Tuesday 28 February 2017

Love on the Wild Side by Mariah Ankenman #Contemporary #Romance

 
Mariah Ankenman will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

BLURB
For Elizabeth Hayworth, tiny Peak Town, Colorado is a far cry from her life in L.A., but working at her best friend’s cupcake shop makes her think things are pretty darn good. Until she’s forced to spend time with said best friend’s grumpy future brother-in-law.

Dade Denning takes the hard work of running a horse ranch seriously. What he can’t take seriously is his future sister-in-law’s flighty best friend. Lizzy is everything he’s not—flirty, outgoing, and loud. The woman just rubs him the wrong way. So why does he fantasize about rubbing her the right way?

When circumstances force the two together, sparks fly and passion ignites. But sometimes the wildest love can burn too bright and the consequences can leave a lasting impression.

EXCERPT
“You, sir, have what we call stickbuttitis.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and glared down. “That’s not a real condition, or even a real word.”

Crimson red lips tipped up in a teasing smile. “Oh yes, it is. It means you have a stick up your butt.” Wouldn’t be the first time someone told him that. “I’m afraid we are going to have to operate,” she added, affecting a pouty frown.

Dade heaved a sigh of frustration. “What are you doing here, Elizabeth?”

“Maggie invited me to dinner.”

Great. His night just got ten times worse. Not only did he have this jerkoff suing him to think about, now he had to spend an entire night trying to be nice to a woman he both wanted to strangle and take to bed.

“Fantastic.”

“See, there’s that stick again.”

He felt a massive headache coming on.

“Oooh, I can also see you have deathglareosis. A very tragic condition. Thankfully, not fatal.”

“Any chance I’m contagious?”

Gray eyes brightened, and she smiled widely.

“Possible, but thankfully for me, I’ve had all my vaccinations.”

“Great.”

She walked past him, heading into the house. He watched her go. Trying not to notice the sexy sway in her hips or how perfectly the round cheeks of her ass would fit in his hands.

Tried and failed. Dammit.

Tonight was going to suck.

 
AUTHOR Bio and Links
RWA® Golden Heart® Nominated author Mariah Ankenman began writing at the tender age of five. Her first book “George and the Green Glob” received high praise from her mother. Many years, and green glob stories later, Mariah received a playwriting degree from the University of Wyoming. After a few years in Hollywood, working in “the biz,” she came home to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. When she’s not writing Mariah loves to read, crochet, and play her ukulele. She loves to hear from readers.




Friday 24 February 2017

Becoming Dragon by Eve Langlais #Contemporary #Romance

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Three randomly chosen winners via rafflecopter will win a print a copy of Becoming Dragon (international giveaway).

What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Cherry cheesecake. Mmmmmmm.
Which mythological creature are you most like? Now that’s a tough one. So I’m going to go big, and say  a mermaid. Seems like a cool gig until you get caught in a net…
First book you remember making an indelible impression on you. I will never forget my first romance book, Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I fell in love with the genre.
How do you develop your plot and characters? By the seat of my pants. I take off running, my fingers typing whatever my characters are dictating. Some days are really freaking interesting.
Describe your writing space. Utter mess. Seriously. I’ve got an agenda on my desk with barely legible scaratching to remind me of stuff. Sitcky notes all over the place with more scribbles. Coffee cup. Water bottle. Overflowing can of pens. Overflowing document stacker. It’s a disaster beyond belief lol. 

BLURB
Can he embrace the beast within?

I’m a monster. That’s what Brandon thinks when he flees the medical institute that changed him. Living a normal life isn’t in the cards for him because, while he can hide his scaly skin, his wings are hard to miss. So he runs and lives in the shadows where monsters belong. What he didn’t expect to find were others just like him, and they call themselves dragons. Or so Aimi with the violet eyes tells him when she pins him to the ground.

Seriously, though, dragons?

He doesn’t want to believe, but the evidence is mounting. Not helping his resolve is the fact that the woman with the silver hair doesn’t fear the monster and wants to claim him.

However, before he can think of his own happiness, he has to rescue his little sister. Uncle Theo kidnapped her, and Brandon will do anything to get her back, even if he must embrace the monster within to become the dragon.

Excerpt
“What do you mean, what am I?” Her brow crinkled. “I am the same thing you are.” Her shoulders drew back, her head tilted imperially, and for a moment, shadowy wings glistened silver at her back. “We are dragon.”

