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Grab your favorite beverage, relax, and let me tell you a story…

After Midnight - Black Phoenix #1

Re-edited, revised edition October 2013

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Dangerously Sexy Suspense

December 28, 2012

Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Lyndi Alexander:

Birthday? April 1
Favorite color? Midnight blue
Favorite animal? tiger
Siblings? Just imaginary friends
Favorite drink? Irish coffee
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Something fruity
Favorite author? Stephen King
Favorite dish? Veal marsala
Ice cream flavor? Butter pecan
Favorite Season? autumn
Plotter or pantser? plotter
Hobbies? Mostly writing, some reading too
Dream vacation? To the moon, Alice!
Favorite TV show? Firefly
Musical preference? Something to dance to
Pet peeve? People who lie
Favorite place to write? Near a window with a great view
Favorite song? Girls Run the World
Odd family fact? I’ve been raising children for forty years
Unforgettable moment? When my first baby was born
Favorite Superhero? Aquaman; someone’s got to love him
Spicy or not? Sure!
Cat or dog? cat
Favorite candy bar? Reese’s
Favorite guilty pleasure? Dessert


Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less: 

A news reporter investigates when womens’ bodies begin to turn up and finds the trail leads to her own doctors’ office. Can she avoid being the next victim?

BUY LINK



To learn more about Lyndi Alexander and her writing, please visit her blog:



December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas

 
To all of my readers...what a blessing it is to be able to run this blog and be so immersed in the reading world. I am thankful for many things today, one of them being each and every person that stops by to check out my little corner of the "virtual world."
 
Merry Christmas and may you all have a happy and healthy 2013!

December 22, 2012

Secret Santa Blog Hop Winners

For my blog contest the winner was...commenter #11, LEENA7...she won a music note latte mug, a music note ornament, and an eCopy of my contemporary romance, After Midnight! (Look for an email from me)

Now for the grand prize! The winner of the Kindle Fire HD is Shannon Bereza! (Shannon will be contacted by the host of this hop, Tabitha Blake)

All winners where chosen using Random.org


December 21, 2012

Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Tiffany N. York: 

Birthday? February 6th
Favorite color? Black
Favorite animal? Cat
Siblings? A half-brother and a half-sister 20 years younger
Favorite drink? Coffee with heavy cream/no sugar
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Tutti-Frutti
Favorite author? Jennifer Crusie
Favorite dish? I could eat pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Ice cream flavor? Haggen Daaz Strawberry
Favorite Season? Summer
Plotter or pantser? I used to be a plotter, but now…?
Hobbies? Reading, Gardening, Googling time-wasting topics
Dream vacation? Staying in a grass hut over the water in Bora Bora
Favorite TV show? Friends
Musical preference? Anything I can dance to, and 80s rock
Pet peeve? Typos
Favorite place to write? Wherever there is silence
Favorite song? Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
Odd family fact? Nothing odd; just dysfunctional like everyone else.
Unforgettable moment? My son popping out after 18 hours of back labor
Favorite superhero? Catwoman
Spicy or not? Nose-running, eyes-watering spicy
Cat or dog? I have a diva Chihuahua and lottsa cats
Favorite candy bar? Lindt Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate balls
Favorite guilty pleasure? Watching Family Guy and American Dad. It’s so raunchy!







Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

41 plus 25 equals a summer fling that turns into much more…

BUY LINK







To learn more about Tiffany and her writing, please visit her website: 



December 19, 2012

Amber Kallyn's Birthday Bash



Welcome to Amber Kallyn’s Birthday Bash. We’ve got some great giveaways for you to win!

I love the holidays, but not necessarily having my birthday fall smack dab in the middle of them, LOL. But this year, I’d like to do something special for my readers. Over 25 authors and bloggers have come together to celebrate my 24th birthday (I won’t mention how many years I’ve turned 24 again ;)

We have some wonderful prizes, and all you have to do is leave a comment at the participating blogs to win. Easy.

And don’t forget, Bloodstorm (Heart of a Vampire, Book 1) is currently free right now for an early present : )

Grand Prize:

One commenter will win their choice of a NOOK Simple Touch™ with GlowLight or a Kindle Paperwhite (Up to $140 value)

Ebooks from the following Authors:
  • Paloma Beck (Coming Home, Contemporary romance) 
  • Jami Grey (Shadow’s Edge and Shadow’s Soul, Urban fantasy) 
  • Zrinka Jelic (Paranormal romance) 
  • Christine Fairchild (An Eye For Danger, romantic suspense) 
  • Marian Lanouette (If I Fail, Mystery) 
  • Sylvia Hubbard (5 Ebooks) 
  • Kenra Daniels (Safe Heart and Kassern, Paranormal romance) 

A $40 Gift card to either Amazon or B and N

Plus, there will be giveaways at some of the other blogs : )

How to win:

The contest is open from Dec 19th to Saturday the 22nd. Hop to all the blogs. The winner will be chosen from the commenters on all participating blogs. Leave a comment at each blog for additional entries to win. That simple : ) Winner will be drawn on Sunday the 23rd.

