondered what she’d do if he leaned in right now and showed her what he meant.

“Maybe you haven’t taken a good look at me?”

“I’m looking at you now.” He cupped her face with one hand, traced his thumb along the curve of her jaw. Her skin was warm and soft as silk beneath his.

“Noah.” His name crossed her lips, a husky rasp barely audible over the street noise. She reached up and wrapped her hand around his.

She had a mouth that begged to be kissed. A mouth meant for pleasure. How was it she didn’t realize her own appeal? He traced his thumb over the palm of her hand. Satisfaction welled inside him when she trembled. “You don’t have to settle, Isabeau.”

~*~

Check out the trailer…

AFTER MIDNIGHT

Available Now from The Wild Rose Press:

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_133&products_id=4633

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/After-Midnight-ebook/dp/B005QBZ0G2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1317372087&sr=8-2

Sep 4 2011

Twenty-eight and a Half Wishes by Denise Grover Swank

Rose Gardner has been under her mother’s thumb for all of her twenty-four years, and it’s really unfortunate that she picks the day her mother is murdered to finally stand up to her. But I get ahead of myself. Let me back up a bit.

The young Miss Gardner lives in a small town in Arkansas and everyone there knows she’s a bit odd. You see, she has these…visions. They’re usually benign, like someone’s dog gets out of the yard or their freezer has been accidentally unplugged. But the very worse one Rose has is about herself. And not just any vision, she imagines herself dead—bashed in the head and left to bleed all over her mother’s sofa. And the worst part of it all—she knows who’s going to kill her.

Faced with her own morality, Rose makes a list of 28 things to do before she dies. Well, 28 and a half—number 29 she leaves blank, waiting on inspiration to strike as to what the last wish should be. But then she finds her mother dead, and Rose, now free from her down-trodden existence, starts to explore her life. With the help of her neighbor, Rose starts living out her 28 wishes including, “do more with a boy.”But as she grows as a person and comes into herself, she slowly uncovers why her mother was murdered and much more about her family. And the man who’s out to kill her…well, you’ll just have to read it to find out why.

Swanks unorthodox sense of humor had me snickering page after page and out right laughing on many others. The book is clever, funny, and bright. A great read that despite an occasional serious note (oh, like murder) will leave you smiling in the end.

I have to share my favorite line from the book. Rose and her dog have gone after the bad guy (that’s all you’ll get out of me plot-wise), they get to their destination and the narrative reads, I told her (the dog) she could come but, she had to be quiet. It seemed like a stupid thing to say, but I felt the need to tell her something. We couldn’t very well synchronize watches. I stopped wearing mine when I got a cell phone.

Take this charming sense of humor and likeable characters and mix them with a plot shot with just enough adventure for our small town virgin and you have Twenty-eight and a Half Wishes, a book that should definitely be at the top of your “to be read” pile of books.

And even better (you guessed it) I got Denise to come onto my blog today! (You’re welcome.). Here’s what Denise has to say about Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes.

I’ve had several people read Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes and tell me “This would make a great movie! I can see it in my head!” And of course, it’s every author’s dream to have a movie made from their book and pictures of your character’s plastered on the side of Burger King cups. Oh, wait. That’s Stephenie Myer and her Twilight characters. But an author can dream anyway, regardless of what fast food chain sponsors the film. But to have a movie, or cups for that matter, you have to have a cast.

I had already come up with a cast of sorts when I made the book trailer for Twenty-Eight. But it’s difficult. You’re limited to royalty photos and the perfect picture might actually be an actor you can’t use.

One morning, I texted my friend Trisha and said: I’m going to create my dream cast for Twenty-Eight.

Trisha: Good idea. Who do you have in mind for Rose?

Me: (five minutes later) Got any ideas?

Then Trisha proceeded to make suggestions for the rest of the morning while I said yay or nay. Lucky for me, Trisha is excellent at this game.

Rose: Ginnifer Goodwin 

I expected Rose to take hours. Days. As I wrote Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes I saw the world through Rose’s eyes and she didn’t spend a lot of time in front of the mirror. I knew she looked sweet and pretty but not exotically beautiful. Ginnifer captures her perfectly.

Joe: Scott Foley

Joe was harder than I expected but then again, I saw him through Rose’s eyes. He had to be handsome but not overly so, a nice body but not overly muscular. It’s hard to match that perfectly, but Scott Foley comes close. Plus, I wouldn’t mind seeing some sweat dripping down the side of his Burger King cup.

Violet: Piper Perabo

Violet was the older, cuter, savvier sister. Violet cares how she looks and cares what the town thinks about her. But Violet lives in little Henryetta, Arkansas, not a big city. So she had to have a sophisticated look but not look out of place in a small town. Piper works perfectly.