At her serious claim, he gaped then snorted before he outright laughed.

“Why are you giggling?” She seemed perturbed at his reaction.

“Men don’t giggle. We guffaw. And I’m guffawing because that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard. I’m no dragon. I’m nothing anymore but a fucking mess.” Bitter words for a bitter fate.

AUTHOR Bio and Links
A New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author

Hello, my name is Eve. I’m a stay at home mom who writes full time in between juggling my three kids, hubby, and housework, I write hot romance with a bit of a twist. I like strong alpha males, naked chests and shifters. Lots of different breeds of shifters. I am also extremely partial to aliens, you know the kind who abduct their woman and then drive them insane…with pleasure of course.I love to write, and while I don’t always know what my mind is going to come up with next, I can promise it will be fun, probably humorous and most of all romantic, because I love a happily ever after.




Wednesday 22 February 2017

Bottoms Up by Kate Deveaux #Erotic #Romance


Kate Deveaux will be awarding a $10, $25 or $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

If your book were made into a movie, who would you want to play your main characters?I’d love Lexi to be played by Marion Cotillard, not only is she a fabulous actress but she is French and Lexi is fluent in French so that would be perfect that raunchy French Hooker scene in the book. As for Justin, well let’s see who would be perfect to play my adventuresome bartender? I think Johnny Depp would make a perfect Justin.

How do you come up with the titles of your books? I usually have one or two working titles bouncing around in my head when I am writing each book. If the book is part of a series I have several titles in mind, all playing on a theme. Bottoms Up was always the title of my latest book, it seemed perfect for a naughty cocktail themed book and the kinky pleasure Lexi and Justin indulge in. Make Mine a Double is the title of the next book in the series. I like my titles a little cheeky, just like my writing!

What does your writing space look like? I usually write in a favorite chair, laptop, cup of tea beside me and sometimes my cat wedged in beside me. I keep a notebook handy for jotting down plot line idea, names, places and inspirations.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?I love to cook and to entertain as well as play tennis and travel just about anywhere.

What is your favourite color? Spa blue. I change my favorite color from time to time but I am feeling the spa blue color this year. Peaceful, serene and soothing.

What is your favourite pleasure food? Chocolate. No other.

What is your favourite season? Fall. I love Fall, the promise of Thanksgiving, Christmas and cool nights curled up by the fire with Mr. D.

What is your favourite television show? I love Coronation Street. Never miss it. J

What is your favourite movie? A Good Year with Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard, set in a vineyard in the south of France.

Who is your favourite actor? Umm. That’s a tough one to chose just one. Clive Owen is one of my favorites.

What is your favourite song? Landslide, Fleetwood Mac.

What is your favourite comfort clothing attire? Tennis skirt and tennis shoes.

What books might we find on your bedside table? Reading glasses, eye mask, lip gloss, 3 books currently reading and ear plugs!

Describe yourself in three words. Whimsical, curious and determined.

BLURB
A bartender with a penchant for naughty drink recipes is well known for crafting the perfect concoction for his clientele. Justin meets his match when down on her luck Lexi walks into his bar and he whips up a cocktail especially for her.

It’s not just the booze talking when Justin and Lexi explore his list of naughty drink recipes in more detail — after hours. Night after night, Lexi is drawn back to Justin’s bar for another deliciously dirty creation and another night of extreme fantasy when he shows her how to let go of her inhibitions — One tantalizing drink recipe at a time— Seems it’s definitely Bottoms Up for these two!

EXCERPT
Standing in the doorway streaks of the fiery Tucson sun blazed into her back. Lexi propped the heavy door open with her hip. Something Arizonians did in July. They knew better than to grab a metal door handle in the heat of summer. Squinting, she poked her head inside. The air conditioning was a welcome blast. And way too tempting to refuse.

Stepping inside, the thin scent of sweat and alcohol singed her nose. The door closed behind her. Lexi’s eyes adjusted in the dim light.

The bar slowly came into focus.

Taking a few steps further she was relieved the place was not as seedy as she’d expected. The bar’s décor surprised her. Not that she frequented bars in the middle of the day. Ever.

Lexi surveyed the handful of customers. A few were couples with their heads bowed together. The rest were singles. Drinking and then looking at their phones for entertainment. Loners. The kind of people who went into a darkened bar in the middle of the afternoon. Their loneliness echoed hers. She fought the urge to turn on her heels and bolt. But then what? Back into the baking heat and back to real life?

