I 'heart' them! #ShareTheLove @evernightpub #MWTease #giveawayhop

* This blog hop is different. This time the participants and I are surprise bombing bloggers and authors we adore with a little love! Hop by all of the blogs (list is below) for chances to win great prizes and also find out which authors and bloggers we think are so darn special!
* The following list is about the blogs and authors I'm featuring and why I love them. For this hop, I'm touting my publisher, Evernight Publishing, and some great authors I know from Evernight. Click on their names to be taken to their blogs. :)
* I'll be giving away a $15 Gift Certificate to Evernight Publishing -- where readers can find great stories in all popular eBook formats! Just follow the prompts in the Rafflecopter at the end of this post to enter! Each click on an option gives you one entry. Click on more than one and you'll receive more than one entry! :)

Evernight Publishing -- I love working with this publisher. On the business side of things, they are very professional in all aspects, they have great promotion opportunities for authors and sings the authors' praises at every opportunity. The authors who write for Evernight are a great group of people as well and most are eager to lend a helping hand to a fellow author.
Beth D. Carter -- A wonderful author and a woman I'm happy to call my friend, Beth writes some wonderful MF and menage stories that will make you laugh, cry, want to fall in love and have a happily ever after of your own.
Elizabeth Monvey, Jacey Holbrand & Tyler Robbins -- If you like LGBT stories and your tastes run toward the "G" aspect, these lovely authors have awesome MM stories. Elizabeth and Jacey have also written stories revolving around male pregnancies. Interesting, right? That's something to definitely check out IMO.
Kathleen Grieve -- Like romances written in a medical setting? Then check out Kathleen's stories. Talk about some hot doctors!
Nikki Prince -- I met her at Hot Mojave Knights. Talk about one cool chick who writes some seriously sexy stories!
Sandra Bunino/Mid Week Tease -- Sandra is a fabulous woman and writer and a blast to hang out with! She's a whiz at marketing and helps with Evernight's promotions along with hosting a weekly blog hop on Wednesdays called Mid Week Tease. Be sure to check it out!
Scarlet Chastain -- Again, if you like LGBT stories and your tastes run toward the "L" aspect, Scarlet writes enchanting FF stories.


Visit the other Share the Love hoppers here:

Enter for my giveaway here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

A fairy tale romance in the Mediterranean ~ @ElodieParkes @evernightpub #MWTease #erotic #fantasy

Welcome to the middle of the week!
This is an unofficial Mid Week Tease post since the tour is on a break due to the holidays. It will return on January 7th. But here's my normal spiel... Mid Week Tease is an event where authors are spotlighting a few lines or a paragraph or two from their stories. Readers, you get to sample some delicious snippets and be teased, titillated and tantalized into the weekend!

This week I'm happy to give my blog over to Elodie Parkes, author of A Fairy Tale Romance. She's going to share some information before her tease. Enjoy!

* Thank you for inviting me to your blog today with my new Evernight Publishing release, ‘A Fairy Tale Romance’.
* The story is contemporary, fantasy romance. It’s set along the coast in the sumptuous Mediterranean, and bathed in warmth, which I felt was a fitting venue to contrast with the stark misery of my hero’s predicament.
* The story is modelled on old fairy story motifs, where there is a fairy godmother style character, a prince and a princess. I so enjoyed writing this story because Thorn Valmont, my hero, is such a lovely, romantic man and deserves to be freed from the curse that befalls him. This is a sizzler of a story with erotic love scenes and threads of fairy tale mystery as we wonder what has happened to Thorn and how he’ll escape his lonely life.
* I wrote the story after seeing lots of photographs of the Mediterranean coast. There were some places where old mansions were built up the cliff sides. The blue ocean and the lovely vegetation sparked my imagination. One particular photo of a semi-ruined palace caught my attention and I wondered who might have lived there. That’s when Thorn Valmont my hero popped into my mind. ~ Blurb ~

