Interview: Sarah Beth Durst

Today I get to ask Sarah Beth Durst a few questions. I am a fan of her books and was eager to read her newest book - The Lost - which is her first book for adults. I really enjoyed the story which was released yesterday.

Here is the description of The Lost.

Brilliantly riveting. * Thought-provoking and stirring. **

Award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst has been praised for her captivating novels that merge the darkly imagined with very real themes of self-discovery and destiny. In The Lost, we'll discover just what it means to lose one's way….

It was only meant to be a brief detour. But then Lauren finds herself trapped in a town called Lost on the edge of a desert, filled with things abandoned, broken and thrown away. And when she tries to escape, impassible dust storms and something unexplainable lead her back to Lost again and again. The residents she meets there tell her she's going to have to figure out just what she's missing—and what she's running from—before she can leave. So now Lauren's on a new search for a purpose and a destiny. And maybe, just maybe, she'll be found….

Against the backdrop of this desolate and mystical town, Sarah Beth Durst writes an arresting, fantastical novel of one woman's impossible journey…and her quest to find her fate. 

• How long does it take you to write a book?

Here's a happy secret that no one ever told me: it gets easier.

Yes, each book presents its own challenges. Each time, you have to wade through the murk and fog before you can find the story's core.

But the more you do it, the more you learn about your own writing process -- and the more you can hone in on the stuff that works for you and discard the stuff that doesn't. And that can make you a lot more efficient. And a lot happier.

When I first started, it took me about two years to write a novel. And then, it started taking one year. Now, it takes me about six months.

• What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I wish I had an interesting quirk to tell you, such as I only ever write when the moon is waning or I have to dance a jig before each battle scene. But the truth is, when I write, it's just me sitting at my desk. Usually, I have chocolate nearby.

• Do you have a routine that you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?

Nope. Or, more accurately, I try hard not to have a routine.

Needing the right frame of mind, the right environment, the right amount of free time... all of that can be dangerous. It's far too easy to say "I only have five minutes before I have to leave. That's not enough time to write.." Or "The TV is too loud in the other room. I can't concentrate." Or "I'm too tired tonight." Or "I don't feel inspired right now."

The trick (or at least the one that works for me -- your mileage may vary) is to write as often as you can -- even if it's only a few sentences, even if it's only a few very bad sentences. The act of writing in little bits demystifies writing and makes it not such a big deal.

It doesn't always work, of course. Sometimes you really are too tired and the TV really is too loud. But in general, writing every day is the best thing I've found for warding off the dreaded writer's block.

• Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

The characters usually arise out of the story. I ask myself, "Who would this affect the most?" and try to write that person. For example, my new novel THE LOST is about a woman who is trapped in a town full of only lost things and lost people. I wanted a character who feels lost and empty. She's given up her dreams and works a dead-end job to support her sick mother. She's terrified to hear the results of her mother's latest medical test. And so, one morning, she gets into car to go to work and instead of turning left at the light, just drives. And drives. And drives. Until she ends up in Lost.

• How do you decide what you want to write about?

I decide based on which idea I keep thinking about -- the one I wake up thinking about, the one that pokes at me while I'm at the supermarket, the one that makes me say, "Ooh, cool!" as I work on it.

I firmly believe it's important to write what you love to read.

• What made you decide to write a book for adults?

The story decided for me. It's about loss, and I wanted it to be about a person whose life felt empty. For that, I needed someone a little older... and voila, it was a book for adults.

For me, it's always story first, age second.

• What books have most influenced your life?

When I was ten years old, I decided I wanted to be a writer. And I was absolutely influenced by the books I was reading: Alanna by Tamora Pierce, Deep Wizardry by Diane Duane, The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley... All books about strong girls doing the impossible. I remember thinking, "If Alanna can become a knight, if Harimad-Sol can defeat an army, then I can become a writer."

• What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?

I don't have one single book that jumps out at me as "first." But I do remember I loved Ruth Chew's Witch books and Encyclopedia Brown and Trixie Belden, as well as Lloyd Alexander's Prydain series, from a very young age.

• What are you reading right now?

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. It's fantastic!

• What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Spend time with my family. Also, eat.

• What is your favorite comfort food?

Pizza. And I consider chocolate to be my muse. Oh, and raspberries probably count as my all-time favorite food, especially sun-warmed raspberries straight off the bush.

• What do you think makes a good story?

For me, a good story is one that makes me feel like the world is a little more wonderful and more magical than it was before, and that I am a little stronger and a little... larger inside than I was before.

• Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

Tamora Pierce. Her books are full of hope, empowerment, and awesomeness.

• What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

I reread those books that first made my heart soar. Books like the ones I've mentioned above, plus Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Talking with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede, Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey, Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey, and the Belgariad by David Eddings.

Fun random questions:

• dogs or cats?

Cats. But I love both. Growing up, I always had a Labrador retriever and at least two cats.

• Coffee or tea?

Neither. Hot chocolate!

• Dark or milk chocolate?

Milk chocolate.

• Rocks or flowers?

Flowers.

• Night or day?

Day. Sometimes I think I have chlorophyll in my blood. Sunlight makes me happy.

• Favorite color?

Blue. (Used to be pink, but there are so many unpleasant shades of pink, such as Pepto Bismol pink, whereas nearly all the shades of blue are lovely. Especially the blue of the sky as the first stars come out…)

• Crayons or markers?

Crayons. There's something very satisfying about drawing in crayon.

• Pens or pencils?

Pens. The scritch-scritch sound of pencils drives me nuts. And don't get me started on the feel of eraser dust. *shudder*

Thanks so much for interviewing me!

Get Your Sample of CAGED WARRIOR by Alan Sitomer

I recently read and reviewed Caged Warrior by Alan Sitomer. You can see my review here. Caged Warrior is a gritty, intense story. Here is the description:

McCutcheon Daniels' life is full of bone-cracking violence. As a star fighter in the gritty underground Mixed Martial Arts circuit in the poorest section of Detroit, McCutcheon fights under the tutelage of his volatile and violent father, not so much for himself but to survive as protector of his beloved five-year old sister, Gemma. We get to know McCutcheon as he battles opponents who are literally trying to kill him. Mr. Freedman, his science teacher, spots his intellectual potential, befriends him, and encourages him to enter the lottery for a scholarship to an elite charter school so he can obtain a first-class education. He is at first dead-set against the idea, and of course his tyrannical father forbids it. But the school's headmaster, Kaitlyn, a student assigned to be his guide, and Mr. Freedman continue to encourage him to consider it.

His father and the Priests, the local Mafia-like crew that run Detroit's organized crime, have other plans for McCutcheon. For them, he is simply a tool to make them money. And when that cash flow is threatened, his father hits McCutcheon where it hurts most-he hides Gemma and threatens his own son that he'll never see his beloved sister again if he doesn't play by the Priests' rules.

For the first time in his life, McCutcheon reaches out for help. Mr. Freedman turns out to have a very mysterious past and not only helps McCutcheon find his sister but also his mother who had simply disappeared on McCutcheon's 13th birthday. All seems well, but happy endings aren't really something McCutcheon feels he can rely on. And he may be right.

A ferocious novel, Caged Warrior is like a great fight movie, a tour-de-force of relentless conflict, but one that is leavened with rich characters and meaningful and loving relationships.

Mr. Sitomer saw the post and is giving my readers a change to get a free download the first chapter of this book which will be released on May 13. Click on the link below and read it. I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did.

http://www.alanlawrencesitomer.com/chapter-one-download/

Book Excerpt: Thrown for a Curve by Sugar Jamison

Check out this excerpt for Thrown for a Curve by Sugar Jamison.

***********************************

“Colin?”

He looked up at the sound of a female voice calling his name. Cherri stood in the doorway of his shop, bundled up in a hat, her homemade scarf, and a puffy coat. His heart malfunctioned at the sight of her, performing some kind of stupid squeezing thumping thing.

Something was wrong. She had never stepped foot in his territory before.

“Cherri?”

He took two steps toward her before stopping. She held some sort of wooden box in her hands. It was in pieces, and judging by the look on her face she wasn't too far from falling to pieces herself.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry, his mind chanted. He wasn't sure he could take it today.

She looked unsure for a moment, taking a step backward. “Are you busy? I—I don’t want to bother you if you are.”

“Come here, love.” He stayed frozen as he watched her come toward him. Even in a too-puffy coat that hid far too much of her body, she was lovely to look at as she crossed his shop.

“I can’t pay you much,” she said, handing the pieces of the broken box to him. “But do you think you might be able to make it play again?”

She looked so innocent, so heartbroken, as if somebody had stomped on her favorite toy. “You don’t have to pay me anything, you daft girl.” With his head he motioned toward the stool he kept at his workbench. “Sit. I’ll take a look at it.”

“Thank you.” She smiled, flashing him those pretty dimples of hers. “Baba was so upset that she dropped it. I want to make it whole for her.”