Enjoy meeting new authors and book bloggers, and good luck on winning the Birthday Bash Prizes.

Blogs 

Cynthia Arsuaga 
Gemma Murray
Keira Kohl
Kenra Daniels
Lynn Chantale
Elise Vancise 
Mona Karel
Lynda Kaye Frazier
Sylvia Hubbard
Marian Lanouette
Jami Gray
KE Saxon
Harlie’s Book Blog 
Dianne Venetta
Christina Ricci
Cassandra Carr 
Deb Sanders
Shauna S. Roberts
Danita Minnis
Kelly Whitley
Sarah Grimm
Zrinka Jelic
Sherry Gloag
M. S. Spencer
Christine Fairchild
Paloma Beck

December 17, 2012

Secret Santa Blog Hop


Welcome to the Secret Santa Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting! You can find the list of participating authors, rules and instructions HERE.

Happy Holidays! I love this time of year! Not because of the gifts or the giving, the delighted children or the family gatherings. Not because of the sappy holiday movies, the caroling, and most especially not because of the cold and snow of a Michigan winter. No, I love this time of year because the day job that works me sixty hours a week in the summer, trickles down to about ten hours a week immediately after the holidays and continues this way through the beginning of March. Yup, it's at this time of year I get to spend long days relaxing with my husband, and long nights with the heroes of my current works in progress. What, you think it should be the other way around? *grin*

In the spirit of holiday giving, I'm awarding one random Secret Santa Blog Hop participant a prize package: A beautiful music note latte mug, a music note ornament, and an eCopy of my award winning contemporary romance, After Midnight.

Entering to win is easy. Just leave me a comment that includes your name, email address, and what you love most about the holidays.

Want even more entries into the Kindle Fire HD giveaway? Here's how to get three: You get one entry for following my blog, one for leaving a comment and one for answering my question.


Question: Sarah loves the cold and snow of Michigan winters. True or false?


Don't forget to return to the main page for the rest of the Secret Santa Blog Hop. Good luck!!

http://www.tabithablake.blogspot.com/p/secret-santa-blog-hop.html



December 14, 2012

Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Kathryn Knight: 

Birthday? January 13th
Favorite color? Garnet Red
Favorite animal? Cat
Siblings? A brother and a sister
Favorite drink? Coffee
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Coconut
Favorite author? Can’t choose just one!
Favorite dish? Cajun blackened tuna
Ice cream flavor? Edy’s French Silk
Favorite Season? Summer
Plotter or pantser? Combo
Hobbies? Reading, Fitness, Gardening
Dream vacation? A private cruise with family and friends
Favorite TV show? Seinfeld
Musical preference? 80s
Pet peeve? Being called Kathy
Favorite place to write? Kitchen island
Favorite song? Edge of Seventeen
Odd family fact? I found (and bought) a trunk made by my great-great grandfather on ebay.
Unforgettable moment? The day of “the call”
Favorite superhero? Edward Cullen, lol
Spicy or not? Very spicy
Cat or dog? We have both
Favorite candy bar? Lindt Dark Chocolate
Favorite guilty pleasure? Naps





Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

Former friends reunite at Silver Lake to solve an old mystery; as paranormal events escalate, Rain and Jason get a second chance at romance.

BUY LINK






To learn more about Kathryn and her writing, please visit her blog:



December 11, 2012

Deadly Trilogy Boxed Set by Alexa Grace



From bestselling new author Alexa Grace, The Deadly Trilogy, three books with non-stop suspense and a healthy dose of toe-curling passion will have you holding your breath from the first page to the last.

Deadly Offerings - Book One - Anne Mason thinks she’ll be safe living in the Midwest living on a wind farm left to her by her ex's mother. She may be dead wrong. Someone is dumping bodies in her corn field and telling Anne they are gifts—for her! And how can she be falling in love with the hot attorney who represented her ex-husband in their divorce proceedings?

Deadly Deception - Book Two- Enter the disturbing world of illegal adoptions, baby trafficking and murder with new detective Lane Hansen and private investigator Frankie Douglas. Going undercover as husband and wife, Lane and Frankie struggle to keep their relationship strictly professional as their sizzling passion threatens to burn out of control. Can they keep passion in control long enough to take down two murderers?

Deadly Relations - Book Three - Detective Jennifer Brennan, still haunted by her abduction five years before, devotes her life to serve and protect others. Love is the last thing on her mind, but will it find her after three young women go missing and are found murdered on her watch and she vows to find the killer — or die trying.

Alexa Grace's Deadly Trilogy Boxed Set - With more than 600 five-star reviews, it's time for you to discover the three Deadly Trilogy books: Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception and Deadly Relations.

EXCERPT from DEADLY DECEPTION:

“Lane, I know you’re ready to do undercover work, but with this case I need two cops who can pose as a married couple. Unfortunately, we’ve got three women on the team. One is built like a linebacker and the other two are pregnant."

“Sir, for this case, why don’t we go outside the department? I know a Private Investigator who can handle herself on a job like this."

Newly appointed Sheriff Tim Brennan’s brows drew together in a suspicious expression. “What’s the PI’s name?”

“Frankie Douglas. I worked with her last year on the Charles Beatty serial killer case. She’s a former sharpshooter for the Army.”

“Is this the same Frankie Douglas you shot?” Lane’s face flushed with the guilt he still felt about the shooting. “Yes, sir. It was an accident. We were heading down the stairs of Beatty’s cellar to apprehend him when one of the steps gave way and when I fell my gun went off and hit Frankie.”

“Has Frankie Douglas done police work before?”

“I heard she’s a former detective.”

“I think I’ve heard about her. Isn’t she a pretty tall blonde woman?”

“Oh, she’s smokin’ hot. Think Victoria Secret hot.”

“Is that right? Do you have a personal thing going with Ms. Douglas?”

“No sir. Strictly professional.” Of course, if he’d had a chance, he’d have made in personal in 2.5 seconds.

Brennan glared at Lane then picked up his phone and dialed a number. “Hello, Frankie, this is Uncle Tim. I may have a job for you. Would you please drop by my office?”




Alexa Grace's journey started in March 2011 when the Sr. Director of Training & Development position she'd held for thirteen years was eliminated. A door closed but another one opened. She finally had the time to pursue her dream of writing books -- her dream since childhood. Her focus is now on writing riveting romantic suspense novels.

Alexa earned two degrees from Indiana State University and currently lives in Florida. She's a member of Romance Writers of America (national) as well as the Florida Chapter. Alexa Grace is listed in the top ten of Amazon's Top 100 Most Popular Authors in the categories Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural. She was recently named one of the top 100 Indie authors by Kindle Review. A chapter is devoted to her in the book Interviews with Indie Authors by C. Ridgway and T. Ridgway. Her books Deadly Offerings, Deadly Deception, and Deadly Relations have consistently been listed in the top ten of Amazon's Top 100 Bestselling Romantic Suspense and Police Procedural Books. All three books are available in Alexa Grace's Deadly Trilogy boxed set.

Her writing support team includes five Miniature Schnauzers, three of which are rescues. As a writer, she is fueled by Starbucks lattes, chocolate and emails from readers.

Deadly Holiday, published in November 2012, is her holiday-themed romantic suspense novella, featuring all her Deadly Trilogy characters.

Profile of Evil, the first book of the Profile Trilogy will be available in spring 2013.

FIND ALEXA HERE:



December 8, 2012

December Blurb Extravaganza! Open Promo

Some of you may recall that I routinely open my blog to other romance authors to promote their new releases. Yes? Well, I had planned to do it again this month, but seeing as Christmas is a mere 17 days away, I thought I would change things up a bit this month and invite romance authors to post about their books whether or not the book is a new release. I don't know about you, but I love the romance genre and am always on the lookout for great romances, even if they're years past their release date.

So...Welcome to December's Blurb Extravaganza!  Tell me about your book. Do you have a current or upcoming release? An older release? This month I'm not concerned with release dates, just great romances! After all, what's better than a stocking full of books?

Please put you blurb in the comments section of this post and follow these few pesky rules:
  • The book has to be a romance. I don't care what genre romance, but my readership is romance so we're going to give them what they love.
  •  You can post for yourself or you can post about a fabulous book you can't wait to get your hands on and you think we should all run out and buy.
  • Have a favorite romance? One you've read over and over again?  I'd love to hear about it.
  • Also, I reserve the right to delete a post if it promotes objectionable content. (incest, rape, etc.)
Simple enough, right? Post away!


