Thursday, April 30, 2015

Join Charlaine Harris in Midnight, Texas

 
 
 
MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD
Midnight, Texas #1
Charlaine Harris
ACE PREMIUM MASS MARKET
$9.99 / 384 pages
 
 
“Excellent…captures the same magic as the world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and takes it to another level. No matter how unlikely or fantastic an element [Harris] might introduce into her pages it’s always down-home and believable. She’s the Mark Twain of things that live under your bed.”
—Houston Press
 
“As intimate and deep as the Stackhouse novels.”
Library Journal
 
  
Charlaine Harris became a household name when her #1 New York Times bestselling Sookie Stackhouse novels became the inspiration for HBO’s hit drama True Blood. Last year, Harris delighted fans once again with MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD, the first book in an all-new series that takes place in the same world as a Sookie Stackhouse—a place where the paranormal exists alongside the ordinary. It became an instant New York Times bestseller and left readers anxiously anticipating the release of the second installment, DAY SHIFT, on May 5, 2015.
 
MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD will be available in a premium edition mass market this month if you missed the hardcover and would like to start on the series before the release of DAY SHIFT. MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD is perfect for readers of all genres and has all the elements fans love from Charlaine’s writing: humor, mystery, a touch of the paranormal, and even a little romance. 
 
 
ABOUT MIDNIGHT CROSSROAD
Welcome to Midnight, Texas, a town with many boarded-up windows and few full-time inhabitants, located at the crossing of Witch Light Road and Davy Road. It’s a pretty standard dried-up western town.

There’s a pawnshop (someone lives in the basement and is seen only at night). There’s a diner (people who are just passing through tend not to linger). And there’s new resident Manfred Bernardo, who thinks he’s found the perfect place to work in private (and who has secrets of his own).

Stop at the one traffic light in town, and everything looks normal. Stay awhile, and learn the truth...
 
ABOUT CHARLAINE HARRIS
Charlaine Harris is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse fantasy/mystery series, the Aurora Teagarden, Harper Connelly, and Lily Bard mystery series, and Midnight Crossroad, the first Midnight, Texas, novel. She has lived in the South her entire life. Find her online at www.charlaineharris.com.
 
Giveaway Contest
 
Prize: 
Hardback copy of Midnight Crossroad and Day Shift by Charlaine Harris
 
Rules:
To enter, tell us the name of your favorite character from the Sookie Stackhouse series.
Contest ends at midnight, May 8. 
You must leave an email addy or other contact info to be eligible to win.
Winner chosen by Random.org

Sinfully yours: Give in to temptation

SINFULLY YOURS
The Hellions of High Street: Book #2
 by Cara Elliott 
 Forever Mass Market
 
Blurb 
After an eventful Season, Anna Sloane longs for some peace and quiet to pursue her writing. Though her plots might be full of harrowing adventure and heated passion, she'd much prefer to leave such exploits on the page rather than experience them in real life. Or so she thinks until she encounters the darkly dissolute-and gorgeously charming-Marquess of Davenport. 
Davenport has a reputation as a notorious rake whose only forte is wanton seduction. However the real reason he's a guest at the same remote Scottish castle has nothing to do with Anna . . . until a series of mysterious threats leave him no choice but to turn to her for help in stopping a dangerous conspiracy. As desire erupts between them, Davenport soon learns he's not the only one using a carefully crafted image to hide his true talents. And he's more than ready to show Anna that sometimes reality can be even better than her wildest imaginings . . . 

