Blog Tour – Page 5

Meet Claire and Josh, by Sasha Summers

Hi Juliana,

Thank you so much for having me today. And – for letting me gush about my new novel: Hollywood Ever After. I had so much fun writing this book.

The characters were very real to me so, by the books end, it was like visiting with old friends. So I thought I’d ‘introduce’ you to the heroine (Claire) and the hero (Josh).

Claire is very easy to relate to and I liked her. She’s this 35 year old mother of two who’s trying to figure things out now that she’s a single mom. She’s insanely talented, a writer and painter, but she’s very unsure of herself – tending to doubt her abilities versus recognize them. And she’s scarred, emotionally, from her past. I understood her hesitancy to commit or connect with anyone after she’d been so… damaged. But I wanted her to try, to find hope, and work towards it. Meeting Josh changes everything for her.

Josh is the perfect hero, really. I’ve never met a 28 year old man like him – but wouldn’t it be nice? He’s this sweet, ruffled, take-me-as-I-am kind guy who also happens to be drop-dead gorgeous. Oh, did I mention he’s a movie star? He is: the chics-lining-the-red-carpet-screaming-his-name kind of movie star. He’s not sold on the whole star thing but he loves acting enough to deal with the press too. He’s kind of got everything a 28 year old guy could want, but he’s missing something: home.

They just fell together, very sweetly and sincerely. From the second they meet, they click. I wanted them to work out and be happy. I hope you will too!

She wasn’t meant for movie stars, Hollywood, or happy endings. And then she met him.

Happy Endings are for fairy tales. Or the movies. Not for real life. At least, not Claire’s life. Even though she’s starting over, she knows better than to want too much this time. But when she falls, literally, into the strong arms of Hollywood’s ‘it’ boy Josh Wiley, Claire’s in for some surprises.

Her plans for rest and relaxation are forgotten as one incredible night with Josh becomes two…

And her heart begins to want him as much as her body. Will two kids, one bastard ex-husband, and Josh’s juggernaut career mean the end of their affair?

Or can Claire find her happy ending after all?

Pre order on InkSpell Publishing

About the author:

Sasha Summers is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, romance, and travel. She writes both lyrical romantic fantasy and contemporary romance. Her first play was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since.

She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Website/Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest – Goodreads

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Cheers,

Categories: Adult, Authors, Blog Tour

Chatting with Jeffe Kennedy

Today, I have the honor of hosting Jeffe Kennedy and her book, ROGUE’S PAWN, which releases today!

This is no fairy tale…

Haunted by nightmares of a black dog, sick to death of my mind-numbing career and heart-numbing fiancé, I impulsively walked out of my life—and fell into Faerie. Terrified, fascinated, I discover I possess a power I can’t control: my wishes come true. After an all-too-real attack by the animal from my dreams, I wake to find myself the captive of the seductive and ruthless fae lord Rogue. In return for my rescue, he demands an extravagant price—my firstborn child, which he intends to sire himself…

With no hope of escaping this world, I must learn to harness my magic and build a new life despite the perils—including my own inexplicable and debilitating desire for Rogue. I swear I will never submit to his demands, no matter what erotic torment he subjects me to…

Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Q: Welcome Jeffe Kennedy. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about ROGUE’S PAWN?

Jeffe: The story is about a neuroscientist who falls through a metaphysical gate at Devils Tower and accidentally winds up in Faerie. Suddenly, everything she wishes comes true and she become deeply tangled with Rogue – who manipulates her into agreeing to give him her first-born child, which he will sire.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Jeffe: Not until I was in my mid-twenties, when I discovered that the career I was getting a PhD for wasn’t making me happy.

Q: Are you a plotter or a pantster?

Jeffe: I’m a pantser – though I prefer the term “mister.”

Q: What are you working on now?

Jeffe: The sequel to Rogue’s Pawn! I’m about halfway through it.

Q: Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?