December 7, 2012

Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Christine Elaine Black: 

Birthday? December 7
Favorite color? Plum
Favorite animal? Leopard
Siblings? 3 brothers
Favorite drink? Tea
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Chocolate Amaretto
Favorite author? Pauline Gedge (Ancient Historical)
Favorite dish? Stir Fry
Ice cream flavor? Neopolitan
Favorite Season? Fall/Autumn
Plotter or Pantser? Pantser (mostly)
Hobbies? Reading, writing, musical theatre
Dream vacation? Tour the Mediterranean
Favorite TV show? History Channel
Musical preference? Broadway Musicals
Pet peeve? Not enough hours in the day to write
Favorite place to write? At home, at night
Favorite song? Can't pick a favorite song - so many great ones
Odd family fact? My parents lived in the same house for 50 years - wow.
Unforgettable moment? My daughter's stage debut
Favorite Superhero? The everyday hero
Spicy or not? Spicy romance but not food
Cat or dog? Love cats but allergic.... :(
Favorite candy bar? Mars Bar
Favorite guilty pleasure? Daydreaming about my handsome main characters





Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

Carissa distrusts the handsome soldier who rescues her son. Can Maximus win Carissa before fear and revenge tear them apart forever?

BUY LINK







To learn more about Christine Elaine Black and her writing please visit her blog:



November 23, 2012

Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Georgie Lee:

Birthday? Gemini
Favorite color? Green
Favorite animal? Dog
Siblings? 1 sister
Favorite drink? Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Pina colada.
Favorite author? W. Somerset Maugham
Favorite dish? Prime rib medium rare with a baked potato
Ice cream flavor? Medieval Madness from Thrifty
Favorite Season? Summer
Plotter or pantser? Pantser working hard to become a plotter.
Hobbies? Reading, movies, history, thrifting.
Dream vacation? Egypt. I’d love to see all the temples and ruins.
Favorite TV show? Absolutely Fabulous. I own the series on DVD. Every episode cracks me up.
Musical preference? Alternative.
Pet peeve? People who call me on the phone and don’t tell me who they are before they ask to speak to me.
Favorite place to write? In my office.
Favorite song? DJ Culture by the Pet shop Boys
Odd family fact? My aunt was a burlesque dancer in Los Angeles in the 1960s.
Unforgettable moment? The day before RWA 2012 when Harlequin called to tell me that they wanted to buy my Regency-set romance. What a way to kick off conference!
Favorite Superhero? Mr. Fantastic. I love Ioan Gruffudd
Spicy or not? No. I have wimpy taste-buds.
Cat or dog? Dog
Favorite candy bar? Twix
Favorite guilty pleasure? Buying jewelry. I love sparkly things.



Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

A vivacious female director, and a handsome studio executive overcome their professional differences to find love in 1935 Hollywood.

BUY LINK

Available 12/11/2012




 
To learn more about Georgie Lee and her writing please visit her website:





November 22, 2012

Holiday!

To all of my U.S. readers and friends.


November 12, 2012

Open Promo for Authors ~ November Releases

Welcome to Open Promo for Authors!  Once again I've decided to open the floor (or blog post as the case may be) and allow you, my fellow romance authors, a chance to tell me about your book. Do you have a current or upcoming release? Then I want to hear about it! After all, Christmas is right around the corner. And what's better than a stocking full of books?

I do have a few pesky rules though:
  • The book has to be a romance. I don't care what genre romance, but my readership is romance so we're going to give them what they love.
  •  You can post for yourself or you can post about a fabulous new book you can't wait to get your hands on and you think we should all run out and buy.
  • If you include a short excerpt in the post, please include a rating AT THE BEGINNING of the post. Let's be thoughtful of those readers who are uncomfortable with some heat levels.
  • Also, I reserve the right to delete a post if it promotes objectionable content. (incest, rape, etc.)
Simple enough, right? Post away!


November 9, 2012

Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Sloane Taylor:

Birthday? Dec. 8
Favorite color? Green
Favorite animal? Lion
Siblings? One older sister
Favorite drink? Vodka on ice
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Raspberry
Favorite author? Too many to choose from
Favorite dish? Everything Italian
Ice cream flavor? French Vanilla
Favorite Season? Spring
Plotter or pantser? A little of both
Hobbies? Gardening and cooking
Dream vacation? Three months in Germany
Favorite TV show? The Mentalist
Musical preference? Oldies
Pet peeve? Slow drivers
Favorite place to write? My patio or in the car
Favorite song? Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits
Odd family fact? My great-grandmother outlived four husbands
Unforgettable moment? When Studs proposed
Favorite Superhero? Studs :-)
Spicy or not? Depends on the food and my moood
Cat or dog? Both
Favorite candy bar? Hershey’s
Favorite guilty pleasure? Gorging on ice cream drenched in chocolate syrup


Summarize your book Twitter style:

Chicagoan Clancy Marshall has planned her dream Venice vacation down to the last detail. From gondola rides to masked balls, and anything else that just happens along, she is determined to experience all pleasures. But those careful plans fly out the door when she literally falls into the arms of a masked stranger.

