tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27880034655665434962024-03-13T16:07:16.581-04:00Sarah GrimmWhere Dangerously Sexy & Happily-Ever-After CollideSarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.comBlogger547125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-75156705013324580542014-10-17T06:09:00.002-04:002014-10-17T06:09:31.530-04:00New Blog<div style="text-align: left;">
Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know that this blog has moved. After years of using Blogger, I have decided to add my blog to my website.<br />
<br />
So reset your bookmarks and come on over to visit me at <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.sarahgrimm.com/blog"><b><span style="font-size: large;">www.sarahgrimm.com/blog</span></b></a></span> <br />
<br />
Thanks!<br />
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/110/577F4218CB2F457F1283366A63728B48.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none;" /></div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-71716473004180376962014-10-05T05:00:00.000-04:002014-10-05T05:00:04.723-04:00Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness with a #Free Book<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"...beautiful, heart-rending and strangely uplifting."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"A must read for patients and caregivers."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Where Would You Like Your Nipple? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A survivor's guide to navigating the breast cancer abyss with humor and hope.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>FREE</b> to <a href="http://amzn.com/B009AEU4WG">download </a>10/5 - 10/9</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/WWYLYN-C-Resized-200x3001.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3633" src="http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/WWYLYN-C-Resized-200x3001.jpg" height="300" title="WWYLYN C Resized 200x300" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wife, mother and <i>really young</i> grandmother, Mackenzie Crowne shares her home with her high school sweet heart husband, a neurotic Pomeranian and a blind cat. She calls Arizona home because the southwest feeds her soul. Her love of the romance genre has been a lifelong affair, both as a reader and an award winning author. A bout with breast cancer sharpened her resolve to see her stories shared with others. Today, she’s a seven-year survivor, living the dream.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Her friends call her Mac. She hopes you will too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mac’s Links:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mackenzie-Crowne/e/B007YH4QZ2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1">Amazon Author Page</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/">mackenziecrowne.com</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MackenzieCrowne">FaceBook Author Page</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/MacCrowne">Twitter @maccrowne</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5821344.Mackenzie_Crowne">Goodreads</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-10013020836285560412014-10-02T10:29:00.001-04:002014-10-02T10:29:45.075-04:00How to Seduce a Fireman by Vonnie Davis<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I'm very excited to be able to share this fabulous story with you all!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br />How to Seduce a Fireman</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>by</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Vonnie Davis</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgRn6Gt9EPE/VC1e3jOkSPI/AAAAAAAADKk/fE4Un0_h15A/s1600/513Vhbgl7PL__AA324_PIkin4%2CBottomRight%2C-55%2C22_AA346_SH20_OU01_SMALL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YgRn6Gt9EPE/VC1e3jOkSPI/AAAAAAAADKk/fE4Un0_h15A/s1600/513Vhbgl7PL__AA324_PIkin4%2CBottomRight%2C-55%2C22_AA346_SH20_OU01_SMALL.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>The heat is on… </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Book 1 in the ‘Wild Heat’ series – the hottest new fireman trilogy of the fall!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Cassie Wolford has crushed on fireman Quinn Gallagher ever since he moved to Clearwater three years ago. There’s just one problem: he’s always made it clear dating is out of the question. But once a Wolford sets their sights on someone, that person doesn’t stand a chance! Cassie decides it’s time for Quinn to get a dose of his own medicine… and sets out to show him what he’s missing! </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Quinn knows only too well what Cassie’s up to but he can’t give her what she wants. He isn’t good for anyone, much less someone as sweet as his angel. Fighting her off hurts like hell, but giving her false hope of a happy ever after would be damn cruel. That’s why he has to leave Clearwater. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Unfortunately, someone from his past has different ideas and when Cassie’s life is threatened this former CIA operative is staying put, prepared to crawl through hell and back to keep her safe. And it looks like he might just have to. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
EXCERPT:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Quinn Gallagher was <i>dead</i> meat.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Cassie Wolford marched to the side door of Fire and Marine Rescue Unit Thirty-two in Clearwater, Florida. She swiped the entry pass she’d purloined a year or so ago from her oldest brother and yanked the handle when the light in the security lock turned green. Propping her hip against the door, she maneuvered the large box containing the remainder of her birthday cake through the doorway. <i>Quinn better have a damn good excuse for being a no show at my party last night. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She’d asked him twice if he was coming and, both times, he’d used that wicked smile on her before claiming he wouldn’t miss her twenty-first birthday for the world. So unless he was inside hobbling on crutches with two broken legs or wore a body cast from face to feet, he was about to get his jaw jacked. <i>I don’t care if he does have a body built for sin and I want to be his number one sinner. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With both of her brothers serving as firemen in this top-notch unit, Cassie knew her way around the building. She crossed the threshold into the firemen’s living quarters, slapped the cake on the large dining room table and pivoted toward conversation floating in from the TV area amid the battle sounds of a warrior game on Wii.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Masculine laughter, deep and sensual, slithered straight to her core before spreading out to spark all her nerve endings. Quinn Gallagher did that to her, no matter if it was his laughter, his voice, or his eyes that fluctuated between blue and grey. <i>Why Quinn? Why not a guy who is as crazy for me as I am for him? But no, I have to fall hard for Mr. I-Could-Give-a-Shit.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One quick glance in his direction, and she sucked air. Quinn, in his typically jovial manner, was recanting a story to her youngest brother, Jace, and a new fireman she’d yet to meet. All Quinn wore was a white towel slung low around his narrow hips. Water drops lazily forged a trail down his tanned and toned body. Moisture dripped from his freshly shampooed dark hair, trailed over his perpetual five-o’clock shadow and plopped onto his collarbone, splatted onto his hardened pecs and washboard stomach, before skiing the hills and valleys over every ridge of his abs. <i>Oh, to be a droplet of water. </i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>AVAILABLE TODAY! </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://amzn.com/B00ME1OWD4" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-seduce-a-fireman-vonnie-davis/1120160425?ean=9780007594511" target="_blank"><b>Barnes and Noble </b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hbu40XIDRAM/VC1guLabNTI/AAAAAAAADKw/xAIfB4gz3yA/s1600/Vonnie_logo_grayTeal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hbu40XIDRAM/VC1guLabNTI/AAAAAAAADKw/xAIfB4gz3yA/s1600/Vonnie_logo_grayTeal.png" height="186" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Vonnie Davis is an award-winning, international author who writes contemporary, historical and paranormal romance, often with strong elements of suspense. She likens herself to a croissant: warm, crusty, wrinkled, a tad flaky—and best served with strong coffee.<br />
<br />
Visit her WEBSITE at: <a href="http://www.vonniedavis.com/" target="_blank">http://www.vonniedavis.com/ </a> </div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-22601176108316700162014-02-24T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-24T00:00:05.181-05:00My Writing Process - Blog TourSince I moved my blog before I remembered this event, please follow the link to my new post. Thanks!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sarahgrimm.com/blog" target="_blank">http://www.sarahgrimm.com/blog</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/110/577F4218CB2F457F1283366A63728B48.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none;" /></div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-13405601336485247802014-02-15T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-15T00:00:06.782-05:00Braedric's Bane by AJ Nuest<h3 style="text-align: center;">
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13th MARKS THE RELEASE OF </h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<i>Braedric's Bane</i>, Book IV in The Golden Key Chronicles!</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Find out more about the final installment in this epic fantasy romance!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Advance praise for <i>Braedric's Bane</i>:</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">5 STARS from </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://cometbabesbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/braedric-bane-by-aj-nuest.html?showComment=1392037043813#c65154483631153847">Comet Babes Books</a></span><span style="color: black;">! <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Amazing 4th book. What more can you ask from a fantasy series--time travelling, costumes and even a fight. Add the sexy hero and it has everything you could want in a book!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">5 STARS from </span><span style="color: black;"><a black="" color:="" href="http://followtheyellowbookrd.blogspot.com/2014/02/braedrics-bane.html%22%3EFollow%20the%20Yellow%20Book%20Road%3C/a%3E%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20style=">! An epic fantasy, adventure and romance with a dash of comedy rolled into one fabulous book. I literally read it in one sitting.</a></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKpk67e7v0k/UvaIJAZtgtI/AAAAAAAACE8/TXYIrCopKUE/s1600/Braedrics+Bane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKpk67e7v0k/UvaIJAZtgtI/AAAAAAAACE8/TXYIrCopKUE/s1600/Braedrics+Bane.jpg" height="400" width="260" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To escape the clutches of the evil Wizard Gaelleod, Rowena and Caedmon flee to the future. With her memories in tact and the help of her dear friends, Rowena is confident they can uncover the clues behind her connection to the key.<br />
<br />
Yet Violet's dire prophecy does more than detail their history. Caedmon's worst fears are confirmed. Though they must return to his realm, everything he loves stands to be ripped from his grasp.<br />
<br />
<b>Join Caedmon and Rowena as they embark on an epic battle to protect the Austiere Kingdom and fight to safeguard their love in Braedric's Bane, Book IV of The Golden Key Chronicles. </b> </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Available February 13th on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FVE4ROK/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i5?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1FPH3S9TPTFRJD4V13K2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846">AMAZON</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FVE4ROK/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i4?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0KYE3DBQTP7NNBZ3Y9FA&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=455344027&pf_rd_i=468294">AMAZONUK</a>!</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
</h2>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Praise for The Golden Key Chronicles:</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">57 FIVE STAR REVIEWS on Goodreads</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">42 FIVE STAR REVIEWS on Amazon US/UK</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7uEy-9DGkoE/Uvad4RsetDI/AAAAAAAACFc/g3TkUIMSTY8/s1600/GKC_Postcard_Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7uEy-9DGkoE/Uvad4RsetDI/AAAAAAAACFc/g3TkUIMSTY8/s1600/GKC_Postcard_Front.jpg" height="310" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Like the best fairy tales, Rowena’s Key captures the imagination and the heart with a bonus undercurrent of spicy romance. <i>5 Stars on Amazon</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