Jeffe: My best advice is the one thing most people don’t want to hear: write every day. Even if it’s only for a short space of time, it’s truly the best thing you can do. Build that habit. Do it every single day, no matter what.

Q: What book or series can you read over and over again without getting bored?

Jeffe: I’m not sure there is one. I’ve reread a lot of Anne McCaffrey and JD Robb’s In Death books. I went back and reread the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, which were interesting to read from an adult perspective. Mostly I feel like there’s so much stuff I haven’t read, that I don’t want to burn time reading something I already have!

Q: If you decided not to be a writer, what would your other dream job be?

Jeffe: Exotic animal vet!

Q: What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done in your life?

Jeffe: When I was in college, I took a bus to visit my boyfriend in Chicago. I arrived at 2am at the downtown bus station and he was late meeting me. The vultures were really circling – looking back, it was a stupid thing to do!

Q: Who is the one person that has singlehandedly inspired you the most in your life?

Jeffe: If I have to pick one person, I’d say my husband. He’s always supported me and helped me to see I can have anything I want.

Q: If you could take a trip to any foreign country RIGHT NOW, which one would you choose? Why?

Jeffe: The Maldives. The water looks so beautiful and perfect. I love to snorkel. And I want to see the islands before they’re under water.

Q: What is one talent that you’re hopeless at, but you wish you had?

Jeffe: Music. I simply am miserable at playing a musical instrument. I envy that ability so much.

Q: What TV show are you most addicted to?

Jeffe: I don’t watch TV, so I manage to escape that time sink. I look forward to getting the next season of Castle on Netflix, however…

Q: If you were stuck on a deserted island, name three objects and three people you would want with you.

Jeffe: A knife, a big bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a flare gun, along with my husband, Queen Elizabeth and President Obama. The latter two because everyone in the world would be looking for us!

Q: What is one trait or physical characteristic that you are proud of/love about yourself?

Jeffe: I have a lot of confidence and I’ve discovered that many people don’t have that – so I’m grateful for it.

About the Author:

Jeffe Kennedy took the crooked road to writing, stopping off at neurobiology, religious studies and environmental consulting before her creative writing began appearing in places like Redbook, Puerto del Sol, Wyoming Wildlife, Under the Sun and Aeon. An erotic novella, Petals and Thorns, came out under her pen name of Jennifer Paris in 2010, heralding yet another branch of her path, into erotica and romantic fantasy fiction. Since then, an erotic short, Feeding the Vampire, and another erotic novella, Sapphire, have hit the shelves.

Her contemporary fantasy novel, Rogue’s Pawn, book one in A Covenant of Thorns, will be published in July, 2012. Jeffe lives in Santa Fe, with two Maine coon cats, a border collie, plentiful free-range lizards and frequently serves as a guinea pig for an acupuncturist-in-training. Find her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Author.Jeffe.Kennedy) and Twitter (@jeffekennedy) or visit her at her website http://jeffekennedy.com/

Cheers,

Categories: Blog Tour

If you could spend 24 hours as one of your characters, by Stacey Kennedy

I’m thrilled to be here to share my newest release, DEMONICALLY TEMPTED. So, I’ve been asked, “If you could spend 24 hours as one of your characters, who would you pick?” My answer, Tess Jennings, and there are two very good reasons.

First, Tess has the ability to talk with ghosts. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a scaredy-cat where it comes to anything that goes bump in the night, but if I had the chance to be Tess for one day then I’d jump on it. I agree with her that it’d be slightly annoying if ghosts were bugging me all the time. But if I only had to experience it for one day, it’d be pretty cool.

So, what would I do with such an ability? Well, first I’d walk around just to see where ghosts are. How interesting would be that be? I think the coolest thing would be if they were from a different time period. It’d be neat to see their clothing and hairstyles, even how they talked. And it would be amusing to see ghosts just walking about when everyone else is none the wiser. Also, I’d definitely make a trip to the homes where my parents grew up in, just in case someone I knew was at one of them.

