Monthly Archives: December 2013
Winter’s Sweet Kiss Blog Tour: The WSK Authors Kiss and Tell #Giveaway #Romance @roanepublishing
Hello again readers, and thanks, as always, for stopping in to the blog today.
As part of the ongoing Winter’s Sweet Kiss blog tour, I have managed to score a short interview with each of the participating authors. I asked each of them one question… a good one, of course.
Tell us about your first kiss.
Here’s what they had to say 🙂
Michelle Ziegler:
Hmm – will my husband be reading this? Let’s put it this way. It wasn’t good. It was awkward, he bit me, and I was left trying to figure out if I’d been kissed or mauled.
Shaya Roy:
Well, this is embarrassing 😉 My first kiss was like first kisses usually are. Quick, awkward and bewildering, because neither of us quite knew what we were doing. I still felt so wonderful after, and roamed around in a proud daze the whole day!
Lily Carlyle:
To…
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Winter’s Sweet Kiss Blog Tour: The WSK Authors Kiss and Tell #Giveaway #Romance @roanepublishing
Hello again readers, and thanks, as always, for stopping in to the blog today.
As part of the ongoing Winter’s Sweet Kiss blog tour, I have managed to score a short interview with each of the participating authors. I asked each of them one question… a good one, of course.
Tell us about your first kiss.
Here’s what they had to say 🙂
Michelle Ziegler:
Hmm – will my husband be reading this? Let’s put it this way. It wasn’t good. It was awkward, he bit me, and I was left trying to figure out if I’d been kissed or mauled.
Shaya Roy:
Well, this is embarrassing 😉 My first kiss was like first kisses usually are. Quick, awkward and bewildering, because neither of us quite knew what we were doing. I still felt so wonderful after, and roamed around in a proud daze the whole day!
Lily Carlyle:
To be perfectly honest, I wish I had a better story to tell—more romance, genuine affection, true love. My first kiss was unfortunately tinged by revenge.
I’d had a crush on a boy for years. My best friend liked him and asked me to convey that information to him, which I gleefully did. He had no interest in her and my friendship with her ended for other reasons, but he and I became friends.
And we were friends for years. He must have realized I had a crush on him, but he never acted on it. Silly boy.
Through him, I got to know his best friend—a cocky, good-looking soccer player who had a way with the girls. I realized he was dumb as a box of rocks, but he was cute. One afternoon, after school, when no parents were around, he kissed me. It never really led to a relationship, though we had an off and on thing that went on for years.
As for Boy #1? He married his high school sweetheart and they divorced a few years later.
Terri Rochenski:
Does kissing my kindergarten boyfriend in the back of the bus count??
I was 15, playing Monopoly with my then-boyfriend and he just leaned across the board and stole my ‘first’ kiss – along with a handful of $100s from the bank. Jerk.
Annabelle Blume:
The details of my first kiss are boring. Instead, I will tell you about my almost-first kiss. In my early teen years, I was pretty lame; A scrawny thirteen year old who happened to hang out with kids that were reasonably well liked. We were an eclectic group of popular and not-so-popular eighth graders who forged some kind of strange connection in the horribly mixed up hormonal world of middle school.
The cutest guy in school, Joe, happened to be part of our group. Blond, tan, surfer guy with a brilliant smile and charm to boot. Not my type, but undeniably good looking. One day we were goofing off in the cafeteria, and as he lounged across a bench I leaned over him to ask a question. His response was not an answer me, but to look directly in my eyes and whisper, “I could have kissed you just then.” I giggled and pulled away, unsure of how the geeky, skinny girl is supposed to respond when a guy of his social standing says such a thing. Four years later, after being separated by different high schools and a variety of young love affairs, we reunited, and you can bet I didn’t make that mistake a second time *wink*!
Love it!
Let’s hope the some of the kissing in Winter’s Sweet Kiss turns out better *chuckles*
Speaking of which, here are the juicy details on their release from Roane Publishing.
