A Look At Nikka Michaels & 'Christmas with Caden' ( @NikkaMichaels @cpbooks #erotica )

Today we have author Nikka Michaels visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Nikka Michaels lives in the often rainy Pacific Northwest where she spends her time cooking, laughing and crafting romantic tales to satisfy her craving for HEAs.

What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what's the order the books should be read in?
* Christmas with Caden is a standalone vignette length story from Cobblestone Press’ Wicked Line.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* I love Christmas tales and since the holidays are often lonely for people sometimes, Paige’s story stuck with me.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Funny, Smooth, Kind, Sexy, Sensual

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Snarky, Sarcastic, Sexy, Sexual, Longing

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* I love Paige for her snarky sarcastic sense of humor.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* “But nice boys didn’t send shivers down her spine and make her nipples tighten under the thin fabric of her dress, right?”

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Paige Anthony is annoyed at spending Friday night at the company Christmas party. She’s bored until she spots the son of the boss, Caden Davis dancing and is intrigued.
* When Caden saves Paige from the advances of his brother, she looks at him in a new light. A few sexy dances later, she manages to forget the horrible beginning of the night.
* When she decides to leave, he offers to walk her home and admits he’s wanted her for a while. Will Paige’s attraction be enough to make her forget about holidays past and consider Christmas with Caden?

~ Excerpt ~ * “Is this how you really dance? Because you can show me the real you, you know. I want a Caden dance.”
* His slow, wicked smile made her stomach flip and heat flood her skin. “You want me? You got me.”
* Slowly he spun her in a circle, her back resting against the front of his body. His hands settled on her hips, squeezing gently as he nuzzled her ear. His fingers pulled the fabric of her dress taut against her nipples as the delicious friction intensified with every move. She bit back a low moan at the sensation.
* “This is me. This is how I really dance.”
* Shivering at the feel of his warm breath against her ear, she closed her eyes and let her body go loose, relaxing as she moved with the beat of the music. His hands smoothed up and down her sides, teasingly light as he moved with her, not guiding but simply moving with her.
* Through the thin fabric of her dress and his shirt and suit pants, heat from his body added to the sweat that beaded on her skin. She could feel his hardness pressing against her ass when she rocked back into him, though he let her lead all their movement. The club had gotten more crowded as they’d danced. The look on his face when she glanced up at him was one of hunger, his heavy-lidded eyes gone dark, illuminated by the flash of the strobe light. With the top buttons of his shirt undone, he looked as though he’d just been dragged off the floor and ravished.
* Paige wanted to be the reason he looked that way.

Buy Christmas with Caden here...
Cobblestone Press | Amazon - US | All Romance eBooks | Amazon - UK | Barnes & Noble

Find Nikka Michaels here...
Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Thank you for joining us here today, Nikka Michaels! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

A Holiday Treat! #holidaybaking #mockthinmintcookies

......Happy holidays everyone!
......I wanted to let you know that for the next few days my blog will be quiet as my family and I celebrate the holiday. But I also didn't want to leave you hanging, so I'm sharing a treat with you all!
......Growing up I didn't like to cook all that much, but I was big on baking. As an adult, my baking time took a hit due to other responsibilities. Over the past year though, I've been getting into cooking, experimenting with new meals, and returning to creating delectable treats. Thing is I'm still a 'it has to be fast and easy' type of girl. So, how can one make cookies and not spend an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen? A bit of a quandary.
......Then I remembered...
......Back when I'd been in real estate, an agent I knew gave me the recipe for mock Thin Mints. Bingo! A quick and easy cookie. Three ingredients. A baking sheet and wax paper and voila! Only problem is they're so addicting and easy to eat you may need to make more than one batch. ;)

....First ingredient is Chocolate. I decided on this brand because one: I like it, two: it says no tempering is needed & three: the darker chocolate seemed closer to the real cookie's chocolate.






....Second ingredient is Peppermint Oil. There are lots of

recipes out there with varying ideas on this. Most use extracts. You could, too, if you can't find the oil, but oils do give a cleaner flavor and are stronger. Also, don't use extracts if you plan on tempering the chocolate. Extracts have water and alcohol which will cause the chocolate to seize. (Info on tempering chocolate and why can be found HERE.) If you're going to use the same chocolate I used, oil is a must since these chocolates shouldn't have any water mixed in. If you only can find an extract, feel free to use a bag of chocolate chips*.
....Third ingredient... Ritz Crackers. Yes. Ritz. Use the regular brand for the utmost in buttery, salty, chocolately, minty cookie goodness.

....Tools you'll need -- a bowl or double boiler to melt your chocolate; a silicone spatula to stir the melting chocolate; a fork; a baking sheet covered in wax paper

....Melt chocolate according to package directions.








....Once melted, add in 1/8 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon of the

peppermint oil. Do this to your taste but don't over do it right off the bat. If you put in too much, you won't be able to correct it, and you'll have mouthwash flavored chocolate.

..Dip a cracker into the minty chocolate mixture. Use the fork to remove it by lightly scooping it up from the underside. Allow excess chocolate to drain off through fork tines or gently shake the cracker so the excess comes off a little faster. Transfer the cookie to the baking sheet.
..Repeat until all the chocolate is used. A 12 oz bag of chocolate yeilded about 36 cookies.
..Enjoy!

......Happy holidays from my home to yours.
......C.R. Moss

......(* = chip/extract recipe from Kraft HERE or Group Recipes HERE.)