Daniel Crocker: James Frain

When Trisha suggested James Frain, I wasn’t so sure. Then I looked him up on IMBD.com and realized he was a played a crazy, evil vampire on True Blood. While Daniel Crocker isn’t a vampire, he’s not a very nice man. I have no doubt James Frain could pull it off.

Mildred: Randee Heller

Mildred is Rose’s eighty-two-year-old neighbor who is not only president of Henryetta’s Garden Club but also in charge of the Neighborhood Watch, otherwise known as the Busybody Club. Nothing gets by Mildred and she lets everybody know it.

Muffy: Unknown

Muffy is the dog Rose adopts. What Muffy doesn’t have going for her on the outside, she makes up for with personality. It will take a special dog to fill Muffy’s shoes.

Well, there you have it! My dream cast for Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes!

Gee, now all you have to find is a producer, and a director, and a…sigh. If only it were as easy as it is in our dreams! Good luck, Denise. I read the book (duh), and I think it would make a great movie too! :)

But since I don’t have a movie trailer to share, I have the next best thing, a book trailer. Click below and go check it out. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fj73f-tG5k

 

Aug 22 2011

Scorcher Blog Tour Week4–Lisa Sanchez

Woohoo! You’ve made it to the last stop! Props and mad love to you!! Mwah!

If, by chance, this is your first stop, you’ll want to stop by my blog- http://www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.com to start this week’s tour. We’ve been talking about things that get your motor revvin’ hot, things that turn us, as readers on. You won’t want to miss!

As I mentioned in my original post, music can play an integral part in the wooing process. If you’re on a date with that special someone it can help set the mood. Think back to some of your favorite flicks. How many times have you seen the sexually frustrated hero dim the lights in his apartment, strip down and turn on some mood music? It’s standard fare in the game of love.

For me, music plays an important part in romance long before I get anywhere near the bedroom. I associate music with the people I love. Especially when that love is new, and exciting and full of fire. It’s no surprise, then, given my predilection to associate music with relationships, that Hally and Nick share a love for a certain romantic song. Here’s a quick peek:

Her smile was infectious, and Nick couldn’t help but return one of his own. Looked like their afternoon was off to a good start.

Nick placed the key into the ignition and Journey’s “Faithfully” blared throughout the vehicle as the truck roared to life. “Sorry about that,” he said sheepishly after cranking the volume down to a respectable level.

Princess shook her head, leaned across the seat, and cranked the volume back up. “Don’t be sorry. I love Journey, and I love this song. As far as I’m concerned, the louder the better.” She treated him to a flirtatious grin, and his heart swelled. She liked old-school rock, was a mean-ass cook, and a vixen between the sheets. Shit. He’d found the perfect woman.

How about you? Do certain songs help you get in the mood for love? Do you associate certain music with your significant other? Weigh in with a comment!

Leave a comment on this blog, as well as the other five blogs on the Scorcher Tour to be entered to win a free PDF copy of my erotic suspense, Obsessed. The winner’s name will then be forwarded into a final drawing at the end of the tour for a chance to win a $30 Amazon gift certificate.

Obessed~blurb The victim of both a brutal attempted rape and now a serial stalking, Halley Davis is broken, and desperate to glue the shattered pieces of her life back together. Tormented by a psychopath and battling a heavy dose of anxiety, sex and dating are the last things on Halley’s anxiety-ridden mind. That is, until she meets the man who rescued her from the hands of a would-be rapist. With a body made for sin, a wicked, sexy tattoo and an aura that screams “badass,” her rescuer not only calms the storm of terror raging inside her mind, he ignites a passion within her she’s never known before.

Tired of using meaningless sex to drown out the horrors of his past, Nick Ackart has sworn off women. In fact, if women were classified as meat, his ass is Vegan. Despite his determination to remain unattached, Nick is unable to stay away from the emerald-eyed beauty he rescued from a sadistic pervert. Immersed in a tangled web of sexual desire and deep emotion he was certain was long dead, he vows to protect Halley from the monster hounding her, even though he stands to lose his heart in the process.

Loose Id- http://www.loose-id.com/Obsessed.aspx

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Obsessed-ebook/dp/B0053IK8JM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312759046&sr=8-1

Lisa Sanchez Blog- http://www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.com

Aug 20 2011

Jill James–Tempting Adam

They both want the same thing – St. Eden Studios.

Corporate raider Yvette Giardino intends to bring St. Eden Studios to its knees. It’s a job. One her grandmother’s health depends on. That Adam St. Eden will suffer isn’t personal. Until he awakens her sympathy and stirs her body in ways she can’t explain.

Adam wants one thing and one thing only – to protect the dream his grandfather began. But when the board demands he work with stunning Yvette, a woman he’d mistakenly indulged with in a little after-hours play, his world turns upside down. Missed meetings, unhappy clients, and nights of intense pleasure – he can blame one person. Yvette.