Buy Links:
 

EXCERPT

A high note of the aria died on his lips as a frown strangled all further sound.
He stared for a long moment at the front of Manton’s shop, trying to quell the erratic quickening of his pulse as he suddenly recognized the figure standing there. Shaking off the physical response to the person in question, Devlin made himself concentrate on the practical question her presence raised. What was she doing there? Ladies did not usually linger in front of a gunsmith’s display window.
Lightening his footsteps, Devlin approached in silence. “Planning on murdering someone,
Miss Sloane?”
Anna started, nearly dropping the small notebook in her hands, and then whirled around.
“Some men,” she snapped, “deserve to be shot.”
“More than a few,” he agreed, angling his head to try to catch a glimpse of what she had been
The covers quickly snapped shut.
“If you like,” he went on, “I could draw up a list of the most offensive characters.”
Chuffing a rude sound, Anna darted one more look at the pistols on display before shoving her pencil and notebook into her reticule. “Come along, Nettie,” she called to the young maid hovering near the corner of the storefront. “Let us be on our way.”
Devlin shifted his stance just enough to block her path. “It’s unusual for a lady to have an interest in firearms. I confess, I am curious as to why.”
“There is an old adage about curiosity killing the cat,” she shot back.
He smiled, which appeared to annoy her even more.
“Then it is lucky that I am an imp of Satan.”
“Why is it that I have a feeling Luck has nothing to do with your choice of habits?”
Because your wit and your tongue are lethally sharp.
Keeping such thoughts to himself, he merely said, “An interesting question. But you haven’t yet answered mine, and I asked first.”
A glare, which he countered by stretching his smile into a grin.
Her nostrils flared as she drew in a sharp breath. “Not that it is any of your business, but I—I am looking to find a special gift for Wrexham.”
A reasonable reply. So why did he have the feeling that she was lying? “Manton’s pistols are frightfully expensive,” responded Devlin, carefully watching her face. “Dare I assume that the poor-as-churchmice Sloane family is now no longer under the hatches, thanks to the generosity of your older sister’s new husband?”
A light breeze ruffled the ribbons of her bonnet, and for the space of a heartbeat a flutter of a shadow seemed to hang on her gold-tipped lashes.
“Indeed, knowing the earl’s noble nature, I would imagine that you and Miss Caro are now in possession of a very generous dowry.”
Her cheeks darkened to an angry shade of red. “You are not only impertinent, you are offensive, Lord Davenport. Kindly step aside.”
“But of course.” He slowly shifted, deliberately dragging his boots over the paving stones to make a loud rasping sound. It was ungentlemanly to goad her into a temper, but the fire in her eyes was mesmerizing to watch. Heat blazed in a burnt-gold swirl of sparks, turning their deep green hue into a pool of molten jade.
“Allow me to make amends for my churlish manners by offering a recommendation on which of Manton’s models the earl might like.”
“On second thought, I have decided to look elsewhere for a gift,” replied Anna tightly.
“A simple but elegant watch fob, perhaps? A bejeweled cravat stickpin would not be at all in keeping with the earl’s sense of style.”
“I can’t help but wonder something, sir,” she said in reply.
“Which is?”
“Why you take such fiendish delight in tormenting me.”
“Perhaps because you react with such delightfully explosive ire.” Devlin waggled a brow.
“Most young ladies are afraid to stand up for themselves. But not you.”
She brushed past him without comment.
Devlin watched her stalk away. Miss Anna Sloane was known for her effortless grace, and yet there was no other word than “stalk” for her stiff-legged gait. Which in itself spoke volumes about her state of inner agitation.
Again, he wondered why.
Turning, he moved to where she had been standing and made a careful study of the display window.
He frowned. It was conceivably the sort of firearm a lady might tuck in her reticule . . .
Assuming she had reason to fear for her safety.
Anna Sloane in danger? For an instant, his hands fisted, but he quickly dismissed the idea as Absurd.
“I have been reading too many adventure novels.”

About the author:
 
Cara Elliott started writing Western novels at the age of five. Later she changed her genre to Regency romance after reading Pride and Prejudice. She graduated from Yale University, and she now lives and works in New York City.

Social Media Links:
 
Tour Giveaway

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Laurin Wittig's Scottish Romance saga

higlanderredeemed

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLEHighlander Redeemed
SERIES – Guardians of the Targe
AUTHOR – Laurin Wittig
GENRE – Historical Romance (medieval)
PUBLICATION DATE – May 12, 2015
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 272/86,500
PUBLISHER – Montlake Romance
COVER ARTIST – Regina Wamba

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Scotia MacAlpin may be only eighteen years old, but she’s no stranger to trouble. Her latest incident—which resulted in a death and forced her clan into battle—has made her an outcast among her exiled people. Scotia is tired of being ignored and trapped in the shadow of her sister, a gifted Guardian of the Targe; and she’s become hell-bent on destroying the army out to capture the ancient Highland relic for their English king.

Duncan of Dunlairig has looked out for Scotia since she started to walk. She was as restless and reckless then as she is now—only the stakes have become higher and more perilous. While the rest of Clan MacAlpin ostracizes her, he secretly helps Scotia become the warrior she yearns to be. But the real test of her skills may come when Duncan needs her help—and her long-forgotten heart—in this thrilling and romantic Guardians of the Targe tale.



Highlander Redeemed - Cover

BUY & TBR LINKS

EXCERPT

Duncan braced himself for the verbal battle to come, but before he could make himself known, Scotia began to move, hesitantly and without her usual grace, but so focused on her task he could almost taste her determination. She watched her feet, letting her weapons go slack in her hands. Even so, he quickly recognized the exercise Malcolm had been teaching the lads a few days ago. She shook her head, then started the series of moves again, talking to herself just under her breath. She repeated the process over and over until, all of a sudden, she flew through the short exercise as if it were a dance she had known her entire life, thrusting, parrying, spinning, attacking the dirt clad roots of a toppled tree. The sharp sound of wood on wood reverberated through the forest like a woodpecker hammering on a hollow log.
His breath caught in his chest. She was magnificent. Beautiful. Strong.
She fought as if demons threatened her life.
And Duncan could not take his eyes off her. She was everything he would expect her to be if he did not know her so well.

AUTHOR BIO

Laurin Wittig was indoctrinated into her Scottish heritage at birth when her parents chose her oddly spelled name from a plethora of Scottish family names. At ten, Laurin attended her first MacGregor clan gathering with her grandparents, and her first ceilidh (kay-lee), a Scottish party, where she danced to the bagpipes with the hereditary chieftain of the clan. At eleven, she visited Scotland for the first time and it has inhabited her imagination ever since. She writes bestselling and award-winning Scottish medieval romances and lives in southeastern Virginia. For more information about all of Laurin’s books, visit LaurinWittig.com

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

2 Copies of Highlander Betrayed
3 Guardians of the Targe tote bag
Tour has been Organized and Hosted by

Candace Blevins discusses Vanilla, Kinky, and BDSM

Duke
Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club
Book 1  
by Candace Blevins
Motorcycle Club, Paranormal Romance


The Spectrum of Vanilla, Kinky, and BDSM  
by Guest Blogger Candace Blevins

It has become apparent to me in the past couple of weeks, that everyone defines these three things in entirely different ways when it comes to describing their fiction. I’ve stated my latest books are a little kinky, but aren’t BDSM, and some reviewers have taken issue with this. I’m not in the habit of arguing with reviewers, but one in particular is easy to talk to and I knew she’d be receptive, so she and I had a conversation about it, and then I opened a discussion up about it on my facebook feed.

Some people think anal sex makes a book BDSM, while others think any power exchange or even a single pop on the bottom turns it to BDSM, while a whole bunch of people don’t consider the line crossed unless the couple are communicating about it and agreeing to the specifics of the power exchange or pain play beforehand. Honestly, there’s likely no right answer… it’s a matter of perspective, probably.

With that being said, my personal definition of BDSM is negotiated power exchange, negotiated bondage, and/or negotiated pain play. There’s discussion ahead of time, limits are discussed, turn-ons and turn-offs are shared. Getting a little kinky, even if there’s some power exchange, isn’t BDSM by my definition, because you need the communication about it, the agreement of power exchange before it happens. Dragon King cover
 
By my definition, the relationship between the two main characters in The Dragon King is vanilla, though they are forced to do some BDSM-like activities in order to make the metaphysics of their world work. When it’s their choice, though, it’s vanilla. There’s also some non-con stuff outside of their relationship — bad guys who get what’s coming to them. Again, it’s BDSM-like activities, but it’s non-con and brutal, which almost everyone agrees isn’t BDSM, because whether you subscribe to SSC or RACK, it has to be consensual.
 