Vittore Ricci comes from an old Venetian family that claims two doges in their lineage. A straight-laced Count and owner of a prestigious hotel, he never does anything without serious consideration. Until a sexy American tourist offers an opportunity no man can refuse.

BUY LINK

 To learn more about Sloane Taylor and her writing, please visit her website:


November 5, 2012

The Bedroom Door

When it comes to love scenes in a romance novel, I am SUCH a voyeur. Shocking, but true. A voyeur. I never thought that term would apply to me, but it does. If a love scene takes place behind closed doors, I feel…cheated. I’ve invested time into this book, fallen in love with the hero right along with the heroine, and for what? To have the bedroom door slammed in my face? Noooo!

So I’m a voyeur, a ‘leave the bedroom door wide open, thank you very much’ kind of reader. I don’t want to use my imagination about what is going on in the bedroom. I want the details! Lots of details. So it would only make sense that this is how I write.

I write sizzling, dangerously sexy contemporary romance and romantic suspense—no intimacy hidden behind closed doors in my books. With me you get detailed, explicit love scenes. Heck, sometimes my heroes and heroines don’t make it to the bedroom at all. Instead they find themselves atop a desk, against a wall, or in front of a trio of mirrors…


“I’m not the type of woman men fall for.”

“I’ve fallen for you.”

Heat flooded her system. She forced herself to breathe, to keep her eyes locked with his. “No you haven’t. You …”

He pushed off the mantel and stepped in her direction. “I—what?”

“Never mind.”

“Finish the sentence, Isabeau.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then let me.” He closed the distance between them. “You were going to say I haven’t fallen for you, weren’t you? You actually believe him? That you’re nothing more to me than convenient?”

Her pulse throbbed thick and hard. Heat radiated off his body. The scent of him filled her head. She wanted, more than anything, to press herself against him and relive the pleasure of his mouth against hers. Instead, she lifted her chin. “Maybe.”

He leaned in close. So close his breath brushed across her lips. “You believe him, but not me?”

“You are here only temporarily.”

“Yes.”

“And I am just down the street.”

“I suppose.”

She ran her tongue over her dry lips. “So the whole thing does seem rather—”

“Don’t say it.”

“—convenient.”

Something dangerous came and went in his eyes. “Now I’m getting angry.”

His hands skimmed down her sides, slipped under her shirt and settled on her lace-covered bottom. Her breath went uneven. Searing need swarmed her.

“You want something to believe, believe this.” He pulled her into the solid ridge of his erection. She lost her concentration. “There is nothing convenient about the way I feel about you.”

“I…no?”

“You think you’re not the type to draw a man’s attention, think again. I can’t stand in the same room as you without wanting to taste you. I can’t taste you without wanting to taste all of you.”

Oh, God. Her knees turned to jelly. A hot, wet pulse came to life between her legs.

“If you can’t see in yourself what it is that I see, feel what you do to me.” Taking hold of her wrist, he placed her hand in the center of his chest.

His heart was racing. She tipped her head back and looked into his eyes. Her bones began to liquefy. “The way you’re looking at me,” she whispered.

“How am I looking at you?”

“Like I’m important.”

“You are.”

She swallowed hard, wanting to believe him. “Like I’m beautiful.”

His lips brushed across her temple and her eyes drifted shut. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. Then you would know how beautiful you are.”

Her eyes snapped open as he spun her in his arms. His hands settled on her shoulders, drawing her back against his chest. She gasped at their image reflected in the trio of mirrors that hung on her wall. When had this become a seduction?

Thirteen years—that's how long Isabeau Montgomery has been living a lie. After an automobile accident took her mother's life, Izzy hid herself away, surviving the only way she knew how. Now she is happy in her carefully reconstructed life. That is until he walks through the door of her bar...

Black Phoenix singer/front man Noah Clark came to Long Island City with a goal—one that doesn't include an instant, electric attraction to the dark-haired beauty behind the bar. Coaxing her into his bed won't be easy, but he can't get her pale, haunted eyes nor her skill on the piano out of his head.

Can Noah help Isabeau overcome the past? Or will her need to protect her secret force her back into hiding and destroy their chance at happiness?

November 2, 2012

Friday Quickie

25 quickie facts about Mariposa Cruz:

Birthday? July 9
Favorite color? Green
Favorite animal? Bear
Siblings? 1 Brother
Favorite drink? Pumpkin Spice Latté
If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be? Watermelon
Favorite author? Charlaine Harris
Favorite dish? Pasta with pesto sauce
Ice cream flavor? Tin Roof Sundae
Favorite season? Fall
Plotter or pantser? Plotter
Hobbies? Salsa dancing, Knitting
Dream vacation? Ireland
Favorite TV show? True Blood
Musical preference? Classic Rock
Pet peeve? Complacent stupidity
Favorite place to write? My bedroom with a mug of tea at my elbow
Favorite song? The Rose
Odd family fact? My grandma’s cousin served as a nurse during WWII Battle of the Bulge
Unforgettable moment? The sight of my daughter safe after a serious car accident.
Favorite Superhero? Spiderman
Spicy or not? Not
Cat or dog? Both
Favorite candy bar? Hershey Bar with Almonds
Favorite guilty pleasure? A cold margarita and loaded nachos

Summarize your book Twitter style – 140 characters or less:

Tough chick struggles with her inner beast.

BUY LINK


To learn more about Mariposa and her writing please visit her blog:

http://mariposacruz.blogspot.com/

November 1, 2012

Dangerous Affairs by Diana Miller



Today I'm hosting Diana Miller during her Super Book Blast: Dangerous Affairs. Please take the time to check out her book (it sounds fabulous!), and make sure you leave Diana a comment, for she will be awarding one $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour! 


When soap opera star Abby Langford leaves Los Angeles for her Minnesota hometown, she’s hoping to give her nine-year-old daughter the peaceful childhood she never knew. But instead of tranquility, Abby finds an old knife hidden between the walls of her new house. Then the nightmares start: a blood-soaked victim and a killer’s arm slicing through the air, again and again.

Abby wonders if she’s having the nervous breakdown the tabloids claim she already had, especially when sexy, skeptical police chief Josh Kincaid questions her story. When menacing hate mail arrives, Josh’s professional concern for Abby soon evolves into an intense attraction, and the feeling is mutual. And now Josh wonders if her psychic visions are of crimes past—or a premonition of terrors to come.

To survive, Abby and Josh must uncover the truth and stop a killer . . . before Abby’s worst nightmares come true.


EXCERPT:

The doorbell rang, shooting a fresh blast of cold panic through Abby. She opened her mouth, but swallowed her scream—it had to be the police. Bad guys didn’t use doorbells. She unlocked and opened the front door with frozen fingers.

Josh was standing on the front porch, dressed in black jeans and a burgundy polo shirt, his hand on the doorjamb and his eyes narrowed. “What’s such a damn emergency?”

“I got another message. From the person who hates me.”

 Josh expelled a clearly exasperated breath, running his fingers through his dark hair. “Look, I know I told you to take the letters seriously, but since the mail carrier delivered it hours ago, this isn’t exactly an emergency. Bring it to the station tomorrow. I’d like to get back to my date.”

“It didn’t come in the mail this time.” Abby’s voice rose an octave, her words tripping over each other. “It’s on my bathroom mirror, written in lipstick. Someone got into my house, and they could get in again.” She sounded half hysterical, but she couldn’t help it. This was in a different category from her normal hate mail.

Josh stepped into the house, closing the door behind him. “You were gone tonight?”

She slumped against one wall of the foyer, hugging herself and struggling to regain her control.

“Maddie and I were at a birthday party for Laura’s youngest son. At Pizzaville. We got home around nine thirty, and I put Maddie to bed. I read in the family room for a while, then went back upstairs. And found it.”

“Show me.” Josh grabbed her forearm and directed her up the stairs.

The message was short and to the point, capital letters written in red lipstick on the wall-size mirror:

LEAVE OR DIE BITCH. FROM YOUR BIGGEST FAN 


When she was eight, Diana Miller decided she wanted to be Nancy Drew. But no matter how many garbage cans she dug through, conversations she “accidentally” overheard, and attics she searched, she never found a single cryptic letter, hidden staircase, or anything else even remotely mysterious. She worked as a lawyer, a soda jerk, a stay-at-home mom, a hospital admitting clerk, and a conference host before deciding that the best way to inject suspense into her otherwise satisfying life was by writing about it.

Diana is a five-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award and winner of a Golden Heart for Dangerous Affairs—a romantic suspense novel that shows not everyone in her home state is Minnesota Nice. She lives in the Twin Cities with her family.

Visit her website at:  http://wwwdianamillerwriter.com


October 30, 2012

Spotlight On... Renee Charles

Welcome, Renee, can you tell us a little about yourself? 

I am the only female in a house full of giants (husband and two teenage boys) so my life tends to be full of dirt, grease and all things disgusting. Writing romance is my escape from testosterone.

I love being outside, camping, snowmobiling and now I just got my first wheeling rig so I don’t have to sit in the passenger seat anymore. I have a strange fascination with old movies. I love the black and white films. Add Gene Autry with a dance sequence and you have my undivided attention. Come on, admit it, he had a great A$$. I think it’s all the glamor. I am lucky if I get my hair up in a ponytail before my day starts, so the era of girdles, false eyelashes and fab shoes. What’s not to like?

