Sky's Paranormal Month

I've been interviewed at Sky Purington’s blog

 

http://skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com/

Sky is such a gracious and generous hostess and all this month  she's been highlighting Paranormal Romance and giving out prizes.

 

If you get a moment, plese  pop over and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my book ‘Children Of The Mist’ and a $5 Wild Rose Press Gift Certificate.

Confederate Rose took 2nd place!!

I am so thrilled that my Civil War romance, Confederate Rose, has taken 2nd place in the historical category of the 2010 New England Reader's Choice Bean Pot Contest.

This story is not your typical Civil War romance, since the heroine, Katie Rose O'Reilly, is a soldier in the Confederate army. Her story is loosely based on real women who fought for both North and South at the time of the Civil War. A time when women weren't considered capable of serving the army in any fashion.

Since Civil War romance isn't a popular choice for editors with the big NY publishers, I was gratified that my editor, Allison Byers, and publisher, The Wild Rose Press, would even consider publishing this story and even more gratified that readers love it! But without TWRP, Katie's story wouldn't be available for readers to find at all.

The Seventh Taboo - a sweet SF romance with a rave review!

It's been a few months now since the publication of "The Seventh Taboo" by the Wild Rose Press, and the sales are going strong. This makes me re-think everything I know about promotion.

You see, I made a conscious effort not to promote this title. I wanted to see whether the strength of the writing and of the story would be enough to carry it.

The book carries the stamp of approval from the New York Times Bestselling Author Nalini Singh, so I'll do away with false modesty and say it outright: the book is good. It looks like the readers agree.

I can't help wondering, though, how well the book would have sold had I actually put some time and effort into promoting it. New-York-Times-Bestselling-well, perhaps? :-)))

["A brilliant story! I want more!

Nalini Singh,

New York Times Bestselling Author

of Hostage to Pleasure]

Regency Clothing

For a detailed look into Regency Clothing fashions, stop by and read up on today's posts; Gentlemen's Clothing; pants, trousers, pantaloons, and breeches. Follow me, leave a comment, and be entered to win a copy of my soon-to-be released Regency Romance Novel, The Guise of a Gentleman.

The First Books I Fell in Love with (Penny Rader)

Today I'm over at Bits & Bytes: Romance...the Writer's Way blogging about the first books I fell in love with: http://warawriters.blogspot.com/2010/03/first-books-i-fell-in-love-with-penny.html I do hope you'll pop over and share your own favorites.

Penny Rader

http://www.pennyrader.com/

Mike's Best Bet!

Hey, out there!

My first book, Mike's Best Bet, is due out on March 26! I can scarcely believe it!

There's a great blurb about it at the store here on The Wild Rose Press, but let me tell you a little bit more about my Mike and Andi.

Remember the 80's TV show Moonlighting? I love that show. Cool blonde professional woman,
hot handsome hero who turns her world upside down and inside out!

I hope you check out Mike's Best Bet, and while you're over there, check out Amazon Connection by Carol Henry and Loving Purity by Lisa Hill, two of my writing buddies. We have a book signing at the Barnes and Noble in Ithaca, NY on May 22 from 2 to 4. If you're around, check in! We'll have chocolate!

The Author Roast and Toast roasts and toasts WRP author Emma Lai

You're invited  over to the Author Roast and Toast where we're entertaining my Fellow Wild Rose Press  'Faery Rose' line romance author,  Emma Lai..  Come and join us for an Author feature with a difference, as we discuss her book 'His Ship Her Fantasy' and find out more about this talented fantasy author and her books.

http://authorroastandtoast.blogspot.com/ 

A Penny for Your Thoughts by Bess McBride, A New Review!

I just got a wonderful review from Ivy at Long and Short Reviews for my latest release, A Penny for Your Thoughts, and I couldn't wait to share it with you!

4.5 Books from Long and Short Reviews!

If you’ve never spent time on the Gulf Coast, I’m sorry for you. After reading Bess McBride’s A Penny For Your Thoughts, I feel sorry for myself -- because I’m ready to head back! A frequent admirer of Ms. McBride’s themes, I couldn’t wait to snatch up this new release set off of Alabama’s beaches. I was more than pleasantly surprised by this romantic suspense novel. A Penny For Your Thoughts is a clever piece of work.

The pacing is so fantastic in this suspense novel that the hiccups along the way come off as minor--several occasions where events unraveled too conveniently were a bit distracting for me. That being said, the psychological storyline and work in this story, even to the point of tying the title in so cleverly (I love a good double entendre!), is near flawless to read. Three cheers for an author who can write a whodunit and throw in so many red herrings you feel like you’re swimming in a school of them. I couldn’t make my up mind who was out to get poor Penny, and when it was revealed I was mad at myself for not figuring it out!