AJ, why do you have to write the most wonderful heroes? Aaaahhhh!!! Now I'm hooked and begrudgingly wait for Book 2. I can't believe this is happening! <i>5 Stars on Amazon</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SZcKuVBUZ9g/UvarSWkW9OI/AAAAAAAACF0/yFqAZrx-HcU/s1600/Publishedby+(3).gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SZcKuVBUZ9g/UvarSWkW9OI/AAAAAAAACF0/yFqAZrx-HcU/s1600/Publishedby+(3).gif" /></a>Crazy good! A total fan of the first book, the second did not disappoint at all. I swear I could smell leather while reading this book I was sooooo into it. <i>5 Stars on Amazon</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I liked Rowena in Rowena's Key. Candra's Freedom just made me fall in love with her! Fierce and headstrong, she is everything a heroine should be. <i>5 Stars on Goodreads</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I absolutely adored the first two in this series, with Rowena’s Key being one of my favorite romance reads of 2013, so I had high hopes (read: desperate cravings) for Caedmon’s Curse – it did not disappoint! <i>5 Stars on Goodreads</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Honestly, if there were more than 5 stars, I would give them to Caedmon's Curse and the whole Golden Key Chronicles. So well written, the story flows seamlessly from one danger to the next. The romance between Caedmon and Rowena is sexy, honest, and fresh. <i>5 Stars on Goodreads</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" height="6" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_FvYk2RsAOw/UvaquO-Ns0I/AAAAAAAACFs/0RpsbK9uEqU/s1600/AJBook_Photo2008_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_FvYk2RsAOw/UvaquO-Ns0I/AAAAAAAACFs/0RpsbK9uEqU/s1600/AJBook_Photo2008_web.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">AJ is a multi-published, award-winning author who lives in the middle of a
cornfield in NW Indiana. Her loving husband, two beautiful children and a bevy
of spoiled pets have agreed to stay and, in exchange for three rations per day
and laundry service, tolerate her lunacy. While she spend most days happily
ensconced in crafting romance across a multitude of genres, an underground coup
has been percolating. The dogs just informed her the cat is secretly vying for
dictatorship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a a="" ajbooks.blogspot.com="" href="http://ajnuest.com/%22%3EWEBSITE%3C/a%3E%20/%20%3Ca%20href=" http:=""> </a><a a="" href="https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest%22%3EFACEBOOK%3C/a%3E%20/%20%3Ca%20href=" https:="" twitter.com="" uest=""></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/ajnuest/boards/%22%3EPINTEREST%3C/a%3E%3Cspan%20style=" mso-spacerun:="" yes=""> </a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-80658854495777507572014-02-13T00:00:00.000-05:002014-02-13T00:00:06.182-05:00Hurricane Crimes by Chrys Fey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KYbt-Yw-ZY0/UvkkWapyNYI/AAAAAAAADEg/nB8tpVj_Vr4/s1600/HurricaneCrimes_8342_750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KYbt-Yw-ZY0/UvkkWapyNYI/AAAAAAAADEg/nB8tpVj_Vr4/s1600/HurricaneCrimes_8342_750.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Title: Hurricane Crimes <br />
Author: Chrys Fey <br />
Genre: Romantic Suspense <br />
Format: eBook<br />
Page Count: 51 (short story)<br />
Official Release Date: March 5th 2014<br />
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press<br />
<br />
<br />
Book Links:
<br />
<br />Amazon: <a href="http://amzn.com/B00GVK921G">http://amzn.com/B00GVK921G</a><br />
Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18757793-hurricane-crimes" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18757793-hurricane-crimes </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Blurb: </b><br />
<br />
*Hurricane Crimes is a short story.*<br />
<br />
After her car breaks down, Beth Kennedy is forced to stay in Florida, the target of Hurricane Sabrina. She stocks up supplies, boards up windows, and hunkers down to wait out the storm, but her plan unravels when she witnesses a car accident. Risking her life, she braves the winds to save the driver. Just when she believes they are safe, she finds out the man she saved could possibly be more dangerous than the severe weather.<br />
<br />
Donovan Goldwyn only wanted to hide from the police, but the hurricane shoved his car into a tree. Now he's trapped with a beautiful woman while the evidence that can prove his innocence to a brutal crime is out there for anyone to find.<br />
<br />
As Hurricane Sabrina wreaks havoc, Beth has no other choice but to trust Donovan to stay alive. But will she survive, or will she become another hurricane crime?<br />
<br />
<b>Excerpt: </b><br />
<br />
On the television set, which was fighting to stay alive, was breaking news. She caught bits and pieces of it as she emptied the bowl of blood-tainted water and threw out the cloth. It was about a high-speed chase that had occurred about a half-hour ago. Beth shook her head. Apparently, Donovan wasn’t the only idiot driving around during a hurricane.<br />
<br />
She went back into the living room and began replacing all the medical supplies into the first-aid kit. Behind her, a reporter was explaining that the driver of the car was believed to be a murder suspect.<br />
<br />
“The name of the—”<br />
<br />
The lights flashed, prompting Beth to snatch up her flashlight.<br />
<br />
“Donovan Goldwyn.”<br />
<br />
Her fingers went cold around the plastic tube as ice frosted her veins. She straightened her spine and turned stiffly to the television, her heart wasn’t beating in her chest. On the screen was the picture of the man who was right now changing in her bedroom. Above it was a caption in bold letters that read—SUSPECT.<br />
<br />
She gripped the flashlight in her frozen fingers. Her heart thudded fearfully. She stared into the immobilized violet eyes through the glass.<br />
<br />
“Oh my god,” she gasped.<br />
<br />
She had brought a murderer into her home!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" height="6" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T89a_mVgyR0/UvklpYZULZI/AAAAAAAADEo/xtZtQrRRLNo/s1600/chrysfeyAUTHORPIC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T89a_mVgyR0/UvklpYZULZI/AAAAAAAADEo/xtZtQrRRLNo/s1600/chrysfeyAUTHORPIC.jpg" height="200" width="136" /></a></div>
Bio:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Chrys Fey’s debut, Hurricane Crimes, was published by The Wild Rose Press. Mid 2014, she will be coming out with her second romantic-suspense eBook, 30 Seconds. She created the blog Write with Fey to offer aspiring writers advice and inspiration. She lives in Florida where she is ready to battle the next hurricane that comes her way. </div>
<br />
Author Links:<br />
<br />
Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/chrysfey">www.facebook.com/chrysfey</a><br />
Blog: <a href="http://www.writewithfey.blogspot.com/">www.writewithfey.blogspot.com</a><br />
Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/ChrysFey">https://www.goodreads.com/ChrysFey</a><br />
Google +: <a href="http://www.google.com/+ChrysFey">www.google.com/+ChrysFey</a>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-31089996917886544192014-02-02T14:18:00.000-05:002014-02-02T14:18:16.357-05:00Nothing to it? Yeah, right!<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Since I plan to eventually move my blog to my website, I’ve posted today’s post over there. </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.sarahgrimm.com/blog.html" target="_blank">www.sarahgrimm.com/blog </a></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>I hope you’ll head over and check it out. While you’re there, won’t you sign up to follow the blog via Networked Blogs or RS? I’d sure appreciate it. </b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/110/577F4218CB2F457F1283366A63728B48.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none;" /></div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-55573556907463998812014-01-20T07:59:00.000-05:002014-01-20T07:59:59.493-05:00Featured by Highlighted Author<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been featured by Highlighted Author today. Swing by and check it out! I'd love to see you over there.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://highlightedauthor.com/2014/01/welcome-sarah-grimm/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1jHzJH_aXo/Ut0dDMFN0II/AAAAAAAADEE/l4-X6_YIjgM/s1600/HA+books+image-featured+button.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go ahead, click the photo. You know you want to.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/110/577F4218CB2F457F1283366A63728B48.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none;" /></div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-69710684036651137752014-01-13T08:37:00.000-05:002014-01-13T08:37:10.070-05:00Character Quickie: Brennus of Garrigill<b>20 quickie facts about Brennus of Garrigill:</b><br />
<br />
<b>Birthday?</b> Summer solstice<br />
<b>Favorite color?</b> That would be green<br />
<b>Nickname?</b> Strong one, as you see I am.<br />
<b>Birthmark or scars?</b> I earned my star of the Brigantes, and also plenty of scars<br />
<b>Siblings?</b> Many, at least 8 that my father claims a his offspring<br />
<b>City of residence?</b> The hillfort of Garrigill, in the Brigante territory of Britannia<br />
<b>If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be?</b> My apologies, I have no knowledge to answer this question.<br />
<b>Occupation?</b> Formerly I was the tribal champion, now I am an information gatherer- you might name it ‘spy’.<br />
<b>Hobbies?</b> I whittle wood<br />
<b>Favorite song?</b> The Wrath of Taranis!<br />
<b>Name one item in your refrigerator right now?</b> I have no refrigerator.<br />
<b>Your greatest fear?</b> That I never find love as I had with Ineda<br />
<b>Most treasured possession?</b> The arm ring I wear close to my heart.<br />
<b>Special talent?</b> Since I’m thought to be witless, I dupe the Romans excellently well<br />
<b>Cat or dog?</b> My hound Bricui<br />
<b>Pet peeve?</b> I hate the Roman usurpers!<br />
<b>Unforgettable moment?</b> Knowing a man is better on top of a horse!<br />
<b>Spicy or not?</b> I imagine spicy.<br />
<b>Favorite guilty pleasure?</b> Encouraging a woman to choose me at the Beltane rites.<br />
<b>If you could ask your author one question, what would it be?</b> Ah! I am already in 3 of your tales, am I in more to come?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WyNjlAGBI_A/UtMe5-tCpiI/AAAAAAAADDw/kIVJIOw6Z4I/s1600/frontx+1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WyNjlAGBI_A/UtMe5-tCpiI/AAAAAAAADDw/kIVJIOw6Z4I/s1600/frontx+1000.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After Whorl: Bran Reborn <br />
Buy from:
Amazon UK <a href="http://amzn.to/1bNcpNk">http://amzn.to/1bNcpNk</a>
<br />
Amazon.com <a href="http://amzn.to/1jaYWFw">http://amzn.to/1jaYWFw</a>
<br />
Crooked Cat Bookstore <a href="http://bit.ly/1fFq9vb">http://bit.ly/1fFq9vb</a>
<br />
Barnes and Noble <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/after-whorl-nancy-jardine/1117532118?ean=9781909841321">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/after-whorl-nancy-jardine/1117532118?ean=9781909841321</a>
<br />
Smashwords <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/388002" target="_blank">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/388002</a><br />
<br />
After Whorl: Bran Reborn book trailer video URL
<a href="http://youtu.be/RFJ_lvMBKvg">http://youtu.be/RFJ_lvMBKvg</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Brennus (also known as Bran) is the main male character in After Whorl: Bran Reborn, Book 2 of Nancy Jardine's Celtic Fervour series of historical romantic adventures set in AD 71 Britannia. (published Dec 16th 2013) To learn more about Nancy and her writing, please visit her website:</b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://nancyjardineauthor.weebly.com/" target="_blank"><b>http://nancyjardineauthor.weebly.com/</b></a></div>
<br />Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-56665492773171916482014-01-09T06:54:00.000-05:002014-01-09T06:54:30.060-05:00Caedmon's Curse by AJ Nuest<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'M THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE JANUARY 9TH </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">MARKS THE RELEASE OF BOOK III </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">IN THE GOLDEN KEY CHRONICLES...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>CAEDMON'S CURSE</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HvEghkfI_FA/Usr3QNlMZ9I/AAAAAAAACA0/aw53yUquias/s1600/Caesmon%27s+Curse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HvEghkfI_FA/Usr3QNlMZ9I/AAAAAAAACA0/aw53yUquias/s1600/Caesmon's+Curse.jpg" height="400" width="260" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The two years Prince Caedmon suffered in the dungeons of Seviere's keep left him with more than just lash marks lacing his back. He now retains the secret behind the key, and is the only one who understands it's grim connection to his beloved Rowena. Torn between telling her the truth and risking their future, he agrees to join her perilous quest. But their enemies to the north are not the only menace determined to see them fail and, to prove his love, he must conquer the demons of his past.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Join Caedmon and Rowena as they rediscover a love bound by fate, and struggle to unravel the significance behind Caedmon's Curse, Book III in The Golden Key Chronicles. </span> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Golden Key Chronicles Release Schedule:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Rowena's Key, November 7, 2013</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Candra's Freedom, December 12, 2013</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Caedmon's Curse, January 9, 2014</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Braedric's Bane, February 13, 2014</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find your copy at: </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/o5rjrc2"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amazon</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> / </span><a href="http://tinyurl.com/oovffy6"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AmazonUK</span></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxpSQ37rPmU/Usr7cUCjmHI/AAAAAAAACBA/S_V7P44AP4M/s1600/GKC_Postcard_Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxpSQ37rPmU/Usr7cUCjmHI/AAAAAAAACBA/S_V7P44AP4M/s1600/GKC_Postcard_Front.jpg" height="496" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
~ * ~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rowena sprang to her feet.
