A Look At Maria K. Alexander & 'Untangle My Heart' ( @MKAlexander1 @GoddessFish #kindle #romance )

Today we have author Maria K. Alexander visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* A romantic at heart, Maria K. Alexander spent hours as a young girl getting lost in and wishing to be one of the heroines in the stories she read. Books gave her the ability to go to another world where she loved meeting new characters, learning about their problems, and watching them fall in love.
* Maria blogs and shares her writing journey with her critique partners HERE
* When not writing, Maria loves to read, bake, downhill ski, visit the beach, and watch romantic comedies. Maria lives in New Jersey with her husband and children, and writes in her “spare” time between juggling a full-time job and her kids’ busy schedules.
* You can keep in touch with her HERE

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My story Untangle My Heart.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * When her marriage ended in tragedy, Kate DiFrancesco rebuilt her life, but has never gotten over the pain of what she lost. Seeking the help of an ex-lover ignites feelings she’s promised never to have again. She’ll need to untangle herself from dangers in her past in order to break the hard shell around her heart.
* Edward Weston has a lot to prove, both to his stuffy upper-crust British family, and to himself. Working alongside Kate, a woman he had a casual relationship with, stirs unexpected feelings. Helping her family makes him realize what he's missing. For the first time, he wants more than a one-night stand.
* When Kate is threatened, Edward must overcome feeling unworthy to protect the woman he loves and fight for the family he never thought he’d have. ~ Excerpt ~ * Edward raised an eyebrow toward her. “Are you sure you’re up for sledding?” he asked, with a glance down at her black high-heeled boots.
* She shot him a challenging look. “Only if we race against you.”
* “Me?”
* “Lucas and I against you. Loser buys dinner.”
* He studied her, almost as though he were weighing how he could turn this contest in his favor. Then he turned to Lucas. “Why don’t you grab two sleds, sport, while I negotiate with Kate?”
* Lucas nodded and ran off.
* Edward hooked his fingers in her jacket pockets and pulled her closer. “How about if I win, you go on a date with me?”
* “That’s playing dirty.”
* “Very well. You can explain to Lucas why we’re not racing.”
* “I can’t do that. Just look at how excited he is.” She nodded over to where Lucas stood waiting for available sleds, jumping up and down and an enthusiastic grin on his face.
* “My sled, my rules, or are you afraid you’ll lose?”
* He struck a nerve and he knew it. She couldn’t back down from the challenge. Besides, she’d been rethinking the whole not-dating thing and almost convinced herself she was being ridiculous for fighting their attraction. So no matter what happened, she’d figured she’d win.
* She met the challenge of his gaze. “One date—and don’t expect sex.”
* He attempted to look shocked, but one side of his mouth twitched. “Certainly not.”
* “Fine. Be prepared to lose.”

Buy Untangle My Heart here...
Amazon - eBook (Please note: THE BOOK IS FREE AT AMAZON FOR THE DURATION OF THIS TOUR!) | Amazon - Print

Find Maria K. Alexander here...
Website | The Violet Femmes Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! Maria will award a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, use the Rafflecopter below and visit the other tour stops (find them here: Goddessfishpromotions-virtual-super-book-blast) for a greater chance of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Look At Lane Heymont & 'The Freedman and the Pharoah’s Staff' - @LaneHeymont @GoddessFish #thriller #occult

Today we have author Lane Heymont visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Lane earned a BA in Liberal Arts with a focus on literature and history. He also holds a double minor in psychology and business. He is a literary assistant with The Seymour Agency, and also has several short stories. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Historical Novel Society, and International Thriller Writers.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My story The Freedman and the Pharoah’s Staff.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Jeb, a former slave, rescues his brother-in-law Crispus from the Ku Klux Klan, only to be drawn into a world of Creole Voodoo, racism, time travel, and redemption.
* Verdiss, the leader of the Ku Klux Klan has gained possession of the Pharaoh's Staff, a magical artifact from ancient Egypt and concocted a diabolical plan far more insidious than himself.
* In the end, Jeb and Crispus must stop an entire people from eradication and each find redemption for their own past sins. ~ Excerpt ~ * Verdiss ran his fingers over the cauldron’s lips, still amazed at what he’d discovered there. He’d been studying the Oera Linda Book, a Frisian manuscript discussing the mythologies, histories, and religions of long lost civilizations. The most prominent was Thule, a land ruled by a blond, blue-eyed race far superior to mankind. Scholars placed it near Norway. The Geist Führer’s voice had called Verdiss to the grove of grim, leaning trees. He spoke of leading the world back to the glorious age when Thule dominated the world. The Geist Führer promised Verdiss those of tainted blood would be eradicated. There’d be peace among the worthy.
* “Geist Führer.” Verdiss waved his bulbous hands over the boiling water, pulling the magic from his very will. He hated performing these accursed rites, but they were a necessity. “I seek your counsel.” The wind picked up, his robes rustling. An unnatural wind. Power tingled in the air. The charge grew hotter as Verdiss came closer to contact.
* “Dear Verdiss…” came the unholy voice, seething from within the cauldron.

Buy The Freedman and the Pharoah’s Staff here...
Sunbury Press, Inc. | Amazon | B & N

Find Lane Heymont here...
Website | Twitter | Facebook

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! Lane will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, visit the other tour stops (find them here: http://goddessfishpromotions-super-book-blast) for a greater chance of winning!

A Look At Mackenzie Lucas & 'Essence' ( @MacLucas_writer @GoddessFish @SoulMatePublish #kindle )

Today we have author Mackenzie Lucas visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Mackenzie Lucas is a lover of story in any form. She’s an avid reader of genre fiction, she writes contemporary and paranormal romance, and she listens to an eclectic mix of music that spans from pop/rock to country to gospel. She loves a good story whether it’s an erotic short, a full-length romance novel, or the narrative slice-of-life found in country music. In any story, emotional integrity and authenticity are most important to her as well as a big dose of romping hot sexual tension. She enjoys smart-mouthed, sexy heroines, hunky alpha heroes who know how to take care of their women, and plot twists that surprise her, but most of all, she just wants to experience a satisfying emotional arc of a character falling in love and finding what he or she needs most in life.
* Mac is a small-town country girl with a world-traveler’s soul. She grew up in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and she’s lived in Dublin, Ireland, within spitting distance of New York City in Long Island, and now in the Washington, D.C. area. She obtained her undergraduate degree in English Literature from Dickinson College and received her M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She’s currently an author, writing coach, a mother, and a wife.
* With Mackenzie Lucas--whether you’re reading her light paranormal romance, her small-town-based contemporary romance, or her steamin’ hawt erotica--you’ll always get a story about connectedness, community, and emotional authenticity, and, at its core, love. No, and it doesn’t hurt that all her heroes are panty-melting gorgeous alphas and all their sexy, sensually aware heroines know how to stand up to them, give no quarter, and love them just as they are.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* First my 'Advice for Writers' and then my story, Essence.
* My biggest piece of advice for writers is “never give up.” If becoming a published author is your dream, then don’t let anything stop you. Keep your eye on the prize and work hard. You can make your dream a reality. None of us knows when the industry “no” will turn to “yes,” but it only takes one person willing to give you a chance for your career status to switch from aspiring to published.
* I know many of us write while we hold full-time jobs and while we manage families. Still, don’t give up. Schedule your hour or so a day to write. Let those loved ones in your life know that writing this book is important to you. Then clear the space--whether it’s at home or getting out to a local coffee shop--and make the time to create the tale you want to tell. Chip away at that manuscript. The pages do add up, word by word, until you have a completed story. It’s not a race. It doesn’t matter if it takes you a month or three months or a year to finish that book. It’s yours and what matters is that you make it the best story you possibly can. Then release it. To your critique partners, agents, editors, beta readers, or contest judges. Send it wherever you’ve decided you’re going to get feedback to determine if the story on the page matches the one you think you’ve told. And when you get your manuscript back, take the time to weigh the feedback. Find out what resonates and apply it. Let everything else go.
* Once you’ve done that, it’s time to move on. Start a new story. Begin afresh. Because with each story we write, we become better writers. And over time, you develop your craft. You begin to learn your process. So never give up. Your hard work will pay off. And only those who quit will never receive the reward of their labors.

Now a look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * All Haven Jameson ever wanted was to own a little piece of paradise. Now, she does, having established a successful luxury spa in St. Augustine, Florida. But when the property next door is sold to a mega developer and his pro-golf celebrity brother who design trendy, bustling playgrounds for the rich and famous, she fears her dream could slip away. Confronted by her late husband’s infidelity, Haven learns everything she believed about her marriage was a lie; so she finally sets aside her grief and opens her heart to loving the widowed pro-golfer who is her biggest professional competition. In the end, Haven discovers that living a safe, loveless life is far worse than embracing passion and taking a chance on a man who’s vowed never to love again. And that, sometimes, no matter how high the risk, the best paradise of all can be found inside our own hearts. ~ Excerpt ~ * Pace Daniels lay on his belly on a massage table, naked except for a thin sheet covering his backside. He rested his cheek on his hands and closed his eyes, and breathed in the calming scent of the room.
* Light music played from the overhead speakers, not too loud, but nice. It sounded like a mix of music from India and the Southwest—Burma to Santa Fe. Pan flutes and bowl singing. Interesting.
* He breathed deep again, taking air deep into his lungs, and pushed through the pain in his shoulder, the achiness that seemed to stick with him no matter what he did.
* It was time to retire. Leave the circuit.
* He'd known for a while now. Hell, he was a fairly young man for his profession. But one mistake. One stupid mistake had cost him everything. And now at the age of almost forty, he was facing a blank future. Filled with a lot of nothing if he didn't make some changes soon.
* He had no idea what to expect when he'd come to Essence. A pretty brunette had given him instructions today for the massage, showed him the transition room—a fancy name for a locker room—and where to store his clothes and belongings. Of course, he'd had massages before. Mostly by sports medicine doctors.
* Essence surprised him. Pleasantly. The atmosphere was different than he’d imagined. He'd expected fru fru and had been bowled over at every turn. The place wasn't just a female Mecca, as he’d feared. He'd anticipated salon chairs and manicurists around every corner.
* Instead, the spa resort was a posh hotel.
* A serene place. A spot he could see himself settling into to find some measure of peace in his own life.
* He let out a deep sigh.
* But, no. He wouldn't. He'd move on like he always did.
* A knock sounded at the door and a moment later, the door opened on silent hinges. He opened his eyes to see the massage therapist.
* The woman who entered wasn't the petite, curvy brunette who'd checked him in, but a tall, leggy blonde.
* He stilled as he watched her.
* Yes, she was beautiful. High cheekbones, wide, exotic pale green eyes, lush body. But there was something else. Something indefinable. Something more, he couldn’t explain. Maybe a sadness that clung to her that he recognized because the same sloe-eyed desolation dogged him, day after day for the past ten years.
* He couldn’t be one-hundred percent certain to what extent, but on some level, he identified with her.
* Then she spoke, and every cell in his body awoke at the husky tone of her voice. Sex liquefied. He'd die and go to Heaven if he could just have her talk to him for the next hour in that sweet, sexy, soft voice.
* “I'm sorry. I must be in the wrong room.” She turned to go.
* He pushed up from the table. “No. Wait.”

Buy Essence here...
Soul Mate Publishing | Amazon

Find Mackenzie Lucas here...
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Facebook Fan Page | Goodreads

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card! So be sure to use the Rafflecopter below, leave your name and email with your comment & visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-book-tour-essence) for a greater chance of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal! 'Complete Me' ~ @lexcade #1NS @decadentpub

Catherine Peace wanted me to help show off this cover made by fellow Decadent author Mina Carter & to share a bit about the story, Complete Me, which will release in March 2014.
Here's the cover!

& here's a quick bit of info about the story...
* Out of the dating game for five years, best-selling romance author Claire Ergleston is convinced that writing out the romances she’s always wanted is a lot safer than trying in real life. Then she receives the news that she’s been signed up for a 1Night Stand date “to give her something to talk about in interviews.” Nothing worse than a romance author with no romance to pick apart.
* Former rock star Ty Krause has let his past rule him for almost a decade. Unable to let the former love of his life go for good, he spends his days writing passable songs for a British boy band and his nights wishing he had the balls to say goodbye. In a last ditch effort, he signs up for 1Night Stand, thinking that a night of no-strings-attached sex will help him cut the other strings holding him back.
* When the two meet, their instant attraction and connection muddy the waters a little too much. Will past hurts hold them back from each other, or will they be able to move forward and live out their dreams together?

You can find Catherine Peace at the following places...
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog - Going from Nobody to Somebody | Blog - The Pen Punks

A Look At Lexi Ryan & 'Stolen Wishes' ( @writerlexiryan #kindle #comingofage )

Today we have author Lexi Ryan visiting. I had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful author at a readers' convention here in Las Vegas in October 2013. Not only is she an awesome person, she's an awesome writer. I love her emotion filled New Hope series of books. If you haven't had a chance to read any of her books yet, you should! There's currently a great offer (to get you started if you're new to her work or if you haven't picked up the story yet,) which is mentioned in her answer to question two, so be sure to pick up a copy. :) Now without further ado, welcome Lexi!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* I’m the luckiest girl in the world because I have the best job. But I’m not only a writer. I’m a mama, a wife, a reader, and a football lover. Before I was able to write full-time, I was a college English professor, and as sad as I was to leave the classroom, I don’t miss the grading. At all.

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?
* Ooh! I’ll tell you about STOLEN WISHES because it free right now. (Can’t beat free, can you?) It’s part of the New Hope series and a prequel to WISH I MAY. The prequel can be read before or after WISH I MAY or on its own.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* When I wrote WISH I MAY, I knew Will and Cally were together in high school before she left for Las Vegas with her mom, and the more little pieces of their past were revealed, the more I wanted to write their beginning. When readers fell hard for William, I knew I had to write it. :)

Describe the hero in five words.
* William Bailey is: sexy, lonely, compassionate, determined, and loyal.