I also loved every moment the story took me to the beach. I could just feel the sugary sand beneath my feet, see the one-legged little sandpiper, and who doesn’t want to watch the sun slip below the horizon in a fiery ball just one more time? Every scene, from the tranquil to the climatic, is vivid in sensory detail and draws you in.

There is a wonderful growth in Ms. McBride’s books as she continues to publish her original romances. Besides adventuresome plotlines, she writes with taste, and deserves a nod for classy romance stories that don’t lack in power or sensuality. A Penny For Your Thoughts is the best romantic suspense I have read of late. A lover of any romance subgenre will not go wrong with this story. It is super enjoyable.

For the rest of the review: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/penny-for-your-thoughts-by-bess-mcbride.html

Give the Gift of Reading

There's still time to help The Literacy Site raise funds for books for underprivileged children. Give the gift of reading...it's just a click away.


Click to Give to The Literacy Site
 
 
 

Anna Kathryn Lanier

Where Tumbleweeds Hang Their Hats

http://www.aklanier.com/

http://annakathrynlanier.blogspot.com/

BET IT ON MY HEART - Launch Day!

Book III in the Wayback Ridge saga...

ANTE UP!

Keefe Ridge's bronc-busting days are nearly over. Despite that and the fact that he is slowly making his dream business venture a reality, Wayback's wildest cowboy doesn't see any reason to settle down. He is even willing to bet that marriage isn't in the cards at all for him.

Agent Calli Morlani came to Wayback on a mission: to bring Stella Ridge back to Hollywood. When Stella refuses, she dares Calli to take in some local color and see what Wayback has to offer. Whether that includes Stella's devastatingly charming brother becomes irrevelant once Calli finds herself in bed with him - in more ways than one…

Will it take a tough city girl to make the Wayback playboy finally fall long and hard? Or will Keefe give Calli a reason to stay? Place your bet!

Excerpt:

“Are you a gift from God or do they make all the men like you around here?”

“What’re you talking about?” he asked with a chuckle, threading his fingers through hers and pulling her close, navel to navel.

“You ride a horse like a Trojan warrior,” she pointed out. “You happen to look like one, too, minus the hat and boots. You’re ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent charm. And you also happen to be a fabulous dancer.” She tilted her head curiously. “All that’s missing is ‘Great Kisser.’”

He lowered his lips. They brushed hers as he murmured, “Got that covered.”

Her eyes drifted to a close while he lingered a breath away, teasing her. That fresh smell of his wrapped her close and warm. “Of course, you do.” Her lips parted under his to accept the full depth of his smoldering kiss. The hands she’d twined at the nape of his neck fell limp on his collar. Her head bowed back into his cupped palm as his tongue danced over hers in firm, languid strokes.

Heart pattering, breath stalling, she hardly noticed the hum that escaped her throat. His hand was trekking down her back, long fingers inciting the skin underneath the zipper of her dress.

The song ended, but she didn’t break away from him when applause sounded around them and people began to nudge past them on and off the dance floor. His hands gripped her hips as the kiss intensified.

Good God.

BET IT ON MY HEART (c) Amber Leigh Williams

Read the complete Ridge saga: Book I, Blackest Heart (1st Place More Than Magic Novella), is available now for just $3.00! Also now available in The Way Back Home paperback anthology - Three Cowboys -n- One! Book II, Bluest Heart, is available now for just $3.75.

Get your copy of Book III, Bet It On My Heart, and be the first to read Keefe and Calli's story for $4.00! Learn more at The Cozy Page...

Praise for this trilogy:

"Super-charged and dynamic. I could not put this book down. It was mesmerizing to read. I truly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to everyone."
- The Romance Studio

“…touching, contemporary story… a very touching relationship. I was especially drawn to Judd whose silence and actions spoke volumes. I felt that Judd’s quiet nature was a brilliant choice by the author as it made him even more intriguing and demonstrated the author’s ability to convey emotion and the story through actions and other characters. Blackest Heart is a wonderful story with characters that will touch the heart and I for one am glad I got the chance to read it."
- Long & Short Reviews

“Ms Williams has a good writing style; polished and confident, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. Definitely recommended.”
- Writers & Readers of Distinctive Fiction

"Stella Ridge discovers that home sweet home and the arms of a strong, quiet cowboy are just what she needs to get her life and heart going again in Amber Leigh Williams’s fantastic Wayback tale- Blackest Heart. With a wonderful cast of supporting characters, including Stella’s adorable brothers, Stella and Judd will warm your heart and make you believe in the wonder of sweet homecomings."