He had yet to examine the box or to focus on her words. He was too busy watching her strip out of her winter gear. Under it she wore a pink cardigan with a white tank top that was just low-cut enough that he could make out the tops of her buttermilk-colored breasts. A voice, probably his conscience, ordered his eyes upward.

She’s not what you need right now. 

His gaze traveled to her head and the ugly wool hat she wore on it. It was the last to go, and he stared as her rowdy mane of golden hair tumbled to her shoulders. She really had no idea how beautiful she was. No clue. He had heard her say that she was built like a lumberjack but all he saw was a tall curvy goddess. Even with her cheeks red from the cold and her eyes glossy from the wind she was lovely. It made him forget that she was the last person he should be attracted to.

“What?” Her emerald-colored eyes widened and her cheeks darkened with embarrassment. “If you tell me I have snot on my face I’ll die.”

“No.” He chuckled. “I was wondering if you walked here. You look a bit like a Cherri Popsicle.”

That I would like to lick. 

He mentally castigated himself for that one. He lost all common sense around her.

“I did walk here. But I walk everywhere and it’s not be- cause I own the world’s shittiest car. Walking helps me keep my big bottom from spreading into a huge one.”

But I like fat-bottomed girls. 

Colin kept his mouth shut to make sure his inappropriate response didn't come out. An image of her very curvy be- hind shot into his mind and . . . Knock it off! He shook his head and finally looked at the box. “So you’ve brought me a music box.” He studied it for a few moments. It was factory- made, mostly cheap wood. There was nothing spectacular about it except for the intricate pink roses painted on the lid. That alone made the box worth saving.

“Beautiful.” He glanced up at Cherri. “You wouldn't happen to know who painted this? This is some of the best detail work I’ve ever seen.”

She beamed at him, dimples flashing, skin glowing. He gulped. “I painted it.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Her eyes lit. “Dorky art major. Remember? My painting skills make up for my lack of beauty and grace.”

“You’re very beautiful, Cherri,” he said without thinking. “I don’t think you realize how exquisite you are.”

“Exquisite?” She laughed that deep throaty laugh of hers, and heat unfurled in his gut. “You must get a lot of ass.”

“What?” Her statement knocked him off guard.

“Ass? Tail? Panties dropping? Any of those ring a bell? I’m saying that you must have a lot of women trying to have sex with you. Probably some men, too.”

The blood rushed out of his brain as soon as the word sex formed on her lips.

Shit.

She was just twenty-two years old. And in the two years he had known her, he had never seen her date. He had never seen her with a guy. She was mature for her age but she had this innocence around her. And yet something about hearing those words come from her mouth made his remaining brain cells malfunction. She was the only woman he had a hard time keeping his cool around. He was more than just attracted to her and he wasn't sure why.

“For fuck’s sake, Cherri, where the hell did that question come from?”

She waved a dismissing hand at him. “Oh, don’t tell me you don’t know. The brogue, the pretty words, not to mention the way you look, all make you deity-like with your sex appeal. You probably don’t have to work hard to get women to drop their drawers.”

No, he never did. Using his hands and getting women to fall into bed were the only things he excelled at. He was like his pop that way. It took running into an ex whose name he couldn't remember to show him that. So many women. So many empty I love yous. It never took away that empty feeling in his chest. He promised himself he wouldn't say those words again unless he meant it.

“But you don’t have to use any of that charm on me. I won’t fall for it. Well . . . Not too hard,” he heard her say when he tuned back into the conversation.

*****************************

Check back Saturday for my review.

Announcing: Bella Andre Launches New Career with Harlequin MIRA

Finally, for romance lovers who aren't ebook readers, Bella Andre's books will be in print! I took part in her blog tour for the ebook Sullivan series books this past January and loved them. Now they will finally be available in print.

Romance readers will find heart-warming and sexy contemporary romances about the seven Sullivan brothers and sisters. The series features one Sullivan finding their own true love in each title but each title also includes further looks at the lives of the other Sullivans.

After experiencing great success self-publishing her books, Bella signed a groundbreaking, seven-figure, print-only deal with Harlequin MIRA. Starting with THE LOOK OF LOVE in June, the rest of the series will appear at one month intervals.

You don't want to miss these. Check out my review here.

Hot Reads from Dutton for the Summer

I got an email today from Dutton publicizing their hot summer titles. Are any of these on your wishlist?