In Duke, I’d say the sex goes beyond vanilla to a little kinky. He’s a bad-ass alpha male who wants things (and works it so he gets thing) his way in the bedroom (and over the back of the couch and on the kitchen counter), but no way is it negotiated. It’s consensual, and hot… but not BDSM by my definition.
 
 
However, as the whole YKINMKBYKIOK thing goes, my definition is just mine, and not the official one. So I'm not going to tell others they're wrong if they think otherwise.
 
What sends a book from vanilla to kinky for you? How about from kinky to BDSM? My newest release is book one of a new motorcycle club series, and the intention is to keep this series in the vanilla-to-kinky spectrum, with bad-ass alpha-males who like to be in control. So far, the early reviewers are loving Duke.
Duke Cover
 


Duke: Book one of the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club...
Duke’s friend’s little sister had been off limits when they were growing up, but Gen is all woman now, with the sexiest curves ever. However, bringing her into his life now, as the new Rolling Thunder chapter establishes itself as a powerhouse in Chattanooga, would put her in danger.
 
Gen has no idea she already knows one of the bikers until she arrives to show them some downtown properties they’re looking to buy. They live in different worlds, and despite being a successful businesswoman, Gen has led a sheltered life. She wears couture, while Duke wears Levi jeans and his MC colors on a black leather vest. Not to mention, he's a werewolf and she's a blissfully unaware human. Can two people, so different, possibly work?
 
Warning: Graphic sex, and a controlling, drop-dead gorgeous werewolf who happens to be president of a motorcycle club.
 
 
Review by pearls
Duke is a tall glass of Southern sweet tea.  He's an Alpha male that takes care of his family.  His calmness and reflection temper his ability toward violence.  But with Gen, he is nice until it's time to not be nice; then, he's sex on a stick.  His gruff words and control in the bedroom (or couch or kitchen) will leave you panting for a ride on his bike.  He the man you want watching your back and sleeping in your bed.  You also meet the rest of the main players in the motorcycle club, as well as a host of crossover characters from other Candace Blevins novels that make an appearance, making this both a new and exciting MC world while still a familiar paranormal universe.  This is one ride that doesn't disappoint.
  -----------  
This book is also part of the Kirsten O’Shea Universe,
but reading the other series in Kirsten’s Universe is not  necessary in order to enjoy the Motorcycle Club books
 
Other Books by Candace
 
Only Human series (Urban Fantasy)
* Only Human (Feb 20, 2015)
* Book two - title tba (late 2015)
Chattanooga Supernaturals (Paranormal Romance)
* The Dragon King (winter 2015)
* Riding the Storm (spring 2015)
* Acceptable Risk (June 2015)
Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club
* Duke (spring 2015)
Safeword Series
* Safeword: Rainbow
* Safeword: Davenport
* Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon
* Safeword: Quinacridone
* Safeword: Matte
* Safeword: Matte - In Training
* No Safeword: Matte - The Honeymoon
* No Safeword: Matte - Happily Ever After
* Safeword: Arabesque
 About the Author:
Candace Blevins lives with her husband of 17 years and their two daughters. When not working or driving kids all over the place she can be found reading, writing, meditating, or swimming.
Candace writes BDSM  Romance, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and a smokin’ hot Motorcycle Club series.
Her Safeword Series gives us characters who happen to have some extreme kinks. Relationships can be difficult enough without throwing power exchange into the mix, and her books show characters who care enough about each other to fight to make the relationship work. Each book in the Safeword series highlights a couple with a different BDSM issue to resolve. Books are standalone and can be read in any order, with the exception of the two Davenport books, and the four Matte books.
Her urban fantasy series, Only Human, gives us a world where weredragons, werewolves, werelions, three different species of vampires, as well as a variety of other mythological beings exist.
Candace's paranormal romance series, The Chattanooga Supernaturals, is a sister series to the Only Human series, and gives some secondary characters their happily ever after.
You can find Candace on the web at:

 
Follow Candace Blevins on Twitter   Follow Candace Blevins on Facebook  Goodreads  Amazon Blog feed for CandaceBlevins.com    Candace Blevins on Pinterest

 
Candace blogs at CandaceBlevins.com, and you can join her Kinksters at facebook.com/groups/CandacesKinksters.

Tour giveaway
2 ebook copies of The Dragon King,
winner’s choice of epub, mobi, or pdf.
 
Display link
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112ffc1018/
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Looking for trouble in the Big Easy: Twisted



Twisted
Lost Series, #2
by Cynthia Eden

Blurb:

In the second seductive LOST novel from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden, an obsessed Last Option Search Team agent goes looking for trouble—and finds her in the Big Easy.

Dean Bannon comes to New Orleans for one reason only: to track down a missing sixteen-year-old girl. That's before he meets the drop-dead gorgeous con artist who makes him want to lose his legendary control.

With her past, Emma Castille doesn't claim to be psychic. She just notices things other people don't. Like the fear in a runaway's eyes—or the pain in an ex-FBI agent's heart. Her chemistry with Dean is blistering, but Emma follows her passion . . . not someone else's orders.

Then a madman breaks into Emma's home and leaves a twisted message: You're next. Now Dean refuses to let her out of his sight until he pries every last secret from her full, sexy lips. And suddenly Emma's aching to give him everything he wants. 



Available for purchase at

               


 Excerpt



“You’re not psychic.”
Were they back to that?
She put her hands in her lap. Emma didn’t believe in making nervous gestures. She didn’t believe in giving away anything at all with her body language.
“What you are …” Ah, now he did smile. Her father would have called it a shit-eating grin. The more PC term was probably a Cheshire cat smile. Whatever the name, that smile annoyed her. “What you are, Ms. Castille … is a criminal. A fraud.”
Maybe she should grab her chest and dramatically gasp. She didn’t. “Wonderful for you,” Emma said. “You pulled up a background report one me.” She let her eyes widen a bit. “It’s amazing just what one can find if a person knows how to use a search engine.”
A furrow appeared between his eyes.
“How about I say what … you are?” Emma asked him. “A washed-up FBI agent who snapped on the job. You held your control tight every single day, but the bad guys—they just didn’t stop, did they? You hunted them, you stopped them, and more appeared. While you were fighting the system, they kept coming, and the bodies kept piling up on your watch.”
He shot right back to his feet. The folding chair slammed down behind him.
“You and your father bilked desperate people,” he accused. “You told them you were psychic, that you could help find their missing children. And you—”
“We found them.” Two girls who’d vanished. They’d found them. “We just didn’t get to them in time.” And she would not go back to that place.
She motioned toward Manuel. He knew the signal meant he could take over her booth. There was no way, no way, that she was going to stay there with that prick while he slammed the most painful moments from her past in Emma’s face.
Manuel, pale, tattooed, with piercings in his lips and eyebrows, quickly claimed her spot.
Emma jumped to her feet. Muttered her thanks, and fled right past the guy she was starting to think of as Agent Jackass.
She pushed through the crowd. Wasn’t there always a crowd in Jackson Square? And that was why she loved the place. It was so easy to vanish in a crowd. To be anyone.
The crowd closed around her.
To be no one at all.
She hurried around the back of the cathedral. She knew the streets so well. Her home was close by. Emma would get inside and forget Agent Jackass.
I’m being followed.
Emma stilled at the intersection. A horse-drawn carriage rolled by her. Voices called out.
And he touched her.
Emma didn’t flinch. Didn’t scream. She looked down at the hand on her shoulder. “When a woman runs away from you, that means you need to stay the hell away from her.”
His hold tightened on her. “You and I aren’t done.”
She looked up at his face. Had she really thought the man was handsome? Annoying, that was all Dean Bannon was.
“I need to find that girl, and you’re the only lead I have so far.”

“Then you’re not a very good investigator.”


About the Author

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.
Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings.  She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.
(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people).  Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.



          







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