Winter’s Sweet Kiss
by Annabelle Blume, Lily Carlyle, Shaya Roy, Michelle Ziegler, and Terri Rochenski
Genre: Romance (Sweet)
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: December 15, 2013
Keywords: Adult, Romance, Sweet, Contemporary, Historical, Anthology
Description: Fight the winter chill with these heartwarming romantic tales.
What better time than winter to find someone to cuddle up with? These sweet tales of winter romance are sure to warm your heart.
Stories:
AN UNEXPECTED WREATH By Annabelle Blume
Blurb: Stella’s got everything she needs in life: a great job, a beautiful house, and her independence. But on last minute trip to the local Christmas tree lot she finds something, or rather someone, she desperately wants – Grayson. An emergency trip to Target, an unexpected wreath, and a little Christmas magic make the season much brighter.
SANTA BEBE By Lily Carlyle
Blurb: Disillusioned by men and her belief that they see her only as an object, Bebe is determined to find a man with money. Her geeky, but unfailingly kind, next-door neighbor James tries to convince her of the possibility of real love, even as she reveals to him the troubled childhood that made her so cynical about relationships. When her mother dashes her hopes for a perfect Christmas, Bebe finds herself turning to James once again, and in the process, learning a lot about herself and the promise their relationship holds.
MELT By Shaya Roy
Blurb: Newlyweds in an arranged marriage, Naina and Dev go to the mountains of Shimla, India in search of snow. Unfortunately, they find fifteen inches more than they expected.
Being snowed in with her husband is not necessarily a bad thing. It gives Naina an excellent excuse to snuggle up to her deep, quiet man, but every time Dev spurns her, a little more of her heart drips away. Melting the ice around her husband’s heart before the snow outside does might take more pride than Naina’s ready to surrender.
ONE IN A MILLION SNOWFLAKES By Michelle Ziegler
Blurb: Angela is in love with someone she can never have–her best friend, Rebecca’s older brother.
Stranded in the bitter cold after a disastrous blind date with yet another company Christmas party looming, a standing offer from the boss’ nephew gets a little more appealing. Desperation. Not a good sign. Surely when Rebecca rescues her from the blinding snow, she can also convince Angela to just go to the party alone. She can always count on her best friend.
That is, as long as she never finds out about Angela’s secret crush.
BEGINNING OF FOREVER By Terri Rochenski
Blurb: When Wayne Edwards moves to town, Lillian Douglas experiences stirrings she thought were long dead. Guilt ridden over betraying her deceased husband and the feelings Wayne inspires, Lillian reluctantly lets him in. Secrets of the past – an old promise emerges, but will it threaten their forever?
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18844487-winter-s-sweet-kiss
BUY LINKS:
Print Copies
Createspace (Print – Best Option)
Amazon (Print)
eBook Copies
Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks
Group Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card & paperback copy of Winter’s Sweet Kiss
Harper’s Wish Blog Tour: A Christmas Visit from Krista Ames #Giveaway #Romance
Merry Christmas, folks. So glad to have you all here. Sorry this post is a bit late — not sure what happened with my amazing scheduling skills, but better late than never, right?
Today, I have a special treat for you all. I have fenagled a visit from the author of Roane Publishing’s latest release, Harper’s Wish, Krista Ames. She has gracefully agreed to come by and share her favorite Christmas gift with us all.
Take it away, Krista!
Well, there’s one Christmas and one gift that stands out above all others for me and it’s been years ago now.
It was Christmas Morning and my boyfriend and I went to my mom & dad’s house at the lake for Christmas with my family. Everyone was there, step family, my sisters, all the nieces and nephews. We had gone through a whole room full of presents and cleaned up every stitch of wrapping paper when my boyfriend came into the room while I was on the floor playing with the kids. He sat a huge wrapped giftbox on the floor in front of me. Of course that got everyone’s attention. 🙂
I got nervous right away. Confused too because it was a huge box and of course, what girl doesn’t want a ring at Christmas so I guess I was a little disappointed too. He urged me to unwrap so I unwrapped the box and opened it to find another big box inside, wrapped as well. He was quite the joker so it shouldn’t have surprised me lol.