Several unoccupied tables dotted her pathway when she ventured forth. Her focus narrowing, she took in the deep blue color scheme, from the tufted leather curved booths and club chairs to the intricate Moroccan style light fixtures that hung from the low coved ceiling. Something she’d come accustomed to in her travels overseas but unusual in the southwest.

Passing by the clusters of patrons gathered closer to the bar, Lexi passed a waitress serving drinks to a couple.

Lexis’s attention quickly turned to the good-looking bartender. Soft lighting and sheers engulfed the impressively lit bar area in a wash of amber and midnight blue almost framing him. He stood behind the shiny blue countertop with his hands braced on the bar. Looking at Lexi as if she were the only person in the room.

She eyed the tattoo on his forearm. Letting her gaze linger a little too long before meeting his. Quickly, she glanced back towards the door, as if still debating if she was going to be staying or not.

“Hi, can I get you something?” the bartender called out to her.

Lexi forced a nod of acknowledgment in his direction, then moved closer. With every step she took, the myriad of liquor bottles labels came into view. That and the bartender’s blue eyes, the same stunning shade of deep midnight blue as the décor. She focused on the scar just above his jaw. An imperfection on his otherwise perfect five o’clock shadow.

His lips turned upward when he grinned. Caught red handed staring at him, she blushed self-consciously at his encouraging glance. Damn. Good-looking bartenders, that was the last thing she needed after the day she’d had. After the year she’d had.

“Have a seat…” He patted the counter hard enough that it made her jump. “Whoa. Didn’t mean to startle you,” he apologized, reaching behind the bar and plunking a frosted martini glass on the counter.

Lexi’s cheeks flushed. She was embarrassed by her skittishness, but also sobered by the fact that a simple action like the stranger plunking the glass on the counter made that her jump. A dead end relationship with Deakin had not only proved to her that rebound lovers were a bad idea, but also the bruises he’d given her. Once. And only once. Before she’d told him they were done. And then she was left to head back to her empty apartment. To ache for the love she really longed for. Scott.

Overcome with a sinking feeling, she felt more alone than ever and reached for the bar stool to steady her. Her lip trembled, tears stinging her eyes.

The pain was fresh once again. Shit. Why had Scott had gone and died on her?

“So what’ll it be?” the bartender asked.

Lexi was instantly dragged back to the present.

“Uh…I don’t know,” she offered, wondering how a drink could possibly dull the emptiness inside her.

He gave a smile and a confident shrug. “Well then, you’re in luck.”

“How’s that?” she asked half-heartedly, not really in the mood for banterbut realizing she was in need of a drink but with no clue what drink she wanted. Just something to make her forget the shitty day she’d had. And the even shittier year. 


The bartender with the soul-searching eyes and the cute little smile that even Lexi had to admit was a bit of a mood lifter, leaned on the bar so his eyes were level with hers.

“You’re in luck because it so happens my drink picking skills are legendary.”

“Legendary?” She repeated his claim, aware some would consider her response a flirt, but she felt it was more of a challenge. A challenge to see if he could pick something for her that would make her feel...feel…What the hell did she want to feel anyway?

“Legendary,” he repeated.

Okay, he was definitely flirting. Lexi couldn’t help but crack a smile.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Kate Deveaux is a contemporary erotic romance writer and die-hard romantic. A former wedding planner, she has always been “in love” with love! Kate is currently working on several fictional stories – each filled with sexy romance, heroines who are no shrinking violets and heroes who make your heart skip a beat. She currently resides with her husband in the U.S. When Kate is not busy writing, she can be found on the tennis court –yes, there’s even ‘love’ in that game too.





Monday 20 February 2017

Run to Her by Lynn Kellan Contemporary Romance

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

Have you ever had an imaginary friend? I didn’t have an imaginary friend until I started writing romance. Now my mind is full of imaginary friends who flirt with each other. They’re good company unless they’re quarreling. 

When I was a kid, I spent most of my time with my younger brother. He was my best friend, and still is. Because we were so close, I always had someone to be with. Thanks to him, an imaginary friend was unnecessary. I had a real one, who lived with me.

Do you have any phobias? I used to have a profound fear of flying. This also bled into other areas of my life. Crossing bridges was difficult. Driving alone became difficult. Lots of things became difficult because the anxiety started to bleed all over the place. 

I ended up taking a “Fear of Flying” audio course, which helped a lot. However, my fear of flying eased significantly when I stopped forcing myself to do things I didn’t want to do. Flying is a lot more pleasant when I WANT to travel. 

To reduce my general anxiety, I learned how to meditate. I did a lot of progressive relaxation, which helped enormously. In addition, I strove to spend time with people who were positive, happy people. 

Do you listen to music when you're writing? I have to be careful about listening to music when I write. I can’t listen to music with lyrics in English, because the lyrics distract me. However, music is a powerful tool that conveys mood, so I will tune in to songs that have the “feel” that I’m trying to convey in my books. If I find one song in particular that works, I play it over and over and over while I write the scene. In those cases, I listen to instrumentals or songs that are sung in Italian (usually by Josh Groban) so that I’m not focusing on the lyrics.

Secretly, I hope my subconscious is learning Italian while I listen to these beautiful songs. 

Do you ever read your stories out loud? I do not read my stories out loud, mostly because my throat hurts when I talk too much. This is going to sound goofy, but my grandmother used to lose her voice for months at a time. No big deal, right? I mean, if you have to lose something, a voice isn’t a bad thing to lose. But I can remember how frustrated she felt when she couldn’t talk. She always had to carry a pencil and a notepad. Too bad they didn’t have text messages twenty years ago, right?
Doctors were never able to figure out why she lost her voice. I find that when I talk too much, I feel the same pain she used to complain about. I’m careful not to strain my voice, which means I listen a lot. 

Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her. My main characters were spawned when I happened on a picture of Wladimir Klitschko (heavyweight professional boxer) and Hayden Panettiere (pretty blonde American actress). Wlad is a huge guy and has a rugged, Slavic face. He looks like a real tough guy, but whenever he’s with Hayden (who is tiny and adorable), he looks content and at ease. They are such physical polar opposites, which intrigued me. I thought it would be neat to write a story about a guy who looked like Wlad and who made his living with his hands (in this case, my hero is a mechanic). The heroine in RUN TO HER is an adorable blonde who happens to be an accountant. At first glance, they look like they have nothing in common…until one lie changes everything.

BLURB
She avoids men like him. He needs a woman like her. One lie changes everything...

Gabriel Antonov is a mechanic who can fix anything, even a woman’s hesitance. His talents have earned him the well-deserved reputation as a player, but when a routine one-night stand goes wrong, he’s haunted by what he’s done. Nothing can free him from those depraved memories, until he meets Leigh Nelson.

Leigh avoids strong, silent types like Gabe, who is stronger and quieter than most guys. The only man she’s focused on is her father, who is suffering from a devastating health crisis. She’ll do anything to help him, even at the cost of ignoring her own well-being, but the stress is getting to her. Gabe’s strength is tough to resist, and his silence might be hiding a crushing secret only she can understand.

He can’t outrun his gut-deep craving for her. Problem is, she’s running from him. When they’re marooned in his lakeside cabin, he might finally catch her…if he can admit why he’s falling apart without her.

EXCERPT
She rose and gave him a smile.

That smile made him want to do pointless, tender things like brush his fingers through the blonde curls hanging down her slim back, but he kept his hands to himself. With her, he had to be careful. Take things slow. If he moved too fast, she’d come up with some reason to leave. He wanted to give her reason to stay.

For one night.

Or a long weekend.

Whatever it took to satisfy his hunger for her.

For the first time in months, he wanted to be with a woman. Not just any woman, though. Just Leigh. He wanted her so badly, every word he spoke came out curt and rough. Winning her trust would be tough if he kept sounding like a horny Neanderthal, so he kept his mouth shut and guided her out of The Crab Trap with a light touch to her back.

AUTHOR Bio and Links
Lynn Kellan writes contemporary romance about strong men who have a weakness for smart women. She believes men and women aren't that different, because everyone wants to be with someone who will empty the dishwasher. To prepare for her career as a romance author, she fell in love with bad boys, burly athletes, battle-hardened Marines…and married a chemist. Lynn has won numerous writing contests and served two terms as President of her local Romance Writers of America chapter, but she feels a true sense of accomplishment whenever she doesn't embarrass her teenaged kids.

For love. For funny. For ever.


RUN TO HER is on sale for $2.99