Someone was coming. And based upon the thundering hoof beats and thrashing
branches tearing through the forest behind her, whoever it was cared little for
masking their approach.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dammit. All night and late into the next evening she'd ridden as if the devil himself had pursued her. She'd purposely stayed off the roads, traveling the old tracks instead, and even stopped several times to set false trails. Not until Helios approached the western horizon and she'd discovered this small clearing inside a copse of thick evergreens had she happily made camp. Her body ached with exhaustion, but her fatigue was a small price in return for the confidence that she'd finally put enough distance between her and the realm of Austiere. Surrounded on all sides by dense trees, the hidden location ensured the smoke from her fire would remain concealed. No one would be able to get close without providing plenty of warning.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The dull pummel of incoming hooves increased and she gritted her teeth, kicked some dirt over her small well-made fire and rushed for the nearest fir. A flick of her hand and Dart took wing, disappearing into the forest just above where she'd used a small wire wicket to tether Belial. Whoever was coming had better have their affairs in order. They were about to be on a first-name basis with the nine. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The bark prickled and dug into
her palms as she swung hands to feet up the branches, ascending to mid-tree
height before she crouched on a sturdy branch on the balls of her feet.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Exhibiting all the grace of an enraged bull, a hooded rider crashed into her camp. The horse's dancing halt disrupted her bedroll, flinging dirt all over her plated dinner. Jerk. The intruder had to be male, what with this presumed sense of entitlement, thinking nothing of ruining her perfectly arranged camp, soiling her property. She eased two silver blades from the sides of her leather pants and fisted the slender handles in her grip. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello, stranger.
Care to dance?</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In a fluid movement which contradicted his initial appearance, the rider leapt off his horse and knelt before her sputtering fire. The sides of his cloak billowed past his shoulders. Thick muscle pulled his leather pants taut around his thighs. And those arms...the black vambraces...the leather cords encircling his biceps.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She slumped. Well, for the sweet
love of Helios. Exactly how far did she have to travel to get away from the
man?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prince Caedmon pinched a bit of
ash between his thumb and first two fingers, rubbed them together and lifted
them to his nose. Rowena squinted past the branches as he rounded the fire and approached
her saddlebags. He squatted to rifle the contents, his back facing her, his
hood hiding his profile from view. She scowled. Most likely, his intent was to
drag her kicking and screaming back to the castle. But she wasn’t about to sit
idly by while he got his grubby mitts all over her supplies.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">She sheathed her blades and swung silently to the ground. Motions steady and even, carefully shifting her weight, she reclaimed her knives as she side-stepped twigs and piles of dusty leaves. For all her caution, her concerns were unwarranted. The bog ox was so preoccupied with searching her belongings, she could've easily stomped all over the place without distracting him. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A soundless bounce on the tips of
her boots and she pounced, knees straddling his wide back, crossed blades
pressed along the thin skin under his jaw. “I’m officially pissed off,” she
hissed in his ear. “And if you plan to see tomorrow, you’ll do exactly as I
say.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The next instant she was flying
backward through the air. Her teeth clattered on impact and her blades
scattered as she landed on her rump in the dirt. She shook her head to regain
her bearings.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How in the hell had he dislodged
her so quickly? And which hurt worse? Her bruised ass or her pride? She quickly
scrambled to her feet.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tendons flexed and every muscle in his arms bulged as Prince Caedmon tore the cloak off his shoulders and chucked the garment aside. A silver chime hummed through the air as he unsheathed his sword the fro the scabbard at his back and fisted the hilt in his hand. Anger smoldered in the depths of his chocolate-brown eyes, but if that fierce glare was meant to make her shriek and scamper into the woods, the man and his stubborn male pride had another think coming. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">She notched up her chin and met him scowl for scowl. Not for one second would she let him intimidate her. No constructs governed the ways of the forest. Out here, survival was the only decree, and if risking injury was the price for her freedom, she was happy to end this test of will come what may. </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It’s time you learned a thing or
two, my love.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ha! Could he be any more condescending? On a
click and whirr, her wrist blades snapped home and she hugged her chest, widening
her legs into her warrior’s stance. “Too bad Denmar’s not here to save your
ass. It’s high time we settle our differences once and for all.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">~ * ~</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJ0kSg8JfLA/UssACzqpW-I/AAAAAAAACBM/HY1ae0htq3g/s1600/AJBook_Photo2008_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJ0kSg8JfLA/UssACzqpW-I/AAAAAAAACBM/HY1ae0htq3g/s1600/AJBook_Photo2008_web.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">
</span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AJ is a multi-published, award-winning author who lives in the middle of a
cornfield in NW Indiana. Her loving husband, two beautiful children and a bevy
of spoiled pets have agreed to stay and, in exchange for three rations per day
and laundry service, tolerate her lunacy. While she spends most days happily
ensconced in crafting romance across a multitude of genres, an underground coup
has been percolating. The dogs just informed her the cat is secretly vying for
dictatorship. </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://ajnuest.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://ajnuest.com/</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
Blog<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://ajbooks.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://ajbooks.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
Email: <a href="mailto:ajnuest@yahoo.com">ajnuest@yahoo.com</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
Facebook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest">https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twitter: @AJNuest</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
</div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-22027027404935693792014-01-06T00:00:00.000-05:002014-01-06T00:00:01.842-05:00Die for Love by Caridad Pineiro #Win<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f7z-QL4JftU/Usn8_PHoGXI/AAAAAAAADDM/Y6gwUAIPo8s/s1600/Die+For+Love+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f7z-QL4JftU/Usn8_PHoGXI/AAAAAAAADDM/Y6gwUAIPo8s/s1600/Die+For+Love+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>DIE FOR LOVE</b><br />
by</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Caridad Pineiro</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Entangled-Ignite-Caridad-Pi%C3%B1eiro-ebook/dp/B00H6EFD5U/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/die-for-love-caridad-pi-eiro/1117650798" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> | <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/die-for-love-1" target="_blank">Kobo Books</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/die-for-love/id777197986?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iTunes</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Length: 281 Pages</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Release Date: December 30, 2013</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Imprint: Ignite</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Loving a dead man can be brutal . . . </b><br />
<br />
Diana Reye’s pregnancy is draining her of life. Now vampire Ryder Latimer is faced with the most difficult choice of all. Turn Diana, or lose her and the baby. If Ryder chooses to save them, he risks the wrath of the Slayer Council and will be marked for death by their friend Michaela.<br />
<br />
<b>Chasing a vampire can be consuming . . . </b><br />
<br />
While acting as an enforcer for the Slayer Council, FBI agent Michaela Ramirez has been searching for the vampire who raped and killed her mother. Since meeting FBI Director Jesus Hernandez, however, Michaela is losing a bit of her edge. She can’t stop imagining the possibility of a life full of happiness and passion with her handsome boss by her side…and in her bed.<br />
<br />
<b>Living without love isn’t an option . . . </b><br />
<br />
But soon trouble comes calling as the vampire she hunts makes Michaela his prey. Now, as she and Ryder both make the difficult decision to break all the rules for love, Michaela finds herself in a battle not only for her own life, but for her friends’ lives as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" height="6" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXlMAV60fhk/UsoaebDo70I/AAAAAAAADDc/5jiTlb2BvdE/s1600/Author+Picture+-+Caridad+Pineiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uXlMAV60fhk/UsoaebDo70I/AAAAAAAADDc/5jiTlb2BvdE/s1600/Author+Picture+-+Caridad+Pineiro.jpg" /></a></div>
New York Times and USA Today bestselling paranormal and romantic suspense author Caridad Pineiro wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project – to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word through high school, college and law school. In 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released and over a decade later, Caridad is the author of almost forty published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is an attorney, wife and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista.<br />
<br />
Caridad’s <a href="http://www.caridad.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CaridadPineiro" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Caridad.Author" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2944621.Caridad_Pi_eiro" target="_blank">Goodreads </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" height="6" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c74cbb100/" id="rc-c74cbb100" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-41727995472055609832013-12-30T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-30T00:00:09.861-05:00Cassie Scot Mystery Series Tour #GF_CassieScot <div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I would like to welcome Christine Amsden to my blog today. She's here to tell you about her Cassie Scot Mystery Series with a post, excerpt and giveaway! She will be awarding a $50 Amazon or BN GC to one randomly selected commenter.</b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JkytVfFGaxo/UrSfXW27WSI/AAAAAAAADCM/NB_rdWLW4is/s1600/VBT-Christine-Amsden--Banner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JkytVfFGaxo/UrSfXW27WSI/AAAAAAAADCM/NB_rdWLW4is/s320/VBT-Christine-Amsden--Banner.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The hardest part about writing is…<br />
<br />
Letting a story go. I'm working on a spin-off sequel to the Cassie Scot series right now – the one for her friend, Madison. The rough draft is finished, but it needs a lot of work. I just heard back from a critiquer whose insights will help me make the story what it needs to be so at the moment I don't have a terrible rough draft. I have a world of possibilities.<br />
<br />
At some point in the life of every story, you have to decide it's done. Not that it's perfect – there's no such thing – but that it's done. Your story remains open to scrutiny and critique, only now it's a fixed point. Immutable. With luck, many will love it, but even if they do there will always be a point in the future when you wish you could just go back and tweak this one little thing here. <br />
<br />
Letting go is a transition from what may be to what is. And that is the hardest part about writing for me.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqXocuxaMaw/UrSgxNeF1NI/AAAAAAAADCY/MWRwch-ljBk/s1600/Cover_CassieScot1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fqXocuxaMaw/UrSgxNeF1NI/AAAAAAAADCY/MWRwch-ljBk/s200/Cover_CassieScot1.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.
</i></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cykBf7nGOyk/UrShH3UC0UI/AAAAAAAADCg/f1DQSksTtOI/s1600/Cover_SecretsAndLies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cykBf7nGOyk/UrShH3UC0UI/AAAAAAAADCg/f1DQSksTtOI/s200/Cover_SecretsAndLies.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Cassie Scot, still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness.</i></blockquote>
<br />
<i><b>Excerpt ~
Book One</b></i><br />
<br />
My parents think the longer the name, the more powerful the sorcerer, so they named me Cassandra Morgan Ursula Margaret Scot. You can call me Cassie.<br />
<br />
I've been called a lot of things in my life: normal, ordinary, and even a disappointment. After the Harry Potter books came out, a couple of people called me a squib. Since I haven't read them, I have to assume it's a compliment.<br />
<br />
Personally, I prefer normal, which is why the sign on my office door reads: Cassie Scot, Normal Detective.<br />
<br />
You have to understand that around here, when your last name is Scot, people are easily confused. Not only are my parents powerful practitioners, but I have six talented brothers and sisters. Plus, my family hasn't always been known for its subtlety. When weird stuff happens around here, the people who are willing to believe in magic are prone to suspect the Scots.<br />
<br />
The day I opened for business I got a call from an old woman who swore her cat was possessed by the devil. She also swore she'd read my web site, which clearly stated the types of work I did and did not do. Exorcisms were on the No list, and while I hadn't specified pet exorcisms, I would have thought it was implicit.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~*~*~</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGO0-j5C8mY/UrSi1uPXFEI/AAAAAAAADCs/cujv7Nb_o1c/s1600/Author_2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGO0-j5C8mY/UrSi1uPXFEI/AAAAAAAADCs/cujv7Nb_o1c/s200/Author_2013.JPG" width="158" /></a></div>
Award-winning author Christine Amsden has written stories since she was eight, always with a touch of the strange or unusual. She became a “serious” writer in 2003, after attending a boot camp with Orson Scott Card. She finished Touch of Fate shortly afterward, then penned The Immortality Virus, which won two awards. Expect many more titles by this up-and-coming author.<br />
<br />
Website: <a href="http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/">http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/</a><br />
Blog: <a href="http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/?page_id=200">http://christineamsden.com/wordpress/?page_id=200</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristineAmsden">https://twitter.com/ChristineAmsden</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Amsden-Author-Page/127673027288664?ref=hl" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Amsden-Author-Page/127673027288664?ref=hl</a><br />
Goodreads: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1030664.Christine_Amsden">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1030664.Christine_Amsden</a><br />
Google+ <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/117845642477854934607/posts" target="_blank">https://plus.google.com/u/0/117845642477854934607/posts</a><br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e43430/" id="rc-28e43430" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-82844266922286391662013-12-18T10:10:00.000-05:002013-12-18T10:10:49.516-05:00Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop #win<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-RvwL06lPs/UqsmCDe8dbI/AAAAAAAADBo/Xd8dcHlhers/s1600/HolidayGiveaway2013+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-RvwL06lPs/UqsmCDe8dbI/AAAAAAAADBo/Xd8dcHlhers/s320/HolidayGiveaway2013+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>Welcome to my post for the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop! </b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm celebrating the hop with a short excerpt from my new release, <i>After Midnight</i>. Here's what it's about and where you can find it! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <b>Excerpt from <i>After Midnight</i>:</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tDSrq2OhMuY/Uiimcmi7c8I/AAAAAAAAC0M/XTTE1-lGa7Q/s1600/AM_cover01_533x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tDSrq2OhMuY/Uiimcmi7c8I/AAAAAAAAC0M/XTTE1-lGa7Q/s320/AM_cover01_533x800.jpg" width="213" /></a>“I’m not the type of woman men fall for.”<br />
<br />
“I’ve fallen for you.”<br />
<br />
Heat flooded her system. She forced herself to breathe, to keep her eyes locked with his. “No you haven’t. You …”<br />
<br />
He pushed off the mantel and stepped in her direction. “I, what?”<br />
<br />
“Never mind.”<br />
<br />
“Finish the sentence, Isabeau.”<br />
<br />
“I don’t think so.”<br />
<br />
“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?”<br />
<br />
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.”<br />
<br />
He leaned in close. So close his breath brushed across her lips. “You believe him, but not me?”<br />
<br />
“You are here only temporarily.”<br />
<br />
“Yes.”<br />
<br />
“And I am just down the street.”<br />
<br />
“I suppose.”