I bet I got through five boxes, all wrapped and varying sizes before I got to a tiny box. The kind of box a ring does come in. I started to get nervous again and fought a little at the tears. I unwrapped the box with shaky hands to find a velvet jewelry box inside. I looked up at my boyfriend and he was just smiling at me. So focusing again, I opened the velvet box and where a ring SHOULD have been tucked, was a note instead.
I seriously had a range of emotions all in about ten minutes so I played along and opened the note. He had written me a long letter talking about the 4 years we had dated and all the ups and downs we’d gone through and how much he loved me and at the very end he’d asked me to marry him. When I looked up at him, he was holding the ring that had been missing from the box. Of course, I said yes. 🙂
Pretty hard to top a Christmas like that !
Nice! Sounds like a great guy — certainly a romantic one!
Since we are all here talking romantic men — let’s have a look at Krista’s story, Harper’s Wish. I hear her leading man, Fin, is quite a cowboy romantic, himself.
Harper’s Wish
by Krista Ames
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: December 20, 2013
Key Words: Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Sweet, Novella
Blurb: Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but for Harper Donaldson it’s just another day. Orphaned at an early age, she doesn’t have a single good memory of Christmas.
But, when a Santa’s Mailbox mysteriously appears in the lobby of the post office where she works as postmistress, Harper wonders what it could hurt to send her own letter to Santa.
Could he bring her the family she’d always wanted?
BUY LINKS:
Amazon | Amazon (UK) | Barnes and Noble
Kobo | Smashwords | All Romance eBooks
Now, in the spirit of Christmas giving, and of, course, to promote the release, Roane Publishing is offering a giveaway to celebrate the release. To get in on that, just hit the link below and enter for your chance at a free copy of Harper’s Wish or a $10 Amazon gift card.
About Krista Ames:
Born and raised in Northern Indiana, Krista now resides in Northern Lower Michigan. She is married to a very supportive man who allows her to follow her true passion of writing and never complains when she is pirated away on her computer for hours. He is excellent at bouncing ideas around with and even helps the occasional writers block. He’s also a terrific “in house” editor. Krista is also a mother of 4 ornery children who keep her plenty busy. With an addition of 2 beautiful chocolate lab sisters and a playful kitty, there is never a dull or spare moment in her household.
Krista has always loved to read and would often sit up for hours into the night not able to put down a book until she was finished. She still reads when she can but her main focus is creating her own stories to share with the world.
She loves to communicate with her readers so please feel free to drop her a line anytime.
Krista Ames’ Links:
Talking Wine Pairings and Erotic Romance with Eileen Griffin #Romance #RotG @Evernightpub
Welcome back, readers.
Today I have a special treat for you all. Fellow Evernight Publishing author, Eileen Griffin has agreed to stop in and share her wine knowledge with us. I can tell you all quite honestly, despite years as a bartender, I am completely hopeless when it comes to wine and wine pairings, so I am quite chuffed to have Eileen over today.
Here she is….
A huge thanks to Rebecca for hosting me on her blog today 🙂
Although Tony and Sonia only get to enjoy a little bit of their wine and dinner in my newest release, Dinner For Two, it would have been a travesty for me not to include them sharing a glass of a good red wine after a frantic day in Tony’s kitchen. A glass of wine at night is integral to helping me unwind after a particularly stressful day.
I’m not an oenophile, just a lover of wines. I have to admit that when I was younger and in college, the extent of my wine knowledge basically began and ended with White Zinfandel. I cannot tell you how much that makes me shudder thinking back on it today. Not because I’m a wine snob (really, I’m not!) but because I’ve discovered that there are so many other amazing wines out there that have so much more to offer than just a simple wine that’s easy to drink. I was introduced to “real” wine during my first backpacking trip across Europe in a small café in Avignon, France. Avignon is a region known for their Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, which are WAY out of my price range but Oh-So-Delicious! The wine I had that day was local (to this day I have no idea what it was) and it was delicious. This one meal started me on my journey of seeking out new wines and trying to discover what I could about the different varietals.
So even though I’m not a certified oenophile, here are some suggestions I have to make a newbie’s introduction into the world of wine (past White Zinfandel) with some of the recipes I’ve blogged about this week for an easier transition:
Wine and Food Pairings:
Puttanesca or any spicy dish: To hold up against the spiciness, you need a wine that’s not going to overpower the flavor of the spices. I highly recommend either a Pinor Noir (which is only lightly fruity and usually allows the spices of a dish to come through) or a Sangiovese blend (I recommend a blend because for me, a true Sangiovese is too harsh and dry).
Italian Wedding Soup: Because this is made with white meat (chicken or turkey), I’d suggest a lighter, crisper white wine. My personal favorite is Sauvignon Blanc rather than a Chardonnay, only because a Chardonnay tends to be more “buttery” and heavy and can easily overpower the subtle flavors of the soup. This soup can also be served with a Pinot Noir since it’s one of the lighter, fruitier red wines.
Pasta Salad: This salad screams for Sauvignon Blanc but can also easily be served with a Chardonnay.
Cheeses or my Baked Brie: For me, fancy cheese is a personal preference and should be served with whatever the person’s personal choice of wine is. I love drinking a heavier red wine like Zinfandel with cheeses because I feel like the cheese helps bring out the smokiness and berry undertones of the wine.
However, the bottom line for any wine lover is this: Drink what you love whenever you enjoy good food. It’s your palate and your dining experience. No one has a better idea what you’ll enjoy than you do! Salute 🙂
~Eileen
Now that we all know a bit more about wines (or at least I do, which is really what matters :P), let’s have a closer look at Eileen’s latest release:
Dinner For Two
by: Eileen Griffin
Genre: Erotic Romance
Length: Romance On The Go – Short Story
Published: December 17, 2013
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
BLURB: Sonia Davenport has dreams of coordinating and planning special events. When she’s given the opportunity to plan a dinner for her boss and his shareholders, she jumps at the chance to make everything perfect. Helping her plan the special night is the head chef of the restaurant, Tony Mancinni, who is not only charming but goes out of his way to make Sonia feel special during the entire planning process.
The dinner party almost turns disastrous when an employee mixes up the orders and sets out the wrong food. In a mad rush to save the dinner, Sonia and Tony realize their attraction to each other when things heat up in the kitchen. However, Tony has to convince Sonia that he wants more than just an extra set of hands in his restaurant – he wants her to stay the night so he can convince her to stay for good.
* * * *
EXCERPT:
Tony gently rubbed his finger along her bottom lip. “I had hoped everything would be perfect tonight because I wanted to impress you. When you came in for brunch that first Sunday and laid out your plans, not only were you beautiful, but you had a detailed description of what you wanted. On the catering side of things, you have no idea how attractive that is. Then, when you came in for your tasting, I didn’t think I was going to make it through the afternoon without asking you out. But I have a strict rule: Don’t date the clients until after the function is over. So I waited. Do you have any idea how hard it was to wait?”
Sonia shook her head slightly, then let her lips part. Instead of replying to him, she slid her tongue out to meet his finger, gently caressing the tip. He hissed in a breath, his eyes fixated on her tongue and lips. Feeling emboldened by his words, she leaned closer and drew his finger deeper inside her mouth, wrapping her lips around it as she laved it with her tongue.
“Sonia,” he whispered. “You’re so beautiful. But I didn’t ask you up here for this.”
She leaned back, his finger sliding out of her mouth. All the nerves and doubts she’d felt earlier were replaced by a heat that was coursing through her. She’d felt it all night in the kitchen with him and it was stronger now that she knew he wanted her as badly as she wanted him.
“I’m glad you asked me up here, Tony. But if we’re being honest with each other, I think dinner can wait. You see, I’ve lost my appetite. For food, that is.”
BUY LINKS:
EILEEN GRIFFIN BIO:
Eileen Griffin lives in the Southwest but loves to travel and has spent many summers crossing Europe with nothing but a backpack on her back. She enjoys TexMex, lives for good wine, and has a certain penchant for purple unicorns. She loves reading all genres of books, but her current obsession is writing M/M with lots of boykissing.
Blog: http://www.eileengriffin.wordpress.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/eileengriffin77 @eileengriffin77
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eileen.griffin
Evernight: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/eileen-griffin/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7231778.Eileen_Griffin
Alone No More Blog Tour: Terri Rochenski’s Top Ten Romance Movies Plus a #Giveaway!
Things are really popping on the blog lately, which I love, and today is no exception. Actually, today is special in that one of my close friends and fellow authors, Terri Rochenski has stopped in today to share a bit about her newest release, ALONE NO MORE, as well as sharing her Top Ten Favorite Romance Movies with us.
I am a romantic movie junkie, so I am very curious to see what romances made Ms. Rochenski’s list and how many of them match up with my own. So, here is Terri with her list:
My top ten favorite romance movies of all time in no particular order
- Pride & Prejudice. While I enjoy any of the versions, the 2005 with Keira Knightly and Matthew MacFadyen is by far the best.
- The Notebook. I always think of my grandparents and the love they shared. This one always brings a tear or two.
- Sense & Sensibility, the 1995 version. Love love love.
- Cold Mountain. JUDE LAW on that roof top. Le sigh. Need I say more?
- The New World. Colin Farrell. Mmmmmm Seriously, though, even as a child I was intrigued by Pocahontas and her story. Even got to be her once in a middle school play.
- 17 Again – the only romantic comedy on this list! I always thought Zach Efron was a punk, but he did such a believable job in this film, and Leslie Mann was a riot. They had great chemistry and their quirky expressions just made this a great one for me.
- Legends of the Fall. No, it’s not really a romance movie, but it’s one of those haunting movies that sticks in the brain LONG afterwards. Longing, lost love … ugh. Hurts just thinking about it!
- Last of the Mohicans. Like #7, this movie is heart wrenching. That cliff scene – I cry every. Single. Time.
- Princess Bride. No explanation necessary IMO.
- Far and Away. One of the few times I’ve enjoyed Tom Cruise on the big screen.
Wow… I am shocked to see we only have two in common, but one if the two is my all time favorite, so I was glad to see LAST OF THE MOHICANS on the list. If you are wondering, the other one I would also have on my top 10 romance list is Legends of the Fall (as a matter of fact, Brad Pitt in that movie was the inspiration for my historical romance hero, Daniel O’Rourke).
What are your top 10 romance movies? Feel free to share your picks in the comments section. Love hearing from you. 🙂
Now that I have put you all off long enough and heightened anticipation, here are the details on Terri Rochenski’s release:
ALONE NO MORE
by Terri Rochenski
Genre: Romance / Historical
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Release Date: December 18, 2013
Book Blurb:
Dismissed from her job as a scullery maid and cast aside by her lover, pregnant Cara Morland has no choice but to return to her father’s farm. While lies of widowhood keep her from disgrace, Cara is faced with a local landowner’s unwanted attentions. Without the social status to do much more than avoid the vile man, she loses hope of ever finding happiness.
A friendship based on mutual loneliness blossoms between Cara and James Elliot, a young farm hand hired by her father. He offers his protection, and one shared kiss reveals his heart, but propriety and her feigned grieving period hinders what they both desire.
When Cara’s stalker learns the truth of her circumstances, he gives her an ultimatum—submit to his possession or he’ll ruin her second chance at love with James.
Add it to your Goodreads TBR Pile today:
Buy Links:
Will be added as soon as possible
I bet you are wondering where the giveaway is, aren’t you? Terri is giving away a FREE ecCopy of ALONE NO MORE to a luck winner.
As promised, here is the link to the Rafflecopter giveaway
Bio: Terri started writing stories in the 8th grade, when a little gnome whispered in her brain. Gundi’s Great Adventure never hit the best seller list, but it started a long love affair with storytelling.
Today she enjoys an escape to Middle Earth during the rare ‘me’ moments her three young children allow. When not playing toys, picking them back up, or kissing boo-boos, she can be found sprawled on the couch with a book or pencil in hand, and toothpicks propping her eyelids open.
Her Links:
Happy Release Day to Harper’s Wish and Krista Ames #romance #Novella #Christmas
Harper’s Wish
A Montana Series Christmas Novella
by Krista Ames
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Western)
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: Today!!
Description:
Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but for Harper Donaldson it’s just another day. Orphaned at an early age, she doesn’t have a single good memory of Christmas.
But, when a Santa’s Mailbox mysteriously appears in the lobby of the post office where she works as postmistress, Harper wonders what it could hurt to send her own letter to Santa.
Could he bring her the family she’d always wanted?
Buy Links:
Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks
Roane Publishing is hosting a rafflecopter giveaway to celebrate — so swing by there to enter for your chance to win an eCopy of Harper’s Wish and a $10 Amazon gift card.
Good Luck!!
One More Day Blog Tour: Tens List and a #Giveaway!
Today, as part of the One More Day Blog Tour, I have contributing author, L.S Murphy stopping by to share with us her TOP TEN BOOKS SHE COULD READ MORE THAN ONCE, as well as a giveaway to share in celebration of the anthology release.
Before we get to the nitty gritty details on ONE MORE DAY, here is L.S Murphy’s TENs List.
Okay, this is really hard. There are so many great books out there, and so many I can read more than once. It was difficult, but I managed to narrow it down a bit. 🙂
1. The Alienist by Caleb Carr
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (actually, the entire series.)
4. Lamb by Christopher Moore
5. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
6. Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
7. Emma by Jane Austen
8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
9. White Cat by Holly Black
10. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
How many books have you read from this list? Are any of these your favorites? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments area below.
And now, without further ado or delays, here are all the juicy details on the ONE MORE DAY anthology.
ONE MORE DAY
By L.S. Murphy, Erika BeeBe, Marissa Halvorson, Kimberly Kay,
J. Keller Ford, Danielle E. Shipley, and Anna Simpson
Back of the Book: What if today never ends?
What if everything about life—everything anyone hoped to be, to do, to experience—never happens?
Whether sitting in a chair, driving down the road, in surgery, jumping off a cliff or flying … that’s where you’d be … forever.
Unless …
In One More Day, Erika Beebe, Marissa Halvorson, Kimberly Kay, J. Keller Ford, Danielle E. Shipley and Anna Simpson join L.S. Murphy to give us their twists, surprising us with answers to two big questions, all from the perspective of characters under the age of eighteen.
How do we restart time?
How do we make everything go back to normal?
The answers, in whatever the world—human, alien, medieval, fantasy or fairytale—could, maybe, happen today.
Right now.
What would you do if this happened … to you?
Excerpt from “The 13th Month” by L.S. Murphy coming soon in ONE MORE DAY!
December 31st, 2013 4:01pm
“Stop being a douche, Jackie. This end of the world crap is nothing but a load of … well, crap. Get over it.” I snatched our shared laptop from my little brother and closed the lid, not bothering to check out the site he’d become fixated on during the last hour. Jackie’s conspiracy theories were a constant pain in my ass.
“Give it back, Nixon.” He whined, reaching across my body as I shoved the ancient computer behind my back. “This one’s real. I’m telling you; it’s gonna to happen.”
“Just like you said Rapture was real, right? Or the Mayan prophecy of December twenty-first in two-thousand twelve?” I shoved his thirteen-year-old body away from me. “Guess what, dipshit? Twenty-twelve has come and gone with the world still spinning. Get outta here so I can chat with my girl.”
Jackie stood, brushing invisible dirt of his green plaid shorts. In a few years, he’d either be modeling or coming out of the closet. I swore my brother got all the looks in the family—Mom’s California blonde hair, Dad’s bright blue eyes, and at least two inches taller than I was.
Me? I inherited Dad’s brown hair that curled if it got too long and Mom’s brown eyes the color of dry dirt. In other words, boring.
“One of these days, you’ll believe me,” Jackie said, his voice deeper than normal. His eyes sparkled like ice held up to a light bulb. “The end is coming. Everything will stop. And there’s nothing you can do to prevent it.”
“Dude, did you forget your Zoloft, or something? What’s with the voice?” I fell onto my twin bed, wishing for the millionth time I had my own room. The computer lay across my thighs, warming the denim beneath it.
Flipping me the bird, Jackie left the room and slammed our door behind him, rattling the windows from the force. The little shit must’ve started lifting weights. I glanced over to his half of the room but saw no sign that my brother had suddenly decided to add to his martial arts workout. Instead, his side was spotless, with a perfectly made bed, organized desk, laid-out clothes, and his lined-up tae kwon do ribbons. Jackie switched disciplines when he was seven, while I stuck with karate. I would’ve quit, but girls thought it was sexy. Laura included.
My shit was less than perfect. A box shoved into the closet hid my wrinkled karate ribbons. Homework and textbooks littered my desk. Even our matching blue plaid comforters were opposites—mine faded and wrinkled, his smooth and bright like the day Mom bought it.
Shaking my head, I opened the laptop and typed in the password. Laura was far more important than worrying about what was up little bro’s butt. Especially since we had big plans that night. Her parents would be out ringing in twenty-fourteen at some hotel soiree, leaving the house to us. Alone. Six years of crushing on her and six months of dating her were leading to what I hoped would be the best night of my life.
About L.S. Murphy: L.S. Murphy lives in the Greater St. Louis area where she watches Cardinals baseball, reads every book she can find, and weaves tales for teens and adults. When not doing all of the above, she tends to The Bean (aka her daughter), her husband and a menagerie of pets. She is the author of romance novellas A Reason to Stay and Neighbors. Her debut novel Reaper, a YA paranormal romance, is now available.
She is a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the St. Louis Writer’s Guild.
Links:
Website: http://lsmurphy.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LSMurphy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LSMurphyAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5046440.L_S_Murphy
Tumblr: http://lsmurphybooks.tumblr.com/
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/l-s-murphy/12/218/140
I am pretty sure I promised you all a giveaway as well, didn’t I? Ever true to my word, here is the info on the Rafflecopter Giveaway. (I cant actually host Rafflecopter on a Free WordPress blog – dangit – so here is the link for the Rafflecopter Giveaway.
New Release News: Winter’s Sweet Kiss – A Sweet Romance Anthology #Romance @RoanePublishing #Giveaway
Welcome, welcome… and a big fat happy release day to Winter’s Sweet Kiss and Roane Publishing!
Today is the day they officially unveil their first publication with the world. Pretty cool, right?
Here are all the details on the release:
Winter’s Sweet Kiss
by Various Authors
Genre: Romance (Sweet)
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: TODAY!
Description: Fight the winter chill with the heartwarming, romantic tales.
AN UNEXPECTED WREATH By Annabelle Blume
Stella’s got everything she needs in life: a great job, a beautiful house, and her independence. But on last minute trip to the local Christmas tree lot she finds something, or rather someone, she desperately wants – Grayson. An emergency trip to Target, an unexpected wreath, and a little Christmas magic make the season much brighter.
SANTA BEBE By Lily Carlyle
Disillusioned by men and her belief that they see her only as an object, Bebe is determined to find a man with money. Her geeky, but unfailingly kind, next-door neighbor James tries to convince her of the possibility of real love, even as she reveals to him the troubled childhood that made her so cynical about relationships. When her mother dashes her hopes for a perfect Christmas, Bebe finds herself turning to James once again, and in the process, learning a lot about herself and the promise their relationship holds.
MELT By Shaya Roy
Newlyweds in an arranged marriage, Naina and Dev go to the mountains of Shimla, India in search of snow. Unfortunately, they find fifteen inches more than they expected.
Being snowed in with her husband is not necessarily a bad thing. It gives Naina an excellent excuse to snuggle up to her deep, quiet man, but every time Dev spurns her, a little more of her heart drips away.
Melting the ice around her husband’s heart before the snow outside does might take more pride than Naina’s ready to surrender.
ONE IN A MILLION SNOWFLAKES By Michelle Ziegler
Angela is in love with someone she can never have–her best friend, Rebecca’s older brother.
Stranded in the bitter cold after a disastrous blind date with yet another company Christmas party looming, a standing offer from the boss’ nephew gets a little more appealing. Desperation. Not a good sign. Surely when Rebecca rescues her from the blinding snow, she can also convince Angela to just go to the party alone. She can always count on her best friend.
That is, as long as she never finds out about Angela’s secret crush.
BEGINNING OF FOREVER By Terri Rochenski
When Wayne Edwards moves to town, Lillian Douglas experiences stirrings she thought were long dead. Guilt ridden over betraying her deceased husband and the feelings Wayne inspires, Lillian reluctantly lets him in. Secrets of the past – an old promise emerges, but will it threaten their forever?
The big release blog tour kicks off today with a tour-wide giveaway!
Click on the button below to see the list of tour stops.
In addition, they are hosting a rafflecopter giveaway to celebrate — so swing by there to enter for your chance to win.
Good Luck!!
New Release News: Untangle Me by S.J. Maylee Plus a #Giveaway #erorom #BDSM
Five things with S.J. Maylee and the characters from UNTANGLE ME
At first glance my characters may only have a few things in common, but their connection is as deep as they come. Let’s look at five things that played a part in untangling them.
- Hard Work. Both Seth and Ivy have been working hard at their careers and they both need to make time for play. If this sounds familiar maybe you need to untangle your schedule too. They went out for a night of music and dancing.
- Family Loyalty. Ivy’s loyalty to her father drives many of her career decisions. Seth’s mom shared some wise words and they led him to the path of success. Family, no matter if it’s built by blood or another connection, can have deep and beneficial impact.
- Game Time. They may not cheer for the same sports team, but Seth and Ivy enjoy the game.
- Giving Spirit. Both of their lives have improved after receiving assistance from others and in turn they both enjoy giving back. I hope you are in a position to share this holiday season.
- A Loving Heart. Sometimes life pushes you towards the one thing you swore you wouldn’t want. A lonesome heart can certainly be stubborn, especially when things are tangled and messy. You’ll have to read UNTANGLE ME to find out if Seth and Ivy listen to their hearts.
Let’s take a look at Untangle Me in more detail…
UNTANGLE ME
by S.J. Maylee
Genre: Erotic Romance (BDSM)
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Release Date: December 5, 2013
Blurb: Ivy’s revenge on the people behind her family’s downward spiral is simple and it’s working. There’s no need to long for help from the wealthy business owners who turned their backs on her father. Ivy may be worn out, but she’s finding herself again after joining the local BDSM club.
Seth has it all. He has homes around the world and the little red speedster he dreamed of as a little boy, but none of the things he can buy satisfy him, not the socialites hanging on his arm or the submissives falling at his feet. Then, he hires Ivy to plan his next event.
Seth and Ivy enjoy each other’s company in and out of the planning stages for Seth’s charity event. Their playful bets lead them to a first date. When their secret kinks are revealed, the pair fall deep, but it’s not meant to last. Past hurts come back to haunt Ivy. Now, it’s time for Seth to use all he’s learned, regardless if he can win back the girl.
UNTANGLE ME BUY LINKS:
Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/untangle-me-by-s-j-maylee/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Untangle-Me-Romance-S-J-Maylee-ebook/dp/B00H3WXVTK/
All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-untangleme-1367983-147.html
BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/untangle-me
S.J. MAYLEE BIO: S.J. Maylee fell in love with storytelling at a young age and with it came a deep-seated desire for everyone to find their happily ever after. She’s finding the happy endings for her characters one steamy story at a time.
When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her caring for her garden, laughing with her two young sons, or dancing to her husband’s music. She’s a PMP (Project Management Professional), Nia instructor, and coffee addict.
As a writer she has a tendency to break hearts, but she always glues them back together.
Blog: http://SJMaylee.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SJMaylee
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Maylee/339463696094996
Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SJMaylee
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7224328.S_J_Maylee
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sjmaylee/
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate the release of UNTANGLE ME, SJ is giving away one $15 Amazon Gift Card.
Bex Book Nook 