Next, I’d of course try and help someone if I could. Not really sure I would be as efficient as Tess because there would be no way I would admit to anyone that I could see ghosts. I suspect, my family included, would think I was nutty. But it would be nice to help someone who is stuck cross over.

The other reason I’d like to be Tess is for Kipp McGowen! For those who haven’t read Tess’s story, Kipp is her ghost lover. And well, I wouldn’t mind one bit if his attention was turned on to me. However, I would find it very frustrating if I had that hunk of man haunting me and couldn’t actually touch him. Really, I don’t know how Tess does it.

So, yes if I could be Tess for one day I would be without hesitation! That being said, Tess is really put through the emotional ringer so I’m perfectly happy to only be her for a little while. Poor woman has gone through hell and back…literally!

Big thanks to Juliana Haygert for letting me stop by today!!

Tess Jennings, now a member of the Memphis Police Department, is on her first cold case. The suspected suicide of Lizbeth Knapp ten years ago isn’t a theory her family accepts—they believe she was murdered.

But the case is only one of Tess’s worries. Ghosts are talking, and word of her abilities rapidly spreads. A dark ghost is terrifying the spirits of Memphis, and she must force the entity to cross over.

Tess doesn’t have to do this alone. Not only does she have her ghost-lover, Kipp McGowen, but the department has brought in a medium. Dane Wolfe might answer all her questions, but he also brings a world of trouble. Will Tess finally have all she’s ever wanted, or will everything she’s vowed to protect be ripped away?

*SERIES DOES NOT CONTAIN STANDALONE STORIES. MUST BE READ IN ORDER. FIRST BOOK IN FROSTBITE SERIES IS SUPERNATURALLY KISSED*

BUY LINK – BOOK TRAILER

About the author: Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart-squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and they even give you a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll also find fast-paced action, life-threatening moments and a big bad villain who needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance eBooks bestseller lists.

Stacey welcomes comments from readers. You can find her at :

If you’d like to spend a little time in Tess’s world, leave a comment with your email address to enter to win the first book in the series, SUPERNATURALLY KISSED.

Cheers,

Categories: Blog Tour, Guest post

10 Things No One Knew About Blood Jewel

10 Things No One Knew About Blood Jewel

by Georgia Cates

Blood Jewel is written from a male vampire’s POV, which is quite different from the ordinary human female love interest’s POV.
The entire “scene” of Marsala reaching Curry through Black Magic in Club Infinity was inspired by the song “Sleep Alone” by Bat for Lashes.
Chansey’s striptease scene was inspired by “Nasty Naughty Boy” by Christina Aguilera.
Chapter 3 “Seekers, Swans and Dolls” opens up a whole new plot for Book 3, “Blood Doll.”
Solomon’s character stepped up to the plate in “Blood Jewel” because we will be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
Although a Blood Jewel was discovered in Book 2, the explanation behind it won’t be revealed until Book 3, “Blood Doll” because of spoilers.
The setting in Pascagoula is a place I frequently vacation to visit my favorite aunt.
I have been to all of the settings in “Blood Jewel” with the exception of Savannah. I wanted to make a quick trip over so I could get a feel for it, but couldn’t find the time. That’s why there is little to no description about Savannah aside from being inside the compound.
Very little in “Blood Jewel” is random. Most everything has a reason for being included and you might not realize that until you read “Blood Doll.”
Chansey’s grandmother plays a bigger role in this plot than the reader knows and the reader may be shocked to find out what Granna has been up to.

With the mystery of Chansey Leclaire and Curry Brennan’s connection solved, they are free to explore their newfound love for one another. Or so they thought…

When Marsala uses a witch and black magic to discover Curry’s whereabouts, he and Chansey are left with no choice. The newly engaged couple is forced to relocate away from their families at the new compound in Savannah, which causes some major changes in the plans for their upcoming wedding.

Relocating to Savannah might have saved Curry and Chansey from being discovered by Marsala, but it doesn’t stop her attempts to reach Curry or her efforts to harm Chansey through the use of black magic. As Marsala closes in, Curry faces the decision he never wanted to make. Will he keep Chansey human or condemn her to eternity as the thing he hates most?

As Curry waits for his hand to be forced, a newly turned vampire arrives at the Savannah compound in need of help. Not only is she a fledgeling in transition, she brings reports of escaping from a vampire cult still in possession of her sister, a human. Any attempt to save the captive human from a cult of vampires puts everyone in jeopardy. Can they risk entering a large cult to save one human being? And is so, how could they possibly do it successfully?

Love will grow. New mysteries will arise. A battle will ensue. A Blood Jewel will be found.

About the author: I reside in rural Mississippi with my wonderful husband, Jeff, and our two beautiful daughters.

I spent thirteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before I decided to pursue my dream of becoming an author.

Blood of Anteros, Book One in The Vampire Agápe Series, was my first novel and it was released in September 2011.

I decided to step away from the paranormal genre to try my hand at a young adult romance and I loved it. It was so much fun, I plan to do it again in the near future.

Website – Facebook – Twitter

Cheers,

Categories: Authors, Blog Tour, Entangled Pub, Young Adult

5 Reasons to Love Daemon

Before diving into the 5 reasons to love Daemon, let me tell you two things:

First, I opened the book—the amazing OBSIDIAN by the equally amazing Jennifer Armentrout from Entangled Publishing, on my kindle and searched for passages to include on this post. I wanted five. On the first half of the book, I ended up with more than 30 passages! I couldn’t decide which ones to include because I wanted to include EVERYTHING!

Second, my plan was to read some passages only. I remembered enough of the book to skim through and end up directly on the passages I was looking for. But, oh no, I ended up rereading the whole thing! Why? Because it’s THAT good! I finished at 2am, even though I knew I had to wake at 6am the next morning!

5 Reasons to Love Daemon

1. Daemon is HOT and GORGEOUS:

Heavy footsteps came from the other side, and then the door was swinging open and I was staring at a very broad, tan, well-muscled chest. A naked chest. My gaze dropped and my breath sort of … stalled. Jeans hung low on his hip, revealing a think line of dark hair that formed below his navel and disappeared under the band of the jeans.

His stomach was ripped. Perfect. Totally touchable. Not the kind of stomach I expected on a seventeen-year-old-boy, which is how old I suspected he was, but yeah, I wasn’t complaining. I also wasn’t talking. And I was staring.

My gaze finally traveling north again, I noted thick, sooty lashes fanning the tips of high cheeks and hiding the color of his eyes as he looked down at me. I needed to know what color his eyes were.

“Can I help you?” Full kissable lips turned down in annoyance.

His voice was deep and firm. The kind of voice accustomed to people listening and obeying without question. His lashes lifted, revealing eyes so green and brilliant they couldn’t be real. They were an intense emerald color that stood out in vibrant contrast against his tan skin.

2. Daemon is a fun kind of trouble:

His gaze lingered on my face, and warmth blossomed in my belly. “Maybe I’m just curious why she is so enamored. Dee doesn’t take well to strangers. None of us do.”

“I had a dog once that didn’t take well to strangers.”

Daemon stared at me a moment, then laughed. It was a deep, rumbling sound. Nice. Sexy. Oh, God, I looked away. He was the kind of boy that broke hearts and left a long line of them shattered behind him. He was trouble. Maybe the fun kind of trouble, but he was also a jerk.”

3. Daemon is thoughtful, deep:

“I’ve always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect.” His eyes searched mine intently, and for a moment we stood there toe to toe. “The ones who throw their beauty around, waste what they have? Their beauty is only passing. It’s a shell hiding nothing but shadoes and emptiness.”

4. Daemon is a gentleman even when he tries not to:

He helped me into Dee’s backseat mindful of the arm brace, by carrying me again and pacing me into the rear. “I can walk, you know.”