She ran her tongue over her dry lips.<br />
<br />
“So the whole thing does seem rather—”<br />
<br />
“Don’t say it.”<br />
<br />
“—convenient.”<br />
<br />
Something dangerous came and went in his eyes. “Now I’m getting angry.”<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
“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.”<br />
<br />
“I…no?”<br />
<br />
“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.”<br />
<br />
Oh, God. Her knees turned to jelly. A hot, wet pulse came to life between her legs.<br />
<br />
“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.<br />
<br />
His heart was racing. She tipped her head back and looked into his eyes. Her bones began to liquefy.<br />
<br />
“The way you’re looking at me,” she whispered.<br />
<br />
“How am I looking at you?”<br />
<br />
“Like I’m important.”<br />
<br />
“You are.”<br />
<br />
She swallowed hard, wanting to believe him. “Like I’m beautiful.”<br />
<br />
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.”<br />
<br />
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?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>"Hot and sweet, with suspense that'll keep you guessing!"</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>~</i>Laura Kaye on<i> After Midnight </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Znj2GVMh-8/UqsraPvtKLI/AAAAAAAADB4/MaUuHyH_TsE/s1600/AM_cover01_233x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Znj2GVMh-8/UqsraPvtKLI/AAAAAAAADB4/MaUuHyH_TsE/s320/AM_cover01_233x350.jpg" width="213" /></a><span id="goog_2089999670"></span><span id="goog_2089999671"></span>About <i>After Midnight</i>:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<b>Can music heal the fractured soul? Or will it tear them apart forever? </b><br />
<br />
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...<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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?
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>Buy at</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/After-Midnight-Black-Phoenix-Sarah-ebook/dp/B00GPVZG6Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384663697&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/After-Midnight-Black-Phoenix-Sarah-ebook/dp/B00GPVZG6Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386949080&sr=8-1&keywords=after+midnight+sarah+grimm">Amazon.ca</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Midnight-Black-Phoenix-Sarah-ebook/dp/B00GPVZG6Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386949114&sr=8-1&keywords=after+midnight+sarah+grimm">Amazon.uk</a> | <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/after-midnight-black-phoenix-1">Kobo</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/after-midnight-sarah-grimm/1106102028?ean=2940148971900">B and N</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>For visiting with me today I am giving away:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b>$5 Amazon or B and N Gift Card<br />A Music Note Ornament</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><b></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b> </b></span></div>
Thanks for stopping by! <br />
<br />
And Don't forget to visit the main hop page to enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway! <a href="http://pjschnyder.com/blog/contests/">http://pjschnyder.com/blog/contests/</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/110/577F4218CB2F457F1283366A63728B48.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none;" /></div>
<script src="http://pjschnyder.com/blog/wp-admin/js/MMBH2013_fulljavascript.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-5451262646581719132013-12-17T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-17T00:00:01.456-05:00Welcome Guest Blogger Patricia Rosemoor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep0bNOE6sIU/UqeNMai8NzI/AAAAAAAADBA/bS9HiCGp2Qo/s1600/Tour+Banner+-+Duet+in+Crimson.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ep0bNOE6sIU/UqeNMai8NzI/AAAAAAAADBA/bS9HiCGp2Qo/s320/Tour+Banner+-+Duet+in+Crimson.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Holiday Memories</b><br />
<br />
Authors draw on their own experiences, their memories, their desire to give their stories an authentic edge.<br />
<br />
Not that I’ve ever run across a dead Santa Claus as does my heroine in HOLIDAY IN CRIMSON...<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Crawling around to see what had tripped her, Shelby froze, the breath caught in her throat.
</i>
<br />
<i>“Oh, Lord!” she croaked hoarsely, unwilling to believe her eyes. For before her, the Christmas lights danced across a ludicrous scene: Santa Claus lay sprawled on his back next to her, eyes open and staring, mouth slack behind the fake beard and mustache. “Hey, Santa, wake up.” </i></blockquote>
<br />
But of course, Santa doesn’t...<br />
<br />
So what about HOLIDAY IN CRIMSON comes from my own experiences?<br />
<br />
As a child, I used to look forward to the day when Mom would take me to downtown Chicago to see the holiday windows. My favorites were always windows at the iconic Marshall Field’s, a department store that took up a whole block on State Street. The windows always told a story that captivated me. So in wanting to tell a holiday story, I immediately thought about a department store and a heroine who was in charge of the windows.<br />
<br />
That isn’t the only thing about Shelby that comes from my past memories. Shelby lived in my first apartment in the city. Her love of the holiday came from me. She buys one special new ornament each year, so that she has a tree of memories. I used to do that with my husband Edward until a few years ago when I stopped having trees. Now I have lights and wreathes and special ornaments that I hang in the windows.<br />
<br />
A really special memory is the scene where Shelby and Rand get to know each other better while cross-country skiing. That was taken from my own experience. Neither Edward nor I had ever been on cross-country skis before. But that year, they did indeed rent them out in Lincoln Park, and we had a huge snowfall. We were terrible at it. I kept breaking through the snow crust and getting stuck with a ski two feet below the surface. I remember having to take off the ski and let Edward help me get it back on. It was an exhausting day. And a magical one. And I had great fun using it in this story.<br />
<br />
What makes Christmas magic for you?
<br />
Share a holiday memory...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AdMN2TLBIAE/UqeNhYz_JvI/AAAAAAAADBI/4_3PBvdGez0/s1600/Patricia+Rosemoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AdMN2TLBIAE/UqeNhYz_JvI/AAAAAAAADBI/4_3PBvdGez0/s200/Patricia+Rosemoor.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>With 95 novels and 7 million books in print, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Patricia Rosemoor is fascinated with "dangerous love" – combining romance with danger. She has won a Golden Heart from Romance Writers of America and two Reviewers Choice and two Career Achievement Awards from RT BOOKreviews, and in her other life, she teaches Popular Fiction and Suspense-Thriller Writing, credit courses at Columbia College Chicago.</i><br />
<br />
You’ll find Patricia at <a href="http://www.patriciarosemoor.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/PRosemoor" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaRosemoor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/65795.Patricia_Rosemoor" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjrqmSsDH74/TKeLMQsvbFI/AAAAAAAAC8c/ZhtHbJm7aiE/s1600/lines_red_034+short.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjrqmSsDH74/TKeLMQsvbFI/AAAAAAAAC8c/ZhtHbJm7aiE/s1600/lines_red_034+short.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwdZpw4mBgI/UqePJjBrt8I/AAAAAAAADBU/zmAi0RyoEVI/s1600/Duet+in+Crimson+Cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwdZpw4mBgI/UqePJjBrt8I/AAAAAAAADBU/zmAi0RyoEVI/s320/Duet+in+Crimson+Cover.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
In <b><i>Holiday in Crimson</i></b><br />
<br />
Westbrook Department Store’s Christmas party wasn’t that wild–but Santa ended up dead! Window designer Shelby Corbin suddenly finds herself the prime suspect in his murder. CEO Rand McNabb’s romantic attentions both thrill her and frighten her. Is Westbrook’s impossibly sexy co-owner really helping Shelby search for the truth about that fatal night? Or does Rand have a deadlier motive for courting the only possible witness to the crime…<br />
<br />
In <b><i>Nightmare in Crimson</i></b><br />
<br />
Last holiday, Pippa McNabb’s faithless husband was found murdered in a Santa suit after a Christmas party. Another year, another Christmas party, and another dead Santa – this time, run down by eight tiny reindeer and a sleigh. And this time, Pippa is the prime suspect. Sexy sleigh driver Sky Thornton seems intent on helping her, but is the man who knows too much about her really trying to clear her name, or is he trying to frame her for a murder he committed?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crimson-Secrets-Anthology-Entangled-Ignite-ebook/dp/B00GET8TGS/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/duet-in-crimson-patricia-rosemoor/1117313828" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> | <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/duet-in-crimson-a-crimson-secrets-2-in-1" target="_blank">Kobo Books</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/duet-in-crimson-crimson-secrets/id737442748?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iTunes</a><br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c74cbb96/" id="rc-c74cbb96" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-81104847532554342092013-12-14T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-14T00:00:07.019-05:00Character Quickie: Einstein Senta Augustus Sinclair<b>20 quickie facts about Einstein Senta Augustus Sinclair: </b><br />
<br />
<b>Birthday?</b> Not sure. I consider it the day my mistress, Becca Sinclair, brought me home two years ago.<br />
<b>Favorite color?</b> Tan…the color of doggie treats.<br />
<b>Nickname?</b> Bad Dog.<br />
<b>What breed are you?</b> I’m a purebred German shepherd.<br />
<b>Have you been neutered?</b> (Slaps paw over eyes) Yes, it was the worst experience of my life! (Shows one dark eye) Psych! Fooled ya! I was totally out of it, so it was no biggie.<br />
<b>City of residence?</b> Clearwater Beach, Florida<br />
<b>If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be?</b> Pepperoni<br />
<b>Occupation?</b> Taking care of Becca.<br />
<b>Hobbies?</b> Getting in her underwear drawer and stealing her thongs.<br />
<b>Favorite song?</b> “Who Let the Dogs Out”<br />
<b>Name one item in your freezer right now?</b> Doggie ice cream treats.<br />
<b>Your greatest fear?</b> Traffic. It can be a bitch.<br />
<b>Most treasured possession?</b> My mistress. She knows how to take care of a dog—love, food, water, exercise, daily grooming—did I mention love?<br />
<b>Special talent?</b> Getting Wolf’s attention by giving him a pair of Becca’s thongs.<br />
<b>Cat or dog?</b> Huh? You’re asking me that? Wolf’s got a cat. (growls deep in throat) Fluffy. (pardon me while I get the taste of the critter’s name out of my mouth. Leans down and licks balls).<br />
<b>Pet peeve?</b> People who don’t love their pets the way I’ve been loved.<br />
<b>Unforgettable moment?</b> The day Wolf carried Becca into our house after she’d broken her nose. I knew then he’d be our alpha.<br />
<b>Dry or canned food?</b> Dry, with canned as a treat.<br />
<b>Favorite guilty pleasure?</b> Pepperoni off Wolf’s pizza. Becca pretends not to notice when he slips me a slice or four.<br />
<b>If you could ask your author one question, what would it be?</b> If she’s going to write a sequel with Cassie and Quinn, will I be in it too?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TfHVMTSyEbo/Upv_koKKHkI/AAAAAAAADAY/b1FudGDqAiE/s1600/Santa+Wears+Leathers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TfHVMTSyEbo/Upv_koKKHkI/AAAAAAAADAY/b1FudGDqAiE/s320/Santa+Wears+Leathers.jpeg" width="209" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Einstein is a secondary character in Vonnie Davis's humorous new release, <b><i>SANTA WORE LEATHERS</i></b><br />
<br />
<i><b>Santa Wore Leathers</b></i> is available now: <br />
AMAZON ~ <a href="http://bit.ly/SantaLeathers">http://bit.ly/SantaLeathers</a><br />
BARNES and NOBLE ~ <a href="http://bit.ly/1846Aau" target="_blank"> http://bit.ly/1846Aau</a>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-59127824001929792512013-12-12T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-12T00:00:04.724-05:00Candra's Freedom by AJ Nuest<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ti8J0w5ums4/UqhlAqLOaTI/AAAAAAAAB_A/KXfCqsDM148/s1600/Candra%27s+Freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ti8J0w5ums4/UqhlAqLOaTI/AAAAAAAAB_A/KXfCqsDM148/s320/Candra's+Freedom.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Candra's Freedom</i>, Book II</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The Golden Key Chronicles</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Candras-Freedom-HarperImpulse-Fantasy-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00FVE4RP4/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Available NOW on Amazon</span></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The key would unlock his future, </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and the safety of his kingdom,</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">but he never imagined the sorceress </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">would unlock his heart...</span></i></div>
<br />
<i></i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lost in a world she doesn't recognize, Rowena struggles to find her
place. Yet her abilities with a blade and the loyalty of a fierce falcon don't
discourage the heated advances of the handsome Prince Caedmon, and the
connection between them seems much deeper than her troubled heart can
recall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you are still in love with the Disney princes of your youth, and wish one would show up in your bedroom late at night, then you will love this breathtaking fantasy romance series from AJ Nuest!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ * ~</div>
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Water rained down his body. His sodden shirt clung to each sharply defined muscle in his chest, his leather pants glued to the contours of his rigid thighs. Her heart tripped a beat at the magnitude of sheer, gritty determination forged in the scowl on his brow. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prince Caedmon was a
man on a mission. That was a nice idea for a change.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He finally made
landfall, fisted his hands and increased his pace. A few trumpeters blew a
half-hearted attempt at announcing his arrival, but their notes blurted like a
fat man’s flatulence and faded listlessly in the air. Some people knelt, others
remained standing, and several bobbed like apples in a rain barrel, unsure
which action to take.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another victory at
denouncing their absurd rituals. Rowena chuckled under her breath. Bravo, sir.