With his corporation crumbling around him, can Adam rise above the fallout and see his sexy temptress for what she really is – a victim of manipulation and a woman who desperately needs his love?

I’ve got a visitor today! Jill James is here with blurb, excerpt, and man candy all in honor of her novel Tempting Adam, Want some more? Read on…

Yvette pulled herself together with a jolt.

It’s a job. It’s a job. She repeated the mantra in her head in an endless loop, gazing into deep, blue eyes. This close, she noticed the subtle lines near his eyes from his outdoor living. If he had grown up in Hollywood, he would have had a facelift or two by now, instead of the natural look he pulled off quite well.

Adam helped her rise, his warm hand cupping her elbow. A tingle shot from her arm, to her chest, and to regions much farther south. A sexual moan almost escaped her lips. Yvette shook her head to clear the mental images of her and him and the hotel room. It didn’t help. Memories of that night still had the power to stir her senses. They hit Yvette in a place she didn’t think existed—her emotions.

His eyes darkened to indigo, and he leaned nearer. His fresh, evergreen scent enveloped her. Her head swam, and she tilted on the heels of her shoes. She berated herself for her juvenile behavior, unable to believe the She-shark of business might have met her match. At least in the sexual arena.

Adam wrapped an arm around her shoulders, led her to the bench outside the door, and sat beside her. “I hope you’re doing okay. I would’ve found you a seat inside, but they were getting back to work. I didn’t want anything else to delay the work schedule.”

Disbelief flooded Yvette while she replayed what had just happened. She needed to get a grip on herself and this job. Adam was nice enough overall, and was great—make that fantastic—in bed.

However, he was no ruthless businessman and knew next to nothing about Hollywood. He wasn’t the first CEO she’d taken down, and he wouldn’t be the last. It wasn’t personal.

Sounds like it’s gonna be! 

Now that you’re hooked and you gotta have the rest of this book, here’s how to get it. And even get an authographed Kindle edition.

buy links:
http://tinyurl.com/3uek7oj   Kindlegraph for autographed cover
And as promised, a little Man Candy. Jill claims that Robert Redford was her insoiration for Adam. I can see why! Hubba-hubba!
<3 Amie
Aug 14 2011

Barbara Burke author of Recompromising Amanda

I’ve been reading romance long that I’ve gotten myself into a rut. It’s a happy rut, I know what I like to read, I seek it out, and I read it. But every now and then I get pushed out of my happy little rut and most always I’m glad that I did. Like when Barbara Burke sent out a cry for help for quotes and reviews for her novella, Recompromising Amanda. I answered, because I like to help people. I was pushed from my happy rut because I normally read light-hearted contemporary romance, and this is a regency short. But what a good choice I made.

And now I’ve had the chance to ask Barbara some questions about her novella and her writing. So here’s a little weekend treat in between all the Scorcher Blog posts. But first a peek at Recompromising Amanda…

How has beautiful, popular Amanda Smythe-Kincaid managed to reach the ripe old age of twenty-five without getting married? Could she possibly still be carrying a torch for Jason, her brother’s best friend? It’s been years since they were caught kissing in the conservatory.

Jason, the third Viscount Greyshott, has been in love with Amanda for ages. Too bad he can’t convince her of that fact, and too bad she repeatedly turns down his marriage proposals.

When Amanda asks Jason for a shocking favor, he realizes this may just be the opportunity he needs. And when fate, in the form of an exasperated older brother and some inadvertent eavesdropping, finally steps in to bring this charming Regency couple into each other’s arms—where everyone around them knows they’ve always belonged—Amanda doesn’t stand a chance.

Not enough?Here’s a little excerpt…

“Jason!” she said as, at the same time, “Amanda!” burst from his lips.

They looked at each other fully for the first time and might have smiled if not for the gravity of the situation.

“Ladies first,” Jason commanded.

His eyes were warm, and Amanda took comfort in the sight even as her heartbeat quickened at the memory of the molten heat reflected in them the night before. She drew a resolute breath, but turned her head away, refusing to meet his eyes.

“Jason, the other day you told me if there was ever anything I needed that Charles could not provide I was to come to you, and you would help me.” She dared a peep up at him. “Did you mean it?”

“How can you doubt it?” he asked, a frown crossing his features.

“Then I want you to promise me you will do something for me without asking any questions.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“No questions,” she reminded him with a brief smile. “You must trust me.”

“It’s not something illegal is it?” he teased. “I’ll have to calculate the probability of being sent to jail and consult my lawyers on how long the sentence is likely to be before agreeing to anything truly reprehensible.”

