Guest Post « Read-Love-Blog

Blurred Lines by Jen McLaughlin….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

by Jilly

BOOK BLURB:

Once burned…

Finding my fiancée naked on my couch might’ve been a good thing, if her ex-boyfriend hadn’t been with her. For the past eight years I’ve been a witness to the power of true love, but after getting burned I’d decided there wasn’t any hope for me finding it for myself. Until I met Noelle Brandt in a hotel bar. Maybe it wasn’t the most romantic meeting, but the moment I met her I knew I had to have her. The more I learn about her, the more I know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.

Twice shy…

I’d already found the love of my life, but I’d lost that love forever. And I’d been lost ever since. But one night a wounded man makes all of that go away. He makes me laugh, live, and feel alive. When he tells me he has no intention of letting me go, I finally begin to believe in the power of true love again. That is, until I find out who he really is…and by then, it’s far too late to correct the mistakes we’ve already made. By the time we both know the truth, the lines have already been blurred beyond recognition.

Guest Post:

Hello! I’m Jen McLaughlin (though I also write books as Diane Alberts), and I have a new book out! It’s called BLURRED LINES, and it’s the newest book in my Out of Line Series. The book revolves around Riley Stapleton (best friend to Carrie and Finn) and a new to the series character, Noelle Brandt.

As you already know (if you’ve read the series), Riley is a lawyer. If you haven’t read the series, no worries, it’s a standalone book! Feel free to dive in! But I digress…

What I want to talk about is Noelle. I had so much fun with her! She’s a romance author, too, so I have to say there is a lot of inside jokes in this book. And in writing a romance author, I got to try to give you (the reader) an inside look at the double-life we writers live. Aka, pajamas, coffee, and frizzy hair when home…but heels, makeup, and skirts when at conferences.

When we meet Noelle, she is at a writer’s conference, and Riley is in her hotel, drunk as a skunk. And what happens next is way too much fun to sum up in one sentence. But if you’ve ever been curious what it’s like to be a romance author…this book gives you a tiny peek!

Except, in full disclosure, I’ve never picked a hot dude up in the bar of my conference hotel because I’m, ya know, married, and my husband might disagree with that choice.

But since I’m boring…what’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done while in a hotel?

– Thanks so much for stopping by, Jen! xo Jillian

BUY LINKS:
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1z82jp9
Barnes & Noble Link: http://bit.ly/1EFNNDM

Author Information

Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website: http://dianealberts.com/

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour February 2015 Guest Post

No Comments »

Shoalman Immortal by Toni Decker….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

by Jilly

About SHOALMAN IMMORTAL:

Falling in love was never supposed to be part of the picture.
Kyrissa Spears was born with a powerful, and deadly, gift. When she paints, she captures emotions so strong they cankill.Desperate to find a teacher capable ofhelping her unlock and controlher abilities, Kyrissa’ssearch leads her toan artist who may be able to help her.And he’s the one person she can’t accidentally kill.

After five centuries of pain and loneliness, Robert Shoalman craves release from his immortality. He’s all but given up hope until he meets the beautiful and intriguing Kyrissa.She could paint his death and break the curse, but at the cost of destroying her gift and being lost to him forever—none of which will matter if the demon hunting him finds them first.

Guest post:

People often ask us what it’s like to co-write a book. *chuckles* We call it “choose your own adventure”. You see, although we share a brain where our characters are involved, we have very different writing styles. But they complement each other.

Toni is one of those cheery morning people (once she gets her coffee verses blood levels regulated **hey, I resemble that**). Beginnings are her strength, thus she does her best writing in the morning. Kira likes strong endings and usually writes late at night (and yes, Kira wrote her part at midnight). Toni posts her morning chapter, which Kira finds later that night. Kira then gets to “choose” where the characters go on their next “adventure” in the story, saving it for Toni to discover and add to the next day. Read. Write. Repeat.

We each take a main character, the one that resonates with us the most, and tell our stories from alternating points of view. What makes co-writing so fun is trying to guess how (or in Kira’s case provoke) the other person into reacting in the follow-up scene and vise-a-versa. Kinda like real life. And no, Toni’s don’t always do what’s expected. Neither do Kira’s *grin*

We try to work from a story outline—Toni’s Plotter personality loves color-coded spreadsheets—but it’s loose enough to allow Kira’s Pantser personality free reign, to a point. (Okay, I admit it—the outline helps me too. Shhh, don’t tell Toni. **I heard that**) The outline usually keeps us on track. Although it’s amusing when one or both of us steal a story point for their chapter and mess up the timeline.

We collaborate online and store files where we can both access them when we move into the editing phase. We also chat and text each other constantly. Kira wakes to 5 am texts of “Oh, what if we…” and Toni gets late night chat messages of “I figured out how to fix…” There are compromises on both sides. In the end, we always manage to figure out what’s best for the story. We push each other to make our reads enjoyable (and sexy), stay true to the characters, and put out the best book we can.

They say writing is a lonely journey. When you co-write, you get to have a friend along for the adventure and you never quite know what’s going to happen next. That’s the best part!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pre-Order available now. (On sale now until end of blog hop – Jan 23rd – for $0.99)

SHOALMAN IMMORTAL, Book 2 – Amazon only (for now)

IMAGES ETERNAL, Book 1
Amazon | Nook | Kobo

About Toni Decker:

Who is Toni Decker?