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Cally Fisher is: innocent, jaded, lonely, protective, and hopeful (I know some of those don’t sound like they work together. That’s probably why I like her so much! :) )

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* This is a novella, so the focus is really on Will and Cally, but you do get to meet a young Drew, who plays a bigger part in WISH I MAY and is one of my favorite characters to date. She’s spunky and I simultaneously feel for her and want to strangle her.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* We’re connected. Tied together by something bigger than ourselves. Like the moon brings the tide back to the shore, the stars will always bring me back to Cally.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ **Contains sexual content and adult language and situations. Intended for mature readers.**
...Cally…
......A sexy smile. Intense blue eyes. A goodness that makes him want to save me from these rumors when no one else would care. I didn't ask for a hero. William Bailey was never supposed to be anything more than a wish, a dream, an unrequited crush. Not for a girl like me--a girl whose fractured family has stolen her chance at a decent life.
...William…
......Since the death of my parents, I've always done what’s expected of me, what's "best" for me. Until Cally. The moment her haunted eyes meet mine, the fractured pieces of my heart feel whole again. I don’t just want to save her. I need her to save me.
...Stolen chances. Unbroken wishes. Two lonely souls grasping for hope in the darkness.
~ Excerpt ~ ......“Thank you for tonight,” she says. “Most guys wouldn’t have gone to such lengths because of a stupid rumor.”
......“You think I wanted to date you to satisfy the rumor mill?”
......She focuses on the pavement in front of us, avoiding my gaze. “Didn’t you?”
......“You’re not that naïve, are you?” That gets her to look at me. Her eyes are narrow and frustrated. “Cally, I took you to dinner tonight because I wanted to. I don’t like what they’re saying about you, but my reasons for asking you out were more selfish than they were noble.”
......She stops and leans one shoulder against the trunk of a thick maple as she studies me. “How were they selfish?”
......“I wanted a chance to have some time alone with a pretty girl.”
......She stares at me for two heartbeats. “I really like you, William Bailey.”
......I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear then shove my hands in my pockets to keep myself from touching her more. “I like you too, Cally Fisher.”
......Her teeth sink down into her bottom lip and her eyes drop to my mouth.
......I fist my hands in my pockets and exhale slowly. “I really want to kiss you right now.”
......“I really want you to,” she whispers, flicking her eyes to mine.

Buy Stolen Wishes here...
Amazon - US | Amazon - UK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords | All Romance eBooks

Find Lexi Ryan here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter

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

A Look At Eve Rabi & 'Obsessed with Me' - @EveRabi1 @GoddessFish #womensfiction

Today we have author Eve Rabi visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Eve Rabi lives in Sydney Australia, but was born in South Africa.
* She is the author of 20 books and is known for her kick-ass leading ladies, her alpha males and her ability to make you cry and make you laugh as you fall in love.
* She loves music and cannot live without it.
* She also enjoys dancing, (was a Latin dance instructor years ago) and keeps her kids in line by threatening to bust a Zumba move in front of their school assembly.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* Obsessed with Me (This is a two-part series and neither of the books are stand alone. Both books are currently available for purchasing.)

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Tarago Jakobus was 6’4”, intelligent, extremely wealthy with a Midas touch. He was also openly racist, politically incorrect and a chauvinistic pig who told offensive jokes. He loved to party and was used to women vying for his attention. So when his eyes fell on Tanin, he expected her to just melt into his bed and be grateful that he even looked her way.
* To his utter surprise, she was totally unimpressed with his wealth, thought he was an uneducated buffoon and publicly rejected him. Of course he was shocked and humiliated by her response.
* But no woman had ever turned Tarago down before, and he found her fascinating. He became obsessed with her and decided to win her over his way – destroy all that is precious to her, so that she would have no choice but to need him. If that didn’t work, he’d switch to plan ‘B’ – take away her freedom and throw her ass in jail. And being the absolute bastard that he was, he did.
* Obsessed With Me is a modern-day love story.
~ Excerpt ~ * I’m shaking so much, I can barely fasten my seat belt.
* “Tuis (home)!” he snaps at the driver.
* “Tarago …”
* He swivels to look at me. “Shut your foking mouth before I hit you!” he hisses.
* When we arrive at the mansion, ignoring staff and his friends, he grabs my elbow and almost drags me into my bedroom. There he opens my closet and shoves me into it. “Pack your things. You are going home.”
* “But …but, Tarago …”
* “NOOOOW!”
* I jerk back, terrified at his wrath.
* He starts to pace. “That is a deal breaker,” he says in Afrikaans. “I warned you never to see him. Did I not?”
* I run my hands slowly across my face. If only he’d let me talk.
* As he paces, he play with his fingers. I decide to let him cool down before I can talk to him. I had no idea Tarago could go so crazy. This is so unlike the man I’ve known for almost ten months.
* Suddenly, he stops and drops his arms. “Why? After all he did to you? Why?” His eyes are glassy, his voice his thick. “You are married to me; doesn’t that mean anything to you? He’s married and you’re kissing him? You’re meeting him in private behind curtains and kissing him? How could you do this to me, Tanin? Why would you do this to me? How long has this been going on? Pack your stuff and get out of here now. Now! I never want to see your face again.”
* “Tarago, please …”
* “I thought you cared about me, Tanin,” he says, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “I asked nothing of you and …and I did everything you wanted. Anything you wanted to keep you happy. Why?”