“No, it’s not illegal,” she answered seriously. “At least, I don’t think it’s illegal,” she added with a trace of doubt.

“‘Don’t think it’s illegal’ will have to do, I suppose. Tell me what you want, and if it lies within my power I will do it.”

Amanda took a deep breath before replying, and then spoke all in a rush. “I want you to make love to me.”

Still want more…well now, it’s Barbara’s turn…

In her other life regency writer Barbara Burke is an award-winning freelance journalist. Too scatterbrained to concentrate on one specialty she might be writing about oil development in Greenland for a business magazine one week and laundry practises for a hoteliers’ magazine the week after. Despite her inability to concentrate on one thing for any length of time she gets cranky if she goes too long without writing any fiction.

She’s lived in four Canadian provinces and three countries and currently resides in a leaky cedar house on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, which she shares with her husband, daughter, two cats, a dog and a snake. The horse lives down the road. She drinks wine and watches whales from her upstairs balcony and wishes the sun would come out occasionally.

My turn *in a sing-song voice*…

Have you always written regency romances?

No, this is my first shot at it. I’ve always read regencies, though. I was a fan of Jane Austen back when she was still trying to get her first novel published ;-)

Ah, that Jane…what is your favorite aspect of the regencies?

I think it’s the polite world they inhabit. They speak a certain way and dress a certain way and they have so many rules for what one can and cannot do is society. Once you figure out what those rules are you can have so much fun breaking them.

I also like the way it was practically invented as a genre by Georgette Heyer. As far as I can tell no one else even considered writing about that period until she began using it as her setting. I’d like to invent a genre, but everytime I think of something I look online and find 50,000,621 hits for my so-called original idea. Damn Google.

Yep, been there a time or two myself! Recompromising Amanda is a novella, what do you consider the benefits of writing short?

Not writing long!

Okay, maybe I asked for that one! LOL Have you written novel length and what do you consider the challenges of writing long/short to be?

I’ve started a few novels but I always run out of steam at about 30,000 words. They’re still sitting on my computer and I hear them calling to me in the night,  but the task seems so daunting – even though I know exactly what’s going to happen. I suppose I’m a sprinter rather than a long distance runner. I love the satisfaction of getting things wrapped up in a few thousand words even if I dream of greater character development.

I’ve often said give me 100,000 words and I’ll write you something, give me 25,000 and I’ll make out my grocery list! Now, I love love love your hero. What’s your favorite thing about him?

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I guess I like his urbanity. He’d never do anything vulgar, but at the same time he’s got this very passionate side to him. I also really like his voice, but no one else can hear that, naturally.

Oh, I wouldn’t say that! He certainly spoke to me a time or two! Your heroine is also spunky and headstrong, what is your favorite thing about her?

Spunky and headstrong? Oh dear, that’s not how I would have described her. She has a mind of her own, for sure, but she would never hurt the people she loves. In fact, she’s always very considerate of other people’s feelings – look how careful she is to ensure that Jason doesn’t know how she feels about him. She doesn’t want to embarrass him. I guess that’s what I like best about her. She’s my opposite – I’m always putting my foot in my mouth.

Can I say spunky and headstrong, but in a totally regency way? Now the dreaded questions–

Where did the idea for Recompromising Amanda come from?

Virginity is such a non-issue in the modern world, but that’s a very recent thing. I remember when the most important thing about Lady Diana was that she was a virgin and, therefore, eligible to marry the heir to the British throne. I think they even had her examined. Thirty years later Kate Middleton can marry the next in line without the question even being raised, without anyone even thinking it is a question. So I started thinking about all those women in times past who never got the opportunity to even find out what they were missing and then I created a heroine who decided to do something about it.

You’re so right, Now I write sexy and enjoy a hot book, but sometimes I’m a little shocked. Recompromising Amanda is very sexy, what do you consider is the secret to making such a short novella so hot?

There is no secret. Just sit at your laptop and write until you’re blushing from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. Then breathe a sigh of relief that it’s done and end up with an editor who tells you she wants you to ramp it up. Yikes! I have a hard time with chaste kissing scenes, writing a sex scene nearly killed me. (I’d like to say, like a good regency heroine, that I was almost completely undone, but that could be taken the wrong way.)

LOL! Now tell us what you have for us next…

Well, in an ideal world I write a bestseller so popular that JK Rowling would end up wishing she could afford my lavish lifestyle. However, I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen if I keep writing novellas. Maybe I’ll see if I can sell a regency without the sex – I don’t want to blow my blush gasket.

Hey, that’s my life of luxury you’re talking about! :-)

Barbara, thanks so much for coming by today and for allowing me to read Recompromising Amanda. It’s a wonderful story, y’all. Go get and see what I mean…you’ll love Jason on sight! <3 Amie