 I met my husband in an insane asylum. Luckily we both had keys since we both worked there. I live for my kids, but they are teenagers and hate it. LOL That’s about all I can think of to tell you about myself.

Tell us about CHANGES IN AUTUMN and where we can find it. 

CHANGES IN AUTUMN is a six chapter Werewolf Romance. This Novella stands apart from other werewolf stories of the popular genre in that it chronicles the changes Autumn goes through to become a werewolf, physically, mentally and spiritually. One of those changes happens to be meeting and claiming her mate.
It will be available on October 31st at The Wild Rose Press.

Do you have a favorite character or one that you identify most with? 

Autumn’s back injury was personal. I suffered a back injury in my twenties and the recovery was long and frustratingly restrictive.

Describe your writing in three words. 

Fast-paced, passionate and twisted. Although I love the journey of a story, I do not enjoy stories where I find myself tapping my fingers waiting for the author to get on with it. I want to be whisked away on a rollercoaster ride that blindsides me just as I think everything is safe. I want a wild ride that leaves me breathless for more when I close the cover. So, that is what I try to provide my readers.

Why did you choose your genre? 

I don’t really know, it’s just always been that way. As a child when I played Barbies, they were being chased by monsters, the part played by my stuffed animals. In third grade when all the other little girls were reading about princesses and fuzzy animals, I was checking out books about ghosts and mythical legends from the library. My favorite fairy tale was beauty and the beast and I always got a little sad when he turned back into a Prince at the end. Growing up, the stranger the romance the more captivated I was.
Paranormal romance just suited me.

Where do you get your ideas? 

Ahhh, the muse. Would it be wrong to say I don’t have a muse? It’s more like something will strike me and I get a picture or a scene in my head, then I start asking…What if?

How do you do your research? 

For me research is the fun part. I love to learn about new stuff. My poor kids have been drug to every museum the West Coast has to offer, but they’ve never been to Disney Land.


Usually my research ends up looking a lot like an unraveled afghan. I tend to pick at a thread until I get distracted by another. As a result I end up surrounded by piles of information and I have to sort through it all to see what is useful and what is not. The really great part is, if it’s not useful now, it will be later.

What advice would you give to the new/unpublished author? 

The best advice I ever got was from an agent who once told me you cannot write in a vacuum. You need other authors. You NEED to network, join groups, become part of the community. I was afraid to. Afraid I was not ready and they would laugh at my dreams. What I found was a collection of authors in different stages of their careers, some ahead of me some behind, some even passed me by on the journey (no day job to take up their time), but everyone was eager to congratulate, commiserate and teach what they knew. My writing and my career really took off when I jumped in the pool to play.

What’s next for you? 

I have signed a contract for my next book for which we have yet to settle on a title. It is a Romance that takes place amidst a Zombie Apocalypse. Not to worry, there is no Zombie Lovin’ (the question has come up in conversation). The hero and heroine are on the run trying to save the world before everyone becomes zombies. What they learn is that the future lies in them and their growing love for one another.

Where can we find you on the web? 

Thank you for asking. My web site is www.reneecharles.net

I have started a collection of useful links and blogs for readers, authors and romance enthusiasts to check out.

http://www.facebook.com/ReneeCharlesAuthor

Not to worry if you follow me on Facebook, I am frugal with the posts. I don’t think everyone needs to know what I am having for dinner, but I will tell you where I am guest blogging next or about my latest contest.

https://twitter.com/RCharlesWriter

Okay, I am going to be honest here. I have not figured out the whole hash-tag thing with Twitter. I tweet occasionally, but am still learning the ins and outs of hash tags. I follow some great paranormal stuff though and that alone might be worth the click. Just saying… Is there anything you would like to ask our readers? Yes, what’s your number? No get your head outta the gutter, not that number. I want to know how much you read? A book a day? A book a week? A book a year? What’s your number? I have read conflicting information on this topic that says the voracious reader is a myth. Is it true? I read a book a month roughly, but do quite a bit of technical reading and critiquing others’ work in between.



Ex-animal control officer, Autumn Reynolds always had a soft spot for injured animals. So when one shows up on her porch with a gunshot wound, she has no choice but to help it. But she gets caught in the maelstrom when the injured wolf turns out to be a hot werewolf and the shooter comes back to finish the job. Now she's going to become a wolf, or die trying. Fortunately, she has her own Alpha-male who owes her one. However, Autumn fears if she does survive, she might lose her heart in the process. 
Conner Grayson owes the beautiful woman his life and feels obligated to help her through her first change. Though he recognizes her as his mate, as her Alpha, he won’t deny Autumn the right to choose once she becomes a wolf. That is, if he can resist the overwhelming need to claim her as his own. 