Two authors telling one sizzling story after another about twenty-somethings getting along in their own crazy, fantastical worlds. Both women are wives and mothers, sharing brain cells and characters as if they only exist with the other.

Toni, one half of the Toni Decker brain, is an avid reader of all things Young and New Adult while Kira, the Decker half of Toni Decker brain, devours fantasy for midnight snacks.

Together, their stories are one part New Adult, one part Fantasy and three parts of Holy Hotness.
We leave it up to the readers to decide who writes which character.

You can follow our journey on:

Twitter: @ToniDeckerBooks and @KiraDecker & @ToniPicker
FaceBook: Toni Decker Books, Kira Decker, Toni Picker
Tumblr: tonideckerbooks
Goodreads: Toni Decker
Wordpress: Toni Decker Books

Blog Tour Guest Post January 2015

3 Comments »

Playing With the Drummer by Robin Covington….Guest Blog

by Jilly

Happy Tuesday! It’s snowing here in the Philadelphia suburbs but luckily I have the fabulous Robin Covington on the blog today talking about her new sexy and steamy release, Playing With the Drummer…

This will surely keep me warm today! Enjoy!

Friends – I loved writing a book about a musician. I’m a singer in a band, have performed in a group since I was five years old (that’s 40 years if you’re counting) and I have to have music playing all the time in the house, car and office (it drives my kids and my co-workers nuts). So, when I opened up the document to write Lita and Rocky’s story, I had to have a playlist.

A constant loop, I played these songs over and over while I told the story of the reclusive drummer and the entertainment reporter who supposedly lived in different worlds. They were incendiary in and outside the bedroom, opinionated and hate each other at first blush. But we all know that the line between love and hate is sometimes non-existent . . . so for these two I had to have songs of passion, love, and regret.

So, in no particular order, are five of the songs from the playlist:

Friends, Lovers or Nothing by John Mayer: Yep. Lita and Rocky are an all-or-nothing proposition and this tune sums it up perfectly. Come to think of it¼I’m not sure they could ever be just
Come Over by Kenny Chesney: Oh yeah, the penultimate booty call song¼and I can just picture Rocky pulling out these lyrics to get Lita to get her ass over to his place. When he says that their no good for each other but not good for anyone else, I get the shivers ¼the good kind.
Make You Miss Me by Sam Hunt: Once Rocky decides that Lita is his, there is no way he’s going to let her go easily. She might have been able to leave other men before but they aren’t him and he won’t be easy to forget.
You and I by Lady Gaga: As much as Rocky think Lita is his, she claims him just as fiercely. Only a strong woman could stand up to the broody, moody and exasperating man and make it clear that this time she’s not leaving without him
Almost Almost is Never Enough by Ariana Grande: Oh man. The moment when Lita and Rocky think it’s never going to work out for them. They know better than most that you love someone deeply and it still can’t work. Luckily they had me and I love a happy ending. *grin*

So, that’s my short list! You can check out the rest of the playlist and a book trailer on my website.

Thanks for visiting, Robin! It’s always fun to have you! XO Jillian

Blurb:

Entertainment journalist Lita Matthews is on the verge of making it big. As in her-own-TV-show big. She just needs amazing inside scoop on the year’s hottest celebrity wedding. Instead, her big break is becoming a big nightmare—all thanks to rock star Rocky Cardano. Who apparently hasn’t gotten over what happened between them four years ago…

Rocky is pretty damn familiar with just how far Lita will go for a “scoop.” Hell, their unbelievably hot hook-up in Mexico years ago was the story of a lifetime. Rocky’s learned his lessons. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep her from the story—even if he has to seduce her to the point of distraction! But Lita has always had a way of getting under his skin. Only this time, he won’t be able to just walk away…

Title: Playing with The Drummer (Head over Heels, #3)

Author: Robin Covington

Genre: Category – Contemporary Romance

Length: 236 pages

Release Date: December 2014

ISBN: 978-1-63375-161-3

Imprint: Indulgence

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1EbeXWH

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1GW6Z1k

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1wjiEzd

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1x9QRoG

Amazon Canada: http://amzn.to/1x2H7xI

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/13v519l

Special Event: Holiday Wedding by Robyn Neeley…excerpt and guest spotlight

by Jilly

Please join me in welcoming Robyn Neeley to the blog today!

She is stopping by with a fabulous excerpt from her newest release, Holiday Wedding.

Enjoy and thank you, Robyn!

Happy Holidays Romance Readers!

I’m so excited to stop by and share an excerpt from my Christmas romance, Holiday Wedding. This is the sequel to Destination Wedding and reunites all the characters from the first book including my handsome twins, my feisty and fun heroines and the best wedding planning friend on the planet!

This time it’s Drew’s story to tell, and he’s been waiting over a year for it! Check out the character interview I did last year on Drew’s take on his twin brother’s Happily Ever After. Then read an excerpt below from Holiday Wedding.

Holiday Wedding

Going home for Christmas this winter just might turn Drew Cannon into a real Grinch. When his college sweetheart, Lauren Kincaid, broke off their engagement a year ago, Drew retreated to Tokyo to run the Asia-Pacific division of the family’s toy company and lick his wounds. If that weren’t enough, his attempt at a high-profile holiday doll for the company was a bust. Now he’s headed back to New York City to spend the holidays with his lovestruck dad, his pissed-off twin brother, and an ex who broke his heart.