- Marguerite Arotin, author of One Enchanted Summer and Return of the Prodigal Daughter

"Bluest Heart is a romance that inspires feel-good tingles in all the right places. Author Amber Leigh Williams has created a story with characters readers are bound to adore and remember. What a fantastic story! Ms. Williams managed to snare my heart and wretch every bit of emotion possible from it. Tightly written and hits the emotions like a freight train. Cowboy fans will love Bluest Heart, and if they are anything like me, will make a direct trip to The Wild Rose Press to purchase the preceding story, Blackest Heart. Don’t miss out on this one, folks. You get romance, heartache, and a whole lot of making up for lost time."

- Long & Short Reviews

"I recently read Amber Leigh Williams's Bluest Heart and highly recommend it along with her previous novella in the Wayback series, Blackest Heart."

- Crystal-Rain Love, Author of Guardian Cowboy

Five Hearts Review from The Romance Studio!

The reviews are slowly trickling in for Sleeping With Skeletons. So far I've had a 'Best Book' review at LASR, and SWS was also voted 'Best Book of the Week' there. I was given a 'You Gotta Read' review at You Gotta Read. Both of those are the highest ratings those sites give. Romantic Times Magazine even gave SWS a good review, which is like getting gold out of a coal mine. And now I have a Five Heart Review from The Romance Studio, which is their highest rating. Tastes differ, of course, and so I'm really thrilled by all these great reviews to date. Here's what The Romance Studio wrote about Sleeping With Skeletons:

~

Margret is in hiding. She needs a place to recover and put herself back together. There are rules you need to follow to stay alive when hiding. Margret knows them all intimately and yet finds herself unable to maintain those rules. She has moved to a new country and found a secluded place to lay low and lick her wounds. A verbal sparring with Aiden Grimes, a local boy turned famous actor, was maybe not the way to remain unnoticed. Aiden had become a distant memory, someone she met the night her life went to hell. Now Margret finds herself attracted to him and has to work at staying out of his limelight. Threats are coming at her from all angles and from unexpected foes. Getting involved with Aiden, or any of the towns’ people for that matter, could put them at risk. Can Margret build a new life or will her nightmares take shape and ruin all plans for her new life?

What a great read! Kennedy writes with a pulsating rhythm that drives the reader deeper into the story. Margret is a heroine with such a strong persona you can see her in real life. The twists and turns make this story a page turner. The surprises that pop up make it both heart wrenching and finger twisting at the same time. When Margret takes on the town bad guys you stand up and cheer it is about time; while secretly you marvel at the craftiness of her revenge and wish you had thought of it. Each character adds new dimension to the plot. There are times you are unsure from where the threat is coming. Is it the tormentor of Margret’s nightmares, Aiden’s scorned lover or someone one who should have been her ally? This book is a definite recommend.

~

If you'd like to read that review at their site, here is the link: TRS. And if you'd like to view the trailer for SWS, I've included it below.

Thanks.
Doralynn

Win a $25 Gift Certificate for Amazon

I just did an interview at The Long and Short of It. I am also running a contest there. The winner receives is a $25 gift certificate for Amazon, so check out the link to enter: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/contest.htm

I am also hosting a chat there tomorrow, Wednesday, February 24th. So check out the link for more information about that.

Here is my interview:

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to have Doralynn Kennedy with us today. Doralynn’s debut novel, Sleeping With Skeletons, was released by The Wild Rose Press last fall.

She’s currently working on a crime book she’s absolutely in love with called Spiders and she thinks it’s the best manuscript she’s ever written. “I consider it a cross between Tami Hoag and Stephen King,” she told me. “I don’t want to give anything away, but I can tell you that the crime my villain commits in this book has never been done before.”

She admits her favorite author changes frequently, but said that, currently, her favorite is Tami Hoag.

“I have a law enforcement background and many of her books center around characters who are in law enforcement. She has a great grasp on how cops think and act. Her characters are completely convincing,” she explained. “I swear they’re in the room with me. It takes a real talent to bring characters to life in such a vivid way. She also writes an engaging mystery that keeps me turning the page. But mainly, I think I just love the leading men in her books.”

Mr. McIntyre, her 8th and 9th grade English teacher, started Doralynn writing. He gave his students contracts at the beginning of the year, and the students could choose which grade they wanted to earn. The options were A, B, or C and each option required a different commitment. One of the things Doralynn had to do to earn the A she wanted was to write several short stories.

“That’s when I discovered I could write,” she said. “Mr. McIntyre started reading those stories to the class. It was exciting for me to hear my fellow students laughing at all of my jokes and cheering my characters on. One day I turned in a story, and he shook his head and gave it back. ‘I know what you’re capable of, and you can do better than that. Never do anything less than your best.’ It was the best piece of advice any teacher ever gave me.”

By the time she finished his class, she knew she was a writer and has been writing ever since.

“I’ve never been very practical, I’m afraid. Very few people actually succeed in this profession. There are so many hurdles to overcome. Not just the hurdle of writing something that’s good enough to be published. In some ways, that’s the easy part. It’s the hurdles you face after you’ve written the book. It’s so difficult to find an agent. And, the way things are now days, you can’t find a publisher unless you can find an agent first. But agents, if writers can get them to respond at all, typically turn away most queries with a form rejection letter. ‘It doesn’t meet our needs at present.’ Really? How would you know? You haven’t read it! It’s so frustrating. I just want to scream. It’s why so many writers are turning to small, print-on-demand publishing house—or just self-publishing. I’ve read some self-published work recently that was 10 times better than some of the books coming out of the big publishing houses by well-known authors.”

Doralynn is very much a “pantser.” She told me she doesn’t really develop her characters or plots—they develop themselves.

“With me, a first sentence pops into my head, and then I start writing,” she told me. “Within a few paragraphs, I have a general idea of what is going on, who my characters are, and what the plot is. But the story mostly writes itself. I just jot down the action as it plays out in my head. It’s almost like watching a movie and then telling others what I saw.”

She sees writer’s block as not really, in her case, a problem, but more just a natural rhythm in her writing life. “I don’t really do anything,” she said. “I enter into a long ice age where I just can’t write. Eventually the ice starts to thaw, and I start to write again—fast and furious.”

“What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?” I wondered.

“I think that’s a blend of the writer’s voice and the characters. If the characters don’t leap to life and jump off the page, then the book doesn’t work for me. But it doesn’t work if the writer’s voice doesn’t have a certain magic to it either. Some writers just have a writing style that pulls me into their world. A successful writer is almost like a snake charmer. They draw you into their story, and all you can hear is their music until you close the book. And if they’re really good, you still hear the music after the book is closed.”

Agatha Christie is the writer who most influenced Doralynn. She would walk to the library almost every day after class when she was in middle school and check out books. Usually, it was an Agatha Christie mystery she picked out.

“Her books gave me a love for mysteries that has lasted my whole life. They have also influenced my own writing. Generally, when I sit down to write, I’m sitting down to write a mystery,” she shared.

On a personal note, I asked Doralynn, “Do you really, really want a dog?”

“Well, I’m getting one—whether I really, really want it or not. My niece can’t take care of her dog anymore, and since my last cat just died, I’ve agreed to take Tequila. (Tequila. What kind of name is that for a dog? I’m not sure why, but all young girls nowadays name their pets after alcoholic beverages.) But I don’t really consider Tequila a dog. She’s a Chihuahua. She shakes constantly, weighs less than a pound, and reminds me of a terrified mouse. She’s incredibly sweet though, and she loves me. It’s hard to resist something that loves you—even if it is one of the strangest things you’ve ever seen.”

She hates how she looks in pictures. “I used to steal cameras from my friends and remove the film if I was on it,” she admitted. “I curse the invention of cell phones because someone is always taking my picture.”

“Do you have any strange handwriting habits, like capitalizing all your R’s or dotting your I’s with heart (or anything like that)?” I asked.

“Maybe, but it’s hard to tell. I can’t read my handwriting. I often look at it and think Who on earth wrote that?”

She claimed to be completely normal and without any strange habits, but when she was young (before the invention of Skittles and Starburst) she thought anything with a pretty color belonged in her mouth.

However, the strangest thing (besides crayons) she’s eaten would have to be octopus.

“That was an accident. I was traveling in Italy and stopped at a cafeteria. I thought I was getting some kind of chicken noodle dish,” she explained. “When I got to my table, I stuck my fork in, lifted the first bite, and stopped in mid-motion. Long, dangly legs like rubber bounced off my fork. There were little hairs and suction cups on my noodles. I turned to my traveling companion and asked what kind of noodle it was, and she informed me that it wasn’t a noodle. It was a squid. I decided to be very brave and try a nibble—which turned out to be a mistake. I gave it to my friend. Fortunately, she liked squid. I can honestly say that I prefer crayons to squid.”

“Have you ever made a crank phone call?”

“I grew up before caller ID, so yes. But they were silly little pranks that never terrorized anyone. We’d call, giggling, and ask stupid questions, like, ‘Say, is your refrigerator running?’ If they said ‘yes,’ we’d laugh hysterically and say, ‘Better go catch it!’ Then we’d hang up and our neighbor would call our mother and tell on us.”

Finally, I wanted to know what advice Doralynn would give to a writer just starting out.

“Not to give up and not to stop believing in themselves,” she said.” I think it’s important to study the craft—take classes, read books, join groups. Writing is like any other profession. It requires study and serious work. All of us, no matter how much innate talent we possess, can always improve. I know there are a lot of people who dream of being published, and many times they give up their dreams. Don’t do that. We miss out on so much because of that. I think the best advice I can give to aspiring authors is, ‘Don’t give up. Keep everlastingly at it.’ And remember what Mr. McIntyre told me, ‘Never do anything less than your best.’”

You can keep up with Doralynn on her blog, http://www.dlynnkennedy.blogspot.com, and she will be visiting with us tomorrow at our Long and Short Romance Yahoo group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LongAndShortRomanceReviews/

I am running other contests as well. You can find out more information on them here: http://www.doralynn.net/contest.html.

Good luck in the contests!

BOUND BY HONOR

BOUND BY HONOR is now available at Amazon.com.

Blurb:
Harrison Jackson must defend his family against British spies, Colonial advocates, and himself. Secret meetings are destroying his good name, and nightmares from a life he thought buried threaten more than his reputation.

Victoria Greyson steps onto Boston streets and back into Harrison's life without warning. She wouldn't blame him for hating her, but his rage will have to wait. Her sister is dead and Victoria intends to extract revenge on the man responsible.

While Harrison fights to keep his past a secret, Victoria and Colonial Independence demand more than he wants to give--and neither of them will be denied.


Excerpt:
Consciousness thudded against Victoria's brain and forced her to face reality. The effort it took to open her eyelids has rewarded with stabbing spears of light striking the backs of her vision. A fuzzy shadow walked toward her. Her tongue flicked at the wadded linen in her mouth, surprised that nothing was there. His arm tormented her shoulders as he lifted her and pressed something cold to her lips.

“Drink,” he said.

The words reverberated around her head like a kite bouncing in a windstorm. Her jaw screeched open and he poured the liquid in. She sputtered and gasped, but he continued until the glass was drained. “Are you trying to poison me?” she asked.

“You did enough of that on your own,” Harrison said.

“I never want another glass of wine.”

“Wine?”

She positioned her fingertips around her face for support. “Wasn't I drinking wine?”

“Bourbon.”

“Bourbon? I don't even like bourbon.”

“You mentioned that.”

She scrapped her tongue against her teeth, flinching at the riveting noise then looked at him through bleary-eyes. “What else did I say?”

“Nothing I'll hold against you.” He opened the window but mercifully left the curtains drawn.

“Why not? I'm sure I gave you ample ammunition.”

He sat next to her and she grabbed the side of the bed to offset the pitch. Please don't bounce. Gently, gently.

“Because as much as I have fought against it, and I truly hate to admit it, I still love you Victoria Greyson.”

“I'm gonna be sick. Move.” She shoved against him and stumbled to the chamber pot, dragging a sheet tangled around her ankle. It started with dry heaves, and she prayed she'd make it in time. She pushed the pounding in her head to the side and clutched the cold metal to her cheek. It was soothing, but temporary. Belching loudly, she reinforced her dislike of bourbon. In between waves of burning bitterness, she begged God to kill her. Now and fast would be glorious, anything to end her agony.

Relatively certain she would no longer need the pot, she staggered toward the bed with a cloth pressed to her mouth. Her bed had been straightened and turned down, her pillows fluffed. Harrison stood at the side of it.

“Oh. No,” she said. “Are you still here?

He laughed and held the blankets back for her.

She crawled in and hugged her pillow. “Don't think this will undo what you said.” She shivered and closed her eyes. “But I will need it repeated when I'm better.”

“Endlessly. Now, rest.”

Does the Date Matter?

It's almost Valentine's Day. What will we do? Probably not go out to a special romantic dinner. Restaurants are overbooked, many choose a "special" (translation—limited) menu, and service is likely to be under par. Normally, if we're going to celebrate with a restaurant meal, we'll go out the day after.

Does the day itself matter? We'll acknowledge the holiday with cards and hubby might provide some chocolate (unlike the year he gave me an electronic tire pressure gauge), but we feel no obligation to celebrate on the 14th. Maybe this got started early on, when his travels almost always had him out of town on my birthday, so we'd choose another day to celebrate. (And to my reckoning, since I only count birthdays when he was home to celebrate on the official day, I'm at least 10-15 years younger than my passport says.)

Between workshop presentations and conferences, my schedule would be full enough without including packing and moving, much less adding holiday celebrations. Hubby and I are thinking we ought to find time to choose at least one special thing and have one special dinner. We can consider it a 'going-away' dinner and have the official Valentine's Day and birthday dinner another time, when things are less crazy and stressful.

Last night, instead of either packing or working on my next workshop (yes, I had submitted to two different conferences, and didn't realize they were only a week apart – someone keeps leaving a few days off the end of February), I'll be attending our annual Adult Literacy League Volunteer Appreciation dinner. Truthfully, I was going to beg off because I didn't feel that I'd done enough this year to warrant the money they're laying out on food for use. But now that the house is under contract, it'll be my last chance to say good-bye to some of these folks I've volunteered with for almost 2 decades.

Now, if you're looking for something for Valentine's Day, I can suggest one of my short stories from The Wild Rose Press. It's one of the few stories I wrote where I had a theme and a deadline before I decided to sit down and write it. First challenge: it had to meet a specific word count range. That's enough of a hurdle for me, since it was short. I have trouble with short. It had to be a romance. And it had to somehow tie into Valentine's Day.

I know that still gives a lot of latitude, but my stubborn streak seemed to kick in, and I had to keep reminding my characters that Valentine's Day had to be part of the story. On the other hand, I didn't want it to be a story that would only be relevant near the holiday, because there's no market for those things once the big day has passed.

And, to attempt to tie this into my plotting theme which has been prevalent lately, how did I start? You'd think with Valentine's Day, right? Actually, all I had when I applied fingers to keyboard was an opening line. Something about hearts, candy or cupid, you're thinking right? Nope. That's too "inside the lines" for me. My starting point for draft #1 was the line, "Bah Humbug." But it did end up being a light-hearted romance.

"Romancing the Geek" turned out to be a Pygmalion story, only in this case it's the guy who's in need of a makeover. Here's a blurb, and then I'll get off my promotional intrusion. If you'd like to read the story, you can find a variety of buy links here. Email me a copy of your receipt/confirmation of purchase, and I'll make a donation to the Adult Literacy League as a thank you.

Stephanie's lifelong dream is to design toys--sweet, cuddly toys. Instead, she's hired as a glorified typist. And not even with the rest of the marketing department, but way downstairs in the only available office, which she has to share with Brad, who's a total geek. A geek who's happy programming computer games full of explosions.

They agree to ignore each other while Stephanie waits for a desk to open upstairs. But when Brad has girlfriend troubles--like he can't get Lianne, the cocktail waitress to notice him--he swallows his pride and asks Stephanie if she'll teach him how to talk to women. She agrees, but he's having trouble passing her exams.

Design for Life releases today!

by Cate Masters

I love release days! Today The Wild Rose Press releases Design for Life!
Joanna Aislinn is graciously allowing me to celebrate at her blog. Come on over! I'll be giving away a PDF copy to a random commenter. [As I write this, we're getting round 2 of Snowmageddon: another foot to two feet expected on top of the weekend's two feet of snow, so fingers crossed that the power and my Internet connection holds! If I'm not there, you'll know why!]

Here's the story blurb:
Becca Lyndon puts her dreams on hold by leaving art school to care for her ailing mom. Working full time at The Flower Basket leaves precious little time, but she squeezes in night classes at the local college. When Mike Hunter fills in as a substitute teacher, she worries about a repeat of the critical reviews he gave her work when he substituted at her high school three years earlier. His reason comes as a complete surprise, but can she trust him? Or will he disappear like her father? When that possibility looms all too real, she’s determined never to let the design for her life unravel again. Following her bliss requires work, but pays off in more ways than she ever imagined. She also learns that one door might close, but another can open—and lead to unexpected opportunities.

Here's the excerpt:
“Morning, ladies!” Becca took a moment to inhale the scent of fresh flowers permeating the air.
With a smile, Steffie waved as she talked on the phone.
Hitting a series of keys, Grace turned. “Hey, Becca.”
Donica Laurent entered from the back of the shop. “Good morning!”
The homey atmosphere in the shop always unraveled Becca’s wound nerves. Walking to the counter, she reached into her handbag, oversized to double as a briefcase to carry her art supplies. Her presentation last night had gone well, but she hoped this morning’s would surpass it.
“If you have a minute, can you take a look at these designs and let me know what you think? I used them for my class project last night.”
Grace laid a hand on her arm, her face alight. “Did you wow them?”
With a grin, Becca pulled out her sketch pad. “Not exactly. But Mr. Hunter said they were good.”
Her brow furrowed, Donica stepped next to her. “Who’s Mr. Hunter?”
“A substitute teacher.” Her words came out in a sing-song tone.
Steffie clucked her tongue. “Something about the way you say that makes me think he’s kinda cute.”
Becca couldn’t help but smile. “Not kind of. Very.”
At home last night, she found herself sketching Mike Hunter. His dark hair, tapering to the top of his collar, made her want to run her fingers through its waves. She wanted to remove his black rectangular-framed glasses, peer into his dark brown eyes that sparkled when his gaze met hers. Press her lips against his and push his corduroy jacket from his shoulders. Drawing his features gave her a sense of intimacy, one she wanted to experience.
Hoping the women didn’t notice, Becca fanned the warmth from her neck.
Thank goodness they were too busy laughing. Since she’d been hired at The Flower Basket, the three co-owners had come to feel like her sisters. Warm. Supportive. On the days she had to bring Mom to her doctor appointments, all encouraged her not worry about them, even though the shop had attracted so much new business, they sometimes put in sixteen hours.
Becca hoped to give something back. Something worthwhile.



Cate Masters writes fantasy/dark fantasy, historical, contemporary and speculative fiction, described by reviewers as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” “such romantic tales that really touch your soul,” “filled with action scenes which made it a riveting story,” and “the author weaves a great tale with a creative way of using words that makes the story refreshing to read.” Visit Cate online at www.catemasters.com, www.catemasters.blogspot.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

There's A New Cowboy In Town...

Presley West is coming to a Wayback novella near you this month! On 2/24 to be exact.

In the meantime, you can rack up some entries in my giveaway by commenting on ANY post in my regular blog (www.crystalrainlove.blogspot.com) and using the tag #CRLwin along with your comment. Leave comments on as many posts as you want, just be sure to include the #CRLwin with the comment for it to count. On 2/24 I will draw a winner from all entries entered by 2/23. The winner will receive a free copy of Guardian Cowboy.

After a failed bodyguarding assignment, the last thing Presley West wants is to save a damsel in distress, but the spunky woman he finds standing on the side of the interstate in the pouring rain brings out his protective instincts.
Amber Barlow ran from the clutches of a demon, and into the arms of an angel. But the closer she gets to her guardian cowboy, the more her fear grows, because a southern gentleman like Presley could never want a woman with a past as soiled as hers.

Excerpt:

Amber walked forward until she could see the gun. The cowboy hadn’t set it on the hood like she’d thought, but had placed it under a windshield wiper to keep it from sliding off under the onslaught of rain. Staring at the weapon, she felt stupid holding the rock and let it fall to the ground. There were four miles between her and the next town, and she had no working vehicle. No shelter. No food. No water. Her clothes were soaked through, and her only protection from the elements was a Stetson. “What do I do?”
As if answering, lightning streaked across the sky followed by a deep roll of thunder, then rain came crashing down harder. Amber grabbed the gun, double-checked it was in firing condition, and trudged toward the passenger side of the truck.
She jerked the door open and aimed the gun at the cowboy, who looked at her with raised eyebrows. “I will shoot you, cowboy.”
He nodded his head, still looking at her sideways. “Fine, but can you get in and close the door first before you let all the rain in?”
Amber let out a huff of breath, irritation from his lack of fear easing back a little of her own. She could feel the warmth coming from the vents in the dashboard and craved more. She swung inside the truck and closed the door, keeping the gun steadily pointed on the large man next to her. “I mean it, cowboy. One wrong move and there goes a testicle.”

Like it? Love it? Want more of it? Enter to win!

New Author with Wild Rose Press

I'm thrilled to be part of the Wild Rose Press and look forward to a new short story release in 2010 called, "To Love A Thief".
The story takes the reader on a wild ride through Italy with a charismatic security specialist and an enigmatic jewel thief...or is she?
I look forward to a long relationship with Wild Rose Press. I hope you'll join me at my blogs, websites and view my book video trailers.
Chérie DeSues  
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All Romance eBooks is having a sale

All Romance eBooks is having a 50% sale this weekend. Check out this post for details and a coupon code.

Remember to browse through all the wonderful The Wild Rose Press titles and pick up a favorite author or try someone new.

If you're looking for short paranormal or fantasy stories, you can check mine out here.

Get the Blues - BLUEST HEART

People are raving about Bluest Heart, the 2nd novella in the Wayback Ridge trilogy (sequel to 1st Place More Than Magic Novella Blackest Heart):

A+ on Bluest Heart. Love stories where the "bad girl" isn't 1/2 as bad as narrow-minded townfolk. Can't wait for Keefe's story!

~ Author Crystal-Rain Love

Bluest Heart is a romance that inspires feel-good tingles in all the right places. Author Amber Leigh Williams has created a story with characters readers are bound to adore and remember. What a fantastic story! Ms. Williams managed to snare my heart and wretch every bit of emotion possible from it. tightly written and hits the emotions like a freight train. Cowboy fans will love Bluest Heart, and if they are anything like me, will make a direct trip to The Wild Rose Press to purchase the preceding story, Blackest Heart. Don’t miss out on this one, folks. You get romance, heartache, and a whole lot of making up for lost time.

- Fern (Long & Short Reviews)

Get your copy of the Blues today! Catch up on the 5-star, award-winning prequel, Blackest Heart, at The Wild Rose Press. If you prefer paperbacks for the shelf, Blackest Heart is featured in The Way Back Home anthology! Plus, the final book in the Wayback Ridge saga - Bet It On My Heart - is coming your way on March 3, 2010! Be one of the first to get the first exclusive look at The Cozy Page!

Not Without Risk by Sarah Grimm

The last thing he wanted...

Was what he needed most.

"NOT WITHOUT RISK is a gripping suspense, rife with raging sexual passion and spellbinding intrigue... This one is a must read!" - The Romance Studio

NOT WITHOUT RISK

Available today in eBook & Print

The Wild Rose Press

Six agonizing months after a slug collapsed his lung, Sergeant Justin Harrison manages to return to the one place where he shines—the San Diego homicide division. Nothing will stand in the way of proving he is fit for active duty. Especially not the long-legged brunette who just stumbled into his crime scene.

Photographer Paige Conroy spent years hiding from her past. Then a late night telephone call brings it crashing back. An old friend is in town and needs her help. When she arrives at his hotel room four hours later, he's dead. Suddenly, she's the target of a madman, and Paige must turn to Sergeant Harrison for protection.

But who is the bigger threat to her... the faceless assailant she fears will steal her life or the dark-eyed detective she knows could steal her heart?

EXCERPT:

Justin’s frown deepened. “I know what you’re thinking, you know. And you’re wrong.”

Paige swallowed past the lump in her throat. “What am I thinking?”

“Making choices that keep you alive does not make you weak. It would be much simpler to just give up and let this bastard win.”

“I could stay where I am, refuse to run and face him.”

“You could die in the process.”

The thought sent a ripple of alarm through Justin. What if she refused? He couldn’t hog-tie her, couldn’t make her come with him. He understood her ill-ease, for he felt the same stirrings of discomfort as she at the low hum of sensual awareness that circled about them like a hungry shark. Even right now, he had to fight against the urge to haul her into his arms. And not to ease the clawing panic clearly visible in her eyes. No, his motives were not that heroic.

Against his better judgment, he allowed his gaze to drop, to caress the shape of her body outlined by her suit. He knew just what that suit of hers covered for he’d had his hands all over her just the night before. A high, tight rear end, slim hips, endlessly long legs that would pull him deep into her warmth. Desire shot straight to his stomach, swirled there. The palms of his hands begin to itch.

Paige wore her clothing like armor, each piece carefully chosen to broadcast an image, a strength she alone believed she lacked. She’d have chosen this one to disguise the fear he knew filled her. To tell him, in no uncertain terms, that she could handle anything thrown her way.

Anything.

Even the need to turn to him for help.

God, she impressed him. Aroused him, challenged him as no other before her had done. Justin scrubbed a frustrated hand across his face. He focused on the cool green gaze of the woman before him, the woman his brain told him to stay away from. He’d yet to fully recover from his injury. The last thing he needed was to get involved with a woman who screamed commitment. He was a loner. He didn’t do commitment.

His body wasn’t listening. He wanted Paige. Above him, below him, it didn’t matter. He knew it was bad timing, but he wanted her just the same. And he would have her, sooner or later. If he had to keep his hands in his pockets, pants zipped until the threat that chased her was destroyed, he would. He could.

“Suppose I promised not to do anything you don’t ask me to do?”

Paige eased out a breath. “What if I said, it isn’t you I worry about?”

Shock and awareness filled him, stole his ability to reply. Heat surged through his limbs, tingled in his side. A groan slid past his clenched lips. Justin curled his fingers around her upper arm and urged her a step closer to him. He drew the scent of her greedily into his lungs, wanting more than ever before to cover her mouth with his.

“How do you expect me to ignore a comment like that?” he asked roughly, his palm drifting upward to cup the side of her throat.

Enough color flashed into her face to tell him she hadn’t meant to reveal that bit of information to him. The fingers of her left hand locked around his wrist. “I don’t.”

Sarah Grimm
dangerously sexy suspense

http://www.sarahgrimm.com/