Excerpt: 

“I will not do this to you. The change has begun and you...you have to choose your mate.” His words came between short ragged breaths. “If we make love, you will no longer have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice.” Even as the words left her mouth, her body denied it. She hummed with an awareness of him that could not be ignored.

He shook his head. “Stay in the water until your skin doesn’t itch anymore. I’m going to put a couple of steaks on for us.” The click of the door closing behind him when he left her alone echoed through her aching body.

Autumn refused to believe that what she felt wasn’t real. She was so aware of him that she could feel him leave the next room after he got dressed. Her awareness of him was like a rubber band that stretched tighter and thinner the further he moved away from her. If what he said was true, she feared it was too late. She’d already chosen.

October 26, 2012

Howloween Blog Hop

This contest is closed.
Thanks for participating.
 


I apologize. I haven't been feeling well this month and am suffering from a migraine this very moment, so I've been drawing a big blank when trying to come up with a new and interesting topic for this blog hop. Although this has nothing to do with Halloween, I decided to talk about my favorite hero:

He's the handsome, electrically sensual lead singer of Black Phoenix. A blond haired, green eyed Brit with a voice that could coax the panties off of grandma! Noah Clark may be famous, but the last thing he's interested in is living the wild life. He's ridden the fame roller coaster straight to the top of the charts and found nothing but heartache at the end. Now he only wants to get his band back together and his music back on track. He just didn't count on Isabeau Montgomery and her haunted eyes and enchanting melodies.

(*For the purposes of this blog post, Noah Clark is portrayed by Gabriel Aubry.)

His mouth curved into an irresistibly devastating grin, and everything female in her stood at attention. He strode the rest of the way to the bar, his every movement fluid and easy. Confident. Naturally sexy. His lean, rangy body was clad in snug jeans and a black tee. Jeans so worn and faded that only their seams gave hint to their original color. Jeans that rode low on his hips, cupping his sex as tightly as a hand.



He leaned into her. “If you still want me to stay away from you, you’d better tell me now.”

“Noah?”

“Yeah?”

“Kiss me.”

She didn’t have to ask twice. He dipped his head, settled his lips on hers and plundered. He dragged her against him, and drank in the hot, potent taste of her as he fed on her mouth like a starving man.

She softened, a tiny sound of passion slipping up her throat—an urgent invitation. His pulse leaped. So did other parts of his anatomy. Her fingers burrowed through his hair.

He deepened the kiss, stroking his hands down the sides of her body to settle on her hips. He used them to guide her as he stepped forward once, twice, until her back settled against the trunk of the maple. Awash in the smell of her, the feel of her, he pressed closer, until no space existed between them. Her breasts flattened against his chest, her hips arched into him. Heat from her body flowed into his, sparking a fire. His heartbeat echoed in his head.

Whew! Is it hot in here?

For a chance to win a copy of AFTER MIDNIGHT as well as a halloween-themed goody bag, just leave me a comment. Interested in bettering your odds to win? Go ahead and follow my blog -- I'll reward you with a second entry.

Thanks for reading, and have fun on the hop! You can find a complete list of participating blogs by clicking the blog hop badge above, or visiting this site:






Giveaway Details:
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October 23, 2012

After Midnight Soundtrack

I began building stories around song lyrics as far back as the fourth grade. A particular lyric or phrase would stand out, and the next thing I knew, I had built an entire scene around that phrase. The song would get stuck in my head and the next day I would have a few chapters scribbled in my notebook based on the theme. In the fourth grade, I wondered if I was the only one who did this. As an adult, I know I’m not.

A lot of authors write to specific playlists – a set of songs that inspire them. Some even have playlists set to a particular book they’re working on – songs that help them get into the right mood and focus on the characters. I’m one of those writers. Possessing a deep love of music, I can’t NOT have a playlist of songs that capture the feeling of the book and the characters I’m working on.

Music plays an essential role in AFTER MIDNIGHT. Based on a rock musician and a piano phenom, how could it not? Surprisingly, of all the stories I’ve written, all the songs I’ve listened to across the genres, there was no set playlist for the book. That is, not until I already had the words on the page – only then did I realize that the songs I kept playing over and over on my mp3 player, truly captured Isabeau and Noah.

So here it is, the soundtrack to After Midnight:

Dark Night of the Soul - Philip Wesley
Breathing – Lifehouse
My Immortal – Evanescence
Left Out – Shinedown
Eyes – Bobby Friss
Hysteria – Def Leppard
So Far Away – Staind
Follow You, Follow Me – Genesis
In the Middle – Theory of a Deadman

Do you have a soundtrack that you use? How about for washing the car or cleaning the house or, Ahem...other activities? Leave a comment and tell me what you like to listen to. What is the soundtrack of your life?