Lauren isn’t exactly keen to spend Christmas with her former flame, either. But as JDL Toys’ marketing director, she’s forced to deal with their doll problem, holiday or not. Things take a turn when she and Drew are tasked with planning surprise nuptials for his brother.

With all their focus on happily ever after, Lauren and Drew soon discover things might not be so settled between them after all. Can a holiday wedding offer them a second chance at forever?

Excerpt

Drew leaned back in the steamy Jacuzzi, letting the hot water jets do their magic. There was something to be said about relaxing in a hot tub in the brisk outdoors. He breathed in the fresh mountain air. Today had started out a little weird, but touching Lauren’s sugary lips, even if it was only with one finger, had been a highlight. If the bakeshop owner hadn’t appeared, would they have kissed? He was all but sure of it.

If only the whole day had been about flirting with Lauren. But no, his brother had turned them into elves. Why had Luke sent them to Santa’s Workshop to make toys?

Didn’t he want them to plan his wedding? Losing three hours this morning to paint train sets didn’t seem like the best way to hit the ground running.

Today should have been devoted to the task at hand as they would spend the weekend pushing the Happily Ever After dolls at the festival.

The dolls. Drew had beelined it to his laptop when they got back to the cabin. Only two more boy dolls were registered for the site to meet their matches. Two. Freakin’. Dolls.

His head dropped to the left in frustration and his gaze lifted up to Lauren’s bedroom window. She had disappeared when they returned, saying she needed to get the rest of the frosting out of her hair. That was a couple of hours ago.

Selecting the cakes—and then wearing them—had been the best part of this day. She had been absolutely right about their not choosing their own wedding cake. He let out a heavy sigh. Maybe if they had been more involved in all the different pieces of planning their wedding, things would be different.

He should have given into his feelings and pressed his mouth to her frosted lips. But what if she’d pushed him away? Would he then have his answer to the question he didn’t have the balls to ask? Did she no longer love him?

He sank down into the tub, letting the hot water massage his shoulders. Then there was Olivia. She’d sent three text messages earlier saying how much she missed him before going radio silent this evening. He wasn’t quite sure when he’d do it, but they wouldn’t be a couple for much longer. It was not only the right thing to do; it was the honest thing to do.

“Hey, is there room in there for another?”

His head flew up and his heart raced as he watched Lauren glide over in a white cotton bathrobe. She held her iPad in one hand and large ruby red towel in the other. “Depends.”

“Oh, really.” She lifted an eyebrow. “On what?”

He pointed to the iPad. “As long as you promise we’re not Skyping with Miles.” He drew an imaginary circle around the hot tub. “This is an annoying wedding-planner-free zone.”

She giggled. “I can’t make any promises, but I’m pretty sure he has no desire to see us exposing so much skin.”

His groin tightened as he waited for her robe to hit the ground. Was Lauren wearing his favorite lavender bikini? Three seconds later he had his answer as she removed her robe and slid into the Jacuzzi. Hello, string bikini. I’ve missed you.

Holiday Wedding is available on Amazon and other e-retailers.

About Robyn

Robyn Neeley is an East Coaster who loves to explore new places, watches way more reality TV than she cares to admit, can’t live without Recess Peanut Butter Cups and has never met a Christmas cookie she didn’t like. (Her favorite cookie made it into Holiday Wedding!) She writes romantic comedy, sometimes with a hint of magic, but always with a happy ending.

Find Robyn

Website: www.robynneeley.com

Twitter: @robynneeley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobynNeeleyAuthor?ref=bookmarks

Love Bundles? Destination Wedding is currently part of the Modern Love bundle. Love holiday romances? My holiday romantic comedy, Christmas Dinner is in a Winter Dreams bundle.

December 2014 Excerpt Guest Post

No Comments »

All Wrapped Up by Kimberly Kincaid…Cover Reveal & Guest Post

by Jilly

I am SO excited to have this post for you all today!

Kimberly Kincaid is such a fabulous author and a super fun gal with cooking skills that put mine to shame. She puts her yummy recipes into each of her stories and even has recipes in the books as well as on her website to share with us.

I’m so lucky she wanted to stop by today with not only a cover reveal, but a guest post…

All Wrapped Up is the upcoming release from Kimberly in her Pine Mountain Series, a series I adore, and will be releasing soon!

Enjoy and thank you, Kimberly!

AWU cover

Talk about a hot lead…

Christmas is coming to Pine Mountain—and it has a way of stirring up memories, good and bad. Nick Brennan may manage the Double Shot bar smooth as good whiskey, but his past is a hot mess. When he runs into a burning building to save a little boy, some people start thinking there’s more to his heroism than holiday spirit. And then the local reporter assigned to the story turns out to be gorgeous Ava Mancuso, the girl who got away.

Ava knows what it’s like to have a past. But the changes she’s seen in Nick since she knew him do more than set off her natural curiosity—his warm eyes and gruff charm have her instincts fired up. Still, all the chemistry in the world doesn’t erase history, even when Nick invites her to his little sister’s mistletoe wedding. Does he have a heart under all those secrets? Or is this going to be just another Christmas past?

Praise for Kimberly Kincaid

“Kimberly Kincaid knows how to whip up a delicious love story.”

—Susan Donovan

“An author on the rise.”

–RT Book Reviews

“A sweet and sexy treat!”