“I know.” He walked around and slid in next to me.

I tried to keep on my side of the car and my head up, but once Daemon settled next to me, my head sort of fell to his chest. He stiffened for a moment and then placed an arm around my shoulder. The warmth of him quickly seeped into my bones. It felt right, at that moment, to be nestled against him.

5. Daemon is provocative in many, many ways:

“So, you guys are like us in other, uh, departments?”

Daemon sat up, arching a brow. “Come again?”

I felt my cheeks flush. “You know, like sex? I mean, you guys are all glowy and stuff. I don’t see how certain stuff would work.”

Daemon’s lips curled into a half smile, and that was the only warning he gave. Moving unbelievably fast, I was on my back and he was above me in a flash. “Are you asking if I’m attracted to human girls?” he asked. Dark, wet waves of hair fell forward. Tiny droplets of water fell off the ends, splashing against my cheek. “Or are you asking if I’m attracted to you?”

Using his hand, he lowered himself slowly. There wasn’t an inch of space between our bodies. Air fled my lungs at the contact of his body against mine. He was male and ripped in all the places I was soft. Being this close to him was startling, causing an array of sensations to zing through me. I shivered. Not from the cold, but from how warm and wonderful he felt. I could feel every breath he took, and when he shifted his hips, my eyes went wide and I gasped.

Oh yeah, certain stuff was definitely working.

And that’s only up to 56% of the book! Tell me, what’s there not to love?

The first and the current cover.

I can’t wait for this one:

Coming August 2012!

Don’t forget to check the other today’s post from the 30 days of Daemon blog tour at Book Passion for Life—they have an ONYX teaser ;)

Cheers,

Categories: Authors, Blog Tour

Holy Cauldron-bats, is it the caped crusader…Merlin? by Priya Ardis

Today I have Priya Ardis on the blog talking about her new book MY MERLIN AWAKENING.

A young Merlin has woken and must manipulate a high school girl so he can wield Excalibur to stop a devastating natural disaster, but then falls in love with her.

Take it away, Priya:

Holy Cauldron-bats, is it the caped crusader…Merlin?

You’ve heard the legends. His name pops up everywhere. Merlin. He’s some old dude with a long white beard, pointy hat, and robes. But does the most powerful wizard in the world really have to be a cartoon character? Well, I thought, why not trade in the robe for…tights?

While the Legend of Arthur is a classic story and the underlying themes of brotherhood, nobility, and the infamous love triangle still appeal today, when was the last time you looked at them through a more modern lens? If you think about it, Merlin has always been the Arthurian superhero. In the My Merlin Series, I sharpened the focus on this idea.

So, how to modernize Merlin as a superhero?

First, every superhero needs an alter-ego. Okay, no tights I promise. Actually I prefer jeans and a biker jacket. That’s what Clark Kent wore when he was being badass—under the influence of red kryptonite, of course. The classic struggle for the superhero is his dual identity. Is he really Clark Kent/Peter Parker/BruceWayne? Or is he really the superhero? Which one does he want to be? In My Merlin, Merlin’s alter-ego is Matt. This is a huge struggle in the book for Merlin…does he want to be the “Most Powerful Wizard in the World” or does he want to be plain-old Matt?

Second, every superhero needs an equally powerful super-villain. Yeah, there are minion bad guys but there is only one we truly love to hate. Batman had the Joker. Superman vs. Lex Luthor. When you think about the legends, Merlin didn’t really have one. The legends say that Merlin was tricked into defeat by a witch/nymph/girl called Viviane/Nimue. In My Merlin, Merlin has one very powerful and contentious relationship—his brother Vivane, aka Vane. After all, brothers can make the best friends but as archenemies they can be truly devastating.

Third, every superhero needs a super-power. Well, this was a no brainer. Merlin is the most powerful wizard in the world and all that. But his true super-power lies in being able to tell the future. (Not that he can necessarily stop the visions from happening!)

Fourth, every superhero needs to obsess over—the girl. Calling Lois Lane. In My Merlin, Arriane, aka Ryan, gives our hero a run for his magic. Since the story is told from her point of view, it’s interesting to see what our hero looks like from her perspective. Also she’s the tipping point…leading us into the last superhero modernization of Merlin…

Fifth, every superhero needs a cause in the here and now. Batman saves the city. Superman saves the world. I think Thor saved the galaxy. In My Merlin, the sword and stone crashes out of nowhere into the middle of London. Why is it here? What does it mean? It can’t be good. Turn on the Merlin-signal, commissioner. We need a hero!

Want more Merlin? Watch the “If you can’t trust your boyfriend, who can you trust?” trailer:

My Boyfriend Merlin, Book 1, is available through most major book retailers. My Merlin Awakening, Book 2, is now available in limited release at Barnes and Noble. It will be out in full release in mid-June 2012. Ever My Merlin, Book 3, will be available in late 2012. Add it to-read on Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13641732-ever-my-merlin)

Read Reviews and Excerpts at: Author Website, Amazon, B&N and Goodreads.

About the Author: I love stories of all kinds–but especially the gooey ones that make your nose leak and let your latte go cold. I started my first novel at sixteen, writing in notebooks on a long train ride in India during a hot summer vacation. My favorite Arthurian piece is the poem The Lady of Shalott by Lord Alfred Tennyson and a gorgeous song by Loreena McKennitt. A hopeless romantic, I’m a longtime member of the Romance Writer’s of America.

Connect with Priya Ardis at: Website, Blog, Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.

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Cheers,

Categories: Authors, Blog Tour, Guest post

Being Opposites, by Jacqueline Gardner

If you’re here for my entry for the Curiosity Quills contest, click here.

Today I have Jacqueline Gardner here on the blog talking about her new book, MUTINY, book 1 of the M.E.R. series.

Eric’s life aboard a top secret stealth submarine as a member of the government’s M.E.R. program has been about discipline, cunning and survival. As both a soldier and a natural born regenerator, he can heal from any wound, but to stay alive he must accept a vein-burning serum that prevents his DNA from over-mutating. In exchange Eric must follow his Chief Commander’s every order. And never ask questions, no matter the assignment.

When he goes ashore on his first solo mission he runs into a complication he didn’t expect; Mariella, the target’s daughter. She’s about to change everything.

Being Opposites

My husband and I are opposites. He has blond hair and blue eyes, and I have black hair and brown eyes. He can have hour long conversations with complete strangers, and I have a hard time opening up to people. He’s a total early bird, and I’m a die-hard night owl. And the list goes on and on.

When the two of us first started dating, I would always come home thinking the same thing. I really like him but we have absolutely nothing in common! But after getting to know him better, I realized I was wrong. Though opposites at first glance, we were actually a lot more alike than either of us had ever thought. So much in fact that it didn’t take long for us to start thinking the same things at the same time.

In my book MUTINY, Eric and Mariella (the two main characters) are complete opposites. Eric is a soldier who thinks a lot like a computer. He calculates probabilities and scenarios before making a choice, and he has been brought up to always follow orders. Mariella is a rule-breaker. She usually acts before she thinks, and she lets her emotions guide her decision making.

By the end of the book, Eric and Mariella discover that they are tied together in a way they never could have imagined. Their personalities actually complement each other and they end up learning something new about themselves. First impressions usually aren’t correct.

About the author:

Jacqueline Gardner works as a Story Editor for the production company, Labragirl Pictures. Her love of storytelling began at an early age when she would make up stories with her grandmother before bedtime. In early 2010, she completed her first novel and has been stuck on writing ever since. She resides in Colorado and loves hiking, writing, fantasy fiction, and all things cupcake.

Find her on her website, Facebook and Twitter.

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Cheers,

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