Gameboard of the Gods

by Richelle Mead (on sale June 4)

Richelle Mead is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular Vampire Academy series,and now we are thrilled to bring her legion of fans Gameboard of the Gods, her very first adult novel. Set in a dystopian near-future, the Republic of United North America (RUNA) has imposed strict laws that deny all existence of religion or the supernatural. When formerly exiled Justin March is sent back to the RUNA to investigate a string of ritualistic murders, he finds himself paired with a beautiful and unlikely partner. Action-packed and full of romance, Gameboard of the Gods is a thrilling start to what promises to be another exceptional series from Mead.

Until She Comes Home

by Lori Roy (on sale June 13) 

Following Lori Roy’s Edgar-Award winning and critically-acclaimed debut novel Bent Road comes Until She Comes Home. Set in 1958 Detroit, it is a novel of spellbinding psychological suspense in which a pair of seemingly unrelated murders crumbles the façade of a once-respectable Detroit neighborhood. Amongst her many fans is author Dennis Lehane, who declared that “Lori Roy’s voice is a welcome addition to American fiction.”

The River of No Return

by Bee Ridgway (on sale April 23) 

This imaginative novel from debut author Bee Ridgway is full of genre-bending wonder. In The River of No Return, Nick Davenant, born Lord Nicholas Falcott, is a member of an elite group of time-travelers tasked with protecting the events of the past. But when Nick returns to his past in 1815’s England and is reunited with a mysterious love interest, Julia Percy, he finds himself in the midst of a power struggle that will shape the future. The River of No Return is a fresh and fascinating story that will enthrall readers. 

Hotshot
by Julie Garwood (on sale August 6)

#1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood returns with a novel of family drama, suspense, and—of course—romance. While trying to run and maintain the family resort, Peyton and her sister soon find themselves in over their heads. It becomes apparent that their efforts are being sabotaged, but she refuses to let the threats scare her—until she’s nearly killed. She calls on her childhood friend and protector, Finn MacBain, now with the FBI, and asks for his help. He saved her life once; he can do it again.

Hotshot and Gameboard of the Gods are on my wishlist already.

Book Excerpt: Prophet of Bones by Ted Kosmatka

I recently received Prophet of Bones by Ted Kosmatka. It was released on April 2 but it isn't going to fit into my review calendar for a while. Here is the description:

Paul Carlson, a brilliant young scientist, is summoned from his laboratory job to the remote Indonesian island of Flores to collect DNA samples from the ancient bones of a strange, new species of tool user unearthed by an archaeological dig. The questions the find raises seem to cast doubt on the very foundations of modern science, which has proven the world to be only 5,800 years old, but before Paul can fully grapple with the implications of his find, the dig is violently shut down by paramilitaries.Paul flees with two of his friends, yet within days one has vanished and the other is murdered in an attack that costs Paul an eye, and very nearly his life. Back in America, Paul tries to resume the comfortable life he left behind, but he can't cast the questions raised by the dig from his mind. Paul begins to piece together a puzzle which seems to threaten the very fabric of society, but world's governments and Martial Johnston, the eccentric billionaire who financed Paul's dig, will stop at nothing to silence him.

Here is an excerpt to tide you over until I have time to read and review this title.

What do you think? Will you be adding this to your TBR stack?

Luck of the Draw Blog Tour - Author Interview

I am pleased to have Kelley Vitollo, author of Luck of the Draw, here with me today on her blog tour. She was kind enough to agree to answer some questions.
As a Writer:

When did you begin writing and how did you learn to be a writer?  I’ve always liked writing. I won an essay contest in elementary school. It’s something I had to work at, as I got older though. I took a class. I wrote many, many books before landing agents or anything like that.

Who are your writing influences?  I love Lucy Monroe, Lori Foster and Erin Mccarthy.

Where do you write?  I write a lot at Barnes and Noble. I love writing around books. Or I have a desk at home.

Do you do your writing on paper or on the computer?  Computer, though when I outline I do it on paper.

Where does a book begin for you? A character, an idea, a scene?  It depends on the story. Some start with a character, some a place. It varies.

Are you a plotter or a “pantser”?  I’m a mixture. I always start a book just writing. Then about halfway through I need to plot out the rest.

I have been hearing lately of authors who make scrapbooks or collages about books they are writing. Do you do anything like that?  I don’t, but it’s a great idea!

As a Reader:

What books have most influenced your life?  I loved CS Lewis as a kid. As an adult, nothing makes me feel better, than a feel good romance.

What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?  The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

What are you reading right now?  I’m reading Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian

Random Silliness:

Favorite writing beverage? water
Crayons or markers? markers
Summer or winter? Winter (as long as I’m home in SoCal)
Dogs or cats? Both! But we only have a dog
Thanks, Kelley! 

Everyone should be sure to check out Luck of the Draw for a fun romance. Here is the description:

Rowan McKinley isn’t looking for one wild night while vacationing in Vegas, but she gets it anyway when she meets professional poker player—and professional ladies’ man—Breck Wilder. Breck’s easygoing charm and lighthearted banter draw in the reserved Rowan, and though she’s always dreamed of the kind of forever love her best friends Sidney and Kade share, she’ll settle for one night with the charismatic player.
After their crazy one-night stand, Breck never expected to see the mysterious redhead again. So when he shows up at a Shamrock Falls B&B looking to get away for a few weeks and Rowan answers the door, he’s floored. Breck’s rolling-stone lifestyle and ill-fated history with women means he’s not interested in anything long-term. But the longer he stays at the B&B, the more he considers dropping the poker face and putting all his cards on the table…for Rowan.

Fall in Love with The Sullivans Tour - Hot Date Contest + Win a Kindle Fire!!!

The Hot Date Contest. What would your perfect romantic evening include? Tell us about your dream date from start to finish. You can share an actual date you had or create your own fantasy evening. The most original and compelling idea will win a brand new Kindle Fire, while a $50 Amazon gift card and a $20 iTunes gift card with Bella's specially recommended romantic playlist will go to two runners-up! Check out Bella's website for more information and the full rules coming this Friday. Winners will be announced Monday morning, so you have all weekend to come up with something wonderful! Go here to enter >http://bellaandre.com/hot-date-contest/

Alpha Heroes - Guest Post by Bella Andre

Please enjoy this guest post by Bella Andre, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the contemporary romance series, The Sullivans. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards!

Alpha Heroes & Happily Ever Afters: The Perfect Combo

A guest post by Bella Andre

Alpha heroes are my favorite kind of hero: sexy, rugged, independent and take-charge. Yum!

Take Chase Sullivan, the hero of THE LOOK OF LOVE, the first book in my best-selling Sullivan series. He's a jet-setting photographer, a mind-blowing lover, and is surrounded by gorgeous models all day long. But it isn't until he meets Chloe Peterson on the side of a road during a rainstorm in the Napa Valley wine country that he falls in love.

One of my favorite things about an alpha hero falling in love is that all those alpha traits - his single-minded determination, his focus - are then devoted entirely to the woman of his dreams. Chloe's been burned by men before, but Chase is determined to show her that he's worth trusting. What follows is his relentlessly sexy pursuit of Chloe, because now that Chase has found love, he won't accept anything less.

Each of the Sullivan heroes is an alpha in his own way. Marcus (FROM THIS MOMENT ON) is the de-facto family patriarch. He looks after the rest of his family and takes care of them. Gabe (CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE) is a take-charge firefighter. He rushes into danger to save lives - what's not to love? Zach (IF YOU WERE MINE) is a handy, self-sufficient mechanic and businessman. In addition to being wealthy and successful, he's useful with a wrench.

What's hot is when those alpha traits are turned towards pursuing - and catching - the women of their dreams.

The Sullivans are on tour with Novel Publicity. Follow along for your chance to win amazing prizes. We've got special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards. WOW!

You'll also get introduced to this amazing contemporary romance series via excerpts as well as interviews with and guest posts from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Bella Andre. You'll definitely want to learn more about the family that has captured the world's heart.

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 (optional)
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here)
3. Visit today’s featured social media event (that's where the HUGE prizes are)

About The Sullivans: In this sexy, emotional and funny contemporary romance series, each member of the Sullivan family will eventually find true love...usually where he or she least expects it.

Get the eBooks via Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, the iBookStore, or the Kobo Store.

Audiobooks are also available for the first five in the series (with more coming soon). Plus, keep an eye out for paperback editions coming from Harlequin Romance starting Summer 2013.

About the Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre has always been a writer. Songs came first, and then non-fiction books, but as soon as she started writing her first romance novel, she knew she'd found her perfect career. Known for "sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance" (Publishers Weekly) about sizzling alpha heroes and the strong women they'll love forever, nearly all of her novels have appeared on Top 10 lists at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo.

Her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine "Red Hot Reads" twice and have been translated into nine languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post has called her "One of the top digital writers in America" and she has been featured by NPR, USA Today, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. She has given the keynote speech at Book Expo America on her self-publishing success and has sold more than one million books.

If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100 year old log cabin in the Adirondacks.