* When delectable Thorn Valmont buys an old palace to renovate on the Mediterranean coast, he never dreams it will cost him his freedom.
* Thorn is part of an aristocratic family. He’s a prince and must find his princess to solve a puzzle he inherits from the ancient owners of the Mediterranean palace.
* Will he find her in time to stop his loneliness destroying him completely? ~ The Tease! (a.k.a. Excerpt) ~ * The memory of the young woman’s long slim legs and firm thighs filled his head as he walked home. He imagined caressing her. He would trail his fingertips up the back of her thighs to tease inside the cutoff bottoms of her shorts. It was so long since he’d felt the skin of a woman and yet he could almost conjure up that softness at the top of a thigh where it joined the enticing base of her ass. Thorn sighed sadly and shook his head. He had never come to terms with his lack of sex. Sometimes, after a week or so of ignoring his needs he would masturbate before darkness fell. He always felt better afterwards and told himself to do it more often, to give himself that comfort, but often sadness stole away the notion and he’d drift through his existence until he suddenly realized he needed the release of orgasm.
* Thorn knew that he needed it now, before darkness fell. He practically sprinted up the zigzag path to his home, resolved to ease the pain of loneliness that the sight of the lovely young woman had deepened. Inside his bedroom, he closed his eyes and found it easy to picture her mouth, the plump bottom lip, the way her hair tendrils had stroked there, and then he unzipped his jeans.
* He paused and thrust away the memory of Grace. He needed quick relief.
* Thorn brought to mind one of the last real sexual encounters he’d had with a woman. It was a hot memory and one he’d used before. They’d met at a party, instantly attracted in a superficial sexual way, they agreed to a moonlit tryst in the garden of the big house where the party was being held.
* He’d stalked to the girl waiting in a small stand of trees, stripped her quickly, and lifted her to slide with her to the grass. His arm around her bare waist, and a hand cupping her pussy, he’d subconsciously stored away the feel of her wet arousal on his palm and could bring that to mind.
* He recalled the words she’d said to him then, as he took his cock in his fist and pumped.
* She had said, “Fuck me. Fuck me hard. I want everything, your tongue, your fingers, and your cock in me. I want to suck you until you moan and your cum fills my mouth.”
* Thorn groaned as his cock hardened and he whispered the words, “Fuck me.” He pictured licking the girl’s pussy, her legs wide apart as she lay in the grass and his stomach clenched. His orgasm teased at him and he leaned on the edge of the chest of drawers bent over with the urgent need to come as he built a rhythm. He focused on the memory of her nipples between his lips, the way she’d sucked his cock, the taste of her cream on his tongue. Thorn pumped hard and his orgasm suddenly burned through him. As the waves of pleasure coursed in his balls and forced the cum to spurt in warm streaks over the back of his hand, he saw Grace as she’d looked at him on the beach. He saw her green eyes and perfect lips. The picture in his mind added sweetness to the orgasm. He shuddered and groaned.

Pick up your copy of A Fairy Tale Romance here: Evernight Publishing | Amazon / Kindle ~ US | Amazon / Kindle ~ UK | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand | B&N / Nook

About Elodie Parkes ~
* Elodie Parkes is a British author writing romance, erotic, contemporary, and often with a twist of mystery, paranormal or suspense. Her books are always steamy, cool stories and hot love scenes.
* Elodie lives in Canterbury with her two dogs. She works in an antique shop by day and writes at night, loving the cloak of silent darkness that descends on the rural countryside around her home.
* Elodie writes for: Hot Ink Press | Moon Rose Publishing | Eternal Press | Secret Cravings | Evernight Publishing | Siren Publishing
* She has also released titles as an individual indie author.

Find Elodie Parkes here...
Blog | Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | YouTube | Amazon - US | Amazon - UK | Smashwords | Barnes and Noble | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand | Evernight Publishing | TRR | Add to Goodreads | ManicReaders

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

Haven’t you heard about The Beast? ~ @mamaD8 @evernightpub #MWTease #holiday #BDSM

Welcome to the middle of the week!
Mid Week Tease is an event where authors are spotlighting a few lines or a paragraph or two from their stories. Readers, you get to sample some delicious snippets and be teased, titillated and tantalized into the weekend!

This week I'm happy to give my blog over to Doris O'Connor, author of Bought for Christmas. She's going to share some information before her tease. Enjoy!

* Thanks so much for having me on your blog today with my Christmas Story, Bought for Christmas. :)
* Emilia Duncan is in sore need of a miracle this Christmas, never more so then when she finds out that she has been sold to The Beast to save her father’s company.
* Not honouring the contract is out of the question. Besides, she has been lusting after Hunter Monahan for as long as she can remember. Her father’s former friend has starred in every one of her erotic dreams, since she was old enough to have them.
* A weekend of debauchery is what she signs up for… She doesn’t count on falling in love with the man behind the scars. This man she cannot resist, and as secrets spill and emotional walls come tumbling, maybe she will get that miracle she needs.
* It is Christmas, after all…

~ Blurb ~ * ~Editors Pick~
* I’m the beast, haven’t you heard...
* Christmas is supposed to be a time for miracles and one will surely be needed when Emilia Duncan finds herself sold to the beast to save her father’s company. Having lusted after the much older, enigmatic man for as long as she can remember, spending the Christmas weekend as his submissive will satisfy her raging libido, but can she protect her heart?
* Bear Shifter Hunter Monahan cannot stand idly by when Emilia is thrown to the wolves. There is only one shifter who will get his claws into her and that’s him. The contract ensures her submission for the weekend. Too bad his bear wants much more than that.
* Hunter is used to hiding behind his gruesome scars, but in the bid for Emilia’s heart, that is not an option this time. Isolated in his cabin, it’s not just the snow that melts. ~ The Tease! (a.k.a. Excerpt) ~ * “I said you’re mine, kitten,” he finally said, and Emilia’s heart leapt for joy. “You always will be, but I want to see you happy. You don’t need to be settled with a cynical, scarred bear shifter like me, especially as your father will never talk to you again, if you do.” He put his hand up when she was going to interrupt him, and continued.
* “No, let me finish. He is your father, and I know you well enough to know that you love him and that good for nothing brother of yours. Despite what you said to them when you left, you could no more turn your back on them than you could stop breathing, and that’s one of the many things about you that I…”
* His bear growled, and Emilia forgot to breathe at the struggle she sensed in him. She scooted closer and put her hand on his tense thigh.
* “You what, Sir? Please don’t clam up on me now,” she said.
* A grim smile kicked up the corner of his mouth, and she leant in closer to kiss that spot. A growl erupted from his chest, and before Emilia could blink she was on the floor with him towering above her. Right now he didn’t look very much in control of his bear, and that thought sent adrenaline coursing through her body.
* Holding himself off of her with his hands placed next to her head, and his arms locked, he ground his groin against hers and the solid heat of his erect cock meant that Emilia’s hormones took over. Moisture flooded her underwear, and her nipples tried to poke through the soft fabric covering them. As comfortable as her jumper was the fabric chafed against the sensitive peaks, and Emilia bit her lip to stop from whimpering her need.
* Hunter groaned and bending his head claimed her mouth in an earth shattering kiss that left her breathless and so needy she was going to scream if he didn’t do something other than kiss her.
* He pulled away, and the heat in his gaze sent her arousal into fever pitch. Emilia shifted her legs wider, and they both groaned as he settled himself right between her legs.
* “Fuck it, Emilia. I can’t do this anymore. I want you too damn much.”
* Hunter’s voice came out distorted, and more of his bear showed as his muscles expanded and he grew bigger above her.
* “Then have me, all of me, please.” Emilia gasped her reply, all too aware of the barely leashed aggression that poured out of his very pores. It should send her running, yet it had the opposite effect on her. Beads of perspiration slid into her eyes, clouding her vision. Trapped as she was under his bulk, her clothes felt heavy and restrictive, and Hunter seemed to burn hotter still, as he grew perfectly above her. His nostrils flared and he inhaled roughly, as though he, too, had trouble drawing air into his lungs. Emilia blinked to clear her vision, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the sight of his fangs. His incisors grew longer, more menacing somehow in the orange glow from the fire, and she didn’t dare breathe when he dipped his head and ran those lethal teeth along her neck.
* “This is your last chance to cry red, kitten. This time when I fuck you, I will claim you, body and soul. You will be mine, to carry my mark, so that everyone will know who you belong to. I want to cover you in my cum, bite you all over, and leave my marks on you forever. Do you understand me?”
* Emilia nodded, utterly unable to get her voice to work, and Hunter threw his head back and roared. The vibrations of that growl shook the very ground they lay on, and she locked her ankles behind his ass to enable her to grind her hips against the solid bulge in his jeans. So close. God, she was so close already, if only….
* Hunter bucked and dislodged her, until she lay winded, face down on the rug. Hunter yanked her jumper up and her leggings down, and the first hard, stinging swat of his hand on her ass took her breath away. Several more followed in quick succession, and then he lifted her on her knees, and pushed her upper body back down into the rug. Her jumper gave way with an audible rip, as he used his claws to get if off her.
* “Do. Not. Move.” Every growled word was accentuated by another swat to her ass. Heat spread across her skin, and she jumped when he replaced his hands with his teeth, while pushing several fingers into her wet pussy.
* Emilia whimpered and mewled like the kitten he called her, as he fucked her with his fingers, while marking her body with his teeth just like he’d promised, until her skin was just a mass of hot sensation. Up and down her spine into the hollow of her back, over her ass and the insides of her thighs, until she didn’t know which part of her he hadn’t reached.
* Pinned in place by his clawed hand on her shoulder, and his fingers buried deep inside her, keeping her teetering on the edge of her release, she had nowhere to go.
* Emilia whined when he withdrew his fingers, and Hunter pushed his digits, slicked by her arousal, into her mouth, and smacked her ass again. Emilia bit down, and the taste of her arousal mixed with his blood, and Hunter grunted his approval.
* “Fuck, yes. Do that again.”
* His claws sliced through her shoulder, while he dug his fingers deeper into her mouth and jaw. The pain just added to her arousal until her whole body felt on fire. Teetering on the edge, she screamed, as he ran his thick cock through her wet slit and then drove in deep.
* “I’m going to fuck you so hard, baby. You’re mine.”

Pick up your copy of Bought for Christmas here: Evernight Publishing | Amazon |All Romance eBooks |BookStrand

About Doris O'Connor

* Glutton for punishment would be a good description for Doris... at least that's what she hears on an almost daily basis when people find out that she has a brood of nine children, ranging from adult to toddler and lives happily in a far too small house, cluttered with children, pets, dust bunnies, and one very understanding and supportive husband. Domestic goddess she is not.
* There is always something better to do after all, like working on the latest manuscript and trying not to scare the locals even more than usual by talking out loud to the voices in her head. Her characters tend to be pretty insistent to get their stories told, and you will find Doris burning the midnight oil on a regular basis. Only time to get any peace and quiet and besides, sleep is for wimps.
* She likes to spin sensual, sassy, and sexy tales involving alpha heroes to die for, and heroines who give as good as they get. From contemporary to paranormal, BDSM to F/F, and Ménage, haunting love stories are guaranteed.

Find Doris O'Connor here...
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Evernight Publishing | Amazon | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand | Barnes & Noble

Thank you for joining us here today, Doris O'Connor! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

Visit these other wonderful authors for more MWT goodness!

A #MWTease Look At Tara Quan & 'Operation Owl' ~ @LaylaTarar @decadentpub #BeyondFairyTales

Welcome to the middle of the week!
Mid Week Tease is an event where authors are spotlighting a few lines or a paragraph or two from their stories. Readers, you get to sample some delicious snippets and be teased, titillated and tantalized into the weekend!

This week I'm happy to give my blog over to Tara Quan, author of Operation Owl. She's going to share some information before her tease. Enjoy!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* I’m a romance addict who likes to write bite-sized stories with ample helpings of (occasionally kinky) sex. At the time this post goes live, all my worldly possessions will be in transit while I twiddle my thumbs in a corporate rental, waiting for my husband’s orders to come through for our trans-Atlantic journey to Rome. Because the move makes Internet access a bit uncertain, I’ve pre-scheduled all my stops for this blog tour. To the best of my knowledge, my latest Decadent Publishing release comes out some time in July 2014 (so, depending on when you stumble upon this blog, it might be available now). For updates as well as a chance to win a $25 gift card, drop by my website: http://www.TaraQuan.com/Owl.

What book are you going to tell us about today?
* Though part of the Beyond Fairytales line, Operation Owl is a standalone multicultural romantic comedy featuring a geeky hacker hero and his bookish best friend. They team up to expose a cyber conspiracy at the heart of the US government and end up indulging in some other equally exciting activities.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* When I answered my publisher’s submission call, I was assigned The Owl by Brother’s Grimm (a two-paragraph story about an owl that flew into a barn, which subsequently burned down). At around the same time, I was feeling a bit glum about having to leave D.C., so I decided to channel my energy into writing a romance set in the capital area. My friend’s imminent graduation from MIT, the hoopla over Edward Snowden, and my Italian class’ field trip to the National Gallery somehow combined into this rom-com—let’s just say my muse works in mysterious ways.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Geeky hacker with hero complex

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Nerdy ethnically Indian forensic accountant

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* Despite his potty mouth, Zack’s one of the few thoroughly nice-guy heroes I’ve written, so he’ll always hold a special place in my writing journey.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* Maya: “Who do you think I am? The Princess of Persia? I’m not the jumping over rooftops type of girl.”

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Five years ago, Maya Jain kissed her best friend only to have him run out of her dorm room and leave the state. When he shows up in Washington, D.C., a wanted fugitive sought after by every branch of the US government, she can’t bring herself to ignore his plight. As their physical relationship picks up where it left off, she decides it’s time to make him see her as more than the bespectacled, bookish girl he once called “Owl.”
* After being accused of espionage and treason, Zack Strong needs a forensic accountant to help clear his name. Not knowing who he can trust, this white-hat hacker has no choice but to ask his former best friend and math tutor for help. Together they unravel a cyber conspiracy at the Barn, an NSA facility tasked to intercept electronic communications. But as they traverse the nation’s capital to avoid capture, Maya insists on letting their simmering sexual tension take its natural course. Even though he’s never been able to shake the memory of their one kiss, he refuses to let her give up her life for a man with no future.
~ Excerpt (a.k.a. The Tease) ~ * “Aren’t you going to ask me some questions first?”
* Maya frowned. “Like what?”
* “Whether or not I’m guilty of espionage, for one.”
* Though hampered by his hands, she managed a shrug. “It doesn’t matter. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
* “It depends on your definition.” It took a moment before Zack realized he’d blurted the words out loud. Judging from the way her dark brows drew together, they’d zeroed in on the exact same memory.
* Friends didn’t kiss. Given, they’d shared just the one, and he’d hightailed it out of her life almost immediately after, but the unfortunate lip-lock would always complicate the question of where they stood. And if someone asked him right then to slot their relationship into a neat little box, “friends” wouldn’t be it. Why? For one, he hadn’t thought about anything but kissing her for the past three minutes. Considering every branch of the all-powerful but dumb-as-fuck US government had painted a bright-red bulls-eye on his ass, his inconvenient reaction was a testament to their complicated status.

Buy Operation Owl when it becomes available here...
Decadent Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Find on Goodreads

Find Tara Quan here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest

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

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Visit these other wonderful authors for more MWT goodness!

More & more good news... ~ @EMorgan2010 @decadentpub #MWTease #Contemporary #Romance

Welcome to the middle of the week!
Mid Week Tease is an event where authors are spotlighting a few lines or a paragraph or two from their stories. Readers, you get to sample some delicious snippets and be teased, titillated and tantalized into the weekend!

This week I'm happy to give my blog over to Elizabeth Morgan, author of Stepping Stones, a Sweet Contemporary Romance story from Bono Books/Decadent Publishing. Enjoy!
* Thank you for having me over today, CR. It is a pleasure to be here. :)

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Elizabeth Morgan is a multi-published author of urban fantasy, paranormal, erotic horror, f/f, and contemporary; all with a degree of romance, a dose of action and a hit of sarcasm, sizzle or blood, but you can be sure that no matter what the genre, Elizabeth always manages to give a unique and often humorous spin to her stories.
* Like her tagline says; A pick ‘n’ mix genre author. “I’m not greedy. I just like variety.”
* And that she does, author of erotic ménage horror, Creak, paranormal erotic horror and UK, US & Australian Amazon best seller (Gay/Lesbian, Fiction, Lesbian), On the Rocks, and erotic romance, US, UK and Spanish Amazon bestseller (Erotica Short Story) Truth or Dare? She also has her hand in self-publishing.
* Razel Dazzle, her modern adult retelling of the fairytale Rapunzel, was her first taste of publishing her own stories, and now she has the hang of it, it will definitely not be her last. Look out for more information on her upcoming releases at her website: www.e-morgan.com
* Away from the computer, Elizabeth can be found in the garden trying hard not to kill her plants, dancing around her little cottage with the radio on while she cleans, watching movies or good television programmes – Dr Who? Atlantis? The Musketeers? Heck, yes! – Or curled up with her two cats reading a book.

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?
* June 17th marked the release of my sweet contemporary romance, Stepping Stones. It is a standalone novel about retracing your steps, realizing your wants, forgiveness, family, friendship, faith, love and second chances. The blurb and an excerpt are below for you to peruse. :)

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* The idea for Stepping Stones actually came in a dream. In the dream I was Maggie, or rather in her shoes, the taxi I was in pulled up outside this beautiful church on the edge of a cliff. As soon as I got out of the taxi the bride comes running up to me; her maid of honour couldn’t make it so I needed to take her place. As you can imagine I wasn't very happy about being her second choice or a last minute one, but I agreed.
* The scene then jumps to me dressed in a bridesmaid dress walking down the aisle, and then I nearly go face first because my ex was the Vicar. Awkward. I am uncomfortable through the ceremony and as soon as it is over I try to get away from him only to bump into another man, but I'm angry at this one, hurt by him, confused. So I storm off. End of dream.
* Well, there was a story there so I left the idea to stew in the back of my mind, I actually think it was stewing for two years in total, and then when I had the itch to write it, I did and Stepping Stones was born.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Kind, torn, forgiving, hopeful, and lonely

Describe the heroine in five words.
* In denial, stubborn, torn, selfish, and distant

If multiple partners, then pick a another hero to describe in five words.
* sweet, supportive, forgiving, religious and confused

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* Jessica - Jess - Maggie's sister is my fave character. She is just so kind and upbeat all the time, and she hasn't got a problem with getting her point across, or telling someone off, but she does it all with a light tone, and a smile. She is very care-free and positive.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* A line that Maggie says, "You have always been home for me, and nothing has been the same without you."

~ Blurb ~ * There's nothing like a wedding to bring the family together....
* If not for her baby sister’s impending marriage, Margaret West would never return home. But after six long years, she finds herself a maid of honor who must answer to the people she left behind.
* If her parents’ interrogation doesn’t drive her to drink, facing her foster brother, Adrian, just might. To make matters worse, her ex-fiancé is the vicar who will conduct her sister’s ceremony.
* Everyone demands to know why she ran off. But the more time she spends at home, the more Margaret realizes even she doesn’t know the real reason.
* Length: Novella (32,000/91 pages)| Content: Sweet Romance/Contemporary| Publisher: Bono Books
~ The Tease! (a.k.a. Excerpt) ~ * “When is Aidy getting here?” Jessica grabbed the large bowl of scrambled eggs and brought it closer to her plate.
* “I think his flight is due in at three.” My mother placed a dish of bacon on the table and took a seat beside me. “He will be in time for the wedding rehearsal; don’t worry.”
* My stomach clenched. “Wedding rehearsal?” I coughed, trying to clear the chunk of toast lodged in my throat. “What wedding rehearsal?”
* “Today at four. We’re running through the service.” Jess scooped egg onto her plate. “I told you.”
* Nervous laughter bubbled in my throat and try as I may, I couldn’t stop shaking my head. “No.” I patted my chest. “No, you never mentioned a rehearsal.”
* “Oh.” She placed the bowl back in the middle of the table. “I could have sworn I did.”
* “Nope, you didn’t. Believe me, I would have remembered otherwise.” I grabbed my mug and knocked the coffee back before finishing my piece of toast.
* “Well, it’s no big deal.” Edward took the bowl of eggs and helped himself. “Just a quick run-through.”
* “Will everyone be there?” Forcing a smile on my face, I looked up at them both, hoping like hell my question would pass as innocent and genuine curiosity.
* “Anyone who is involved in the wedding itself will be.”
* Great. So that meant Jessica, Edward, the parents, and the bridesmaids, plus me. That left Adrian and…. “Will Vicar Taylor, be there?”
* Oh God, did my voice just go higher?
* “Yes, Margaret, William will be there. He is the one who is marrying Jessie and Edward, so he needs to be there.” My father skewered some bacon and tomatoes onto his fork.
* Grimacing, I reached out and grabbed another piece of toast. “Just a question, Pa.” A stupid one, but a question nevertheless….
* “It is normal for people to have wedding rehearsals, Margaret. Just because you—”
* Jess picked up the coffeepot. “Does anyone want more coffee?”
* I straightened, my focus fixed on Pa. “I’m aware of that.”
* “Maggie?”
* My father’s shoulders went rigid. He lifted his head and our gazes locked. I didn’t miss the way the muscle in the side of his neck ticked. Arguing with my father in front of Jessica and Edward was not an option, so I looked away.
* “Please.” I held out my mug and Jess poured the dark liquid.
* I could kick myself. A wedding rehearsal hadn’t even crossed my mind. Having to stand at the altar before William on the actual wedding day would be hard enough, but having to do it twice…my stomach churned.
* “So, will Adrian come straight to the church?” Edward cut the awkward silence.
* “Yes. He will get a taxi to the church, and then we will bring him and his luggage back here.” My mother held her mug out to Jess.
* “Adrian is staying here? Tonight?” I added sugar to my coffee. “Won’t it be crowded? I thought—”
* “No more crowded than it was in your childhood.” My father took a bite out of his toast.
* More and more good news. Of course he would be staying here; it was his family home after all. I guess, it was stupid of me to hope that he would go to a B&B, but my parents wouldn’t have allowed it even if he did suggest it. I hadn’t seen him in six years, hadn’t spoken to him. And yet, in a couple of hours I would be locked in the same house as him.

Pick up your copy of Stepping Stones here: Decadent Publishing | Amazon - US | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

Find Elizabeth Morgan here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads | Pinterest | Blog Shared with Dianna Hardy

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

Visit these other wonderful authors for more MWT goodness!

Swag!

Tour dates!

A Look At Teri Riggs & 'Resolutions' ~ @TeriLRiggs @GoddessFish @decadentpub #military #romance

Welcome to the middle of the week!
Mid Week Tease is an event where authors are spotlighting a few lines or a paragraph or two from their stories. Readers, you get to sample some delicious snippets and be teased, titillated and tantalized into the weekend!

This week I'm happy to give my blog over to Teri Riggs, author of Resolutions, a story from Decadent Publishing. She's touring right now so be sure to check out the contest below. Enjoy!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?

* Teri Riggs was destined to be a writer. As a small girl she didn’t read bedtime stories, she made up her own. Who needed Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs when there were so many great tales bouncing around in her head? When she grew up and became a mother to three little girls, she continued the tradition of making up bedtime stories. On the occasions she chose to tell conventional fairytales, Teri usually gave them a bit of tweaking here and there or added a new ending. Her girls loved it.
* After her daughters had the nerve to actually grow up and leave home, Teri discovered she had a passion for writing and jumped right in. It came as no surprise she chose to write mysteries and happily-ever-after’s since that’s the genres she loves to read.
* Teri lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, one of her daughters and two dogs that seem to think they rule the world. And some days Teri thinks maybe they do.
* Teri still frequently tells herself stories as she falls asleep. The only difference now is she wakes up the next morning and turns her bedtime stories into books.

Do you ever wish you were someone else? Who?
* I think I’m good with who I am. But if I had to be someone else, I’d still be me, but a younger version. And I’d be 20 pounds lighter. I’d want my brain loaded with all the things I’ve learned over the years so I wouldn’t have to spend so much time figuring out things.

What did you do on your last birthday?
* I haven’t had a birthday since I turned 36. I plan to stay 36 till the end of time.

Do you have any tattoos?
* No tattoos.

What are you working on right now?
* I’m finishing book 2 of my Kennedy O’Brien series and working on a follow up to Resolutions.

What is something you’ve lied about?
* My age. I’m really not 36.

What story are you going to tell us about today?
* Resolutions

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * DEA agent Eve Taylor has had her fill of alpha males. When Resolutions’ operative and former lover, Dillon “Mac” McKenna, threatened her hard-earned independence, she ran. On a mission to gather evidence against a Colombian drug-lord, Eve discovers the drug-lord is helping terrorists plan an attack on American soil. Before she can escape with the vital information, she’s captured and comes face to face with her mortality…
* As a teen, Mac watched his family fall apart after his mother died doing dangerous U.N. work. The possibility of losing Eve to a mission ignited an overwhelming need to protect her. When he forced her to choose him or her job, she walked away. Two years later, it seems all his nightmares have come true and he’s tasked with rescuing her from a Colombian prison. Mac has never stopped loving Eve, but does he dare risk his heart when he’s so terrified of losing…
* On the run, Mac and Eve must learn to trust each other again in order to stay alive. ~ Excerpt ~ * Mac shrugged right back at her. “I’ve got a news flash for you, Eve. I’m going back to San Carlos Lucas with you.”
* “This is an IDEA operation. My assignment. And Rex’s. We can do our jobs.”
* Mac smiled. “Not anymore, baby. Your boss hired Resolutions to get you back into the Mendoza compound. More specifically, he wants me for the job.”
* “Why would I need you?” Her face reddened. “Rex and I had no problem getting past the compound walls before.”
* “Are you kidding? Your team lost a man, you were captured, and almost died yourself.” He wanted to shake some sense into her. “You call that no problems?”
* “I meant we infiltrated the compound without incident. I’ll make sure we get out safely this time.”
* “It’s gonna be harder.” Mac wished she would listen to reason, but he knew Eve, and nothing he said would change her mind once she made it up. “After you and your team breached the compound, Mendoza doubled his security force. Chances are good you won’t be able to retrieve the hidden flash drive. Getting back inside the study—if you need another go at his computer—will be a bigger challenge. I’m the only guy who can get you past all the extra security.”
* “Oh, pa-leeease! What have you got that I don’t have?”
* He looked at his ever-present-around-Eve hard-on and smiled sheepishly. “Well, baby, if I need to expla—”

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

Find Teri Riggs here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

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

ANNOUNCEMENT! Teri will be giving away a $50 Amazon/BN GC! So be sure to use the Rafflecopter to enter, leave your name and email with a comment, & visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-book-tour-resolutions-by-teri) for a greater chance of winning!

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Visit these other wonderful authors for more MWT goodness!

Welcome special guest: author Shirleen Davies 4 #MWTease ~ @shirleendavies @GoddessFish

Welcome to the middle of the week!
Mid Week Tease is an event where authors are spotlighting a few lines or a paragraph or two from their stories. Readers, you get to sample some delicious snippets and be teased, titillated and tantalized into the weekend!

This week I'm happy to give my blog over to Shirleen Davies, author of Hard Landing. She's currently touring so be sure to check out the contest info below. Enjoy!

Today we have author Shirleen Davies visiting. Shirleen Davies writes romance—historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew up in California. During the day she provides consulting services to mid-sized businesses. Her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She lives with her husband in northern Arizona.

So, Shirleen Davies, what/who inspired you to become a writer?
* My interest grew over time as I became a more voracious reader. I always loved to write, however it wasn’t until I began reading three or four books a week that my passion for writing blossomed.

When did you attempt your first story? What length was it? What's become of it?
* My first short story was written many years ago, stored away, pulled out and changed, then boxed up again. Another followed the same path. Neither has been published. Perhaps one day I’ll read both again and decide if either might be something readers would enjoy.

How many stories did you complete before you sold your first?
* I never attempted to sell and am not sure I ever will. I’ve owned several businesses and did considerable research on Indie publishing versus legacy publishing. When the pros and cons were considered, it made no sense at all to wait years to see if someone might accept a manuscript, then wait another year to get it into reader hands, then be paid far less than if I chose my current path. Instead, I hired editors, a cover designer, conversion specialist, and social media guru. It’s been more amazing and rewarding than I ever expected.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
* The best advice: “Just write.” Write every day even if it’s just a couple hundred words.
* The worst advice: “Don’t Indie publish. It’s too hard and complicated.” I’m so glad I ignored it!

The book you’re promoting, is it a stand-alone story or part of a series?
* Hard Landing is book two in my MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary series. Book one is Second Summer. Book three, One More Day, will release in early July 2014.

What sparked the idea for the story/series?
* I attended college in San Diego, a big Navy town. Over the years I’ve had the privilege of meeting, working with, and becoming friends with many Navy veterans, including pilots. I’ve always been drawn to their commitment, work ethic, and ability to focus on what matters to them, as well as the often difficult choices they must make regarding marriage and family. I have nothing but the greatest respect for those who choose to serve our country in the military.

*** Now for some fun info… ***
Would you/have you own(ed) a snake or some other exotic pet?
* We had guinea hens on our ranch in Colorado. The reason? They eat baby rattle snakes.

Which do you prefer: rain or sun & warm weather or cold weather?
* I prefer a mixture. That is the reason we live where we do. We have four seasons, a little snow each year, beautiful sunshine, a few monsoons in the summer, and no days over about 95 degrees.

If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be and why?
* I grew up at the beach, lived on farms and ranches, in big cities, and have been fortunate to travel extensively in my previous work. There are so many wonderful places in the world, and I continue to travel with my husband to many of them. To live? Right where I am now and nowhere else.

If you were stranded on a desert island and were only allowed to have five modern conveniences with you, what would they be?
* My Kuerig coffee maker, computer, mobile phone (got to keep up with the kids), IPod, and my bright red scooter (does that count?).

*** About Shirleen Davies’s book/series… ***

~ Blurb ~ * Hard Landing, Book Two in the MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary Romance Series
* In this passionate Contemporary Romance series, author Shirleen Davies introduces her readers to the modern day MacLarens.
* Trey MacLaren is a confident, poised Navy pilot. He’s focused, loyal, ethical, and a natural leader. He is also on his way to what he hopes will be a lasting relationship and marriage with fellow pilot, Jesse Evans.
* Jesse has always been driven. Her graduation from the Naval Academy and acceptance into the pilot training program are all she thought she wanted—until she discovered love with Trey MacLaren . . .
* . . . Trey and Jesse’s lives are filled with fast flying, friends, and the demands of their military careers. Lives each has settled into with a passion. At least until the day Trey receives a letter that could change his and Jesse’s lives forever.
* It’s been over two years since Trey has seen the woman in Pensacola. Her unexpected letter stuns him and pushes Jesse into a tailspin from which she might not pull back.
* . . . Each must make a choice. Will the choice Trey makes cause him to lose Jesse forever? Will she follow her heart or her head as she fights for a chance to save the love she’s found? Will their independent decisions collide, forcing them to give up on a life together?
* Hard Landing is the second book in the MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary novella series—heartwarming stories of difficult choices, loyalty, and lasting romance. Watch for book three, One More Day, Cameron and Lainey’s story, in the summer of 2014. ~ Excerpt ~ * “Coming,” he called, as the doorbell sounded once more. He reached the door and pulled it open, stunned into silence by who stood outside.
* “Hello, Trey.” Jesse stood tall and looked him in the eyes.
* He recovered quickly. “Jesse.” He looked beyond her, but saw no one else. “What are you doing here?”
* Her courage diminished as she realized he might not even allow her inside.
* “Reb and Paul came over to watch the ballgame. It was loud, crazy, lots of testosterone, so I thought…” her voice trailed off.
* “What? You’d come over here for old times’ sake?”
* She looked behind him. It hadn’t occurred to her that he might have invited someone over. “I’m sorry. This probably wasn’t a good idea—stopping by without calling.” She turned to leave.
* “Why did you come over? You generally have a plan for everything. This seems pretty spontaneous.”
* Jesse stopped, knowing he’d guessed right. She did have a plan but had lost her nerve as soon as he’d opened the door. Her heart had jumped into her throat at the sight of Trey. His deep gray t-shirt was drawn taut across his chest and tucked into tight fitting jeans. His dark hair was a little mussed, and the dark stubble on his face reminded her of the first time she’d met him, in the gym at the Academy. Her breath had caught then also, at the sight of the muscular, incredibly handsome, and somewhat dangerous looking midshipman.
* Tonight it was by sheer will that she’d gotten out the first two words of a greeting.
* She took a couple of steps toward him. “I guess I didn’t think it through.” She licked her lips, fortifying herself before looking into eyes that were set, hard. “The guys said you were here with Trevor. I’d been wanting to speak to you, to try to explain.” She paused again, already sensing she’d made a huge mistake. “I guess I just wanted to see you.”

***Buy Shirleen Davies' book here***
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

***More info about Shirleen Davies here***

* Shirleen Davies writes romance--historical, contemporary, and romantic suspense. She grew up in Southern California, attended Oregon State University, and has degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland. During the day she provides consulting services to small and mid-sized businesses. But her real passion is writing emotionally charged stories of flawed people who find redemption through love and acceptance. She now lives with her husband in a beautiful town in northern Arizona.
* Shirleen began her new series, MacLarens of Fire Mountain, with Tougher than the Rest, the story of the oldest brother, Niall MacLaren. Other books in the series include, Faster than the Rest, Harder than the Rest, Stronger than the Rest, and Deadlier than the Rest. Book six, Wilder than the Rest, is due for release in early summer, 2014. Her contemporary romance series, MacLarens of Fire Mountain Contemporary, opened with book one, Second Summer. Book two, Hard Landing, released in April 2014, and Book three, One More day, is scheduled to release in midsummer, 2014.
* Shirleen loves to hear from her readers.

***Find Shirleen Davies here***
E-mail | Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | LinkedIn

Thank you for joining us here today, Shirleen Davies! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your work.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Shirleen Davies will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift card, a $10 Amazon gift card, and two ebooks of Second Summer! So enter the drawing via the Rafflecopter below & be sure to leave your name and email with your comment, and visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-book-tour-hard-landing) for a greater chance of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Visit these other wonderful authors for more MWT goodness!