Well done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He locked onto her
and she grinned, even when his penetrating stare pierced her like an arrow and
he clenched his scruffy jaw. The real icing on the cake would be if he ignored
his father. But no, that would never happen. Even as the thought occurred,
Prince Caedmon strode straight for King Austiere’s open arms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Except…wait a second.
He wasn’t heading for his father. He marched straight for <i>her.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh
no…</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All the amusement
fled her body. She glanced left, then right before meeting his formidable gaze
a second time. Of course. Distracted by his gallant swim to shore, she’d
forgotten. His dismissal of the pageantry didn’t have anything to do with
defiance. He thought them still engaged.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She withdrew a step,
but her shoulder blades bounced off the front of Marcelene's ample bosom. <i>Dammit!</i>
Pressed inside the crowd, no other escape route was available. And time was
quickly running out. Her pulse leapt and her fingertips tingled as if she'd
touched Fandorn's lightning catcher. She couldn't seem to draw any air. Great
tits above, what was the man planning to do? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;">~ * ~</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Minion-Regular; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Praise for <i>Rowena's Key</i>, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Book I in The Golden Key Chronicles</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Love Reading Romance calls Rowena's Key "an enchanting fairy tale for adults!"</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Cosmochicklitan says Rowena's Key is a "must read!"</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DFjCiHNgNxk/UqeSIX-bYrI/AAAAAAAAB-o/9AzNhopswCg/s1600/inD%27Tale_GoldenKeyChronicles_01_test07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DFjCiHNgNxk/UqeSIX-bYrI/AAAAAAAAB-o/9AzNhopswCg/s640/inD'Tale_GoldenKeyChronicles_01_test07.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The author
slowly leads Rowena and Caedmon into love, so slowly and sweetly it's romantic
and classic...and breathtaking. I cannot wait for the second installment of this
series. <i>5 Stars</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was like watching a Cinderella story come to life. Or living one. <i>5 Stars</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Like the best fairy tales, Rowena’s Key captures the imagination and the heart
with a bonus undercurrent of spicy romance. <i>5 Stars</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">With all the components of a star crossed lovers story, Rowena's Key is a
genuine Romance. A.J. Nuest pulls the reader into fantasy alongside Rowena with
a realness that will have you hopeful, teary eyed and longing for the next
installment. <i>5 Stars</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You need to realize this is a novella, because you will get to the end of this
story and be desperate for more. Thankfully, HarperImpulse is releasing each
novella in this series in month by month installments, so we don’t have long to
wait for the next development of Rowena and Caedmon’s fantasy
romance. <i>5 Stars</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
Golden Key Chronicles Release Schedule:<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Rowena’s
Key:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>November 7, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Candra’s
Freedom: December 12, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Caedmon’s
Curse: January 9, 2014<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Braedric’s
Bane: February 13, 2014</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="6" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s320/thin+gray+line.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VWH5SLf_1E/UqhiOdrXhPI/AAAAAAAAB-4/K0MCQ7sO-2w/s1600/AJBook_Photo2008_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VWH5SLf_1E/UqhiOdrXhPI/AAAAAAAAB-4/K0MCQ7sO-2w/s1600/AJBook_Photo2008_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VWH5SLf_1E/UqhiOdrXhPI/AAAAAAAAB-4/K0MCQ7sO-2w/s1600/AJBook_Photo2008_web.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">AJ is a multi-published, award-winning author who lives in the middle of a
cornfield in NW Indiana. Her loving husband, two beautiful children and a bevy
of spoiled pets have agreed to stay and, in exchange for three rations per day
and laundry service, tolerate her lunacy. While she spends most days happily
ensconced in crafting romance across a multitude of genres, an underground coup
has been percolating. The dogs just informed her the cat is secretly vying for
dictatorship.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a 12pt="" font-family:="" font-size:="" href="http://ajnuest.com/%22%3E%3Cspan%20style=" imes="" major-fareast="" mso-fareast-font-family:="" mso-fareast-theme-font:="" new="" quot="" roman="" serif=""><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://ajnuest.com</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Blog:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><a 12pt="" font-family:="" font-size:="" href="http://ajbooks.blogspot.com/%22%3E%3Cspan%20style=" imes="" major-fareast="" mso-fareast-font-family:="" mso-fareast-theme-font:="" new="" quot="" roman="" serif=""><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://ajbooks.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Email:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="mailto:ajnuest@yahoo.com">ajnuest@yahoo.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">FaceBook
Page:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest">https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest</a><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author
FB Page:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest#!/pages/Tattered-Pages/259835887466">https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest#!/pages/Tattered-Pages/259835887466</a><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Twitter:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/@AJNuest" target="_blank">@AJNuest</a><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-28301671323512181502013-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-07T00:00:01.587-05:00Character Quickie: Richelle Quaid<b>20 quickie facts about Richelle Quaid: </b><br />
<br />
<b>Birthday?</b> July 20, 1873<br />
<b>Favorite color?</b> Emerald green<br />
<b>Nickname?</b> None I’ll respond to<br />
<b>Birthmark or scars?</b> Scar across right knee<br />
<b>Siblings?</b> Three older brothers<br />
<b>City of residence?</b> Dry Creek, Montana<br />
<b>If you were a jelly bean flavor, what flavor would you be?</b> Refreshing lemon<br />
<b>Occupation?</b> Daughter of rancher<br />
<b>Hobbies?</b> Attending suffrage lectures<br />
<b>Favorite song?</b> “The Band Played On”<br />
<b>Name one item in your icebox right now</b>. divinity<br />
<b>Your greatest fear?</b> Living an uninspiring life<br />
<b>Most treasured possession?</b> My copy of History of Woman’s Suffrage, Volume 1<br />
<b>Special talent?</b> I’m an excellent bicyclist.<br />
<b>Cat or dog?</b> Love kittens<br />
<b>Pet peeve?</b> People who want me to act proper.<br />
<b>Unforgettable moment?</b> Attending a lecture presented by Susan B. Anthony<br />
<b>Spicy or not?</b> not<br />
<b>Favorite guilty pleasure?</b> Reading adventure tales by James Fenimore Cooper<br />
<b>If you could ask your author one question, what would it be?</b>
Why did you place me in such a small town with none sympathetic to women’s suffrage? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SSL0y8yoiIA/UqHksSZvsWI/AAAAAAAADAs/fiRLyAHgV4g/s1600/xmasanthology_med.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SSL0y8yoiIA/UqHksSZvsWI/AAAAAAAADAs/fiRLyAHgV4g/s320/xmasanthology_med.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Richelle is the heroine of <b><i>Wishes On A Star</i></b>, included in <b><i>Sweetwater Springs Christmas</i></b>, a western historical anthology by 11 authors. <b><i> </i></b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Sweetwater Springs Christmas</i></b> is available now at AMAZON: <a href="http://amzn.com/B00G06W3SA">http://amzn.com/B00G06W3SA</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-50123552561693873862013-12-04T06:00:00.000-05:002013-12-04T06:00:12.767-05:00Writer Wednesday: Vonnie Davis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wfP10NZHGqI/Upv_IaBYlpI/AAAAAAAADAM/7_OXmzKlOxs/s1600/croissant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wfP10NZHGqI/Upv_IaBYlpI/AAAAAAAADAM/7_OXmzKlOxs/s320/croissant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Thanks for having me here today, Sarah. Someone recently asked me how I’d describe myself. I think I’m like a freshly baked French croissant: warm, crusty, wrinkled and flaky. Best served with strong coffee. My writing is often flaky, too. You know how I love to laugh, how I enjoy infusing humor into my stories. The world is too full of sadness, misery and snarky people. I adore kindness and laughter. While my characters aren’t always kind, they do have their humorous moments.<br />
<br />
Writing humor isn’t always easy. What strikes me as hilarious might fly right over your head. I have an off-the-wall sense of humor that isn’t shared by everyone and that’s okay. We don’t all want to be alike, do we? I mean, imagine a world full of Vonnie Davis clones. Yikes!<br />
<br />
So I have to use a light hand at writing humor. Sometimes, in editing, I tone it down a couple notches. I grew up in the era of slapstick comedy, so some scenes play out in my head like a comedy routine. Take my heroine’s carrying in a large box of ready-to-assemble bookshelves in my Christmas novella, <i>Santa Wore Leathers</i>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TfHVMTSyEbo/Upv_koKKHkI/AAAAAAAADAU/dEwRDOwzBpE/s1600/Santa+Wears+Leathers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TfHVMTSyEbo/Upv_koKKHkI/AAAAAAAADAU/dEwRDOwzBpE/s320/Santa+Wears+Leathers.jpeg" width="209" /></a></div>
She untied the rope securing her trunk lid over the long box and contemplated the best way to remove the carton and get it inside to her living room. How difficult could it be? She wrapped an arm around the box and pulled, hoping to hug it to her side.<br />
It barely budged. <i>Crap!</i><br />
<br />
Shoving the sleeves of her sweatshirt to her elbows, she put every ounce of strength into the job. She tugged and pulled enough of the carton out of the trunk to allow gravity to upend it onto the street. Then she straightened, shifted her shoulders and used her sleeve to swipe the perspiration from her forehead.<br />
<br />
She bent at the knees, put her shoulder to it and lifted the heavy item on an exhale and a loud grunt. Becca staggered under the weight across her shoulder. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. The unmanageable carton weaved her back and forth. For a few seconds, all she could do was stagger.<br />
<br />
She made it up the step of the curb to the sidewalk, nearly dropping to her knees with the effort. Thigh muscles quivering with the strain of the weight, she gritted her teeth. “Come on, Becca, you can do this.”<br />
<br />
Thank goodness the walkway was only twelve feet long. She tried not to think of the three steps to her porch. Maybe she could drag or push the box up the steps—if she reached them under all this weight.<br />
<br />
A loud rumble roared down the street, and her stomach clenched at the familiar sound. Wolf’s Harley eased to the curb.<br />
<br />
“Becca! Don’t. I’ll carry that in for you.”<br />
<br />
She pivoted to tell him she didn’t need or want his help. The sudden movement threw her load off balance. Arms clasped around the box, she fell backwards and her spine slammed on the hard ground. Air whooshed from her lungs on impact. A loud pop sounded as the box thudded across her face. Pain exploded in her nose and head.<br />
<br />
“Becca! My God.” A set of thick male knees pushed into her side. “Here, let me get this off you.” Wolf shoved the box away as if it were no heavier than a bag of tinsel. “Give me a chance to get this helmet off.” Leather rustled and squeaked.<br />
<br />
Wet warmth flowed over her lips.<br />
<br />
“Oh, sweetheart, looks like your nose is broken.” Strong fingers moved from the bridge of her nose to its tip. The pain made her eyes cross. “Hold on. Let me get my first-aid kit.”<br />
<br />
His heat disappeared and running footfalls sounded on his porch. Slowly the spinning stopped, and she blinked to bring the world back into focus. Was her face smashed? She gingerly fingered her forehead, nose and cheeks and grimaced when she pulled back a blood-covered hand.<br />
<br />
Einstein was barking like crazy from inside her town house. Bless his canine heart, he knew she needed him.<br />
<br />
Wolf settled on his knees beside her again. “Some people bleed more than others when their noses break. Don’t be alarmed.” His voice was calm and authoritative as he snapped on latex gloves. Cool alcohol wipes were gently pressed across her face.<br />
<br />
“Ith my noth broken?” My God, was that her voice? Why was she speaking with a lisp?<br />
<br />
He shined a light in her eyes. “Good retina response.” Chocolate eyes lowered to within inches of hers, minty breath swept across her face and a lock of dark hair fell across his forehead. The corners of his mouth twitched as if he were trying not to smile. “And, yes, sweetheart, your noth is broken. I’ll do my best to set it so it’s still pretty and straight.”<br />
<br />
“Thet it? No!”<br />
<br />
Einstein’s barking and whining increased. No doubt he sensed her anxiety.<br />
<br />
Wolf gave a nonchalant shrug. “Set might be an extreme word. I’m just going to make sure it’s straight.”<br />
<br />
“Are you two at it again?” Mrs. Minelli’s orthopedic shoes came into view. “Oh no! She’s bleeding! Shall I call an ambulance? I can press the button on my senior alert necklace.” She held out a medical medallion strung on a silver chain around her neck. Today, her sweatshirt bore a Christmas tree design with lights that somehow twinkled on and off.<br />
<br />
“Thanks, Mrs. Minelli, but I’ve got it covered. I’ll stop the bleeding and carry her inside.”<br />
<br />
“What happened?” The elderly woman tapped his side with her cane. “Did you belt her’ cause she wouldn’t get frisky with you?”<br />
<br />
Wolf’s hands stilled and he exhaled an audible sigh fluttering the hair at Becca’s temple. His tension was palpable. Under his breath, he muttered, “God, just give me some frickin’ patience here.” Then he aimed his thousand watt smile at the older lady and told her what had happened.<br />
<br />
“Well, okay then. I was just going to hitch a ride with Mrs. Bernstein to water aerobics. We broads need to keep our girlish figures. Becca, darlin’, I’ll check in on you tomorrow.”<br />
<br />
“Thank you.” Her words trailed after the tottering old woman, her cane tapping as she meandered down the sidewalk.<br />
<br />
Wolf’s fingertips firmly pressed into her nose and more stars exploded behind her eyes.<br />
<br />
“Don’t touch my broken noth.” She batted away his hands.<br />
<br />
“Do you want to be called ‘witch’s beak’ for the rest of your life?”<br />
<br />
“Witheth beak? Ith it that bad?” What would her coworkers at the paper think? Still, did this yay-hoo know what he was doing? “If my noth needth thet, I want a profethenal to thet it.”<br />
<br />
He tore open a paper packet and removed two gauze cylinders. “I had advanced corpsman training in the Navy before I was recommended for the SEALs. Believe me, I’ve handled worse than a broken nose.”<br />
<br />
Wolf shoved the gauze up her nostrils.<br />
<br />
More fireworks exploded in her head.<br />
<br />
“Ow! You big thithead. You hurt me on purpoth.” Her one hand tightened in a fist. If he hurt her again, she was going to belt him.<br />
<br />
Those brown eyes of his held humor. “Thithead? We hardly know each other well enough for such intimacies.” He smiled and tilted his head. “Although, I am getting pretty familiar with your taste in underwear. Einstein left a pair of purple thongs beside my ladder the day I fell off and leopard print thongs at my back door yesterday.”<br />
<br />
“Oh, no,” she groaned. She’d never had trouble with her dog running off until this man moved in next door. She could see why a woman might chase after Wolf—an enticing blend of macho, good looks and an unexpected measure of gentleness—but why was her dog so damned attracted to him? And just why was her dog so suddenly set on stealing her underwear?<br />
<br />
“What did you do with my thongs? You never brought them back.”<br />
<br />
“Tied them to the handle grips of my Harley.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.<br />
<br />
“You <i>what!</i>” She would kill him.<br />
<br />
His head leaned back as deep laughter erupted. “Don’t get riled, sweetheart.” His eyes bore humor and something akin to affection.
<i> </i><br />
<br />
<i>That damn box must have broken my mind.</i><br />
<br />
“Thop calling me ‘threatheart.’”<br />
<br />
“Can't.” His fingers were more gentle on her face now. “It's part of my plan. Maybe if I keep calling you sweetheart, you'll start getting sweet on me.”<br />
<br />
“Cold day in hell, buthter.”
<b> </b></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<b>BLURB FOR SANTA WORE LEATHERS:</b><br />
<br />
There’s only one thing on Becca Sinclair’s Christmas list this holiday season – her very own column in the local paper. And if she can build a huge blog following, her wish just might come true.<br />
<br />
Enter Dan “Wolf” Wolford aka the man-whore next door and the new star of Becca’s popular, post-divorce blog about men. A Navy SEAL turned commander of the Florida Marine Rescue Unit, Wolf’s the very definition of the word alpha – and with an endless rotation of women on his doorstep, this hunk on a Harley has Becca and her female followers all hot and bothered!<br />
<br />
All Becca wants for Christmas is her newspaper column, right? But when she finds herself the target of Wolf’s irresistible attentions, her snarky comebacks become less and less convincing and, suddenly, she’s not so sure anymore…<br />
<br />
BUY LINKS:<br />
<br />
AMAZON ~ <a href="http://bit.ly/SantaLeathers">http://bit.ly/SantaLeathers</a><br />
BARNES and NOBLE ~ <a href="http://bit.ly/1846Aau">http://bit.ly/1846Aau</a><br />
<br />
Please visit me at my blog: <a href="http://www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com/">http://www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com</a><br />
Or follow me on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WritingStoriesOfTheHeart" target="_blank">Vonnie Davis</a>.<br />
I tweet under <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@VonnieWrites" target="_blank">@VonnieWrites</a>, if you care to follow me in the twitterverse.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><i>Psst, Sarah here. Before you go I thought I would share with you one more photo Vonnie sent me. This one is how she imagines Wolf, hero of SANTA WORE LEATHERS, to look. And because I', all about sharing...well, here he is. You're welcome. ;)</i></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HmcSDvJHGM/UpwAhmQjAQI/AAAAAAAADAc/RABaN1rYZe0/s1600/Wolf+in+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HmcSDvJHGM/UpwAhmQjAQI/AAAAAAAADAc/RABaN1rYZe0/s400/Wolf+in+bed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-12553850391847105212013-12-02T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-02T00:00:02.531-05:00Welcome Guest Blogger, Inara Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFMqanuIXbc/Upcx32XWHUI/AAAAAAAAC_k/MBy-C3VUfZI/s1600/Tour+Banner+-+Falling+for+Mr+Wrong.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OFMqanuIXbc/Upcx32XWHUI/AAAAAAAAC_k/MBy-C3VUfZI/s320/Tour+Banner+-+Falling+for+Mr+Wrong.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Today I have contemporary romance author, Inara Scott visiting. Inara is touring for her new release, FALLING FOR MR WRONG and is sharing a little about her love of eBooks. She will also be giving away one eCopy of her book RULES OF NEGOTIATION and one eCopy of THE BOSS'S FAKE FIANCE so make sure to scroll down and enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter link.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
Why I love E-Books ~ Inara Scott<br />
<br />
<br />
There are a lot of authors (and publishers) who aren’t fans of e-books. They worry that e-books will mean the end of traditional books. They don’t like holding a Kindle—they want real paper. You can’t autograph an e-book, they say. And don’t even get started on the piracy issues! Ug!<br />
<br />
But here’s what I love about e-books. First, the market for new authors and new books has opened up exponentially in the past few years, thanks to e-books and self-publishing. When I go on Amazon to browse for a book, I’ve got thousands of options. If I read romance, I’m not limited to only the most popular authors and genres. I can find just about any kind of book or any kind of author, from male/male romance to historical romances set in just about any country or time period. I can find protagonists of any age and race. And no, they aren’t all good. There’s a lot of awful out there. But I’d rather a marketplace crowded with choice and varying quality than one in which a few publishers are the gatekeepers who decide what small number of books end up on the shelves every year.<br />
<br />
E-books make novellas possible. Sometimes you don’t want an entire book, but you want more than a short story. With print publishing, you rarely had an opportunity to read these “almost” novels, because there wasn’t any good way to get them to readers. Now, every author is putting out shorter works between their novels, giving readers glimpses into the lives of secondary characters, or filling in the “what comes next?” questions for readers.<br />
<br />
E-books give me an e-reader full of choices. With books at lower price points (yay $2.99!) I am more likely to take a chance on a new author or buy a book that hasn’t been a big bestseller. I can fill up my e-reader before a vacation and take fifteen or twenty new titles, instead of one or two. I can take a long bath and browse in a bookstore at the same time.<br />
<br />
I still have shelves full of print books. They’re never going away, at least not for me. But I’m not one of those authors who fears digital books and the way they are changing publishing. If you ask me, the more the better.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xcubg5t8nQw/TI4zM1L40gI/AAAAAAAAC54/_Xdq-6PO2J8/s1600/lines_red_034+short.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xcubg5t8nQw/TI4zM1L40gI/AAAAAAAAC54/_Xdq-6PO2J8/s1600/lines_red_034+short.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygF12PIWTdM/UpcyAArbElI/AAAAAAAAC_s/tYytY-wLgS0/s1600/Falling+for+Mr+Wrong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygF12PIWTdM/UpcyAArbElI/AAAAAAAAC_s/tYytY-wLgS0/s320/Falling+for+Mr+Wrong.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i><b>Looking for Mrs. Right…</b> </i><br />
<br />
<i>Single father of three, Ross Bencher, knows the kind of woman he wants: someone predictable, reliable, and safe, who can give his kids the security they deserve. Someone entirely different from high-altitude mountaineer Kelsey. Kelsey bewitches him with her long legs and wild passion and is about as far from his ideal as a woman can get, but try telling that to his body. Or his heart… </i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Falling for Mr. Wrong…</b> </i><br />
<br />
<i>When Kelsey agreed to fill in as a temporary nanny for her best friend’s agency before a big climbing expedition, she had no idea she’d be working for drop-dead sexy Ross Bencher, a man she can’t seem to keep her hands off. She knows if she wants to bring herself—and her father—back alive from the Himalayan Mountains, she can’t afford second-guessing, attachments, or distractions. But Ross’s blue eyes and strong hands leave her gasping…and questioning everything she’s ever known about love… </i><br />
<br />
Excerpt:<br />
<br />
“Ross,” she said, swallowing hard to clear the lump from her throat. “I realize I’m not the traditional nanny, and I know I was your last choice for a babysitter. But I can’t do this anymore.”<br />
<br />
His gaze flickered from her mouth to her throat.<br />
<br />
Her bones began to melt. All at once, her skin seemed to tighten, and her stomach began to fall as her brain fogged over.<br />
<br />
He shook his head. “You’re absolutely right. I can’t keep doing this, either.”<br />
<br />
“What?” She narrowed her gaze suspiciously.<br />
<br />
“Looking at you.” His voice dropped. “Staring at your lips. And wondering if they can possibly taste as good I remember.”<br />
<br />
FALLING FOR MR WRONG<br />
Genre: Contemporary <br />
Romance
Length: 200 pages
<br />
Release Date: November 2013
<br />
ISBN: 978-1-62266-289-0 <br />
Imprint: Indulgence<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Mr-Wrong-Entangled-Indulgence-ebook/dp/B00G1EY7ZI/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/falling-for-mr-wrong-inara-scott/1117194511" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> | <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/falling-for-mr-wrong-a-bencher-family-book" target="_blank">Kobo Books</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/falling-for-mr.-wrong-bencher/id730171903?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a><br />
<br />
FIND INARA HERE:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.inarascott.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://inarascott.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/inarascott" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/inarawrites" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3205604.Inara_Scott" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGGNVG7t9Jg/Upc00oFoKBI/AAAAAAAAC_4/65cJNrR-7F0/s1600/Author+Picture+-+Inara+Scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c74cbb87/" id="rc-c74cbb87" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-11378503631495342282013-11-26T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-26T00:00:09.125-05:00Q & A with Laura Kaye and #HardAsItGets<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_2132980613"></span><span id="goog_2132980614"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sejn7-fYDlI/Uo-BZCK4ntI/AAAAAAAAC-g/BRCEQEv6dkU/s1600/HARD+AS+IT+GETS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sejn7-fYDlI/Uo-BZCK4ntI/AAAAAAAAC-g/BRCEQEv6dkU/s320/HARD+AS+IT+GETS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>HARD AS IT GETS is one steamy read! How did you first get into writing?</b><br />
<br />
Thanks so much! And thanks for having me here, Sarah! I’ve been a writer all my life. I’m a historian by training, so writing non-fiction was a part of my job for the fifteen years I worked as a college professor. But I started writing fiction in 2008 in kind of an unusual way. I hit my head on July 4, 2008. I didn’t think much of it that day, but soon after I realized I’d really hurt myself, and it turned out I had a minor traumatic brain injury. As I recovered, I was filled with an amazing urge to be creative, so I started taking guitar lessons (still not very good at that!) and wrote my first novel in 12 weeks (fortunately, I’m better at that LOL!). The experience of writing that first book was truly transformative. It was what I was supposed to be doing, so I revised that book until it sold and kept writing new ones. And I haven’t looked back since!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Why did you choose to write romance?</b><br />
<br />
I had been an avid reader of paranormal romance for years at that point, so I wrote what I loved. But I also picked romance—unconsciously, I think—because to me it’s an incredibly hopeful genre. Romance stories are inherently stories about people who can’t find love or think they don’t deserve it who overcome the odds and find it in the end. In the years leading up to starting writing, I experienced a number of very hard personal losses, so writing in this genre was one way I worked through those issues.<br />
<br />
<b>What does “Hard Ink” refer to? What importance do tattoos play in your story?</b><br />
<br />
Hard Ink is the name of the Rixey brothers’ tattoo shop in the Hard Ink series. Nick and Jeremy Rixey are co-owners, though Nick (the hero of book one, Hard As It Gets) prefers to be more of a silent partner, despite Jeremy’s efforts to put Nick’s artistic talents to work. In this series, tattoos are a way people remember, pay penance, or highlight what’s important to them. The act of creating permanent marks on skin has deep meaning to them. And the shop creates a gritty setting where diverse kinds of people meet and interact in the series. I really love it!<br />
<br />
<b>Describe Becca—what do you love most about her? And Nick? </b><br />
<br />
I’d love to! Because I really loved writing these characters!<br />
<br />
Becca Merritt is smart and strong and honest and protective. I really loved the way she was willing to stand up for those she loves, even against people and forces who might be stronger and even a little scary. There’s a scene in particular when she dresses down Nick’s Special Forces teammates after a fist fight where I was particularly cheering for her! LOL<br />
<br />
Nick Rixey is, omg, so freaking hot, you guys! He’s brooding and tortured and honorable and when he falls he falls so hard. I especially loved Nick’s mix of hard, alpha edges with his artistic side. When Nick shows Becca what her idea for a tattoo might look like on her skin, it’s just scorching!<br />
<br />
<b>What significance does the military play in the book?</b><br />
<br />
Military themes are central to the whole Hard Ink series. The military isn’t just sexy window dressing nor is it just there to provide an intriguing backstory. The prior SF guys are this series are entirely defined by their military experience good and bad. It informs their identity, their sense of honor and duty, their view of the world, and of course gives them the skill set required to fight the battles they face in the series. The overall series mystery the characters are working to solve revolves around a military conspiracy in Afghanistan, so even though they’re out of the Army, the military themes are central.<br />
<br />
<b>If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be? </b><br />
<br />
In #HardAsItGets, an ex-soldier joins forces w/his dead commander's daughter to regain his tarnished honor & save her brother from a gang<br />
<br />
<b>Is there a particular author or book that has influenced your writing? </b><br />
<br />
There are a number of authors that have influenced me, but if I had to pick one it would be J.R. Ward. A lot of what I know about how to write sexy, authentic male point of view comes from reading her books. And I definitely learned the importance of a good bromance to a romance novel from her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, too. Given my ginormous fangirling, you can only imagine how flipping excited I was when this happened:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!” </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets </div>
<br />
You guys, I <i>bawled like a baby </i>in the middle of a huge workshop put on by my publisher. For real. LOL<br />
<br />
<b>What advice would you give aspiring writers looking to get into the publishing industry?</b><br />
<br />
Here’s my advice:<br />
<br />
1) Write, write, write. You can’t revise what you haven’t written and you can’t sell what you haven’t written. And the psychological and emotional boost you’ll get from writing “The End” for the first time cannot be overestimated.<br />
2) Revise, revise, revise. That first time you type “The End”? Yeah, you’re nowhere near done. Your book will need to be edited, by you, several times before you ever put it in front of an agent or editor. You get one shot with them, so don’t waste it by not showing them your very best and most polished work.<br />
3) Find critique partners. And your mom, siblings, and best friend do not count (unless you’re really lucky, like me, and your best friend happens t also be a professional author). You need other aspiring writers in your genre who will give you honest but constructive feedback about how to improve your manuscript. Let them catch all the embarrassing goofs and plot holes you thought you caught before it gets to an agent or editor.<br />
4) Want to be a professional, then act it. And by that I mean join the professional organization(s) of the genre in which you write. Through them you will find classes to help hone your craft, critique partner match-ups, networking opportunities, calls for submission, and other opportunities invaluable to breaking into publishing.<br />
5) Don’t give up. You will hear way more no’s than yeses, particularly early in your writing career. Stick with it. Believe in yourself. Give yourself one day to wallow in the rejection and eat a bunch of chocolate and then get right back on the horse. If your first book doesn’t sell, chalk that up to learning and write a second.<br />
<br />
<b>What can fans of HARD AS IT GETS look forward to next? </b><br />
<br />
I’m currently writing four series: two contemporary (Hard Ink, Heroes) and two paranormal (Hearts of the Anemoi, Vampire Warrior Kings). I’ll have books from all four of those releasing in 2014. My next release is <i>Hard As You Can</i> (Hard Ink #2) coming 2/25/14!<br />
<br />
<b>About Hard As It Gets: </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tb-4iR_zoZg/UouL_9CeJMI/AAAAAAAAC9c/OmyAWVyE5EI/s1600/HardAsItGets+mm+c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tb-4iR_zoZg/UouL_9CeJMI/AAAAAAAAC9c/OmyAWVyE5EI/s320/HardAsItGets+mm+c.JPG" width="198" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Five dishonored soldiers.
<br />Former Special Forces.
<br />One last mission.