—Bella Andre

“Smart, fun, and heartwarming.”

—Jill Shalvis

Kimberly’s guest post:

Holiday Food Traditions: Let It Snow

As a self-proclaimed great, big, giant foodie, I have a particular fondness for the end of the year. Thanksgiving, with its sweet potato casserole and cranberry stuffing, Hanukkah with latkes and brisket, Christmas ham with all the trimmings…nothing quite embodies my mantra that “food is love” quite like the holidays that wrap up the season. So it’s pretty meaningful to me that both the first and last story in my Pine Mountain series center around the holidays, and the food (and love!) that go with them.

Over here at Chez Kincaid, we bake a lot of cookies at Christmastime. By a lot, I don’t mean five or six dozen—although that’s quite a few sweets for sampling and sharing. I mean, my daughters and I flour bomb the kitchen for an entire weekend, coming away with plate after plate of goodies (I feel I should note that we do give them as gifts…aside from the ones we “taste test” for quality assurance, of course!) When my editor came to me with the idea to pair up with Donna Kauffman and Kate Angell to introduce readers to Pine Mountain in The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap, I knew I’d found my element. I came up with a chef on chef battle for the top spot in a high-stakes Christmas cookie bakeoff. Pete Mancuso and Lily Callahan both want first prize, but they end up winning each other’s hearts in the process. Their signature dishes were a ton of fun to bake, and we’ve added a few Pete and Lily specials to our holiday baking repertoire.

Fast-forward through four more Pine Mountain books, as well as another novella, and we arrive at the end of the series. I knew I needed something special to tie the Pine Mountain series up with a bow that was sweet and sexy enough to make readers swoon. How better to do that than to give Pete Mancuso’s sister Ava a Christmas story of her own in All Wrapped Up? Ava’s not much of a cook, but as a newspaper reporter, she sure can sniff out a great story. When her make-or-break assignment turns out to be her old flame, bar manager Nick Brennan, let’s just say things heat up in the kitchen! But not only are both books holiday-themed love stories, they’re also stories about family and friends making connections through cooking, baking, and sharing food. Traditional recipes like sugar cookies and snickerdoodles come together with quirky, personally inspired dishes (in All Wrapped Up, Pete makes Ava a very unique comfort food that my kids all adore—you’ll have to read to discover what it is!) to bond the characters and take their holiday experiences to a whole new level.

So tell me, reader-friends! What do you make at the holidays? Do you have a sweet tooth or do you go for savory meals with all the trimmings?

Oh, PS—if you want to add new recipes to your files, each Pine Mountain book from The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap to All Wrapped Up has them in the back. Season’s eatings…and season’s readings!

Thank you, Kimberly! And thanks for mentioning another fave of mine, The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap

A mouth-watering, heart-warming, toe-curling holiday romance!”

—Amanda Usen on The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap

SCSS new cover

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

About the author:

Kimberly Kincaid Author Pic

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance novels that split the difference between sexy and sweet, taking the traditional idea of boy-meets-girl and infusing it with a sassy magic all her own. She believes in fiery yet flawed characters destined for a crash-course in falling in love– usually the hard way– and injects her trademark humor as well as poignant touches into her writing to create her stories.
Kimberly’s writing journey has led down some bumpy roads (that first manuscript is under the bed, where it is very likely to stay), but there has been some fresh pavement too (her second manuscript earned her very first contest final, and landed the fantastic Maureen Walters at the Curtis Brown Literary Agency). One thing is certain — the wild ride of being a writer is a lot richer in both its ups and downs because of friends and readers along the path.

When Kimberly’s not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as “The Pleather Bomber”, she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to eclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. She resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

Connect with Kimberly:

Email: kimberly.kincaid1@gmail.com
Facebook
Twitter: @KimberlyKincaid
Blog

Cover Reveal Guest Post November 2014

2 Comments »

Entity by Patricia Leever…Guest Post Stop

by Jilly

Entity releases TOMORROW!

A giggle bubbled out before I could stop it.

“Damn it,” I groaned and gave him a good pinch on his right ass cheek.

“Ow! What was that for?”

“Making me giggle like a girl.”

“Well, I hate to break it to ya, babe, but last I checked, you are a girl.” He flipped up the

sheet and stuck his head underneath it. “Yeah, looks like girl parts to me—wait…nope, that’s

mine.” Poking his head back out, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in even closer.

“One hundred percent, my girl.”

On mornings like this, I wished to hell I was a “normal” girl. Sometimes I liked to imagine, just for a second, that I was plain old Evelyn with nothing better to do in the morning than lie here with her man.

But that’s not how it was. That’s not who we were. We were hunters of demons. And when it got down to it, I really wouldn’t have had it any other way, because one of the gifts bestowed upon those who hunted was the gift of agelessness. In the real world, I would have shriveled up and kicked the bucket ages ago, not be lying here next to some hot guy one-hundred-plus years my junior.

With a low, bone-melting growl, he nibbled at my neck, and his hands started to wander over my body. His fingers slid across my flesh, up over the curve of my hip, crawling along the outside of my thigh. Rolling my body under his, he trailed kisses over my shoulder as he settled into place, and everything in my being sang to life in anticipation. Man, waking up wrapped in Daniel was possibly one of the best feelings in the world.

Add Entity to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17887125-entity?ac=1

And enter the Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post November 2014

2 Comments »

No Ordinary Mistress by Robyn DeHart…..Blog Tour Stop & Excerpt

by Jilly

Title: No Ordinary Mistress
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Robyn DeHart
Publisher: Entangled Scandalous
Language: English
Format: Ebook

Synopsis:

London, 1814

Remington Hawthorne, Earl of Latham, has spent his life protecting the Crown. When he’s assigned to play the part of lover to Emma Masterson, one of the few female spies in England and the one woman he can’t forget, he’ll have to risk his heart as well as his life.
It isn’t easy being an independent woman, much less a spy. Perpetually tasked with proving she is as valuable as any man in her profession, the last thing Emma needs is to be reunited with the one man who makes her want to forget her duties and get lost in passion.

Pretending to be his mistress isn’t difficult—remembering that it is all a charade is the challenge. With every glance, every touch, every kiss, she is drawn deeper under his spell and pulled further from her goals. She refused him once, but it will take every ounce of strength to not give in to the passion that still burns strong…

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

Prologue

June 1812, Paris

Emily Masterson lay quietly on the small bed. A screen separated her from
her partner who, by the sound of everything, had already awakened and was
moving about their small flat. The rich aroma of his tea steeping permeated
the little privacy she had in their dwelling. She noted every one of his
steps, though he moved quietly.

Chapter One

Two years later
August, 1814, London

Emma couldn’t breathe.
If she stayed in this closet for much longer, she was certain to expire, or
at the very least, faint. What little air there was clogged her nostrils and
coated her tongue. She was going to suggest the housekeeper air out the
closet and beat the dust from every item, assuming she survived this
encounter. Her charges were long in bed, and Lady Comfry had taken laudanum
for a headache and probably wouldn’t awaken until tomorrow afternoon.

Chapter Two
Emma Masterson.
Remy Hawthorne did his best to school his features as he returned to his
seat. It had been two years since he’d left her in Paris, since her
assignment to seduce Comte Gibrault. Remy had made certain she’d be safe
working with another member of the Seven, one he trusted, and then he left.
He knew she’d accomplished her task because they’d acquired the necessary
intelligence from Gibrault.

Chapter Three

The following morning, Emma felt remarkably well rested. She’d fully
expected a restless night, but after a long soak in the hot bath and some
bread and tea to settle her stomach, she’d fallen asleep. The last image in
her mind hadn’t been of Lord Comfry’s dying breath, but instead was Remy’s
expression as he stood at the foot of the stairs. He’d been so earnest with
his concern.

Chapter Four

Remy was thankful for the darkened carriage. He didn’t want Emma to see how
much the kiss had affected him as well. He’d kissed her for one reason only:
to startle her out of her prim and proper facade, to cut to the woman
beneath all the propriety. He hadn’t anticipated enjoying the feel of her
against him so much. He’d thought his desire for her long since dead, yet
his blood still hummed with lust.

About the author:

National Bestselling author, Robyn DeHart’s novels have appeared in the top bestselling romance and historical romance lists. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages. Her historical romantic adventure series, The Legend Hunters, were not only bestsellers, but also award-winners, snagging a Reader’s Crown and a Reviewer’s Choice award. She had three releases in 2013 and 2014 will see four more, all set in the popular historical romance Regency and Victorian eras.

Known for her “strong dialogue and characters that leap off the page” (RT Bookclub) and her “sizzling romance” (Publishers Weekly), her books have been featured in USA Today and the Chicago Tribune. A popular writing instructor, she has given speeches at writing conferences in Los Angeles, DC, New York, Dallas, Nashville and Toronto, among many others.

When not writing, you can find Robyn hanging out with her family, husband (The Professor) a university professor of Political Science and their two ridiculously beautiful and smart daughters, Busybee and Babybee as well as two spoiled-rotten cats. They live in the hill country of Texas where it’s hot eight months of the year, but those big blue skies make it worth it.

You can find Robyn online in a variety of places.
Sign up for Robyn’s newsletter www.robyndehart.com/newsletter/
Robyn’s website www.robyndehart.com
Robyn on Twitter twitter.com/RobynDeHart
Robyn on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Robyn-DeHart-H…
Robyn on Goodreads www.goodreads.com/author/show/288853….

Blog Tour Guest Post March 2014

No Comments »

Seasons in the Sun by Kristen Strassel….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on the Season in the Sun by Kristen Strassel Blog Tour!

Kristen has stopped by today with a fabulous guest post that I know you will enjoy. Thanks for stopping by!

Synopsis:

Summer has finally arrived, along with a boy who will forever change the life of fourteen-year-old Callie. After growing up hearing stories about Tristan Trevosier and his famous family, Callie finally meets him when he spends the summer on Martha’s Vineyard. Seventeen-year-old Tristan is a hurricane of destruction and rebellion, and he quickly blows a hole right into Callie’s sheltered life. Callie sees a side of Tristan that he doesn’t show anyone else. She’s determined to make everyone see what she sees in him.

Callie defies her parents by leaving the island with Tristan. But when his ugly habits rear their head, Callie realizes maybe she’s the one who’s wrong about him. He’s beyond her help. But it’s too late for her to walk away. This summer, she learns that love can be stronger than reason.

Kristen’s Guest Post:

LEGENDS OF THE FALL is one of my favorite movies. Something captivated me from the very first time I saw it. Brad Pitt’s character is my original Tristan. Of course, they share a name and good looks, but as I watched the movie again the other night, I realized that if Seasons in the Sun and the books that follow in The Night Songs collection were set in the early 1900’s, they could very well be much like Legends of the Fall.

Towards the end of the movie, Albert says to Tristan (forgive me for paraphrasing), “I did everything right, and played by all the rules. You played by none of the rules, and they all loved you more.”

I almost started jumping up and down on my couch when he said that. YES. There’s something about bad boys, not the kind that we see on the six o clock news or have prison tattoos, but the ones that dance to the beat of their own drummer that has always drawn me in.

Free spirits are sexy. Artists, creatives, anyone who dares to ask why. Someone who doesn’t like what they see, and has the balls to change it.

When I was a young girl, it never occurred to me to question the rules. Like Callie, I just did what I was asked. I wanted to be good. I wanted to make people happy. So when I got to meet people who saw things their own way, they captivated me. It was people like that who made me realize how big the world was. I didn’t relate to the lessons in my books, but I could relate to other people’s life stories.

One of my favorite things to do on days off is go to museums. Recently, I realized that art pisses me off sometimes. I’m disappointed in myself that my mind doesn’t think in a way that can create such beauty. It’s something that I admire in other people.

I keep equating bad boys with free spirits. It’s not true! Tristan does his fair share of bad, because it’s been the only way he gets attention. But Callie doesn’t care about that. Callie is drawn to him because for her, he represents all the things that her life can’t offer her. Celebrity. Excitement. Respect. It’s hard to come by at fourteen. Tristan’s not afraid to shake things up, for himself as well as the people around him.

Callie needs to know where that ride takes Tristan. And for that reason, she can’t let him go.

Seasons in the Sun (book #.5) on Goodreads | Amazon

About the author Kristen Strassel:

Kristen shares a birthday with Steven Tyler and Diana Ross. She spends each day striving to be half as fabulous as they are. She’s worn many hats, none as flattering as her cowboy hat: banker, retail manager, fledgling web designer, world’s worst cocktail waitress, panty slinger, now makeup artist and aspiring author. She loves sunshine, live music, the middle of nowhere, and finding new things to put in her house. Kristen is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Foreword Literary.

Kristen on Goodreads | Kristen on Twitter | Kristen’s Blog

Other books by Kristen:

Because the Night (book #1) on Goodreads

Because the Night (book #1) on Amazon

Don’t forget to join in on the book buzz using hashtag #SITS

Blog Tour Guest Post

No Comments »

Taking Something by Elizabeth Lee….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on Elizabeth Lee’s Taking Something Blog Tour!

I have a fun guest post to share with you all today along with the tour-wide giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by and ENJOY!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

I know what you’re thinking. “You were such a jerk, Nick!” Believe me, I know I screwed up the best thing I had going in my life, but that was kind of my thing. I’d learned how to run cons before I could even form complete sentences, and I’d always been selfish. But I changed. Lila forgave me, my brother and I were getting along, and I was trying to make a name for myself in the music world.

At least that was what I was trying to do when I negotiated my way into the recording studio with pop superstar Sadie Sinclair. I thought it would be a piece of cake—charm my way into her heart and into her record label’s good graces.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I got mixed up in a web of lies, manipulation, and deception. A web that had me questioning my motives and desires altogether.

Was the fame and fortune really worth the price?

Elizabeth’s Guest Post:

10 Reasons Nick is the Perfect Book Boyfriend

1. He’s good with his hands. He knows how to push all the right buttons.

2. He’s a lover not a fighter.

3. Nothing is sexier than a guy who can dance.

4. He knows what he wants and he gets it.

5. Anybody who is related to Tucker Kline has to have a few good lines, right?

6. He’s a deejay, ladies. He knows exactly what songs will put you in the mood.

7. He knows just how to steal your heart.

8. You know those super soft old t-shirts that feel so good against your skin? Well, he’s got about a hundred of them and has no problem letting you slip one on.

9. Tattoos. Need I say more?

10. There’s a fine line between love and hate and he knows how to walk it with the best of them.

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

When I’m not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here’s the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!

LINKS:

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Author Goodreads ~ Novel Goodreads

Blog Tour February 2014 Guest Post

No Comments »

Reaper’s Touch by Eleri Stone….Guest Post & Review

by Jilly

Happy Friday!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I recently read Reaper’s Touch by Eleri Stone and really enjoyed it. I was also lucky enough to have Eleri stop by the blog with a fabulous guest post!

Please enjoy and thanks again for visiting!

Book links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads

Synopsis:

Abby is a Ranger, part of an elite group who defend the border against Reapers—humans infected with a parasite that turns them into mindless cannibals. Rangers are immune to Reaper infection, and as one of the only female Rangers, Abby is expected to settle down and breed more Rangers—a fate she’s keen to avoid. When she’s ambushed on the plains, she’s ready to go out with guns blazing—until a mysterious, handsome cowboy rides to her rescue.

Jake has his own motives for helping Abby, beyond aiding a damsel in distress. He’s a Reaper, and while he’s learned to wrest control of his mind from the parasite, the effects won’t last without a permanent cure. And he needs Abby to get it.

Abby and Jake are natural enemies and unlikely partners. But when their search reveals a conspiracy between Reapers and the rich industrialists who own the mountain cities, they must work together to find the cure—or lose the border, and each other, forever.

My review:

Reaper’s Touch by author Eleri Stone is a cowboy meets zombie story with a steam punk feel that I really, really enjoyed!

One of a very few female Rangers, Abby is a rare breed. She is part of a select group born to defend the population against the Reapers….or zombies as we know them. These reapers are infected humans that have been taken over by a parasite and have turned from normal people to cannibals. The Rangers are blessed with the immunity of that parasite which makes them perfect to police the infected and keep the uninfected safe. Rangers rely not only on their physical training to fight but also an innate ability to actually sense a Reaper’s presence. It’s that combo that has kept Abby on the battlefield and not in a Ranger village somewhere having little ranger babies, which is what most female Rangers did. So not Abby’s style. So when Abby is sent to give a message to another Ranger camp, she is a little suspicious that her Captain may be setting a retirement in motion for her. Being strong-willed, Abby agrees to go on the mission but knows to keep her guard up. She was never going to do anything other than fight. That’s what she was good at. Imagine her surprise when the training she has relied on fails her when she meets Jake. A sexy and rugged cowboy who saves her ass from a nasty group of men while on her mission only to find out that he is exactly what she’s supposed to be fighting…..a Reaper.

Jake has been a reaper for over a hundred years now and has come so very far from those first mindless days of being infected. He has learned to control his urges and hopes one day to find a cure for the parasite he’s been infected with for far too long. This is where he needs Abby’s help. He never thought he would be asking a Ranger to trust him and ask for her help but that’s what he needed to do if there was any hope of eradicating this sickness. This was his last chance and his only hope….

Never would Abby and Jake have thought they would be working with the enemy for the common good but that’s exactly what needs to happen. Will Abby be able to trust Jake won’t hurt her when all she’s even known was killing reapers? Would Jake have what it takes to earn that trust? Only time will tell and unfortunately time isn’t something they have a whole lot of. Forming an unlikely alliance will slowly turn into something more for these two and oh how I loved it!

Again, I have to say that I loved this cowboy/zombie mash-up! It was different and exciting and interesting to read packed with suspense, intensity and even some sexy heat. Abby and Jake are on opposite teams in this war and the building of trust between them was really great to read. Neither one of them wants to be working with the other one but luckily they are pretty reasonable and realize they may be able to save the human race…together. There were more than a few twists and turns in this book that I enjoyed as well. Of course I won’t spoil it for you!

If you’re looking for something fresh and exciting, this is a book for you. Thank you, Eleri, for giving me a book I was excited to read from start to finish!

Four Loves

Guest Post:

Hi! Thank you so much for having me here to talk about my new release Reaper’s Touch. The inspirational “what if” question behind the Reaper series was: What if early explorers to the Americas discovered the fountain of youth but found that immortality came at a terrible price?

The story strayed from that original concept. The parasite that turned men into Reapers—immortal, violently aggressive cannibals—didn’t come from a fountain. Hurricanes and flooding contaminated the drinking water unleashing a plague on pre-Civil War era America. Because the parasite is killed by freezing temperatures, small populations of people survived by fleeing north or retreating into the mountains. Reapers migrate with warm weather, running south during the winter and rising again in the spring. A small percentage of the survivors are immune to the parasite and they become Rangers whose job it is to protect human farming and ranching settlements on the plains.

That’s the basic premise. Is it science fiction? Most biological plagues and apocalyptic stories fall into that category. The historical setting puts it more within the realm of alternate history/fantasy. And when you throw a strong romantic storyline into the mix, what the heck is it then? Not really paranormal romance, but what? I’ve spent a lot of time scratching my head trying to figure out what category to put this story in and it got me thinking about how much genre labels really matter.

Genre categories are supposed to aid in the discovery process and help set reader expectations. If you feel like reading Fantasy, you go find the shelf marked Fantasy and when you pull one of those books, you have a general idea of what you’re getting yourself into.

This traditional system works fine for physical bookstores and libraries. There are a limited number of books to look at and you can skim covers and blurbs until you find something close to what you’re looking for. Online is a different story. For one thing, there are so many titles available, especially if you’re looking at digital books. Browsing aimlessly isn’t really an option unless you have hours of time on your hands. And using the booksellers’ search engines can be an exercise in frustration.

Instead of browsing by genre-categories, what I’d really like to be able to do is type in a specific search “Epic Fantasy Romance Anti-Hero Sorcerer” or “Biological Plague Wild West” and get a list of relevant suggestions. Or maybe search for favorite tropes. But right now it can be hard to find what you’re looking for.

Reaper’s Touch ended up categorized as Paranormal Romance and Sci-Fi Dystopian. I’m curious about how much people pay attention to genre categories when they’re looking for books. And what would you call a cowboys vs. zombies + romance story?

Thanks for stopping by today, Eleri! ~Jillian

About the author:

Eleri Stone was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Iowa, married her college sweetheart, and settled in the Midwest where she still lives with her husband and their three children. A lifelong fan of fantasy, she started reading romance as an adult and was instantly captivated by the strong female protagonists and character-driven storylines. All of her stories have some element of speculative fiction and they all end with a happy-ever-after.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

February 2014 Guest Post New Reviews

No Comments »

Reforming the Playboy by Inara Scott….Blog Tour Stop & Guest Post

by Jilly

Welcome to my stop on the Reforming the Playboy by Inara Scott Blog Tour!

I have a fabulous guest post to share with all today as well as a guest post themed giveaway! Hoe fun!

Thanks to Inara from stopping by and enjoy!

Book links:

Goodreads Link

Amazon Link

Barnes and Noble Link

Facebook Event Link

Synopsis:

Five years ago, she left without a word…

Internationally-renowned artist Max Estin is as well known for his million dollar commissions as he is his partying and clubbing. But Max is hiding a secret—for almost a year he’s been completely blocked. Unable to paint. And to unlock his art, and save his career, he’s going to need the one woman he never wanted to see again.

Now, he’s determined to make her pay…

Kira Estin never told Max exactly why she left, or what secrets forced her to return home to Passion Creek so abruptly. So when a chance reunion turns to seduction, Kira is more than a little suspicious. She knows better than to trust Max, but can’t fight the fire that he lights in her body—or her heart. But when everyone is hiding a secret, can even the hottest passion survive?

Guest post:

Visiting Passion Creek—Welcome to the Passion Creek Beanery!

As a writer and resident of the Pacific Northwest, it shouldn’t surprise you that I’ve got a passion for coffee. Seriously, I’ve tried giving up a lot of things to manage my migraines. I’ve given up wine, chocolate, cheese, avocados, bananas, black tea… Nothing, nothing was like giving up coffee. I love the aroma, the sound of the beans in the grinder, the foam in the French press, and of course, the taste. I don’t really need the caffeine—I’m actually a morning person. But the ritual of drinking coffee in the morning cannot be replaced.

And, let’s be honest, I love the other stuff, too. A dark, rich cup of coffee mixed with a healthy dose of cream and sugar? Yeah. Sign me up.

(In case you’re wondering, I brought back the coffee after a month of abstinence. Migraines be dammed!)

I’ve never been big on the Starbucks flavored lattes and mochas. I’m more of a purist. I’ll drink an occasional latte, but when I do it’s with whole milk, no flavors or syrup, and two packets of sugar. And can we be straight up here? Starbuck’s drip coffee sucks. It’s horribly bitter. Thank goodness for all of the other choices here in the Portland area.

Given my love of all things coffee, I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that Passion Creek, the fictional small town in the mountains of Colorado where Reforming the Playboy is set, has a great coffee shop. The Passion Creek Beanery. And as with all the best coffee shops, it’s not just about the coffee. It has great baristas, too. Here’s Kira, the heroine, chatting with her favorite barista at the Beanery the day after running into Max, her ex-boyfriend, after five years.

Kira handed the heavily pierced barista her oversize travel mug and a credit card. “Triple mocha, with whip, extra chocolate.”

“Seriously?” Errand, the morning barista at the Passion Creek Beanery, cocked her blond, dreadlocked head in surprise. “What the hell happened to you?”

“Nothing.” Kira scowled as she ran a hand through her hair. “I just happen to need an instant infusion of sugar, fat, chocolate, and caffeine. That okay with you?”

Errand held up her hands in submission. “I can totally respect that.”

Kira sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a jerk. I just didn’t sleep much last night.”

“Nothing serious, I hope?”

“Nah. Trouble left town early this morning.” Kira squinted at the pastry case. “In fact, you better add a pumpkin scone to that order. To celebrate.”

“Sounds like a good plan.” Errand said. She passed the mug to the tall, skinny guy making drinks at the espresso station. “Triple mocha, with whip, extra chocolate,” she bellowed.

He winced. “I’m standing right next to you. You don’t need to yell.” 

Errand flashed him a reproving look. “Did you miss the training? We’re supposed to be practicing projecting our voices.” 

“Not right in my ear you aren’t.” He bent down to retrieve a gallon of milk from the mini fridge under the bar. 

Errand rolled her eyes. “Can’t get good help these days.”

he swiped the card and returned it to Kira. “You know you’re welcome to dump on me anytime you want. That’s what a barista is for.”

Do you have a favorite coffee shop or barista, or both? Tell me all about it! And to celebrate this stop on the Passion Creek tour, I’m giving away a ½ pound bag of my favorite coffee (from the Blue Kangaroo Coffee Roasters), a Passion Creek mug to drink it in, and a copy of Reforming the Playboy!

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Inara grew up in winter wonderland of Buffalo, NY. Consequently, she spent much of her childhood complaining about being cold. To spare the world her whining, she fled the cold climate and eventually wound up in the Pacific NW, where she practiced law for ten years before getting up the courage to quit her day job and write full time. A proud author of fantasy and romance for adults and young adults, Inara firmly believes that great literature doesn’t have to be depressing, true love does exist, and everyone deserves a happily ever after. You can find her online at Twitter (@inarascott), on Facebook, and at her website:www.inarascott.com.

Blog Tour Guest Post January 2014

No Comments »

Book Promotion & Review

Guest Post:

Enjoy and thank you, Kimberly!

Kimberly’s guest post:

Holiday Food Traditions: Let It Snow

About the author:

Connect with Kimberly:

Entity releases TOMORROW!

Synopsis:

Excerpt:

Synopsis:

Kristen’s Guest Post:

Book links:

Synopsis:

Elizabeth’s Guest Post:

Giveaway:

Book links:

Synopsis:

My review:

Four Loves

Guest Post:

Book links:

Synopsis:

Guest post:

Giveaway: