Monday, February 27, 2017
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Night Owl Reviews Scavenger Hunt!
Hi Readers,
I've got a treat for you. I'm one of the sponsors of the Night Owl Reviews A TEA PARTY & BOOKS Scavenger Hunt.
During this event I'm going to help you find some great new books. Make sure to check my featured title, Wynter's Bite, out along the way.
The grand prize is a $100 Amazon Gift Card. The total prize pool is over $1000.
Here are the details!
A Tea Party & Books Scavenger Hunt 2017
This event starts on FEB 16 and ends MAR 8.
Over 40 authors have come together to bring you this scavenger hunt event. Each has donated $25 towards prizes in the A Tea & Books Scavenger Hunt!
This is your opportunity to find out about some new books, new authors and to win awesome Amazon cards.
It's time to get into the bookish spirit. All Amazon cards will be purchased via the Amazon.com website. This contest is open worldwide. Void where prohibited.
Grand Prize: $100 Amazon eGift Card
$50 Amazon eGift Cards (5 Winners)
$25 Amazon eGift Cards (5 Winners)
$10 Amazon eGift Cards (40 Winners)
$5 Amazon eGift Cards (55 Winners)
We would love your Re-Tweet / Share and Follow
I've never participated in one of these so, I'm excited!
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
WYNTER'S BITE is here! Excerpt and giveaway!
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
I am so excited to announce that Wynter's Bite is here at last!
You can get it on:
This book was a ton of fun to write. The hero, Justus de Wynter was the villain in the previous book, HIS RUTHLESS BITE. But once I discovered that his motives were out of love, his book HAD to be next!
So far, the advanced reviews have been so wonderful that I am constantly blushing.
This one, over at Reading Between the Wines even has a giveaway!
In other happy news, another book reviewer has listed two of my books in her list of favorite couples! Klement and Katana from WITH VENGEANCE and Rafe and Cassandra from BITE AT FIRST SIGHT! Even cooler? She's having a big giveaway where you can win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and other goodies by voting on your favorite of her list.
Whichever couple gets the most votes gets their book featured for a whole year! I hardly ever win those sort of things, but if you want to head over there and vote for one of my couples, you'd be a darling! Go HERE to enter!
Now I think it's time for a giveaway of my own.
To win an e-copy of Wynter's Bite, simply leave a comment telling me your favorite jail-break/ escape story!
To win an e-copy of Wynter's Bite, simply leave a comment telling me your favorite jail-break/ escape story!
In the meantime, here's a never before read excerpt!
Bethany searched the Willoughbys’
drawing room, clutching her reticule so tightly her knuckles went white. Lord
de Wynter said he would be here and tonight they would discuss the book… in
private. She couldn’t help but tremble at the thought of being alone with him,
perhaps anticipating that more than the prospect of literary discourse.
The setting sun shone through the
glass of the French doors, casting a tinge of gold to everything, reminding
Bethany of her imaginings of the faerie kingdom of Gloriana… though she knew
who that character was truly supposed to represent. Still, Spenser’s epic held
so much whimsy that she couldn’t help but imagine a truly fey monarch. She kept
both the book and that sentiment hidden from her father.
Oh, she could not wait to talk to
Lord de Wynter about the book. He’d
understand.
As darkness fell and people around
her chattered in anticipation of the fireworks, Bethany’s mother dragged her
hither and thither through the assemblage, introducing her to every affluent
gentleman in attendance.
None of them were interested in
spending longer than necessary in her company, and that was quite agreeable
with Bethany. There was only one man she whose company she wished to share this
evening. Yet the bustling room palpably lacked his presence.
Was it possible that he’d found some
other diversion? She’d heard that he spent a lot of time at the Medway Inn,
playing cards and dice, as well as attending certain more raucous parties
hosted by less reputable members of Society. Why should he decline such amusing
pursuits to be with her?
Yes, he’d probably changed his mind
about coming. Lord Darkwood’s manor was nearby and would have nearly as good a
view of the fireworks. So perhaps de Wynter had—
There he was!
Bethany’s heart surged in response to see Lord de Wynter’s lithe form stalking
around the masses, pausing to exchange a polite greeting when necessary, while
he was clearly making his way towards her. Every other step, he flashed her a
conspiratorial glance, as if they shared a huge secret. A delicious thrill
tremored through her body.
When he reached her side, Bethany
withdrew the book from her reticule and handed it to him. Pleasure curled her
toes as once more their fingers grazed each other. “Thank you for loaning me
the book, my lord.”