<br />These are the men of Hard Ink. </i></div>
<br />
<i>Tall, dark, and lethal...</i><br />
<br />
Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.<br />
<br />
With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.<br />
<br />
Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.avonromance.com/post/hard-as-it-gets-exclusive-excerpt" target="_blank">Read Chapter 1</a> of <i>Hard As It Gets</i>
<br />Buy at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hard-As-Gets-Novel-ebook/dp/B00BATNM50/ref=sr_1_2_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373457940&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-as-it-gets-laura-kaye/1115257244?ean=9780062267887" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hard-as-it-gets/id599906812?mt=11" target="_blank">iTunes</a> </b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s1600/thin+gray+line.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="6" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uYWgmwBpmBQ/TLQ1eDHH2KI/AAAAAAAAC5A/YYNv5U4lbZM/s320/thin+gray+line.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>About Laura Kaye:</b><br />
<br />
Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://www.laurakayeauthor.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LauraKayeWrites" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/laurakayeauthor" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://laurakayeauthor.us2.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=ad624707d982081ab3b484592&id=e3c1aac3f1" target="_blank">Newsletter SignUp</a></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>
</b></div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-48374277231085608962013-11-18T06:00:00.000-05:002013-11-18T06:00:03.561-05:00The Key<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Story ideas come to me all the time, in many different ways. Sometimes it’s when a character pulls up a chair in my head and begins talking to me, and sometimes, it’s in a dream. The first time I wrote about a young woman and a rock singer (many, MANY years ago) their names were Emma and Joseph and their story came to me in a dream. Although I fell hard for both of these characters, it was apparent right from the beginning that theirs was a story I could never share. Why? Because romance books just didn’t feature heroines with inoperable brain tumors. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iifF0Iv23Zk/Uok-UHNFX1I/AAAAAAAAC9M/C3qX3FIgtjQ/s1600/The+Key.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iifF0Iv23Zk/Uok-UHNFX1I/AAAAAAAAC9M/C3qX3FIgtjQ/s1600/The+Key.jpg" /></a>I love their story so much…a tale full of pain and happiness, strength and weakness. The story of a woman who dreams of a key – a key to heaven, or so she believes. Turns out it was a key to her future.<br />
<br />
The story played out like a movie, from start to finish – one of the most detailed and complicated dreams I’ve ever had. At the end, there was Emma, reading from a journal she had kept through it all. From her initial diagnosis to her first meeting with Joe, from leaving him to their happily-ever-after. A highlight reel of sorts: the good and the bad moments. And so that is how I began writing their story – in a series of journal entries:<br />
<br />
<i>September 1<br /><br />
I dreamt of an angel last night. An angel of fair skin and long auburn hair with a white gown made of delicate lace and wings that took my breath. Her arm was stretched out before her, a key dangled from her fingers. Not a car or a house key. Not a key of gold or fancy jewels. A silver key about an inch in length and of plain design. A simplified skeleton key.<br /><br />
I awoke before I could take her offering and immediately began to sketch my angel. To capture on paper the image so clear in my mind. But somehow I have lost the memory of her face – the angle of her cheeks or the shape of her lips – and only that key remains. That silver, uncomplicated form hanging from a basic chain. Why was she offering it to me? What did it represent? I’m afraid to speculate, for deep down, I believe I know what she was offering me.<br /><br />
I saw my oncologist yesterday. My treatment isn’t working, just prolonging the inevitable. And so I made the decision to opt out of further treatment and accept my fate. Then I dreamt of an angel, and a key.</i><br />
<br />
This story lives with me still today. Enough that I have a key collection that began after my dream: skeleton keys, charms of keys and my favorite, a sterling silver key necklace. It comes back to me at the oddest moments, at least once every year. One day perhaps I will finish writing it down. Maybe then I can let it go. Maybe not. It’s hard to say why some things stick with us through the years. Perhaps it was that like Emma, I felt as if that angel was offering the key to me.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/110/577F4218CB2F457F1283366A63728B48.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none;" /></div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-86045512392523760012013-11-17T08:39:00.002-05:002013-11-17T16:25:57.634-05:00It's HERE!The revised edition of my contemporary romance, <b>AFTER MIDNIGHT</b> is here!<br />
<br />
Here's my sexy new cover and a tease:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhajBv3w1Mc/UojDaZEUXuI/AAAAAAAAC8o/9q43mZtgsso/s1600/AM_cover01_200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhajBv3w1Mc/UojDaZEUXuI/AAAAAAAAC8o/9q43mZtgsso/s1600/AM_cover01_200x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
He leaned into her. “If you still want me to stay away from you, you’d better tell me now.”<br />
<br />
“Noah?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah?”<br />
<br />
“Kiss me.”<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.
</blockquote>
<br />
AVAILABLE NOW - at a new low price $2.99<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/After-Midnight-Black-Phoenix-Sarah-ebook/dp/B00GPVZG6Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384694849&sr=8-2&keywords=after+midnight+by+sarah+grimm" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br /><a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-aftermidnight-1350444-149.html" target="_blank">ARe</a><br /><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/after-midnight-sarah-grimm/1106102028?ean=2940148971900" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a></b><br />
<b>iBook (coming soon)</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackphoenixseries/" target="_blank">Join the Black Phoenix Reader Group!</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Come dish about Noah, Dominic, Nick and Alex!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Readers in the series groups are the first to find out new release dates and are often treated to exclusive content relating to each series. <br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sarahgrimm.com/uploads/6/4/7/8/6478259/2949512.jpg?488" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://www.sarahgrimm.com/uploads/6/4/7/8/6478259/2949512.jpg?488" width="320" /></a></div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-44686478621164464262013-11-05T07:03:00.001-05:002013-11-05T07:04:22.505-05:00Hopeless by @authorKeriNeal #blogtour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yR-LAUucHjU/UnjUWdY1CVI/AAAAAAAAC7E/2Gi9WwsfuD4/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yR-LAUucHjU/UnjUWdY1CVI/AAAAAAAAC7E/2Gi9WwsfuD4/s320/cover.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">HOPELESS by Keri Neal</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Release date: November 1, 2013 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">ISBN: 1492272221 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">ISBN13: 978-1492272229</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://kerineal.com/author/books/hopeless">http://kerineal.com/author/books/hopeless</a> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Synopsis:</b><br />
<br />
<i>On her seventeenth birthday, Jade is filled with hope for the future. She and her boyfriend Pen are in love, she is finishing her final year of high school, and she is finally safe from the Fallen, who wanted her blood to fulfill an age-old prophesy. Pen is not as comfortable with the truce they made to protect her, so he makes a new deal with the Arches and leaves Jade alone. </i><br />
<br />
<i>But not for long. </i><br />
<br />
<i>A new Guardian is assigned to protect Jade. Blake is rude and offensive, his methods unconventional. Because of his dedication to her she trusts him with her life. Best of all, he knows about the Surge—her telekinetic ability—and is eager to teach her how to control her power. With Blake’s help, Jade learns she can defend herself, with or without the Arches protection, against the evil forces that want her blood. </i><br />
<br />
<i>Then . . . Pen comes back. </i><br />
<br />
<i>He doesn’t like the idea of someone else looking out for Jade, but an army of evil is on its way to destroy her, and Jade needs all the help she can get. </i><br />
<br />
<b>EXCERPT: </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Tap.</i><br />
<br />
The subtle noise woke me out of deep sleep. I stared into the darkness of my bedroom and waited. After a few minutes I heard it again.<br />
<br />
<i>Tap. Tap.</i><br />
<br />
Something was scraping my window. The Santa Ana winds were always heavy this time of year, but the sounds it caused never bothered me before. This was different. Keeping my eyes on the window, I slid out of bed and dug the Louisville slugger out from behind my nightstand. I gripped it hard and tiptoed to the source of the noise.<br />
<br />
<i>Tap. Tap. </i><br />
<br />
It wasn’t getting louder, but I knew without a doubt something, or someone, was outside my window. I approached with caution, ready to start swinging. Then something caught my eye. It was a leaf. I tilted my head to get a better angle, and the rest of the twig took form.<br />
<br />
Breathing a heavy sigh, I tossed the bat onto my bed and put my head in my hands. My dreams had been so restless lately. I was starting to hallucinate. I laughed at my paranoia and opened the window to retrieve the stray twig.<br />
<br />
The moon was an amazing presence in the clear sky. Summer was ending, signaling the beginning of cooler nights in the Southern California desert. I sucked in the clean air and let it fill my lungs. I loved this time of the year, when most of the smog was chased away by gale-force winds. Leaning out the window I watched the leaves dance on the Mulberry tree. A pair of glowing eyes glared back at me from deep within the branches.<br />
<br />
I leapt back. Remembering the open window, I made a grab for the sill to slam it shut. I wasn’t quick enough. The eyes grew a body and pounced. I screamed until I heard footsteps in the hallway. Gary reached into the room and flicked on the switch, filling the room with a light that caused me to wince.<br />
<br />
When my eyes adjusted to the room, I noticed several things at once. Gary was standing in my doorway, his Chargers pants and white t-shirt vibrating as he fought to catch his breath. In his left hand was a nine iron. The intruder was unmistakably male. Despite the ski mask, his muscular figure was well defined by a too-small black t-shirt. Both men ignored me as they stared each other down from separate ends of my room.<br />
<br />
“Jade had a nightmare. You came to check on her. She was fine. You went back to bed.” The guy’s voice lilted with an accent I didn’t recognize.<br />
<br />
The golf club fell out of Gary’s hand and hit the floor. I was having an out-of-body experience. There was no way Gary would fall for this guy’s impression of the Jedi mind-trick. But even as I thought it, he turned on his heel and scuffled back to his room at the end of the hall. I began to panic, the giggling bubbling up from my gut making my breath choppy. If my Surge was ever going to cooperate, this would be the time.<br />
<br />
Holding my breath, I closed my eyes and focused on the center of my gut where the Surge originated. Nothing happened. It didn’t make sense; if I lost control when I was upset, then I should’ve been blowing the doors off the hinges. But I didn’t, I just stood there stunned as a feeling of dread washed over me. Behind my eyelids I saw Pen, his beautiful face staring back at me with adoration. He would never know how much I loved him. I was going to die and I was all alone. I opened my eyes with a determination to face my death. The intruder hadn’t moved except to turn his head.<br />
<br />
The floor creaked as he shifted his weight and ambled toward me. He reached up and tore off the mask, revealing spiky black hair. His smile was cocky, as if he was proud of himself for being so clever.<br />
<br />
Suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind. I blinked up into the intruder’s eyes, and in the next moment he was gone. I was somewhere else. It was dark, but I could smell pine needles and hear branches crackle as the wind blew through them high above me. I was almost certain I was in the mountains somewhere, but it was too dark to tell. Whoever had brought me here still held me tightly.<br />
<br />
Pen.<br />
<br />
I spun around to throw my arms around him. He’d come back! Somehow I knew he wasn’t gone for good. He wouldn’t just leave me forever. Not after what we’d been through. But instead I was faced with dark eyes the color of onyx. A stranger, not Pen, had saved me from the supernatural being. I should’ve been grateful. Maybe shook his hand and exchanged emails. He seemed nice enough as he stared back at me with his head tilted in that way Pen did when he was trying to feel my thoughts.<br />
<br />
All of these reactions would have been a normal way to react to someone who had just saved your life. I, however, was not a normal girl.<br />
<br />
“Who the <i>hell</i> are you?”<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~ </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance at some wonderful prizes! Or simply leave a comment for Keri. Good Luck!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f48f832/" id="rc-f48f832" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script><br />
<br />Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-46735492849434384162013-11-02T08:00:00.000-04:002013-11-02T08:00:01.113-04:00Open Promo for Authors - Bring it on!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?<br />
<br />
I do have a few pesky rules though:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>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.</li>
<br />
<li>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.</li>
<br />
<li>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. </li>
<br />
<li>Also, I reserve the right to delete a post if it promotes objectionable content. (incest, rape, etc.) </li>
</ul>
<br />
Simple enough, right? Post away!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/110/577F4218CB2F457F1283366A63728B48.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0px none;" /></div>
Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2788003465566543496.post-21510019599328347052013-10-23T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-23T00:00:10.824-04:00Mid Week PIC Me Up ~ Noah!It's Wednesday, and you know what that means! No? Okay, maybe you've forgotten since I've been a very naughty author and haven't blogged in a looooooonnnngg time. Let me remind you then...It's Wednesday and that means it's time for Mid Week PIC Me Up. YAY!<br />
<br />
If you're a member of my Black Phoenix Reader Group then you've already seen today's PIC Me Up. And if you're not a member may I ask why? We have so much fun over there. Go forth and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackphoenixseries/" target="_blank">JOIN</a>!<br />
<br />
ANYWAY, I shared this one with my reader group already because the moment I saw it I knew, KNEW, that I was looking at Noah Clark.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ym5dDwMPhV0/UmR6q3aQTiI/AAAAAAAAC3k/SL0OVipvYGQ/s1600/555399_516388331770864_1926594547_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ym5dDwMPhV0/UmR6q3aQTiI/AAAAAAAAC3k/SL0OVipvYGQ/s400/555399_516388331770864_1926594547_n.jpg" width="312" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dreamy sigh, right? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qpHXBMOAhqQ/UmR7relhTBI/AAAAAAAAC3s/-3hIsln_Cs8/s1600/New+banner+BP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qpHXBMOAhqQ/UmR7relhTBI/AAAAAAAAC3s/-3hIsln_Cs8/s320/New+banner+BP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Sarah Grimmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03737049126767567901noreply@blogger.com1