• Sign up for Bella's newsletter at www.eepurl.com/eXj22
• Visit Bella's website at www.BellaAndre.com
• Follow Bella on twitter at www.twitter.com/bellaandre
• Join Bella on Faceboook at www.facebook.com/bellaandrefans

Cover Reveal: Falling for Her Fiance and Luck of the Draw

I am pleased to announce two new titles in Entangled Publishing's Bliss line. I was also lucky enough to received review copies. I also will be getting the chance to interview Kelley Vitollo who wrote Luck of the Draw. Check back on Jan. 22 for my interview and on Jan. 23 for the review of Luck of the Draw. My review for Falling for Her Fiancé will be posted on Jan. 30. I can't wait to read these!

About Falling for Her Fiance: Danielle and Wes have been best friends since college, and so when Wes needs a date for his sister’s wedding and Dani needs a partner for her company’s retreat, they devise the perfect plan: a fake engagement to get through both events unscathed. But neither expects the feelings that develop. Putting their friendship on the line is dangerous, but so is passing up a chance at true love…

Buy Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Luck of the Draw: Rowan McKinley isn’t looking for one wild night while vacationing in Vegas, but she gets it anyway when she meets professional poker player—and professional ladies’ man—Breck Wilder. Breck’s easygoing charm and lighthearted banter draw in the reserved Rowan, and though she’s always dreamed of the kind of forever love her best friends Sidney and Kade share, she’ll settle for one night with the charismatic player.

After their crazy one-night stand, Breck never expected to see the mysterious redhead again. So when he shows up at a Shamrock Falls B&B looking to get away for a few weeks and Rowan answers the door, he’s floored. Breck’s rolling-stone lifestyle and ill-fated history with women means he’s not interested in anything long-term. But the longer he stays at the B&B, the more he considers dropping the poker face and putting all his cards on the table…for Rowan. 

Buy Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Fall in Love with the Sullivans Blog Tour

The Sullivans are on tour with Novel Publicity. Follow along for your chance to win amazing prizes. We've got special romantic swag baskets for each book, an iPad Mini, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and Kobo eReader, and Amazon and iTunes gift cards. WOW!

You'll also get introduced to this amazing contemporary romance series via excerpts as well as interviews with and guest posts from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Bella Andre. You'll definitely want to learn more about the family that has captured the world's heart.

All the info you need to join the fun and enter to win amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win!

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase any of the Sullivan ebooks by Bella Andre for just $4.99 (optional)

Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity (go here)

Visit today’s featured social media event (that's where the HUGE prizes are)

About The Sullivans: In this sexy, emotional and funny contemporary romance series, each member of the Sullivan family will eventually find true love...usually where he or she least expects it.

Get the eBooks via Amazon US, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, the iBookStore, or the Kobo Store.

Audiobooks are also available for the first five in the series (with more coming soon). Plus, keep an eye out for paperback editions coming from Harlequin Romance starting Summer 2013.

About the Author: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Bella Andre has always been a writer. Songs came first, and then non-fiction books, but as soon as she started writing her first romance novel, she knew she'd found her perfect career. Known for "sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance" (Publishers Weekly) about sizzling alpha heroes and the strong women they'll love forever, nearly all of her novels have appeared on Top 10 lists at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo.

Her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine "Red Hot Reads" twice and have been translated into nine languages. Winner of the Award of Excellence, The Washington Post has called her "One of the top digital writers in America" and she has been featured by NPR, USA Today, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. She has given the keynote speech at Book Expo America on her self-publishing success and has sold more than one million books.

If not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits her time between the Northern California wine country and a 100 year old log cabin in the Adirondacks.

Sign up for Bella's newsletter at www.eepurl.com/eXj22

Visit Bella's website at www.BellaAndre.com

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Book Promo: A Girl Named Summer by Julie Garwood

I recently received an intriguing email from a contact at Penguin Group. Here is what it said:

Just weeks before the release of her newest book, SWEET TALK, we are rekindling the romance of #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood’s debut novel, A GIRL NAMED SUMMER, now available as an eBook for the very first time!  

As Julie – who has now published 28 bestsellers - says, “When I wrote it in 1984, I never imagined it would one day be read on an e-reader or a tablet, so I am particularly pleased to share it as an e-book.  I haven’t changed a word of it and offer it to you in the spirit of the times that it was written.” A tale for mothers to share with their daughters and for women to remember what it feels like to fall in love for the first time, personally I think it’s a timeless romance that still translates.

This ebook goes on sale June 26^th for $3.99.  

Love Is Murder Blog Tour and Book Excerpt

Love Is Murder

Product Description 

Lori Armstrong * Jeff Ayers & Jon Land * Beverly Barton * William Bernhardt * Allison Brennan * Robert Browne * Pamela Callow * Lee Child * J.T. Ellison * Bill Floyd * Cindy Gerard * Heather Graham * Laura Griffin * Vicki Hinze * Andrea Kane *Julie Kenner * Sherrilyn Kenyon * Dianna Love * D.P. Lyle * James Macomber * Toni McGee Causey * Carla Neggers * Brenda Novak * Patricia Rosemoor * William Simon * Alexandra Sokoloff * Roxanne St. Claire * Mariah Stewart * Debra Webb

Prepare for heart-racing suspense in this original collection by thirty of the hottest bestselling authors and new voices writing romance suspense today.

Go on vacation with Allison Brennan's Lucy Kincaid, where she saves a man from drowning, only to discover he is in far greater danger on land. Meet Roxanne St. Claire's "bullet catcher" — bodyguard Donovan Rush — who may have met his match in the sexually charged "Diamond Drop." Debut author William Simon shows us what happens when the granddaughter of the president of the United States is kidnapped. And Lee Child's pitch-perfect "I Heard a Romantic Story" puts a whole new spin on Love Is Murder.

Bodyguards, vigilantes, stalkers, serial killers, women (and men!) in jeopardy, cops, thieves, P.I.s, killers — these all-new stories will keep you thrilled and chilled late into the night.

**********

I am pleased to present an excerpt of After Hours by William Bernhardt.

Major Morelli shoved his hands into the pockets of his trench coat. “Damn it all to hell.”

Morelli’s partner, Lietenant Baxter, was so stricken she could barely speak. “It’s a tragedy, that’s all,” she finally spit out in a halting, broken voice. “Just…a tragedy.”

The corpse sprawled across the king-size bed was, Morelli thought, perhaps the most luminous woman he had ever seen. Even now, with the color drained from her face, she possessed a spellbinding quality that he rarely observed in the living or the dead. A purity that came only with youth. A feminine dignity that even so much blood could not obscure.

Biography: William Bernhardt is the nationally bestselling author of twenty-five novels, including the world-renowned Ben Kincaid series of mystery-thrillers—Primary Justice, Capitol Betrayal. Library Journal dubbed him the “master of the courtroom thriller.” Other Bernhardt novels include Nemesis: The Final Case of Eliot Ness, Double Jeopardy, and the critically acclaimed Dark Eye. He has received the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award (Oklahoma State University) the Royden B. Davis Distinguished Author Award (University of Pennsylvania), and the Southern Writer’s Guild’s Gold Medal Award.

In addition to his novels, he has edited two anthologies as fundraisers for charitable causes, written two books for children, published essays, short stories and poems, constructed crossword puzzles for the New York Times, and written the book, music and lyrics for a musical. He is also one of the nation’s most in-demand writing instructors. His renowned small group writing seminars have produced several bestselling authors over the past decade. His instructional DVDs, The Fundamentals of Fiction, are used by writing programs across the nation.

You can learn more about him at www.williambernhardt.com, or you can email him at willbern@gmail.com.

Here is the link you that you can follow along on the blog tour. There are (or will be) excerpts from each story in the anthology.

Kelley Armstrong's first eSpecial: THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED

I was excited to receive an email from Liza, a publicist for the Dutton, Penguin Group, which told me about a new ebook exclusive from Kelley Armstrong. I am quoting some of the email below.

"Just weeks before the final installment in the Otherworld series, THIRTEEN, goes on sale, Dutton is releasing the first-ever eSpecial from Kelley Armstrong, THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED.

It includes two short stories—Stalked and Off-Duty Angel—as well as an exclusive and extensive first look at Thirteen. This eSpecial goes on sale June 12^th  for $1.99.

For fans of Kelley Armstrong, or even newcomers to the Otherworld series, these short stories aren’t to be missed. Once again, we are all reminded that even thirteen novels in the Otherworld just aren’t enough."

I know that I have already pre-ordered my copy of THIRTEEN and can't wait to read it. These stories will help while I am waiting for that book to arrive. Thanks, Liza, for letting me get my copy early! (I would like to re-read the whole series but I lent all of my copies to a friend who is devouring them and loving them too.)

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I am very sad that this is the last Women of the Otherworld book but I am very excited to see how Kelley Armstrong brings this series to a close. I know I will be torn between gulping down the pages to see what happens and reading slowly to prolong the experience because I know the series is ending.

What do you think? Are you also a fan of the Women of the Otherworld series? What do you think when beloved series end?

Summer Reading! Have You Made Your List Yet?

Now that we have reached the end of May, summer vacation is just around the corner (for me, at least) and I am starting to make lists of the books I would like to read this summer. I recently got an email from Cassie at Dutton Books that was filled with good ideas.


Here are the ones that were highest on my list:

Sweet Talk by Julie Garwood
August 7, 2012

In the new contemporary romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood, a detective and a lawyer are falling in love— and making a federal case out of it.

When FBI agent Grayson Kincaid first encounters Olivia MacKenzie, she makes quite an impression.

The beautiful, tough, young attorney has stumbled into the middle of an FBI sting operation and has reduced it to chaos. Months of surveillance and careful planning down the drain, Kincaid’s partner is furious and lets Olivia know that she’s ticked off the wrong guy. After all, he’s FBI.

Olivia isn’t intimidated by his partner’s bullying because she’s something even scarier . . . she’s IRS.

And working for the IRS isn’t for the faint of heart. She’s on the trail of an elaborate Ponzi scheme, one that threatens to ruin the lives of naive and unsuspecting victims, and one she has personal reasons to be angry about. But after she asks questions of the wrong people, her life is suddenly endangered. She’s accustomed to fighting for the underdog but being vulnerable herself is a very different story. Smart enough to know when to call for reinforcements, she contacts Grayson Kincaid.

Together they make an excellent team to fight corruption but Olivia is also fighting the immediate and intense attraction she feels for Agent Kincaid, and that may be a battle she is bound to lose.

Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong
July 24, 2012

The #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong delivers the novel her fans have been clamoring for: The epic finale of the Otherworld series.

It’s been more than ten years, a dozen installments, and hundreds of thousands of copies since Kelley Armstrong introduced readers to the all-too-real denizens of the Otherworld: witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons, among others. And it’s all been leading to Thirteen, the final installment, the novel that brings all of these stories to a stunning conclusion.

A war is brewing—the first battle has been waged and Savannah Levine is left standing, albeit battered and bruised. She has rescued her half brother from supernatural medical testing, but he’s fighting to stay alive. The Supernatural Liberation Movement took him hostage, and they have a maniacal plan to expose the supernatural world to the unknowing.

Savannah has called upon her inner energy to summon spells with frightening strength, a strength she never knew she had, as she fights to keep her world from shattering. But it’s more than a matter of supernaturals against one another—both heaven and hell have entered the war; hellhounds, genetically modified werewolves, and all forces of good and evil have joined the fray.

Uniting Savannah with Adam, Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope, and other lost-but-notforgotten characters in one epic battle, Thirteen is a grand, crowd-pleasing closer for Armstrong’s legions of fans.

Some other titles on their summer reading list are The Lost Prince by Selden Edwards (8/16/12), The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen (8/21/12), The Last Trade by James Conway (614/12), and Caravan of Thieves by David Rich (8/23/12). 

Do you make lists? What are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Book Info: Grave Refrain by Sarah M. Glover

http://www.omnificpublishing.com/

Omnific Publishing just sent me a review request for Grave Refrain by Sarah M. Glover. There is no way I can fit in time to read and review this book before it is published tomorrow. But it does sound interesting and I would like my readers to know about this book. 


Here is what I have:

When it comes to true love, one lifetime is never enough.

Summary: Andrew Hayes, a brilliant but troubled musician, has been haunted since childhood by memories of his muse. One night from a San Francisco stage, he spots her, but before he can reach her, she vanishes from sight.

Desperate to find the woman, he accepts a curious offer to stay in the city, moving into a dilapidated Victorian undergoing renovations that stir up far more than dust. 

Andrew’s life soon becomes even more chaotic with the arrival of martini-swilling ghosts and a troupe of flesh-and-blood stoner spiritualists bringing bad tidings from the Great Beyond.

The dark side of his obsession creates visions both thrilling and menacing, and as he struggles to solve the mysteries threatening him, Andrew discovers his life is repeating a refrain more deadly than he’d ever imagined.

Inspired by the sexy noirs and comedies of the past, Grave Refrain transports the reader to a place where the things that go bump in the night not only thrill you, but might just take your breath away for good.

Here is the trailer for the book which looks nice and creepy (and the main character is really attractive):

You can find out more about the author by checking out her website or following her on Twitter @SarahMGlover


I have a PDF ARC of the story on my computer and hope to get to read it sometime this Spring. It looks and sounds really good. 


What do you think? Does this appeal to you?