“It was my pleasure.” His eyes swept
over her face and form, seeming to caress her with an invisible tongue of
flame.
Just then, Lady Willoughby announced
that it was time to gather on the front lawn to view the illuminations. Those
who were elderly or infirm watched from the balconies, where comfortable chairs
had been set out for them.
“Follow my lead,” de Wynter whispered
with an impish smile.
With that, he wove through the masses
with unobtrusive slowness, excusing himself with a quiet mutter that made
people let him pass without truly noticing him. Bethany did her best to imitate
him, though for her, avoiding attention was much easier, being a wallflower
ever since her first ball.
She caught a glimpse of Rebecca and
her friends with their beaux. The group had ignored her ever since she’d told
them about her dance with Lord de Wynter. At first, Bethany thought they were
merely preoccupied, now she was beginning to suspect that they didn’t like her.
But as she followed de Wynter,
casting a shamefully pleasing glance at his backside, snugly encased in buff
trousers, Bethany decided she didn’t care what they thought of her.
While everyone else made their way to
the front lawn, de Wynter strode off into the azalea garden. After a quick
glance over her shoulder to make certain no one was watching, Bethany ducked
under a leafy bower behind him. Anticipation flooded her being, making even the
air feel alive on her skin.
He sat on a stone bench and patted
the marble surface beside him. Bethany joined him, legs suddenly turned to
custard. It was so dark in here that they were veritably blanketed in shadows,
the intimacy palpable and warm. Even in the darkness, his hair glinted like
banked coals. Her fingers twisted in her lap in effort to resist touching those
fiery tresses.
To break up the heavy silence,
Bethany shakily began the conversation. “I am grateful that you arranged for us
to discuss the book, my lord. I finished it only yesterday.”
His arched lips curved with a pleased
smile that warmed her to her toes. “Please, call me Justus.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.” Heat flooded her
face at the sound of his name. There was something so beautiful, so noble about
it. “My mother would have the vapors if she heard me call a man by his
Christian name.”
He nodded in understanding. “At least
when we are alone then.”
“Very well, Justus.” Her belly tilted
at the sound of his name. “Then in such cases, you may call me Bethany.” The
words tumbled out, improper as they were.
“Good. Now that we have that settled,
Bethany,” he said, “what did you think of the book?”
“At first, I thought I wouldn’t care
for it,” she admitted, shivering slightly at that masculine voice uttering her
name. “The incessant and undisguised praise for Queen Elizabeth grew tiresome.”
Justus quirked a brow. “Caught that,
did you?” Impatient shouts echoed from the lawn outside their bower as Lord
Willoughby’s servants prepared the fireworks.
“Who could miss such sycophantic
symbolism? Queen Gloriana?” She chuckled. “I understand that her patronage was
needed, but at least Shakespeare managed better subtlety.”
Lord de Wynter nodded. “As well as
the love of the commons.” He leaned forward, so close that she could almost
make out the vivid green of his eyes. Inwardly, she cursed the darkness even as
she knew the shadows kept them hidden. “But you said you thought you wouldn’t care for it.”
Bethany nodded, praying he couldn’t
see how his proximity was making her blush. “I greatly enjoyed the magic and
the fact that there was always something happening. And the romance…” Heat rose
to her cheeks and she quickly changed the subject before he thought she sounded
like a silly girl. “Although I confess I felt bad for that blind girl and her
mother living alone. I understand why they could not afford to shelter Una and
her companions. I was even sad that the church robber was killed by the lion.
Although stealing is wrong, that was their only source of support. What?” she
broke off as Justus’s shoulders shook with laughter.
“That scene, the whole book in fact,
was an allegory. In those days, the Catholic church was the biggest thief of
all. Of course, I wasn’t around back then, but my— He broke off suddenly with a
frown, then recovered his thoughts with a quick shake of his head. “I’ve read
much about the time period.”
“Of course!” Bethany breathed,
feeling like the biggest hen-wit. “After what Elizabeth’s sister, Mary, put the
people through with her persecution of Anglicans, no wonder Catholics would be
painted as villains. You must think me a fool.”
“Not at all,” Justus placed his hand
over hers, impossibly warm in the cool of the garden. “I confess that it is a
joy to speak with someone who can read a story as a story, not picking it apart
for every little symbol and entrenched bias.” He leaned forward on the bench
and reached up to cup her cheek. “You are a remarkable person, Bethany.”
“So are you,” she whispered,
captivated by his fey beauty and husky voice. The first explosion made her jump
and gasp as the sky above them erupted with a halo of red light. Justus pulled
her closer and she laughed in embarrassment as cheers echoed from the lawn.
Her heart pounded in her throat as
his head dipped lower and his lips brushed across hers.
Heat exploded in her belly at the
chaste kiss, every nerve ending singing with pleasure. Head swimming with
dizziness, Bethany grasped his shoulders to keep from toppling off of the
bench. Justus’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his firm chest,
his lips caressing hers with intoxicating fervor.
When he drew back, Bethany felt as if
something vital had been snatched away from her. Another firework lit up the
sky with a boom and Justus’s eyes glowed like green embers as he suddenly
leaned towards her once more. Her breath caught in her throat, a shiver of
primal alarm crawling up her spine. But instead of kissing her again, his mouth
lightly touched her neck.
She gasped at the sparking sensation
and Justus drew back as if burned. His long red hair hung unfashionably loose,
hiding his face. His broad shoulders moved up and down with his deep breathing
as if he were struggling to tame something savage within.
“I’m sorry,” he rasped. “That was
extremely ungentlemanly of me. Can you forgive me?”
When he raised his imploring eyes to
hers, she saw that they weren’t glowing at all. They must have been reflecting
the fireworks. What a ninny she was for momentarily thinking otherwise.
“Of course I forgive you,” she
whispered. “It is not as if I have been behaving in the most ladylike manner.
Besides, I have always wondered what it is like to be kissed.” She snapped her
mouth closed at such an outrageous confession, but it was too late.
“And?” he whispered back.
She frowned. “And what?”
His lips arched in a wicked smile.
“How was the experience?”
“Incredible,” she couldn’t stop
herself from answering. “So much more than what the novels depict.”
His grin broadened, tempting beyond
reason. “That tempts me to do it again.”
If you like reading excerpts, be sure to sign up for my Newsletter!
Friday, February 3, 2017
I Quit! And other News!
Don't worry, I didn't quit writing. I quit my day job. Today is my last day at a place that I affectionately referred to as the seventh circle of hell.
I took my job at a call center because I was jobless and homeless at the time and had no choice. Of course, when they'd originally put me in the sales and service department in what we know as "the loud floor," I didn't think I was going to make it. I have severe PTSD and crowds, loud noises, and yelling customers set me into a panic attack. Even after my doctor doubled my medication, my hair was falling out, I was vomiting constantly, and I had trouble breathing. One of the supervisors saw my plight and talked to another one, who brought me down to a more peaceful department where I was able to continue to pursue my career and gain success as a full time author.
Not only that, but this boss helped eliminate another big factor of my stress. He changed my schedule to accomodate my custody arrangement with my son, so I could spend as much time with him as possible.
Even better, my floor supervisors were also very patient and understanding when my anxiety was up and I wasn't at my best. The final blessing has been my coworkers. They humbled me with their kindness and make being in a cubicle bearable.
They are part of why I stayed so long. I have never in my life had such kind and awesome coworkers. Like Kaitlin who would bring me food and tea when I'd forget (or be too broke) to bring lunch, Linda, who made me an awesome kitty pen holder (it's at home on my desk), Merri, who gives me surprise Red Bull and spoils us all with doughnuts, Dena, who made me fantastic cookies, and Candy who brought me a farewell cake and gorgeous journal. And then they all almost made me cry with a lovely card you all signed. Oh and thank you to Summer for featuring my books in the company Newsletter!
I am not leaving because I've become a mega bestseller (which was my original goal) but because I picked up a stay at home job where I can better work on my writing career.
But I am hella excited to get out of here and get more books written for you all to enjoy.
OTHER NEWS!
This actually relates to my day job rant. One of my coworkers told a friend about my books (the best way to help me!) and her friend is an artist and drew this amazing picture of Akasha from Wrenching Fate! (Free on Amazon and everywhere else ebooks are sold)
What's to come.
Well, first off, Wynter's Bite is releasing on Valentine's Day.
After that I'll be taking part in the Night Owl Reviews Scavenger hunt. (Details are on the home page on the right side)
Then in March I will be at the Spicy in Spokane book signing and convention. Tickets are only ten bucks if you want to come by and meet me!
March 4th 2017: Spicy in Spokane
Details:
Join the Facebook Group to learn more!
Buy Tickets!</
Most importantly, I plan to get a lot more writing done. Next on my list is my next Brides of Prophecy book, and after that, more Hearts of Metal!
So be sure to stay tuned because I think this is going to be an exciting year!
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