Buy Obsessed with Me - Book 1 here...
Amazon | (Book 2 on Amazon)

Find Eve Rabi here...
Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Smashwords | Amazon Author Page

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! Eve will be awarding a set of Obsessed with Me ebooks to five randomly drawn commenters during the tour! So be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-tour-obsessed-with-me) for a greater chance of winning!

Voting is open! LR Café’s best of 2013 Awards ~ #sunsetheat @decadentpub #1NS

......I’m thrilled Sunset Heat was nominated into this wonderful awards competition for Best Contemporary Book 2013. First up is a brief look at the story & then the voting instructions. I'd love your vote so be sure to go to the polling page that's provided via the link below.


~ Blurb ~
..Sunset Heat, a 1Night Stand story from Decadent Publishing
......Can one night transform a woman’s life?

......* Seana Tramonto feels doomed when it comes to relationships. When she’s set up through the 1Night Stand service, she’s apprehensive at best. Her concern turns to ire when her match turns out to be a man who broke her heart years ago. Old wounds are slow to heal no matter how sexy the man asking for forgiveness.
......* Zachary Russo, a Las Vegas policeman, is talked into doing a 1NS date. When he learns it’s with his high school tutor and friend, the girl he stood up before the Homecoming dance, he’s determined to make it up to her. But seeing her again opens his eyes to the sexy woman she’s become. Can he prove he’s grown up or will circumstance beyond his control kill their second chance?
..Content / Warnings: Contemporary, Erotic, Chick Lit, Romance / Oral, MF
~~ For an excerpt and buy links to the Sunset stories, visit C.R. Moss at Decadent Publishing


~ Voting Instructions for LR Café’s best of 2013 Awards ~
......- Voting runs from Jan. 20th to the 24th, 2014
......- Voting will commence at midnight (USA/EST) on January 20th and run to midnight (USA/EST) on January 24th.
......- All polling will be done on the LR Café’s Yahoo Group. [You MUST be a member of the group in order to vote. Joining is easy - CLICK HERE] Link to all the polls is at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/loveromancescafe/polls/open
......- One vote per person only.
......- All winners will be announced by Dawn Roberto only.
......- Announcement of Winners will be on January 28th 2014 at Noon pm est (USA) on the LR Cafe Yahoo Group and on the LR Cafe Facebook Group. Links to both are as follows: LRC Yahoo Group & LRC Facebook Group

......My publisher has also been nominated along with their multi-author 1NightStand series (Best Series: Decadent Publishing's 1NS (multi-Author Series) & Best Publisher: Decadent Publishing) in this awards competition. It'd be mighty appreciated if you voted for them in those two categories as well!
Thanks for your readership!
C.R.

A Look At Shaunna Wolf & 'Life Flight' - @SRHowen @freyasbower @GoddessFish #romanticsuspense

Today we have author Shaunna Wolf visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* S.R. Howen grew up on a farm for the most part, spending part of her childhood as a military brat. The one constant in her life is story telling. She's always been a story teller--not a popular thing to be when you are five.
* She's been with Wild Child Publishing. since 2000 as either an author or an editor. Currently, she lives in Texas with her family and assorted animals.
* She follows a Native American life style--believing that each thing does indeed have its own spirit, and avoiding processed foods. If she couldn't kill it, catch it, or pick it in the wild, she doesn't eat it. Other than that she loves fast cars, good writing, and good editors. They are a writer's best friend.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* 'What would I tell a new author?' & then my story Life Flight
* As well as being an author, I am also an editor. On top of that, I mentor several authors. One of the questions I am often asked is, Why do I have to do that (fill in the blank) followed by (insert headline making author) doesn’t. The question still catches me by surprise. Then I try to think back to the first novel I finished. I was so in love with that, now trunk novel, that I was sure it would be the next best seller, I was on my way to the bank, followed by a million adoring fans, with a fist full of royalty checks.
* The difference, I think, was that I was also working as an editor. I knew that, (insert headline making author’s name) had an editor, that they most likely had a box, or two, of rough drafts and false starts, and did I say it already? An editor. Most the time when you crack open a book and you look at the dedication page, what do you see? I thank my mom, my dad, grandma Joe, and so on. Rare to find a dedication page that says and thank you to my editor. I’ve seen a few, but not many. Why?
* Part of it is vanity. No one wants to attribute their success to someone else. If you win a race in a new pair of running shoes, do you thank the maker of those shoes? Very unlikely. So it’s the same with authors, rarely do they thank their editors. I think this leads to those on the outside of the industry to paint a picture of their favorite well to do author, sitting in a chair, smoking jacket on, and banging out a perfect first draft. It leads them to thinking that first draft is perfection without a single word being touched.
* The reality check is often in the form of reviews, if the author self publishes and gets their book out of the hands of family and friends and into the hands of objective readers, and in rejections if they go that route. My advice to new authors: Writing is work. Let me clarify that, writing is creative, yes, but to produce a great book, is work. It means editing, no it isn’t an editor’s job to fix punctuation (typos yes), or run a spell check, or to rewrite your novel while you bang out the next one. That’s the writer’s job, to learn their craft, and, yes, this means grammar and spelling and all of that, then write the best story you can and submit the cleanest draft you can, after it has been read by a few beta readers that don’t share any of your DNA.
* I learned the hard way, I handed that first draft, of the now trunk novel, over to a beta reader and every single thing they pointed out felt like a punch in the gut. I got mad. I cried. Then I subscribed to a few writer’s magazines and got down to work. If a reader finds fault in the story, mechanics or plot, move on, but if several do, it’s not that you are misunderstood, or your writing, it might be that you need to hone your craft a bit.
* Bottom line, learn the craft, and writing is a job, if you can find a degree of separation from the work, the work will be better for it.
* Now for a look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Malachi Blackfeather has spent twenty years in the Army. Two of those years as a Vietnam POW. Now that he's out, all he wants is some peace and quiet to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. Between the flashbacks, and an over interest in sex that is now being called sex addiction, finding his path isn't easy.
* Kat is trying to escape an abusive marriage. Her soon to be ex is a master at manipulating the system, and her family thinks she should stay with him, "because no other man will want her". She's looking for escape in any form she can get it.
* When they meet, sparks fly. Trapped by a blizzard, can two damaged people, who think there is no chance of love in the world for them, find each other, and survive an unforeseen circumstance that puts both of them in danger?
* Mystery, romance, and danger, fill this novel, with a story that will draw you in and not let go.
~ Excerpt ~ * The heater stood dark and cold. I should have gotten up after we were done. Filled it and restarted it. I hadn’t wanted to move. Still didn’t want to, despite the cold in the room. Dim light streamed in through the window, sleety snow still battered the glass. Shook the door in its frame. How long could this blizzard go on?
* I tightened my arms around Kat. Forever. Then she would have to stay right in this room with me--in my arms. Nothing made sense, everything my life had been for the last twenty-five years rang like a bad dream, a nightmare from the pits of Vietnam. So dead inside that any feeling fed me, woman after woman, man after man, no one let me hold on to what I felt for more than a few shared moments. Lies whispered to the tiny ember of my soul that I had left. This is the one, they told me, this one will make you feel, will bring you back to life.
* They never did.
* Kat ran her hand down my arm. Snuggled closer to me. A chill that had nothing to do with how cold the room had become, shook me. Spoke to me. I could again with her, and I knew I would keep feeling what I was. Alive. Warm. As if I had a soul inside me, not just a demon who preyed on others for my next fix of emotions.
* “I should fill that heater and get us some warmth again.”
* “Yeah, I suppose one of us should,” she said with no intention to do so in her voice.
* I tightened the bear’s embrace I held her in, tangled my legs with hers. She pushed at my arm, wanted to make me let go of her.
* “I don’t want to let go of you yet,” I said. If I let her go, the surging emotions inside me would vanish with the warmth of holding her.

Buy Life Flight here...
Freya's Bower | All Romance eBooks | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Find Shaunna Wolf here...
Author Page Freya's Bower | Website | Blog: Critters at the Keyboard | Facebook Author’s Page | Pinterest |Twitter | Goodreads | Book Blogs | Authors Den | Google+ | LinkedIn

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

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A Look At Joya Fields & 'Sidelined Afterlife' - @joyafields @decadentpub #erom #paranormal

Today we have author Joya Fields visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Thanks so much for inviting me to your blog today, C.R.! I’ve had over 100 stories and articles published in local and national magazines. My debut novel, a romantic suspense, was a NJRW GOLDEN LEAF WINNER FOR BEST FIRST BOOK OF 2012 and was nominated for RT Book Reviews 2012 Indie Press/Self-Published Contemporary Romance award. Since then, I’ve published four more books with even more on the way.

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?
* Sidelined Afterlife is the third book in my series Hauntings at Inner Harbor. The books are standalones, and can be read individually, or in order. Hereafter is the first book, Altered Frequency is the second.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* The series is set in downtown Baltimore, close to where I live, and there are lots of stories about ghosts and hauntings in this area called Inner Harbor. So what better place to set a book about a haunted apartment building?
* The idea for Sidelined Afterlife had been simmering for while. After having a psychic reading, I really wanted to write about a heroine who was psychic. But, the twist is, she hates having her powers. I thought that would be a fun topic to play with.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Hunter is confident, loyal, hard-working, sexy and strong.

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Veronica is pensive, beautiful, caring, strong and driven.

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* Uggg! Tough to pick!! I guess I’d have to pick Hunter because he falls in love quickly, and fights hard to be with Veronica. He’s also very sexy and has a great sense of humor. I looove a man with a great sense of humor, don’t you? :)

What's your favorite line in the story?
* Like I said, I love a sense of humor, so this line cracks me up every time I read it. Veronica pushes Hunter out of the way of something the ghost throws at him…and it turns out only to be an orange.
* “I’m Hunter. What do you mean ‘one of those’?” Part of him wanted to risk another citrus attack so she would press against him again.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Communicating with ghosts has only ever brought Veronica Matthews pain and grief. Afraid to love and lose again, Hunter Anderson needs her help, but she resists risking her heart. Can a ghost help them break through a barrier of mistrust and guilt? ~ Excerpt ~ * “I am an idiot. The biggest idiot ever. If you want me to pierce something for you, to prove I’m an idiot, I have some sterilized instruments upstairs in my apartment.” Her tongue poked against her cheek, signaling a laugh that wanted to erupt. Suddenly, he really wanted to be the one who could make her laugh. “Maybe I could do your lower lip?”
* Her short laugh erupted. A sweet, melodic sound that filled the small apartment.
* His gaze stayed on that full mouth and he lifted his fingers closer, compelled to touch her. She stared at him with wide eyes as he traced the corner of her mouth lightly with his finger. “I’m a liar. I could never tarnish something as beautiful as this.”
* Christ. What a line. Where had those words come from? But he meant it.
* Her breath was hot against his finger as he traced the line of her lower lip. Her gaze held his. His stomach growled again, breaking the spell, and she blinked and leaned against the sofa.
* “You know what? We never had dessert,” she said.
* He had room for dessert. But not the food kind. He swallowed to quell his appetite for her. “Uh…how about I make an ice cream run? Then we’ll get to work.” Enough of this temptation. He needed to get away from her, from this pull she had on his body and emotions.

Buy Sidelined Afterlife here...
Decadent Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand | Barnes & Noble

Find Joya Fields here...
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

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

A Look At Tara Quan & 'Delicious Delay' - @laylatarar @decadentpub #erom #interracial

Today we have author Tara Quan visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* I’m a newbie author and romance junkie. I read practically every romance genre, but I’ve managed to contain myself to writing contemporary, post apocalyptic or fantasy romance. I’m living in D.C. right now, but my husband’s job tends to take us to interesting places. Before moving back to the U.S. last July, I lived in the United Arab Emirates for two years and Pakistan for one. You can find out more about me by visiting my WEBSITE

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?
* My contemporary romance Delicious Delay just came out. As the name implies, it’s about an unplanned romantic encounter during a stopover in a Middle Eastern airport. The hero is an (ever so slightly snooty) Arab, while the heroine is a feisty red head. Let’s just say they have quite a bit of fun before the plane takes off.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* Last July, as I was moving back to the U.S. from Pakistan, I transited through Abu Dhabi International Airport. As can be expected whilst flying through the dessert at the height of summer, the plane experienced technical difficulties that resulted in an eight-hour (not at all delicious) delay. I couldn’t help but notice the situation would be a perfect premise for a one-night-stand type romance, and the plot bunnies took over my brain during the 12-hour transatlantic flight.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Arab Sheikh with British Accent

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Smart Rule-Abiding American Redhead

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* It’s hard to pick between them, but I’ll go with Kal. He’s temptation incarnate, and I can’t resist him.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* Michelle: “Don’t even think about it. You’re just not the long-haul type of guy. You’re not even the medium-haul type of guy.”
* (I love it when preconceptions are invariably proven wrong)

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Stranded in a Middle Eastern airport, Michelle Day finds herself the object of interest for an abrasive, but all-too-sexy stranger—a stranger who tempts her with the forbidden in a land where indecency could get her killed. But how does one say no to such a deliciously, relentless pursuit?
* Khalid Al Dehri takes one look at the red-headed spitfire in the business class lounge and knew he’d either been transported to heaven—or hell. Her tart response to his surliness intrigues him beyond all propriety and the longer he spends in her company, the more he can’t deny his forbidden attraction. But will she explore the sensuality between them or will society’s rules keep them apart? ~ Excerpt ~ * He grinned. “So I have a proposal.”
* She tried to get her breathing under control, without much success. “Why am I sure it’s an indecent one?”
* He motioned his head toward the far end of the lounge. Latticed wooden screens gave that particular section more privacy. In an L-shaped room, the tucked-away location prevented a direct line of sight from the dining or reception areas.
* He got up and offered her his hand. She hesitated for a long moment before taking it. With faltering footsteps, she followed him. More private or not, limits on how far this could go existed due to them being in an airport lounge. Since her self-control had chosen today to take a vacation, she appreciated the imposed constraint.
* He lowered himself onto a plush leather sofa deep inside the cordoned area. With walls on either side and screens strategically angled, the space seemed to have been designed as a spot for people to nap.
* On the brink of crossing a dangerous line, she hesitated. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

Buy Delicious Delay here...
Decadent Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | Bookstrand | Barnes & Noble

Find Tara Quan here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

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

A Look At Jamie from 'This Isn’t Goodbye' - @IyanaJenna @evernightpub #gay #erom #rotg

..Today we have Jamie visiting from the story This Isn’t Goodbye. Welcome!

..Jamie, what would you like to tell readers about yourself?
......* I come from Jacksonville, Ohio, and I’m a photographer. I work at a fashion magazine. I’m married to my high school sweetheart, Taylor MacLean, with one daughter, Janine.

..Are you happy with the way people perceive you?
......* Many people thought I was a hero because of what Taylor and I did when we were in high school. I was glad we beat those a** but the truth was, all I did was distract those guys. Taylor did all the rest. I wasn’t the hero. He was.

..If you were taken out of the story and placed into your author’s world, what would be the first thing you’d do?
......* Ah, I don’t know. Can I take Taylor with me? I’m not saying I can’t take care of myself, it’s just ... well, you know...

..What was the best sexual experience you’ve had?
......* Every time I’m with Taylor is the best, err, sexual experience I have.

..What’s your take on Shane Logan?
......* I was so surprised when he talked about how he admired me and Taylor. I felt honored. He’s a great guy and I’m glad I met him. We’re really going to be good friends. Oh, and I love playing cupid for him and Kassandra. *winks*

..Now for some author information!
......* My author is Iyana Jenna.
......* Iyana lives in Jakarta, a city famous for its traffic jams, a lot of cars and motorcycles, and people selling stuff on the roads. You can spend two hours on the road going to a place you can reach in half an hour in a normal situation. Thanks to the traffic jams, though, Iyana can come up with a lot of stories, mostly shorties, as she prefers to spend the time during her trips writing into her cell phone rather than sleeping.
......* Another thing Iyana loves is kitties. Right now she has five of them. Their names are Larva, Nyil, Cil, Mermood, and Horus. When she doesn’t write, she plays with them, or they would play with her when she writes.

..You can find my author, Iyana Jenna, here...
......Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

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

..~ Blurb ~ ......* Stay-at-home dad Taylor MacLean chose his life knowing he could rely on the trust fund from his rich grandmother. He didn’t have to work a day in his life. He preferred to take care of his baby daughter Janine and, when he was not busy changing diapers, he would get down to his art studio.
......* After finishing college, Jamie Selkirk followed his dream to be a photographer. Now working for a famous fashion magazine, Jamie spent more and more of his time away from Taylor and Janine, his husband and daughter. Can the couple learn to put each other first before their marriage begins to crumble? ..~ Excerpt ~ ......* Taylor went still for a moment before he let Jamie go. Jamie's body turned rigid a moment ago, a tell-tale sign every time his boy almost said something important. It disappointed him when Jamie only said that he needed an aspirin. Really, Jamie, an aspirin? Taylor had put a full bottle on the glass table in the living room next to the couch where they both slept last night.
......* "Go ahead. It's on the table," Taylor said in dismissal. "You would've seen it if you hadn't been so busy wanting to throw up."
......* Taylor turned around abruptly. He combed his hair back. He’d acted mean and thoughtless. He caught a pained reflection in Jamie's eyes. Taylor wanted to leave the room, this very second.
......* "Taylor?" Incomprehension and hurt chased one after another in Jamie's voice, and Taylor couldn't take it anymore.
......* "I heard something. I think Janine’s woken up."
......* "Janine." Jamie's trembling voice stopped him in his tracks. "I haven't seen her since ... since I don’t remember when."
......* Yeah, Taylor knew it must’ve been too long since Jamie saw their daughter. He'd stormed out of the house right after breakfast yesterday morning.
......* "Don't you miss her, Jamie? Or is your job and are all those parties still too important for you? More important than your own daughter?" It crossed Taylor's mind that she was Jamie's and not his, but he figured it would be mean of him to say that. They’d both agreed to use a surrogate, and they were married. It meant whatever belonged to Jamie belonged to him, too.
......* "I want to see her," Jamie said, his voice so thin Taylor thought he was imagining it.

..Buy This Isn’t Goodbye here...
......Evernight Publishing | Amazon | Amazon UK | All Romance eBooks | Bookstrand

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