A Look At Amber Carpenter from 'Wanton in the Wild West' ( @misswishlade @evernightpub #erom #menage )

..Today we have Amber Carpenter visiting from the story Wanton in the Wild West. Welcome!

..Amber Carpenter, what would you like to tell readers about yourself?
......* My name is Amber Carpenter and I’m 23 years old. At the start of the novella, set in 1890 when the North-Western Railroad reached Deadwood, I was returning home following a year in Chicago at Miss Claudia’s boarding house for young women. I really enjoyed my time in Chicago and I did not want to return to a life of drudgery in Deadwood. I had no intention of being someone’s wife and settling for whatever was doled out to me by my husband, especially a broken heart like my poor mother suffered.
......* When I met Gideon Swain and Harry Delaney, the two handsome cowboys who arrived to escort Maisie and me back to Deadwood, I was thrilled. They are both so gorgeous! Gideon is such an alpha male and Harry is so tender and caring. They seemed pretty taken with me too…if I might say! *giggles*
......* I have to admit that I fully intended on having some fun before returning to Deadwood.
......* However, that train journey home led to a future that I would never have expected in my wildest imaginings!!!

..Are you happy with the way people perceive you?
......* Well, being called a wanton is a bit embarrassing in some ways. I never set out to be that way but I guess I was just a bit ahead of my time. In 1890, there were so many restrictions on women and so many unwritten rules about what a woman could or couldn’t do. To folks back then, a woman was a wife and mother or a soiled dove. There was no grey area. I don’t mind the ‘label’ because I have a wicked sense of humour but what happens to me in the novella is about more than just my sexual awakening. It’s about my emotional journey too. So I guess I’m wanton for physical intimacy but also wanton for emotional intimacy, even though I didn’t think that I’d ever want or need the latter. It took two cowboys (not just one) to change my mind. *fans face rapidly*

..What’s your take on your friend Maisie?
......* Well, I’ve known Maisie for a long time and we had fun together in Chicago. You’ll have to read Wanton in the Wild West to find out what kind of fun! ;) But during that train journey from Chicago to Deadwood I realised how very different we are. Maisie wanted a traditional life, to get wed and raise children with a husband. She wanted to forget the past and to move on. As for me, I never wanted a regular ol’ life. I need more than that and maybe…maybe I get what I want. Or MORE than I want!!! That’s for me to know right now and for you to find out. *flutters eyelashes*

..If you were to spend a day with a reader, what would you two do together?
......* I would invite them to share a drink with me and take them on a tour of Deadwood. If they fancied a trip, we could ride the steam train to Chicago and maybe stop at the place which features in Wanton in the Wild West. I would answer their questions and find out more about them then pass that information on to Molly Ann Wishlade. She’s always keen to know what readers want and maybe she can incorporate their wishes or suggestions into her next romance novel. Of course, they can always email her directly if they’d like to do that anyway! :)

..Where do you see yourself in the future? What do you hope to accomplish?
......* My future will be very different to how I thought it would be. I don’t want to give too much away but let’s just say that it will certainly be interesting. I’m a lucky young woman and I’m looking forward to each and every day that I get to spend with…ooh! I nearly said too much! ;) I’m looking forward to spending more days like the one in the novella. Who wouldn’t?

..Now for some author information!
......* My author is Molly Ann Wishlade. Molly Ann Wishlade says, "I have always been an avid reader and writer of stories and I regularly indulge my love of romance and passion by getting lost in the delicious worlds created by romantic novelists. I don’t have as much time for reading as I would like anymore, so it is a real treat when I get the chance! I’m usually busy with my WIP, my next highly erotic tale about sexy, passionate alpha males and their lady loves – and sometimes their gorgeous male lovers too."

You can find my author, Molly Ann Wishlade, here... E-mail | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Total-E-Bound Blogspot on 12th of every month | Pinterest | Smashwords

..Now for some book information!
..A look into the story

..~ Blurb ~ ......* Sometimes a train journey can take you in an unexpected direction.
......* It is 1890, and the Chicago and North-Western Railroad now runs into Deadwood. After a year in Chicago, Amber Carpenter is homeward bound via steam train, escorted by two gorgeous cowboys. Amber swore a long time ago that she would never let a man hurt her, but that doesn’t mean that she’s not open to the idea of some fun.
......* Harry Delaney and Gideon Swain have their sights set on a bright future … if only their tragic past wasn’t holding them back. But from the moment they laid eyes on Amber Carpenter, they knew that there was something different about her.
......* Can the three of them turn their lives around within the space of a train journey?
......Be Warned: menage sex (MMF), anal sex, m/m sex ..~ Excerpt ~ ......* Amber was suddenly jolted from her reverie by a screech of metal and the sensation of flying through the air.
......* “Woah there, missy!” She looked up to find herself looking into Gideon’s handsome face. His fingertips dug into her upper arms, and she realized that she was between his legs. “Are you hurt?”
......* He frowned with concern as he looked her over.
......* Amber tried to right herself, but her feet slid from beneath her on the shiny wooden floor. Damn her fashionable new black boots with their spool heels. Each movement brought her face closer to Gideon’s bulging groin, and her heart thudded against her ribs as heat filled her whole body. But just before her cheek finally touched his crotch, he hoisted her upwards and perched her on his knee.
......* “It’s okay, Miss Carpenter. Doesn’t look like anything’s broken.”
......* She bridled as he perused her body, his gaze settling upon her breasts, which now bulged conspicuously beneath her jacket, pushed there by her corset, which had slid upwards when she fell.
......* The intensity of his gaze and the crushing corset made her lightheaded. She was aware of every part of her body, and her skin was on fire. Beneath her bottom, his leg was hard and strong, and she wondered how it would look naked against her own shapely thigh.
......* A tingling began between her legs. Amber’s breathing quickened, and with each breath, her bosoms rose higher, attracting the attention of both Gideon and Harry, the latter having been woken by the dramatic stopping of the train.
......* Her nipples grazed the lace edging of her corset, her gauzy chemise offering little protection from the stiffened weave. But instead of being unpleasant, the sensation just aroused her further.

Buy Wanton in the Wild West here... Evernight Publishing | Amazon - US | Amazon - UK | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

..Thank you for joining us here today, Amber Carpenter! It was a pleasure getting to know about you, the story you're in, and your author.

A Look At Ben Wright from 'Sin’s Haven' ( @cloveflores @evernightpub #contemporary #romance )

..Today we have Ben Wright visiting from the story Sin’s Haven (A Sin Pointe Novel, #3). Welcome!

..Ben Wright, what would you like to tell readers about yourself?
......Hey there, it’s me, Ben. Geez, that sounds really formal or else pretty lame. Sorry, not used to being the one getting asked the questions. Yeah, so I am from Southern Cali but not the chillaxed, beachside places you’re probably thinking of. Barstow’s not rockin’ anybody’s socks, at least not that I know of. I haven’t spent much time there since I became the glorified errand boy for the band Sin Pointe, I mean their webmaster. It’s a pretty cool job and the band have pretty much adopted me. The guys just moved from Cali to Nashville, TN so I’ve been uber busy getting studio stuff set up. Oh, so my birthday night fiasco…let’s just say I spent six years chasing after the wrong girl and it blew up in my face…that’s pretty much why Carlene wrote my story. It was jacked up what happened but I wouldn’t change a thing since I ended up with a sweet deal in the end.

..Are you happy with the way people perceive you?
......It’s funny you ask that right off the bat because most peeps I meet for the first time assume I’m into dudes, which I have no problem with, except for I’m totally not. But whatevs. I like what I like and I’m not gonna worry about changing my style or the way I do my hair. Being around the guys in the band for as long as I have, you kind of learn to shut a lot of the outside noise off and focus on your real friends who could give a crap if you’re into bracelets and Kenzo.

..Is humor important? Why or why not?
......Oh yeah, I make jokes all the time. Are you kidding me? I’m this tall, lanky computer nerd dude and I’m living with these guys who are so freaking smooth, they make girls cry just by breathing the same air. If it weren’t for humor, I’d be all kinds of disturbed.

..Does your author ever try to take over the story? And how do you deal with it?
......Oh dude, this is too funny. But yeah, that actually almost happened. I remember Carlene working on the story one day and she came to me with, “Benny sweetie, no one’s gonna believe you chased Erby around for six years and never hooked up.” She kept winking at me like I was lying about that part and I could be honest with her. I think she even hinted we should flip it and make me this dude who was hooking up all the time but just never connecting with the girl, like with my emotions. Luckily she took one more look at me and was like, “Nope, that’s just not you.” Look, the deal is that I work these insane hours for the band, we’re on the road a lot, and while I could have hooked up a ton, I just wasn’t into that. I have a reason and it’s in the book, but I don’t really wanna get into it here. Sorry. But then I found The One and Carlene was like, “Slow down, you guys can’t just wham, bam, thank you ma’am so fast.” Would it be weird if I put a smiley face here? :) Pow, there we go.

..What was the best sexual experience you’ve had?
......Carlene is eyeballing me not to give too much away but I think I have permission to say that camping is something I look forward to every year now. :) Bam, another smiley face. Wait, that’s supposed to be a winky face. ;)

..What’s your take on Erby?
......So here’s the deal. I guess people get pretty pissed when they read what happened on my birthday night. So Erby’s got a lot of haters. But I’m like, if it wasn’t for what she did...let’s just say I think about sending her “Thank You” flowers some days. The way I see it, no harm no foul. Trista and Lily on the other hand (two of my closest friends) don’t see it that way. I think they’d like to send something her way, but it’s not flowers.

..Where do you see yourself in the future? What do you hope to accomplish?
......I’ve got a pretty sweet deal as far as my job goes but I’m not ashamed to admit I totally want to be a daddy someday soon. I’m 31 so I’m pretty much ready. As soon as I get the green light, I’m going into baby making mode big time.

..Now for some author information!

......My author is Carlene Love Flores. Carlene Love Flores is a big fan of the stars (especially Orion), honest music (especially Depeche Mode), and her traveling family (no favorites there-she loves them all). These things inspire her intimate style of romance writing. She feels honored to be a member of Washington DC Romance Writers (WRWDC). Carlene currently lives in the D.C. area where she can often be found listening to live music and looking up at the sky on clear nights. If she could touch someone’s heart with her writing the way others have done for her, she’d say truly there never lived a luckier girl.

..You can find my author, Carlene Love Flores, here...
......Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | Evernight Author Page

..Now for some book information!
..A look into the story

..~ Blurb ~ ......When Sin Pointe webmaster, Benjamin Wright, is publicly humiliated on his birthday, he knows he’s never gonna be able to show his face around the guys again. But an angelic hostess who lets him sleep it off at the club seems surprisingly eager to help him out. Is his luck changing or does she just feel sorry for him?
......Hazel Temple, bagel mistress by day and club hostess by night, feels horrible for inadvertently playing a part in Ben’s embarrassment and vows to make it up to him—by telling him they had a sizzling hot one night stand. Still recovering from losing her fiancé to suicide, she worries about Ben when he discovers her lie. Is she bound to hurt the men she cares about?
......A Sin Pointe camping trip provides Hazel her chance to get Ben’s groove back.
......Will her webmaster be the one to rock her world? ..~ Excerpt ~ ......Unless a chick was super into a personalized website or slick Facebook banner, Ben didn’t have much woo factor to offer. And a one-night-stand-to-blow-your-mind was definitely not on his menu. He wouldn’t have slept with Erby on their first date and he’d known her for six years! Okay, maybe he would have last night...
......“I suck and ow,” he said, holding his head in one hand while his elbow dug into his knee. Closing his eyes, he tried to remember Haven’s hands on his legs, maybe playing with his knees. It was a hot fantasy, but he got nothing. “Great, just great,” he muttered and then stood up and flushed, even though he hadn’t even dropped his trousers.
......It was time to make his way out.
......But what if she was out there, waiting?
......An apology. That’s what he owed her. A big ole I’m sorry. This woman might have been pleased with her experience but she should know he wasn’t that kind of guy.
......As he dragged his reluctant feet from the stall, her kiss popped onto his lips. He remembered. She’d tasted like sweet cherries. He was so screwed. He knew he’d messed up and had no idea how to deal with this which meant avoidance until he figured it out. What would Jaxon do?
......“You’re not Jaxon, dip wad. You’re Saint Benjamin,” he told himself as he swallowed, and followed the narrow hallway from the back office up to the café.
......Coffee.
......He needed some and if she was up there, he could invite her to have a cup with him. And maybe talk. Nerves brewed heavy in his stomach as he pushed open the curtains that divided the club from the café. Why in the world he chose that very moment to start worrying about condoms was beyond him. But he fumbled for his wallet and found the one he kept still tucked into his bill fold.
......“Oh shit.”

..Buy Sin’s Haven here...
......Evernight Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | Bookstrand

..Thank you for joining us here today, Ben Wright! It was a pleasure getting to know about you, the story you're in, and your author.

A Look At Hawk MacKinney & 'The Lady of Corpsewood Manor' ( @GoddessFish #mystery #suspense )

Like I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, those who know me know I'm an eclectic writer and reader, and along with romance, I love a dark, gritty read whether it comes in the form of horror, mystery, suspense, etc. I'm sure I'm not the only reader/writer like this, and it's one of the reasons I have guests of varying subjects visit my corner of the web. Today I'm happy to welcome back, Hawk MacKinney.

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* With postgraduate degrees and faculty appointments in several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem. In addition to professional articles and texts on chordate neuroembryology, Hawk has authored several works of fiction.
* Hawk began writing mysteries for his school newspaper. His works of fiction, historical love stories, science fiction and mystery-thrillers are not genre-centered, but plot-character driven, and reflect his southwest upbringing in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his serial protagonist in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series… murder and mayhem with a touch of romance. Vault of Secrets, the first book in the Ingram series, was followed by Nymrod Resurrection, Blood and Gold, and The Lady of Corpsewood Manor. All have received national attention. Hawk’s latest release in the Ingram series is due out this fall with another mystery-thriller work out in 2014. The Bleikovat Event, the first volume in The Cairns of Sainctuarie science fiction series, was released in 2012.
* "Without question, Hawk is one of the most gifted and imaginative writers I have had the pleasure to represent. His reading fans have something special to look forward to in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series. Intrigue, murder, deception and conspiracy--these are the things that take Hawk's main character, Navy ex-SEAL/part-time private investigator Craige Ingram, from his South Carolina ancestral home of Moccasin Hollow to the dirty backrooms of the nation's capital and across Europe and the Middle East." ~ Barbara Casey, President of Barbara Casey Literary Agency

What book are you sharing with us today?

~ Blurb ~ * In the spacious den of Moccasin Hollow, his ancestral South Carolina home, part-time PI, exNavy SEAL Craige Ingram examines a platinum brooch designed like a dragonfly inside a jeweler’s box that he has discovered at the crime scene of Corpsewood Manor. It is a remarkable piece of art…its wings and body worked in exceptional detail. Focusing toward the expected bulbous round eyes, his suspicions jar full throttle. Instead of a head, the empty sockets of a skull leer at him. His gut feelin’s tell him his SEAL buddy Grayson MacGerald’s investigation is considerably more than arson and a double murder trying to hide the theft of classic automobiles. The smoldering rubble of secluded Corpsewood Manor leads Ingram and another of their SEAL Team, Colorado Aspen ski buddy Spinner Krespinak, into a seedy tangle of smuggling crisscrossed and an unexpected encounter with a dead assassin from one of Spinner’s “closed” cases. ~ Excerpt ~ * “You been told to stay away from Corpsewood.”
* Kenyon said, “Ain’t got no other place ‘cept them leaky sheds out behind the garage. They don’t leak much. Least before the fire I had a place to sleep. Got kicked out of my other place. They let me sleep here.”
* “I’ll just bet they let your sweet cheeks sleep-over. You’re just the kind of meat they liked to sucker in.”
* “Now I got no place, an’ nights are gettin’ colder.”
* “They the ones that hooked you on crystal?”
* “I told you. I don’t do drugs.”
* “Cut the crap…I heard all the stories. Nothing out’a your mouth ever made sense—only a bunch of your twisted whining.” Somewhere between a snarl and a chuckle, “I’m suppose to believe you never done meth,” raven-black stab of a look. “Sure…you’re clean all right except for pushing crank or whatever up your nose or stoking it in your arms,” glanced at the needle tracks on both arms. “Got a problem? Run out’a veins in your arms? Using the ones in your ankles? Clean yourself up. Wash your greasy stringy hair and get it cut. Stop acting like some fool animal that needs to be caged. Take a bath. Get a job. Quit blowing your money, you’d have a place of your own.”
* “I don’t snort crystal or Nazi dope,” Kenyon griped. “You’re like ever’body else, judging someone by the way we live.”
* “I don’t care what you’re on, but anyone fool enough to supply you is askin’ for trouble. We got enough trouble with the Corpsewood fire and that goddamn homicide Lieutenant MacGerald nosing around with his friggin’ PI SEALmate Ingram helpin’ him dig.”

Buy The Lady of Corpsewood Manor here...
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Find Hawk MacKinney here...
Website

Thank you for joining us here today, Hawk MacKinney! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! One randomly drawn commenter will win a $20 Amazon Gift Card! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-book-tour-lady) for a greater chance of winning!

A Look At D. L. Jackson & 'Being Prince Charming' ( @Dlaree69 @decadentpub #1NS #military )

Today we have author D. L. Jackson visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* D. L. Jackson is an award-winning author of urban fantasy, science fiction, military romance and erotic romance. She loves to incorporate crazy plot twists, comedy and the unexpected into her worlds. As a U.S. Army veteran, she naturally adores men in uniform and feels the world could always use more. She does her part by incorporating as many sexy soldiers in her novels as she can. When she isn't writing or running the roads, you can often find her online chatting with her peers and readers. Grab a cup of iced coffee, pull up your virtual chair and say hi. She loves emails and blog visits from her readers. www.authordljackson.com

What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what's the order the books should be read in?
* Being Prince Charming. It’s part of Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand series and book two in my military fairytales series. The first book is Cinderella Wore Combat Boots, followed by Being Prince Charming, and then Beauty and the Brigadier, which should release sometime in January of 2014.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* I wanted to tell a short military story with a theme of the fairy tale. Since Gunny’s story followed Cinderella, I thought it appropriate to throw in a prince—even if he is a little rough around the edges.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Marine, Loyal, Loving, Determined, Hard-headed

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Self-sacrificing, loyal, compassionate, strong, beautiful

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* Gunny. His determination to go after what he wants.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* You won’t even wear pink or get next to something pink, claiming you’ll break out in hives, and here you are, your fine, six-foot-four ass self, stuffed into a pair of tights that could easily be paired with a tutu.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * “You’re no Prince Charming.”
* Words screamed in anger, an empty nest, and an emptier life are just some of the reasons people divorce. For Gunny, a diehard Marine who refuses to give up the Corps, and Lissa his wife of over twenty years, the reason isn’t a good one. After a heated argument morphs out of control, Lissa walks away and in his pride, August refuses to go after her.
* It took two years, but Lissa is finally ready to move on with her life and marry another man. Only one problem, her heart still belongs to the Marine she left behind.
* August is back, looking for a second chance, and this time he isn’t letting Lissa walk away without a fight. Gunny has given up everything, including the Marine Corps, for a second chance with the woman he loves. Madam Eve has given him one night to prove to Lissa he’s all she ever wanted—that he can still be her Prince Charming. Fail, and she’ll marry another man in the morning.
* For this Marine—failure is not an option. ~ Excerpt ~ * Lissa never returned, going home to where they’d been high school sweethearts, even if her family had long since moved on. Gunny crumpled the divorce decree and tossed it in the trash, refusing to hold onto the one souvenir he’d retained from his marriage with Lissa. Gone were their wedding pictures, the dishes, pots and pans, everything that had made their off-camp apartment a home, including the woman he still loved. He surveyed the room. Except for a few pieces of plastic outdoor furniture, the apartment sat empty as his life.
* No matter how he tried, he couldn’t wrap his mind around the finality and accept it. Marines didn’t give up. He picked up his bags and walked out the door, not bothering to lock it behind him.
* Anyone who wanted it could have the remnants of his life. He’d finally retired from the Marines and, thanks to Cori, had secured a job working for Sol’s company, Protect and Serve. Not that it mattered. Without Lissa, he had no reason to care, but it would help him to get by until he could figure out how to get his wife back.
* Make that ex-wife.
* And he would find a way. Eventually, she’d come to her senses. No one could turn love off. He’d be the one to know. His heart ached constantly for the woman he’d once had. He’d been an idiot not to listen to what she said, to put the Corps before her. Hindsight being twenty-twenty and all that, he decided he needed to man up, improvise, adapt, and overcome.

Buy D. L. Jackson's stories here...
Decadent Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | Barnes & Noble | BookStrand

Cinderella Wore Combat Boots will be available for free on Amazon for five days in conjunction with the release of Being Prince Charming! Get it here: Cinderella on Amazon. Here's a book trailer, too...
Find D. L. Jackson here...
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Thank you for joining us here today, D. L. Jackson! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

A look at Paranormal/Urban Fantasy stories with C M Michaels ( @UFAuthor @GoddessFish #erom #paranormal )

Hi all! Grab a cup of tea – or whatever it is you like to drink – and join in the discussion. Today we have C M Michaels visiting and giving us a look into his writing & his thoughts on the paranormal/urban fantasy genres.
About our guest, C M Michaels:

* C.M. Michaels grew up in a small town in northern Michigan as the youngest child of a close-knit family of seven. He met his wife, Teresa, while attending Saginaw Valley State University. Together they’ve provided a loving home for several four-legged “kids”, including Sophie, their eternally young at heart, hopelessly spoiled Spaniel.
* He has always enjoyed writing, and still has fond memories of reading his first book, a children’s novella, to local grade schools when he was 14. Dangerous Waters, the first book in the Sisters in Blood series, is being published by Freya’s Bower on September 5th, 2013. C.M. is currently working on the second book in the Sisters in Blood series along with a Fantasy romance.
* When he’s not writing, C.M. can be found curled up with a good book, watching movies or hitting the hiking trails with his wife. An avid reader since discovering Jim Kjelgaard novels in early childhood, his favorite authors include Kelley Armstrong, Peter V. Brett, Richelle Mead, Rachel Caine, Cassandra Claire, J.R. Ward, Laini Taylor and Tessa Dawn.
* C.M. currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky.

Now for his: 5 musts every paranormal / urban fantasy novel should have...
* I write in the paranormal, fantasy and urban fantasy genres, which comprises the lion’s share of what I read as well. When I think about my favorite books they have several things in common:
1.....A winning formula – Most of the extremely successful books are part of a series, and each book in the series generally follows an established formula. In some cases like Black Dagger Brotherhood (J.R Ward), Blood Shadows (Tessa Dawn) and the Dark Hunter series (Sherrilyn Kenyon), each story has a romance at its core, pairing one of the main supernatural characters with their love interest. You know going in the two will end up together—in spite of whatever Herculean obstacles are put in their way—but somehow that only enhances the enjoyment. For others, the formula involves established POV changes. In Kelly Armstrong’s Otherworld series, for example, the protagonist shifts from book to book, giving you a different viewpoint of all of the central characters and putting more focus on whichever supernatural creature is being showcased in that novel (witches, vampires, werewolves, half-demons, etc.). Then there are those I like to call running storylines, where each installment in the series is almost entirely focused on advancing plot elements that span multiple books. Two of my favorite series are great examples of this type (both by Richelle Mead) – Vampire Academy and Bloodlines.
2.....Lovable, distinguishable and imperfect characters – There is a fine line to walk here. While I love the main characters to be flawed and to make mistakes they need to do so without coming across as idiots. The reader should be able to understand why they make the decisions they do, even if we know they are wrong and will lead them into trouble. The characters also need to have unique traits as far as how they talk, dress, think and carry out their daily routines. I should be able to tell who is speaking without relying on speaker connotations.
3.....An interesting and original supernatural angle – In order for a series to become a favorite of mine the author needs to offer a unique take on whatever sub-genre they are in. Whether that is accomplished by creating an entirely new species, providing wicked and unique powers, or dreaming up a never thought of before explanation for the origin / governing rules of your creepy crawlies, the story needs to differentiate itself and make me feel like I’m reading something original.
4.....An overall series plot arc – While following a formula for each individual novel is great, those that are more on the stand-alone installment side still need to advance plot elements that stretch across the entire series. I need to know that the time I invest in a multi-book series is leading somewhere.
5.....Engaging prose and a strong narrative voice – Whether told in first or third person, the narrative voice needs to offer me an intimate look into the mind of the main characters and make it easy to visualize what’s being described on the page without putting me to sleep with six hundred word descriptions of what a tree looks like. If I find myself skipping ahead or skim reading on a regular basis it will be the last book I buy in the series. As a society we don’t have the patience we used to for overly flowery prose. We all have a million things competing for our free time and far shorten attention spans. As for the syntax, when done right, the speaker attributes and action beats totally blend into the prose. If I’m noticing these connectors it’s likely because they are either repeated too frequently or are too generic – she smiled, he laughed, etc.

A look into his story

~ Blurb ~ * For Emily Waters, a nature-loving, small-town girl with an overprotective father, heading off to Boston University to study conservation biology is a dream come true—until a chance encounter catapults her into a mythical world she'd do anything to escape.
* The latest victim in a rash of abductions near campus, Emily is brutally attacked before being rescued by a powerful new friend. She survives the ordeal, only to find herself held captive and presented with an impossible choice.
* While preparing for the unimaginable life she must now embrace, clues soon emerge that Emily may not be entirely human, and her physical transformation awakens goddess-like powers that her new family cannot begin to explain.
* Dealing with her human first love, the not-so-platonic relationship with her coven "sister," and her new vampire sort-of-boyfriend further complicates matters, not to mention being secretly hunted by the psychopaths who attacked her. And as the only known offspring of a once all-powerful race, the climactic battle is just the beginning of her journey. ~ Excerpt ~ (Emily meets Daniel) * I quit watching him and let myself enjoy the feeling that dancing always gave me. A couple of songs had passed before we were close together again. I couldn’t believe he was the same guy. Daniel blended in perfectly with everyone else on the floor and looked like he’d been club dancing for years. When the song ended we made our way over to an empty table.
* “I can’t believe how much fun that was!” he shouted.
* “I’ve never seen someone pick it up so fast. You’re a natural!”
* “Yeah, right—more like you’re a hell of a teacher.”
* “Thanks, Daniel.” The affectionate, almost star struck look in his eyes reminded me of what Ruby had said. If I didn’t want to hurt him, I couldn’t afford to wait any longer. But like the true blue coward I was, rather than taking the plunge, I chose to study a particularly interesting piece of lint on the floor.
* “What’s wrong?”
* “I need to ask you something that is going to sound really bizarre.”
* “Okay…” Fear of where this might be headed had him gathering his legs underneath him like a coiled up house cat preparing to leap out of danger.
* After a long pause I met his gaze. “You can sleep with me tonight if you want to.”
* “Jesus, Brooke, we—”
* “Please let me finish,” I interrupted. “I’m a virgin, which I can’t exactly fake, so I’ve obviously never done anything like this before. If you say yes, I’ll expect you to make love to me, and all I can offer you is tonight—it’s your choice.”
* “Why only tonight?” The disappointment and sadness in his words was palpable.
* “I wish I could explain, but I’m afraid it’s extremely complicated. Part of saying yes is agreeing not to ask questions I can’t answer.”
* We sat in silence for a few uncomfortable seconds before he reached out and took my hand, gripping it like he could make my question disappear if he only squeezed hard enough. “I’m a virgin too. I get my ass ridden constantly for it but I’m not ashamed—I sure as hell didn’t come here expecting to go home with someone tonight. I get the feeling that you did, and I just happened to be the guy you picked."
* Daniel pressed his forehead against the palm of his free hand and closed his eyes. "Damn it! I really like you, Brooke, but I gotta know why you’re so desperate to lose your virginity tonight, and why you can’t have a relationship with the person you give it to. If you can’t or won’t answer those questions, then I’ll have to say no.”
* The stinging pain of rejection filled my chest as I pulled my hand away. How could it hurt this bad to be turned down by someone I just met? Did I really like him that much already? Trying to salvage what little pride I had left, I stood up and turned to leave, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Buy Dangerous Waters here...
Freya’s Bower (Paperback) | Freya’s Bower (eBook) | Amazon (Paperback) | Amazon (Kindle) | Barnes & Noble (Paperback) | Barnes & Noble (Nook) | All Romance eBooks | Kobo

Find C M Michaels at:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Book trailer

Thank you for joining us here today, C M Michaels! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! The author will award a $50 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, use the rafflecopter below & visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-book-tour-dangerous-waters) for a greater chance of winning!

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A Look At Teresa D’Amario & 'Visions of Fire & Ice' ( @TeresaDamario @GoddessFish #erom #paranormal )

Today we have author Teresa D’Amario visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Born in Atlanta, the daughter of an Army Soldier during the early stages of the Viet Nam war, I spent my childhood traveling from state to state, finally ending up overseas in Germany where I graduated high school six months early.
* My writing career however began as a young Airman in the Air Force, writing monthly articles for the weekly base paper. The articles ranged from climatological data to full center fold articles on the destructive forces of hurricanes. As I increased in rank, my writing changed to more technological instruction, including such works as WSR-88D Doppler Radar Data Interpretation Guide for North Carolina Stations, and Station Operating Procedures.
* But my early writing wasn’t limited only to the technological side. I’ve written multiple dog training and behavior articles for canine websites such as Sonora Canine Freestyle, and also the Ask Blackjack column, a fun training column in the voice of my labrador retriever, then a young pup.
* My first book, SheWolf, won 2nd place for Best First book in RWA’s PFF&P Prism awards.
* I’m married to a wonderful man named Doug, who is also retired Air Force. We live in North Carolina with our two dogs.

Any weird things you do when you’re alone?
* I sing. Now that might not seem weird to you, but if you heard my voice, you’d KNOW it was. See, My mom sang operatic quality. My dad, lost the tune from the bucket. Me, I sound like the bucket is on my head. I inherited an awful lot from my mother’s side of the family, but voice was definitely NOT one of them.

What is your favorite quote and why?
* 'Run Fast, Run Happy.'
* It was a friend’s saying who competed in canine agility. She was training her dog, a Chinese Crested. They aren’t your most common dog to see in agility competitions. A few years before she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and then bone cancer. She continued on with her training. Then, one day she was diagnosed with leukemia, and told she had 3 weeks to live. That weekend she still competed in agility with her dog, winning the first ADCH (Agility Champion) for chinese crested’s (I think that’s what they won). About 18 days later, Lisi moved on to the next world. For me, Run Fast, Run Happy reminds me you can always do what you set your mind to, no matter the time available. The video of Lisi’s last agility run can be seen here: YouTube

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
* Butter Pecan or vanilla. Or chocolate. Or strawberry. Peach. Banana. Just about anything you can serve except ORANGE or LIME. Can you tell I LOVE ice cream?

Which mythological creature are you most like?
* I’m a leprechaun. Ok, not really, though if you gave me green clothes and I lost weight you’d think so. I think I’m actually more of an otherworldly spirit. I’m here when you least expect, and whisper in your ear, and then I’m gone.

What are four things you can’t live without?
* My husband, My dogs, My Computer, and my mind. Wait, one of those has already been misplaced. So I guess it would be husband, dogs, computer and books, since my mind has already gone in hiding.

What story are you sharing with us today?

~ Blurb ~ * Trapped on a planet not their own, the Petiri spend their lives hiding the natural gifts that set them apart from the world. They live long and unfulfilled lives, unable to find their soul mates on this backward planet known as Earth. That is until the night Ramose comes face to face with Tamara, a woman whose gifts rival his own. Determined to find why this human is in possession of an ancient magical Petiri relic, he arranges a meeting.
* But Tamara, embittered from past events, is wary despite lifelong dreams of Ramose and a sure knowledge he is her soul mate. Before long the couple find themselves ensnared in a battle that has raged for millennia in Egypt’s desert. Set, Egyptian God of Chaos, is determined to take his just due: the throne of Osiris.
* The only way to stop him is for Ramose to put his trust in Tamara, but first must gain the same from her. The ensuing sensual relationship is filled with romance, lust and love. Their relationship is tested by an unnatural evil. Will her powers over fire, combined with his ice be enough to win the day? Or will the ancient gods and goddesses of Egypt destroy more than just their love? ~ Excerpt ~ * Tamara stopped with the key halfway in the lock on her door and whirled around. “What did you say?”
* “You heard me,” he said.
* A twinge of frustrated anger sparked inside her. She didn’t tolerate her younger brother ordering her around, and she surely wasn’t going to tolerate anyone else to either. She raised a finger and pointed it at his chest. “Oh, no, we aren’t even going down this path. Let me stop you right there.” Her finger poked at hard as rock muscles, and his eyes widened, this time in surprise. “I’ve raised three sisters and a brother. Nobody tells me what to do. I make my own decisions, buster. If you think for an instant I’ll let some overgrown child tell me to stay away from the playground bully, you’ve got another thing coming.”
* His brow raised, and his oh so heavenly full lips quirked into a smile. “Overgrown child?”
* “You know what I mean.” Tamara’s stomach twisted inside. She really hadn’t meant to come on so strong, but, then, she hadn’t expected the sudden humor in his eyes either. That smile did something to her insides, making her muscles quiver like Jell-O.
* He softened, leaning toward her, his face so close.
* Until now, she’d disregarded how much like her dream man he looked. Well, she’d tried to ignore it. Just like she’d tried not to notice how arousing that small tattoo on his cheek was. But, then, he offered her his crooked half smile, and strange things happened inside her. Damn, he’s sexy.
* “Is that how you see me?” He rested one arm on the doorframe, leaning toward her. Despite the casual pose, he reeked of masculine strength. Power rolled over her, pulling her ever closer to his heat, feathering across her body like wings.
* The tingle along her skin, so light and so warm, was like magick. Or was it her imagination? But when his breath whispered across her face, his masculine scent drove all inquisitive thoughts from her mind. Her eyes fluttered, though she fought to keep them open.
* His scent was hard, edgy, and oh so male. It took all she had to not lean forward and inhale like some drug addict.
* Any other time, someone so tall and imposing leaning over her like this would set off all kinds of alarms in her head. Yet, with Ramose, she didn’t feel uncomfortable. Was that because of the dream? If so, she was headed for a big disappointment, because there was no way this man was the same one.
* She would not let him kiss her. That was so not happening on her first night in Egypt.
* Was it?
* He waited, with that crooked half smile, his head cocked to one side.
* “What?” she finally asked, realizing she’d forgotten his question.
* “Like an overgrown child?” His eyes darkened, and the edge of purple energy flashed along the perimeter of his body.
* Tamara’s breath hitched, her lips curving into a smile. She’d bet if he could see her aura, it’d be more than edged with purple. Aw, hell, maybe it was going to happen. What was the harm in a simple kiss? “Aren’t all men overgrown children?”
* What was she doing? Her voice didn’t even sound like hers. Instead, it sounded like some come-hither sex goddess or something. She bit her lip, but, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t look away.
* He chuckled, his gaze never leaving hers. “I have not been called a child for many, many years, Tamara.” His soft, dark curls brushed her cheek, and he dipped his head, drawing closer.
* The sound of his laughter did strange things inside her, and her knees trembled. She leaned back against her door. She really should unlock it, go inside, get on the phone, and yell at Julie. But, right this instant, all she could think about was the powerful man leaning over her, his masculine scent teasing her senses.
* Sense.
* Yep, she needed to find some because every bit of common sense had scattered about the time he’d leaned against the doorjamb. “Maybe it’s time someone reminded you of who you are.”
* He laughed again, the sound low in his throat. He brushed aside a stray hair teasing her cheek. She swallowed hard when he let his hand trail down her shoulder to her arm bracelet. His eyes sparked, and, for an instant, she thought she saw anger flicker in his aura, but it disappeared before she could be sure.
* “Tomorrow, then,” he said. He leaned forward, and she thought he would kiss her now. She longed for his lips to touch hers, but he merely whispered in her ear. “Nine in the morning. Be ready.”
* He turned and moved down the hall.
* Tamara was tempted to watch him until he reached the elevator, but that would be just wrong. What the hell? It’s a vacation. She peered down the hall one more time.
* Oooh, bad idea. His trousers clung to his butt, cupping each cheek as delicately as a woman’s hands.
* With heat burning in her cheeks, Tamara jerked back to her door, twisted the key, and charged inside, slamming the door between them.

Buy Visions of Fire & Ice here...
Freya’s Bower | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand | Barnes & Noble

Find Teresa D’Amario here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thank you for joining us here today, Teresa D’Amario! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! The author will award a $50 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, use the rafflecopter below & visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-book-tour-visions-of-fire-ice) for a greater chance of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway