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28 February 2015

A Look At Elodie Parkes & 'Rescuing Cade' @ElodieParkes @evernightpub #comeandgetyourlove

Today we have author Elodie Parkes visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Elodie Parkes is a British author writing romance, erotic, contemporary, and often with a twist of mystery, paranormal, fantasy, or suspense. Her books are always steamy. Her tag is, Cool stories: Hot love scenes.
* Elodie lives in Canterbury with her two dogs. She works in an antique shop by day and writes at night, loving the cloak of silent darkness that descends on the rural countryside around her home.
* Elodie writes for: Evernight Publishing | Siren Publishing | Hot Ink Press | Eternal Press | Secret Cravings | Ra Jones Anthologies | Side Street Cookie Publishing
* She has also released titles as an individual indie author.

What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what's the order the books should be read in?
* I’m talking about, Rescuing Cade, today my February 12 release with Evernight Publishing.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* I was asked to write a story for an erotic romance anthology. Almost immediately I had my character, Cade, form in my head and a love story for him, but then I was informed the anthology would be BDSM. I thought I’d have trouble with the genre, but the editor of the proposed anthology said, ‘give it a go’. I began to adapt the love story in my mind for the character Cade, thinking I’d have to consider the plot for a short time, but only a few days later the anthology was cancelled. By then Cade was so real to me and a story with a sprinkle of the genre, BDSM, was firmly in my mind, so I wrote it.
* The story is much longer than I originally thought it might be, especially when it was going to be for an anthology, and the romance conflict arc is now about both Cade and my heroine, Marissa. As usual, I fell in love with my characters and couldn’t stop writing until they reached their HEA.
* I did a little research for this story because I didn’t know much about the type of club Jack, Cade’s friend, takes him to. Once I no longer needed to place emphasis on dominance and submission, the story unfolded easily, interweaving with the original love story I had for Cade when he first began whispering in my ear.
* With scorching hot love scenes, tender moments, a dash of angst and a splash of humor this is Cade’s journey to love again.
* I hope readers enjoy it.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Cade is, sexy, intelligent, sensitive, gorgeous, caring

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Marissa is, intelligent, pretty, loving, risk-taking, sexy

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* I like all my characters a lot so this is hard for me to answer. If I have to choose it has to be Cade. This is Cade’s story and he’s such a sweetheart, but he’s also powerful, sexy, caring, very attractive, it’s a compelling combination. He’s allowed himself to believe something and then when he meets Marissa he’s shocked into changing this belief and he acknowledges that’s because of Marissa. He’s not afraid to give her that credit.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* He kissed the top of her head. “Okay, but if anyone’s being handcuffed, it’ll be you so that I know you won’t run from me.”

A look into the story
~ Blurb ~
* Cade’s trying to get over a broken heart when his friend Jack takes him off to a nightclub, named only, The Club. Although at first Cade is shocked by the place he meets Marissa. It’s not long before he and Marissa get together, but under the pressure of expectations from, The Club, and Marissa’s fear of commitment, they’re both running in opposite directions.
* Gorgeous Cade has touched Marissa’s heart in ways she doesn’t want to admit.
* Lovely Marissa has lifted Cade’s sadness and opened his heart to love again.
* The trouble is — someone has to give a little. Who’s it going to be?
An erotic romance with a sprinkle of vanilla BDSM
~ Excerpt ~
* Cade took his time drinking his coffee on Saturday morning. He wanted to go out to the street market and call into the coffee shop to buy fresh grounds, but he knew the reminder of being with Marissa there the weekend before would hurt. He drove there and parked in the big flat lot at one end of the High Street. Thoughts of Marissa teased him as he sat for a moment in his car and assessed his feelings. She’d touched his heart and he knew it. He sighed and thrust away the idea of calling into her place on the journey home from the market. She doesn’t want me.
* He turned up the collar of his leather jacket against the cool breeze, and after checking he’d locked his car, since his thoughts drifted time and again to Marissa’s lovely face, he stalked off up the street. He avoided the market stalls he and Marissa had stopped at the week before, making straight for the farmers’ market section, where he bought two different kinds of apples and a couple of large potatoes he knew could be put in the oven and baked without him having to hassle around.
* When he entered the coffee shop he kept his face turned from the café end and ordered his usual Italian roast grounds, but then, longing to recall Marissa as she gazed at him over the table they shared the Saturday before, he glanced around—and there she was.
* She stared at him from a table in the middle of the café.
* Cade blinked to make sure he wasn’t just imagining she was there. He paid for his coffee order, and drawn to Marissa’s table as if by some invisible thread, Cade quickly walked over there.
* “Marissa, it’s so good to see you. I hoped you’d call me. May I sit with you?” He croaked out the words as his heart flipped about and the urge to pick her up, crush her to his body, and devastate her with a kiss scared him with its ferocity.
* She didn’t speak, only nodded an assent at him.
* Cade dragged out a chair and dropped his shopping to the floor. He sat down close to Marissa, but still facing her.
* She turned her coffee cup around and around in the saucer. Her gaze riveted on the coffee in there.
* She wasn’t wearing makeup. Her face was pale and her cloud of brown hair wisped around her heart-shaped face.
* Cade smiled noticing for the first time a faded splatter of freckles across her nose. The tremble in her fingers, didn’t escape Cade’s hungry observation. She’s nervous. Is that because she likes me or thinks I’ll make a scene and wishes I’d leave? He reached out and clasped her fingers in his.
* Her coffee cup clattered a little in the saucer.
Copyright Elodie Parkes, Evernight Publishing 2015

Buy Rescuing Cade here...
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Find Elodie Parkes here...
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | FB | Pinterest | YouTube | Tumblr | Tsu | Google+ | G+ | Amazon USA | Amazon UK | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | ManicReaders | Kobo

Thank you for joining us here today, Elodie Parkes! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

27 February 2015

A Look At Karly Germain & 'Cold Hard Justice' @karly_germain @LoveBitesSilk @evernightpub #gay #paranormal


Cold Hard Justice by +Karly Germain
Published by Evernight Publishing
Release date: Jan 21, 2015
Series: Umbra Shifters, book 4 (conclusion)
Word Count: Approx 15,700
Genre: MM Erotic Romance/Paranormal/Shifters/Suspense
A look into the story

* Undercover work sucked. As a shadow hunter for the Umbra, Justice Cameron was used to sliding into one dangerous situation after another. Infiltrating the motorcycle club, Pride of Kings, to wrap up two outstanding cases should have been quick and painless, turns out it was anything but. Justice didn’t count on Ethan Stone’s son, Xavier, to complicate his assignment.
* Xavier Lennox doesn’t care for the ‘lion pride’ way of life, so the scarred, shy loner keeps to himself, living a quiet life in a small cabin at the edge of the MC compound. He ‘fixes broken things’, and no one is more broken than Justice. When Xavier finds Justice beaten on his doorstep, he never imagined he would feel such a potent connection. The big, gruff alpha fascinates Xavier, and it turns out, the attraction is mutual.
* The shadow hunter is there for one reason only. No time for complications. No time for desire...or love. Or so he tells himself, because he’s there to mete out...cold, hard justice.
* Cracking open one eye—the other one was swollen shut—Justice glanced around the room. He lay on a large leather sofa. The interior had a log cabin motif, comfy and warm, and a fire burned low in the hearth. Two cats were curled up sleeping in front of the fireplace. Since when did lion shifters, or any Feline shifter, keep cats as pets? Most animals had a shifter equivalent, but not a housecat. A man walked into his line of vision. A crow, perched on the man’s forearm, was being fed seeds. Who is this guy, Doctor fucking Doolittle? The Crow Whisperer?
* Then Justice recalled Ethan’s words. He likes to fix broken things. Must extend to wounded animals. Guess he qualified, and in more ways than one.
* “Ah, you’re awake.”
* The gentle tone of the man’s voice curled about Justice’s little-used heart, causing it to thump harder in his chest.
* “I’m Xavier Lennox. You’re in my home, such as it is, and welcome to stay until you’re back on your feet.” He gently set the crow on the table and laid a pile of seeds next to the bird. He turned his attention back to Justice. Xavier was not bad looking. He had a pleasant face, even if part of his left cheek was scarred. Short sucker for a Leonne, he observed, as most all lion shifters were built the same, very tall and broad. Xavier had a slim musculature, and wore those tight-fitting Wranglers very well. Blood rushed to Justice’s cock, lengthening and thickening it. This he didn’t need. This was Ethan’s son, for shit’s sake. Stay focused on the assignment.
* Forming words was difficult. A dry croak came out of his mouth. Damn, his bottom lip was split and swollen. One day and very soon, he would pay Ethan back for this. Big time.
* Xavier rushed to his side, gently lifted his head, and let him drink from a bottle of water. Cold ambrosia. It soothed his raw throat. At this close proximity, the unknown but pleasing scent slammed Justice hard. He closed his eye and reveled in it. He’d never experienced this before. Contentment. An inner peace. And an arousal that shot clear off the charts. His cock throbbed in his jeans in concert with his rapidly beating heart.
* Lost in the overwhelming sensations, Justice didn’t realize Xavier had laid him flat, and now sat on a stool next to him tenderly wiping the blood and gore from his face.
* “Someone certainly tried to do you serious damage. After I clean you up a bit, I’ll let you sleep. I can tape your ribs tomorrow. Is anything else broken?”
* Xavier left the cool cloth lying across Justice’s forehead, and then began exploring his torso. Oh, sweet Jesus, his touch. His body was aflame, and not just in pain. Try as he might, he could not stop the long, ragged moan from leaving his lips.
* Xavier froze. “Am I hurting you?”
* Justice shook his head. No, just keep fucking touching me. Please. Forever.

* An erotic romance writer, Karly believes romance is for everyone, and she loves to explore every facet and emotion involved regardless of gender or number of partners. The more heat and spice, the better. Happily ever afters are a must. So are shirtless, hunky men.
Find Karly Germain here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Evernight Publishing | Amazon - US | All Romance eBooks | BookStrand

Thank you for joining us here today, Karly Germain! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.
The author is giving away an eBook copy of Stone Cold Beast and Alpha's Claim: Manlove Edition

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25 February 2015

A Look At Alison Packard & 'Hearts on Fire' @Alleyfics @GoddessFish #romance #vegas

Today we have author Alison Packard visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alison now lives in Southern Nevada where she’s still getting used to the blistering summers and the slot machines in every grocery store.
* When not working at the day job that pays the bills, keeps a roof over her head, and supports her book and chocolate habits, Alison spends most of her free time writing. But when she takes a break, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.

What are you going to tell us about today?
* My contemporary romance, Hearts on Fire.

A look into the story
~ Blurb ~
* Country music star Jessie Grant has it all. An amazing voice, a string of multi-platinum albums, and a sold-out concert tour. But just before her Hearts on Fire tour rolls into Las Vegas, her lead guitarist is badly injured and is unable to play. Desperate to find a replacement before the night of a televised live show, Jessie is forced to accept help from the last person on earth she wants to see again.
* Drew Carmichael has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the best up-and-coming musicians in Nashville, without cashing in on his renowned father’s name. When Jessie’s manager calls and asks him to fill in for her band’s injured guitar player, he agrees to help Jessie out even though she cut him out of her life four months ago.
* In Sin City, sparks fly between Jessie and Drew, and it isn’t long before they give in to their mutual attraction. But when the dark past Jessie has successfully hidden for ten years explodes in the media, their tenuous bond is put to the test, and both Jessie and Drew must learn to trust each other if they don’t want their newfound romantic relationship to go up in flames.
~ Excerpt ~
* As if sensing she was being watched, she turned and their gazes collided across the stage. Her smile faltered as the seconds ticked by. She remained rooted to the spot, so he moved forward. One of them had to make the first move; it looked like it would be him.
* “Hey,” he said as he halted in front of her.
* She thanked the roadie, who smiled and left them to attend to Tara and Renee.
* “Hello,” she replied, her tone formal and her eyes guarded. “Thank you for agreeing to help us out.”
* “You’re welcome.” He rested his arm along the top of his favorite guitar, a Fender Strat that he’d bought when he was sixteen, after years of saving his allowance and hoarding the money he’d earned doing odd jobs around town.
* Although his father had made good money and left them fairly well-off after he died, his mom always believed that he should learn the value of money. It was a lesson he’d learned well, and to this day, he hadn’t touched one dollar of the money his father had left him. He wanted to make something of himself on his own terms, not because he had connections or an inheritance.
* “Wally gave me the set list yesterday. It looks like it’s pretty much the same as before,” he said, after an uncomfortable silence.
* “For the most part.” Jessie tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “The only difference is, I’ve changed up the order so that some of my older stuff is sprinkled throughout the set. Works better that way.”
* He nodded. “So what the hell happened to Kenny? Wally said he broke his arm?”
* Jessie rolled her eyes. “The damn fool decided to take a swan dive off the stage, and because he’d had a couple of fireballs before the show, he miscalculated how close the audience was to the stage and fell smack dab onto the concrete floor.”
* Drew gasped, equally shocked and amused at the picture she’d painted. “Jesus. Are you serious?”
* Her lips curved upwards with a ghost of a smile. It was something, even if it wasn’t the usual mega-watt smile she gave him when they used to hang out together. “It’s true. I couldn’t make something like that up. Broke his arm in two places.”
* “Ouch.” He winced, thinking of the pain Kenny must have been in. “So he’ll be laid up for a while?”
* “Looks like it,” she said. Then, without warning, her tone turned frosty again, and the laughter vanished from her eyes. “Well, we should get started. Do you feel comfortable with all the songs?”
* “Yeah. I could do them in my sleep,” he said, then frowned. “Did that sound cocky?”
* “No. Just confident.” Her unreadable eyes roamed over his face. “Wally wants us to do a duet.”
* “I know.”
* He’d taken a look at the sheet music and recognized the song immediately. Anybody who’d ever attended a wedding in the last twenty years would probably be aware of the hit ballad that was popular in the early ‘80s. It was a nice song, and one that would suit his and Jessie’s harmonies to a tee.
* “I’m not sold on the idea, but he seems to think it’ll be good for the CMT taping.”
* “Whatever you decide is fine with me.” He brushed his hair back from his eyes and held her gaze. “I miss talking to you, Jessie,” he said, unable to stop himself.
* Her eyes flickered with some unknown emotion, which vanished as quickly as it came.
* “We should get to work. Time’s a wastin’.” And with that, she turned her back on him, moved to the center mic near the front of the stage and never looked back.

Buy Hearts on Fire here...
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Find Alison Packard here...
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | B&N Author Page

Thank you for joining us here today, Alison Packard! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

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23 February 2015

A Look At Dulce Dennison & 'Fatal Games' @AuthorDulce @evernightpub #gay #rotg

Today we have author Dulce Dennison visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Married since 2000 to a man Dulce isn’t sure is quite human, her husband and children (whom she fondly calls the demon spawn) keep her busy, but never too busy to write. Is there such a thing as too busy to write? Most mornings you can find Dulce set up with her laptop, a cat curled up next to her, and a steaming cup of coffee just an arm’s reach away.
* From cowboys to shapeshifters, she has a story for them all, but her passion lies in writing m/m romances. Dulce believes in love in all shapes and sizes, and that everyone deserves a happily-ever-after.

What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what's the order the books should be read in?
* Fatal Games, my new release with Evernight Publishing, is a stand alone short novella. The story is a romantic suspense (m/m) about two cops who realized there’s much more between them than just being partners on the job. But with a killer on the loose, our hero isn’t sure getting involved is the best idea.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* Actually, I saw a picture of a model (Caylan Hughes) and thought he would make a yummy hero. Then the ideas started flowing. My husband works in law enforcement, and my uncle is a retired police officer, so I tend to write about cops rather frequently.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Ginger, sexy, determined, heroic, revenge

Describe the other hero in five words.
* Mouthwatering, dedicated, protective, focused, domineering

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* Griffin, the hero, is my favorite. Something tragic, life-altering, happens to him in the beginning of the story, but instead of giving up on life, he charges back into the fray by donning the badge once again and goes after the person responsible for turning his life upside. He doesn’t know what the word “quit” means.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* “Would you quit being a stubborn S.O.B. and take some time to calm your mind and lay low for a day? The last thing you need to do is give him another shot at you while you’re rattled. Don’t make me attend your funeral. I don’t think I could take it.”

A look into the story
~ Blurb ~
* When a ghost from his past begins to haunt him, Griffin loses the only man he’s ever loved. Not one to be knocked down for long, he joins the local police department, donning the badge once more, determined to catch his lover’s murderer. But the killer isn’t done with him yet. When a rash of crimes breaks out, all targeting Griffin, he knows that his dates are numbered if he can’t catch the person responsible. With fellow officer, Garrett Peterson, aiding his investigation, Griffin knows it’s only a matter of time before he catches the killer. What he doesn’t count on are the developing feelings between Garrett and him. But how can be possibly make time for love when his life hangs in the balance?
~ Excerpt ~
* He felt Garrett’s gaze on him and he met the hazel eyes caressing his body. It hadn’t been an intentional temptation when he’d come in half dressed, but it seemed Garrett was taking it that way. Garrett stepped closer until their bodies were nearly brushing. Despite his intentions to hold the other man at bay, his heart sped up, leaving Griffin wondering if maybe he felt more for the man than he’d thought.
* Garrett gripped the back of his neck and pulled him down for a scorching hot kiss, his lips rough and demanding as he took what he wanted. Griffin could have pulled away, could have put a stop to it, but as Garrett’s tongue flicked against his lips, he found himself opening, wanting more, needing Garrett’s taste on his tongue. He dropped his boots and his hands rose of their own volition, gripping Garrett’s waist and pulling him closer. So lost in the moment, Griffin didn’t care if someone saw them. It was no secret that he was gay and the guys on the force didn’t seem to have a problem with it. It was completely out of character for him to flaunt it though.
* The deep, devastating kiss was both exploratory and fierce. Garrett demanded that Griffin give in to him and Griffin found himself powerless to do anything else. It was a long, drugging kiss, Garrett’s lips lingering as if he couldn’t bring himself to pull away. Garrett’s tongue thrust into his mouth again, dancing, curling, coaxing. The kiss turned seductive and Griffin couldn’t fight his body’s response to the other man. His cock stirred with interest and for the first time in six months Griffin wanted more than basic human contact: he found himself desiring another man, needing him with an urgency he thought he’d never feel again.
* When Garrett finally pulled away, Griffin was panting, his heart hammering against his ribs, his body hard and tense, wanting a release that he knew wouldn’t come. Not yet anyway. After that kiss, Griffin knew if Garrett pursued the growing attraction between them that he would be powerless to turn the other man away. His body craved satisfaction, but now wasn’t the time. He wanted more than a quick tumble, wanted more than to just take the edge off.
* “I’m not giving up on you, Griffin. We will finish this later. Count on it.”

Buy Fatal Games here...
Evernight Publishing | ARe | Amazon | BookStrand | Dulce on B&N

Find Dulce Dennison here...
eMail | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thank you for joining us here today, Dulce Dennison! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

21 February 2015

A Look At Bethany-Kris & 'Filthy Marcellos: Lucian' @BethanyKris @LoveBitesSilk #erotic #organizedcrime


Filthy Marcellos: Lucian
Book One in the Filthy Marcellos Trilogy
by +Bethany-Kris Bragdon
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Organized Crime, Suspense
Length: 98k, full length
Release Date: February 2nd, 2015
Add to Goodreads
Top Ten Characters in Filthy Marcellos: Lucian
***
Thank you for having me on today. I would love to introduce you to the ten most important characters in Filthy Marcellos: Lucian and give you a little look inside their lives and heads.
***
1. Lucian Marcello (hero): Twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight-years-old, hazel eyes, dark hair. Originally named Luciano Grovatti. The oldest son (adopted) of Antony and Cecelia Marcello. The only adopted brother of the three. Lived on the streets for two years after his parents’ murders until Antony found him. A business man, and a Capo for his Cosa Nostra family. He’s particularly good getting deals done through city officials and working through the shipping district with his brother Gio. Fluent in Italian. Prefers jazz music. Loves his weed and whiskey.
2. Jordyn Reese (heroine): Twenty-one-years-old, blue eyes, black, curly hair with a streak of maroon behind her ear. Works at a strip-club, but she isn’t a dancer. Instead, she’s a server who also takes care of the club and the working girls. Her mother died when she was thirteen from a heroin overdose. She’s affiliated with The Sons of Hell, a dangerous MC gang. At twenty, her long-time boyfriend and member of TSoH was killed, leaving Jordyn without his protection. The leader of the gang cares very little for her and has made every effort to hurt her in whatever way he could.
3. Kate Catrolli Grovatti: The wife of Lucian’s biological father, Johnathan. She’s an angry, bitter woman who makes no qualms about trying to hurt her dead husband’s son that was born from his mistress. Younger sister of Cecelia Marcello. Daughter of a former Cosa Nostra Don. Late forties. In her early twenties, she was arranged to marry Johnathan for the sake of business, but the man never loved her, which she resented.
4. Dante Marcello: Twenty-six, going on twenty-seven. Dark hair, green eyes. The second oldest son (biological) of Antony and Cecelia Marcello. Works alongside his father at Marcello Industries, as well as in la famiglia as his father’s underboss. He sometimes has a cold disposition, but he’s fiercely protective of his family and loves his brothers.
5. Will Vetta: President of the Brooklyn chapter of The Sons of Hell. Involved in drug and weapons trafficking. Has a drug and drinking problem, along with some anger issues. In his early forties, cruel, and has a serious hate-on for Jordyn. He was, at one time, involved romantically with Jordyn’s mother, but the now deceased Sandra refused to give him what he wanted—a commitment. He is suspected of being somehow involved in Sandra’s death.
6. Giovanni Marcello: Twenty-five-years-old. Dark hair, green eyes. The youngest son (biological) of Antony and Cecelia Marcello. He owns a few businesses, mostly clubs, but the majority of his work is spent for Cosa Nostra on the streets as the Skip—a Capo. His family believes he has some substance abuse issues, and parties a lot. He, like his other two brothers, is proud of his Italian lineage and Cosa Nostra roots, and is extremely protective of his family.
7. Antony Marcello: Father to his three sons Lucian, Dante, and Giovanni. Husband to Cecelia Catrolli Marcello. The leader—Don—of his Cosa Nostra crime family. Italian-American. An extremely wealthy, successful business man on the legal side of his life, and an especially vicious and prosperous crime boss on the illegal side. He doesn’t trust outsiders easily. Killed his father-in-law for murdering his best friend. God, honor, Cosa Nostra, family, and his home are the most important things to him.
8. Johnathan Grovatti: Deceased biological father to his illegitimate son Lucian (whom he named Luciano). During his life, he was arranged to marry Kate Catrolli so he could receive his inheritance from his father’s side, and gain control over Kate’s father’s Cosa Nostra crime family. Had a mistress on the side, Lucian’s mother, and they had a child together which he kept a secret, one he took to his grave to protect his son from his father-in-law. After being accused of beating his wife, a statement that by all accounts was a lie, his father-in-law had him killed. (Note: While John is deceased during the time of the novel, his character is an important one, which is why he was included in this list.)
9. Cecelia Catrolli Marcello: Mother to her three sons Lucian, Dante, and Giovanni. Husband to Antony Marcello, and they married for love. She was the daughter of a former Cosa Nostra boss who was later killed by her husband. Older sister to Kate Catrolli Grovatti. She holds God and family above all else. She’s incredibly good in the kitchen, but is overly anal about the space, therefore insuring her sons’ and husband stay far away. Supportive of her husband and sons in every way. Regal, graceful, and as her son describes, “mafia royalty”.
10. Ron Daney: Vice President in the Brooklyn chapter of The Sons of Hell. By all outwardly accounts, he appears to be only the right-hand man to Will Vetta, but in reality, runs most of the club’s business himself. Respected by his men, but not feared as Will is. He was the father to a now deceased Gabe, the man Jordyn was previously involved with before his death. Owns and runs Legs and Leather, a popular strip-club for the MC club. Boss to Jordyn. He tried to protect Jordyn from Will’s cruelty after Gabe’s death, but eventually gave up.
A look into the story
~ Blurb ~
Lucian Marcello is aware of the expectations following him as the oldest son of one of North America’s most infamous Cosa Nostra Dons. Family in his world is more than blood and sharing a last name. It’s the honor, respect, business, and the life. Being a Capo is just a stepping stone until it’s time for him to take on the role of underboss but a chance meeting with her could be the one thing he’d risk it all for.
She is exactly what he didn’t know he was looking for.
Jordyn Reese spends her time trying to stay under the radar of a man who wouldn’t think twice about killing her. Unwillingly affiliated with a dangerous MC gang, her life is dominated by the men surrounding her and her future rests solely in how useful she can be for them. The last thing she needs is some Mafioso gaining her more unwanted attention from the club.
He is everything she should stay away from but can’t.
Notoriously violent when it comes to getting what he wants, Lucian will stop at nothing to make the target on Jordyn’s back disappear. But sometimes the worst threats are the ones you can’t see until it’s too late. The truth behind Lucian’s history is about to take center stage in more ways than one, and it’ll either save him … or kill him.
This world leaves everyone a little filthy.
* Out of the corners of his eyes, Lucian did see part of her bare shoulder and the black curls hiding her face, though. It wasn’t so much the amount of flesh she was showing as it was the peeks of what looked like a cherry blossom tattoo crawling over her shoulder and dipping down her back where it disappeared from his sight.
* “Hello, guys. I’m Jordyn. I’ll be serving you tonight, or something close to it. What’ll it be?”
* The sultry tone of her voice was something Lucian and his body noticed the moment she spoke. It was almost like a mixture of innocence and experience, if that were possible. She didn’t sound entirely bored, but she didn’t sound like she was in it to win it with her job, either.
* Dante looked to his father, his earlier comment about not consuming the drinks being silently said again. Antony must have took note.
* “A bottle of Jack, unopened. Four—” Antony stopped up short, his lips tugging down into a frown as he passed a glance towards Gio. The youngest brother certainly didn’t need to be drinking tonight. “Make that three glasses. We’ll pour.”
* Leaning forward was the worst mistake Lucian made since waking up that day. He certainly hadn’t expected to see her again. At least not in a place like this. She was on his mind all damned week, those eyes of hers, cream-like flesh, and a mouth that just at the sight alone, make his own water.
* What’d she call herself? Jordyn, was it?
* Merda.
* Shit was right—he was in so much of it.
* Suddenly, Lucian was not in the zone like he needed to be.
* He was so incredibly fucked.
* Also, Lucian realized he was right about his first assumption when he thought she had ink under her dress that day at the confessional box. Cherry blossoms started somewhere beneath the lace and leather bottoms she wore and trailed up over her side, before crossing over her left breast which was also covered by nothing but a lace and leather brassiere, and then curved over her shoulder.
* There was another tattoo, too, but in the darkness, Lucian couldn’t read the scripted words.
* Strangely, the immediate rush of possessiveness that flooded his veins surprised him. She was still so beautiful, like crazy. The more skin his gaze crawled over, the tighter his pants became. Lucian caught himself wondering what those blossoms would taste like under his tongue.
* Yeah, he was not where he needed to be. This unknown woman knocked him off kilter and she probably didn’t even know it. What was wrong with him?
* Unfortunately, his father seemed to realize his son’s abrupt change in posture and mood. “Lucian?”
* At the sound of his name, the girl’s—Jordyn, he reminded himself—eyes flashed to meet his in the corner, those dark lashes of hers blinking rapidly like she also didn’t believe what she was seeing. Lucian swallowed the thickness building in his throat. Thankfully, Jordyn didn’t act like they had ever met or seen one another before. She simply went on doing her own business.
* “Unopened bottle of Jack and three glasses. Anything else?” she asked, avoiding Lucian’s piercing gaze.
* “Yes,” Antony said, still watching Lucian closely. “The owner is Ron Daney, correct?”
* Jordyn stood a little stiffer, her shoulders squaring. “I beg your pardon?”
* “The owner is Ron Daney, Vice President of the Brooklyn chapter of The Sons of Hell,” Lucian said gruffly, trying to swallow back the huskiness forming. “We’re not ATF or the feds, let’s just be clear on that, sweetheart. Ron, he’s in tonight, yes?”
* Jordyn nodded warily. “Always is.”
* “Good,” Antony replied with a grin. “Send him a drink, whatever he likes. Do be sure to tell him it’s from a guest. Antony Marcello and his crew. Do not mistake my name when you tell him. Be sure to point me out so he sees me. Understood?”
* “Got it.”
* With that, the woman Lucian simply needed to glance at to turn his skin ablaze and his heart stuttering, was walking away.
* She didn’t look back.

Filthy Marcellos
La Cosa Nostra is not just a choice of regime and routine, it’s a culture. Born as mafia royalty, the Marcello brothers were raised ingrained with the beliefs and rules of what it meant to be a Mafioso prince. It is for life. Their status is considered a given right. They will always be these people. They will always be Marcellos.
Coming Soon
Giovanni, Book Two
Goodreads TBR
Dante, Book Three
Goodreads TBR
* Bethany-Kris is a Canadian author, lover of much, and mother to three young sons, one cat, and two dogs. A small town in Eastern Canada where she was born and raised is where she has always called home. With her boys under her feet, snuggling cat, barking dogs, and a hubby calling over his shoulder, she is nearly always writing something ... when she can find the time.
Find Bethany-Kris here...
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Thank you for joining us here today, Bethany-Kris! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

20 February 2015

A Look At Wren Michaels & 'Unbearable' @AuthorWren @evernightpub #paranormal

Today we have author Wren Michaels visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* I hail from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin where beer and cheese are their own food groups. But a cowboy swept me off my feet and carried me away below the Mason-Dixon line, where I promptly lost all tolerance for snow and cold. We decided we’d make beautiful babies together, and we got it right on the first try. Now I live happily ever after in the real world, and my make believe ones, where I hope to create book boyfriends for the masses to crave.

What book are you going to tell us about today? Is it part of a series? If so, what's the order the books should be read in?
* I'm excited to talk about my debut novella, UNBEARABLE. It's part of a series called The SnowRose Series. The next book in the series will be available in March, entitled BAD APPLE.

How'd you/your muse come up with this story?
* A friend of mine encouraged me to try writing a story for Evernight Publishing's Naughty Fairytale line. And so I looked for a lesser known fairytale, something outside the typical Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I came upon Snow White and Rose Red and used that as the basis for my retelling. UNBEARABLE is Rose Red's story, BAD APPLE will be Snow White's. While the real fairytale in Snow White and Rose Red isn't the same Snow White as the more widely known version, I did implement some elements of the more classic Snow White into the story.

Describe the hero in five words.
* Animalistic, Raw, Soulful, Protective, Sexy

Describe the heroine in five words.
* Provocative, Strong-willed, Shrewd, Independent, Feisty

Who's your favorite character in the book & why?
* That's tough. I equally like Marcus and Rose. But I think I'll choose Rose Red. Because she's kind of a badass. She's not your typical fairytale damsel. She takes matters into her own hands to protect the ones she loves.

What's your favorite line in the story?
* She finds my soul buried deep in our kiss, and frees it with each sweep of her tongue. I knew a kiss of her lips would unravel me. I am hers, forever.

A look into the story
~ Blurb ~
* Rose Red will stop at nothing to protect her sister, Snow White, from suffering the same fate as their mother. She vows to kill Hestor, the evil dwarf sorcerer responsible for her death. But a twist of fate lands her on the bottom of a riverbed, and her life in the hands of a mysterious stranger.
* Marcus is a beast of a man. He is a bear by day, man by night, thanks to a curse from the evil Hestor. But when he rescues Rose from an icy grave, he unleashes the real animal. Falling for her is dangerous enough, as he must protect the secret of his curse. But she may just be the key to getting his kingdom back as she breaks one spell and puts him under another.
~ Excerpt ~
* Her eyes widen as big as saucers. “Were you stalking me?”
* “Perhaps I came upon you once or twice before.” I give an aloof shrug.
* Fury blazes in her dark green eyes and it lights my cock on fire even more. Damn, she's gorgeous when she's feisty. It takes everything in me not to devour her plump lips with my own.
* “How much do you know?” She leans in, forgetting she's naked as her protective covering falls away from her breasts.
* They stare up at me from the corner of my eye, but I'm careful not to look at them for fear she'll cover them back up. Stunning pink nipples harden at the chill in the room. My fingers ache to rub them.
* “How much should I know. I've never met you before, Rose. You've come into my woods for the past month, and each time a man is with you. But you always leave alone. And I'm left to dispose of bloodied bodies before morning. So, do I need to worry that you'll add me to your collection?” Jutting my hands to the blanket on either side of her body, I press in closer to her on the bed, hovering just above her lips.
* Quick breaths puff from her lips as she processes my words. Her eyes stay glued to mine in a glorious rage, and it stirs me inside to think of burying myself in that fury between her legs.
* “Not unless you're in league with Hestor. If you are, I suggest you run.” Her body inches closer to mine, the blankets falling even further down her body. The delicate soft skin of her stomach catches my eyes and I'm unable to look away.
* “Hestor?” I repeat, as it's the only word that sticks in my ears under the distraction of her curves.
* “Are you not familiar with the dwarf sorcerer?” she asks.
* “Oh. On the contrary, I'm quite familiar with Hestor. The question is, why do you seek him out?” My gaze turns back to her.
* “Like what you see?” She tilts her head and swipes her lips with her tongue. “It's yours if you lead me to him.”
* I shake my head. “You truly must think me a fool if you proposition me so, dear Rose. I know that's what you offer the targets in your game. You tease them with the reward of your body, yet you get them alone in the woods and take their lives. You cannot seduce me in this way.”
* “Am I repulsive to you?” her voice notches up an octave.
* “You, Rose Red are the most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure to lay my eyes upon. But I think you should know our interest in Hestor may be of a similar nature and perhaps we could strike a deal.” I ease off her and fold my arms.
* “What do you want with him? His magicks are dark and bring only evil.” Her blazing eyes darken, studying me with intent.
* I lean in, pressing my chest against hers as I hover above her face. “I have my reasons, as I know you do yours. They are not of your concern. What we both agree on is that he must be eliminated. No?”
* “Your towel seems to have come lose,” she whispers.
* My brow quirks. “How would you know?” I think she's trying to distract me, but I won't fall for her games. “Your eyes haven't left mine.”
* “Because I'm the one who loosened it.” Her warm hand wraps around my cock, forcing a gasp from my lungs. My head yells at me to jump back, but the sensation of her fingers gripping tight to my flesh wipe all logical thought from my mind. I make the mistake of glancing down, aching to watch her hand stroke my length. It's the last thing I see before she knocks me cold.

Buy Unbearable here...
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Thank you for joining us here today, Wren Michaels! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

18 February 2015

A Look At Diane Sager & 'Summer of Haight 67' @celticdi @GoddessFish #metaphysical

Today we have author Diane Sager visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* Author Diane Sager was raised and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her awesome husband Russ, three dogs, two cats and an African grey parrot named Storm. She holds a fascination for all things macabre and has developed a deep knowledge of serial killers, vampires, zombies, the Tarot, world religions, witchcraft, horror and the occult.
* However, her latest indie release, SUMMER OF HAIGHT ‘67 is none of the above albeit a little supernatural……..This story is nestled between her zombie series “EVIL VEIN” published by Permuted Press and penned under her “apocalyptic” name of D.S.Sager
* A former high school teacher of emotionally disturbed and high-risk youth, Diane is now dedicated to full time writing.

How do you handle balancing life and writing?
* Hi Casey, great question and the first time I’ve been asked this! But, I’m still fairly new to being a published author so I don’t get interviewed a lot.
* I guess I’m very lucky as I can concentrate on my writing every day. My husband goes off to work and I have my daily routines……I eat breakfast, feed the dogs and cats and my African Grey parrot. I also feed about 6 more stray cats (not the band) that live on a vacant lot next door. I know !! But I feel sorry for them so I throw some cat food over the fence twice a day. It makes me feel good :)
* Dr. Phil makes an appearance and then I get down to work. I can put a good six hours into my writing each day. I have a few projects going on right now; volume 2 in my EVIL VEIN series is up next. It’s called Divide & Multiply and it carries on where volume one left off. A crazed scientist created a serum to try and cure his beloved, cancer stricken wife. It all went wrong and he unleashed his genetics altering drug on marine life. A mutated crab/scorpion , dubbed a “scrabion” can turn humans into zombies. It’s a struggle for survival by various eclectic characters. Some you will love and some…… not so. This will publish next week….yay.
* Volume 3 will complete the EVIL VEIN series by fall of this year.
* I finally found the time to re-write my vampire novel from 2000. I never published it and it sat in a box for many years……vampire? box? Really? ………
* It doesn’t have a title yet but my awesome editor Felicia A Sullivan has it in her busy schedule, and we hope to have it published before summer. I’m also writing an anthology of short horror stories. I have 4 out of 5 written and the 5th is under way.
* As for balance, if there is any…….I try to do my housework and laundry before my husband gets home and we spend our evenings catching up on our TV shows. We also like to go out with friends for dinner and drinks. We love hockey and football. I don’t like baseball or basketball and golf is like watching paint dry……..
* Oh, and I try, I really do try to walk on my treadmill every day!

How did you become a writer and what inspired you in regard to the story you're promoting.
* I have made up stories in my head ever since I was a small child and I wrote sporadically throughout high school and university. I wrote a vampire novel in 2000, which I mentioned earlier, but I never seriously tried to get it published.
* As a busy high school teacher of emotionally disturbed and high risk youth, it didn’t leave me much time to write but then I made the move to full time writing about 5 years ago. My husband is a great support to me as I follow this dream. He reads my rough chapters and has to endure endless conversations about my characters and plots.
* Regarding SUMMER OF HAIGHT ’67, it took me 15 months to complete, and research was a way of life during that time. It’s the most intense and yet the most rewarding research I have ever done. I think of it as one huge history lesson. Thank the Gods for Google and YouTube!
* It’s a supernatural time-travel book of sorts which involves a 66 year old KATHERINE RHODES getting into a tragic accident that hurls her back in time to 1967. She wakes up back in her 20 year old hippie body in the Haight/Ashbury district of San Francisco. As many of you know, 1967 in the Haight/Ashbury became known around the world as “The Summer of Love” She gets to re-live this era of hippies, free love, drugs, music, politics and protests, with a wealth of knowledge and the opportunity to right some wrongs.
* It’s all fiction but I wanted the setting to be 100% authentic. I immersed myself in the 60’s hippie culture and spent hours and hours on research. The book is factually correct. I listened to music from the late 60’s constantly, particularly the psychedelic era. I even bought a record player (remember those?) I got my old LP’s out and bought even more from eBay…….. Grateful Dead, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Jimi Hendrix, The Charlatans, Country Joe and the Fish, to name but a few. There are Hells Angels, Black Panthers, political unrest and a horrific war in Vietnam. I wrote and researched constantly during the 15 months it took me to complete it. I wore hippie clothes and I even found myself saying 60’s words. I stopped at the drug scene though. It’s just not my bag!
* I also have some first-hand experience to back up my research. As a very small child my parents drove me through the Haight district to look at the “freaks” as my Dad called them. I saw them dance around adorned with flowers and beads, obviously high as a kite but I didn’t know that at the time!
* Janis Joplin is in my book a lot and I watched as much video footage of her and her band as I could find. There is some awesome footage on YouTube of her singing at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. My husband and I even visited the fairgrounds in Monterey to get the feel of the place. I read every book I could find on Janis and even Peter Coyote’s “Sleeping where I fall” based on the same period in time. Peter helped found “The Diggers” who fed the homeless hordes of hippie drop-outs in San Francisco in 1967.
* I’m also lucky enough to still live less than an hour away from San Francisco, so my husband and I would go there and see where Janis Joplin or Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead lived. We drank in the Dogpatch saloon near the Hells Angels HQ. On another occasion my daughter and I rode the bus from the top of Haight Street to the Hells Angels house, all in the cause of authenticity. KATIE and her friends FROG and MOONBEAM travel this route in my book to attend a Hells Angels party.
* I wanted to take my readers back nearly 50 years and be sure it was authentic, especially those that are too young to have been there. Even the weather is accurate in the book – I checked.
* There’s a saying, “if you can remember the 60’s you weren’t really there” I think it was quoted by Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane. I take my readers back to the real deal so they WILL remember it.
* Soooooooooo, it was fun to research, fun to write and so far it’s fun seeing people enjoy it and tell me about it. Summer is coming, PLEASE take the time to read this book. I know you will love it.

A look into the story
~ Blurb ~
* KATHERINE RHODES has a tragic accident which sends her back in time. She wakes up as the 20 year old hippie she was back in 1967 in the Haight/Ashbury district of San Francisco. This was the period known globally as the “Summer of Love”. It’s all here, Hippies, Hells Angels, Black Panthers and the abhorrent war in Vietnam. “KATIE gets the chance to re-live this era with her friends FROG and MOONBEAM. This time she knows what to expect and tries to change things……….. Can she ?
~ Excerpt ~
* Feeling dizzy, she shut her eyes and rubbed her temples for several minutes, running through the accident in her mind. She remembered going down the embankment and hitting the tree. She knew she had been in an ambulance and she remembered a slew of doctors surrounding her. Yet here she was sitting on a couch…somewhere familiar, a place she knew but couldn’t recall.
* A brown chenille bedspread covered the couch. There was a basic wooden coffee table, several antique lamps, one in the corner and another on an old table by a beveled window. The hardwood floor of the room was covered by an imitation Persian carpet.
* The walls and even the ceilings were filled with posters; old bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Yardbirds, and even the Monkees. Some were drug related, promoting marijuana, mushrooms and LSD. Others were political, protesting the Vietnam War, even including a caricature of Lyndon B. Johnson dressed as John Wayne.
* On the ceiling directly above her was a poster of Clint Eastwood draped in a poncho, cigar resting on his lip. A pose from For a Few Dollars More. She knew the film well. Beside it were several blacklight posters, psychedelic peace symbols, a hookah smoking caterpillar, and an assortment of twirling colorful designs.
* The television, an old tube model from yesteryear, was in a wooden cabinet covered by stickers: STP; two local radio stations, KLIV and KFRC; Champion spark plugs; bare feet and peace symbols of various colors. Beside that was a flower painted guitar case that leaned against the wall. Everything in the room was familiar. She knew this house. She had been here many, many times, so why couldn’t she remember whose house she was in?

Buy Summer of Haight 67 here...
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Thank you for joining us here today, Diane Sager! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

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