#MeetandGreetMonday with Ela Stein #Fantasy #Menage #Sci-Fi @Stein_Ela

Posted in Decadent Publishing, Evernight Publishing, Guest Author, Kacey Hammell, Meet and Greet Mondays, New Release, romance by kaceyhammell

Good morning. It’s Meet and Greet Monday!

With us today is Romance Author, Ela Stein.

Welcome, Ela!

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you live, do you have a significant other, any young ones running around?
Wow, thank you so much for having me here today!! So excited to stop by an share a little bit!
Currently, I live in Delaware, in USA… which is near Philly and not too far from NYC. It’s kind of nice – close enough to the “fun” places, and small enough that we get to have no taxes! Liquor stores abound as soon as you cross the border 😉 I live with my husband and two awesome kids. They totally make my world go round.

Tell us, what’s the first thought that comes to your head when you read the following words…
Rainbows …butterflies
Shifters …Alcide … yep, that about sums it up!
Sunsets …skinny dipping
Game of Thrones …only like the best series EVER!
Miley Cyrus… big tongues

What is your favorite junk food?
Popcorn

What do you like to do for fun and relax?
Scrapbook. One of those hobbies it’s easy to get obsessed with.

Have you read any books that have made you cry?
Um… this is a total downer, but I have to say “Diary of Anne Frank”… if you want a good cry, that one will get you every single time.

Who do you think is hotter – Chris or Liam Hemsworth?
Chris. I mean, who wouldn’t pick Thor!?

Who is your celebrity crush?
I have a bit of an off taste, so I would have to say Joaquin Phoenix and Leonardo DiCaprio… a dash of crazy never fails to spice things up. *g*

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
Okay, I’ve been obsessively watching all 3 seasons of Once Upon a Time, and I’d have to say I’d trade places with Emma for a week for sure. I think a week is plenty of time to hook up with Hook, right??

***OMG YES! I agree!!**

If you were given an all-expense paid, five day/night trip to anywhere, where would you go?
Somewhere in Asia. I’ve been lots of places around the world, but haven’t made my way there yet. It would be so cool and exotic. Japan or China or Thailand. I would love a trip like that.

What three words best describe you?
Creative, determined, and different 😉

What is the most played song on your iPod/MP3 Player?
This is totally 1980’s pre-technology of me, but I just listen to whatever is on the radio. I don’t even have an ipod. But I do get obsessed with certain songs once in a while and hunt them down on YouTube. I love alternative sort of music – White Stripes, Black Keys, etc.

What song are you most sick of hearing right now?
Miley Cyrus… pretty much anything by her.

If you had the chance to meet one author – past or present – who would it be? Why?
Anne Rice. I love her writing and come on… she’s totally not afraid to speak her mind, so right or wrong, at least it wouldn’t be a boring conversation!

If you could have a superpower, what would you wish it to be?
Flying. I used to be obsessed with that idea when I was a kid, and I still kind of am. How cool would it be to be so free?

What bestselling book or series do you wish you had written?
I have to say, I really love the “New Species” series by Laurann Dohner. It’s amazing, and she should be very proud of herself.

Writing can be a crazy business. How do you stay positive within the craziness?
Let’s just say negativity and rejection comes with the parcel whenever you pursue any creative endeavor. Pursuing creative endeavors, whatever form they take at the time, is just who I am, so I have no choice but to accept the craziness that comes with it. I am who I am.

What is your one pet peeve about the writing business?
Big publishing houses’ condescending attitudes toward writers.

What do you think is your greatest strength as a writer?
Really getting into those characters. Being that other person while I’m writing is pretty cool. Kind of like getting to experience flying in my mind – the next best thing to reality.

What do you think is your greatest weakness as a writer?
Letting my moods get in the way of getting my butt into that chair and writing no matter what. Still working on that one.

~~~~

Hello everyone! I am so pleased to be here, and I have to thank my hostess, Kacey, for having me.
Love’s Labyrinth came out in May with Evernight Publishing, and although I’ve had a couple months to get used to the idea of being a “published author”, it’s still a pretty cool… and somewhat foreign feeling. When I was a kid, reading was my escape, it was my best friend, and it was better than chocolate cake. I also loved to create things and make a lot of stuff up in my head, so of course I ended up writing for fun as well. I never went further than having fun with it until recently, though. I was brought up to think about practical pursuits (that is, a regular, steady paycheck). And so I followed that path for pretty much all my life, making art and writing on the side “just for fun”. Here comes a little self-disclosure… I turned 35 last September and it suddenly hit me – I hadn’t gotten very far with my dreams of being published and I wasn’t getting any younger. I focused my thoughts and energy on it, and got more serious… and amazingly, it paid off. Just a few months later, I had my acceptance from Evernight, and finally, last May, my dreams came true. I know that comes off as pretty cliché, but I’m saying all this just to illustrate how much “Love’s Labyrinth” means to me. I wrote the book I wanted to write, and included all the elements I love the most – genuine feelings, love, danger, excitement, hot sex, and a fantasy setting. I was true to myself and didn’t compromise my artistic vision while pursuing my goals of getting my work out there, and I’m very proud of the end result! “Love’s Labyrinth” is a hot menage novella, set in a fantasy world, and I hope my readers enjoy it as well.

~~~~

Love’s Labyrinth by Ela Stein

Auria enters the magical Labyrinth on New Year’s Eve, and its halls guide her to the two men she is fated to be with. Brener has loved her from afar since they were children, and Jhennen is a Warrior-Guard, commanding in personality and intimidating in physical presence.

They share a life-changing, passionate night together, but come morning, they must decide if their one-night menage can be the beginning of something new. When trouble threatens to tear Auria away from her life and the two men she is starting to develop feelings for, their connection just might be her only hope for salvation.

Buy Links:
Evernight Publishing

Amazon.com

Connect with Ela:
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Goodreads

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#MeetandGreetMonday with Teresa Hardister #Spirituality @THardister

Posted in Decadent Publishing, Evernight Publishing, Guest Author, Kacey Hammell, Meet and Greet Mondays, New Release, romance by kaceyhammell

Good morning. It’s Meet and Greet Monday!
With us today is Inspirational Author, Teresa Hardister.

Welcome, Teresa!

How long after you get up in the morning are you at your desk writing?
I love to write early in the morning. My best ideas come at 6 am and I can get on a serious roll if I start out first thing with writing. So to answer your question, as soon as I have a cup of coffee on my desk, I start writing.

What is a typical day like for you?
My days are so unplanned, none are really just alike, but I do have certain things I do every day. I write in the mornings, go for my walk, check out my garden, goof off for a bit and then I meander to my swing with my headphones on and listen to music, most every day. Of course I have family life to take care of, and my day ends with supper and knocking new ideas around on paper. Any number of random funny things can happen in my day, and I always look forward to them.

Tell us, what’s the first thought that comes to your head when you read the following words…
Romance …passion, kissing, rainy nights with the windows open.
Spring …Rebirth, happiness, fresh, renewed spirit.
Vacation …escape, leisure, pleasure
Beaches …sand, sun, inner peace, home.
Big Bang Theory …Bazinga!

What is the most devilish thing you’ve ever done?
Ahhh! When my sister I were younger, I tied her to the front of my ATV four wheeler and would slam on brakes before getting to a tree, leaving her to believe we were going to hit it head on. I am much nicer now, I promise!

What is your favorite junk food?
Doritos with French onion dip.

What do you like to do for fun and relax?
Music, music is the most relaxing activity I can partake in. I also love to just be outside, whether it is gardening, playing in mud, fishing, or camping, as long as it is outdoors.

What five items do you take everywhere with you – besides cell phone, keys and purse/wallet?
Lip gloss, a token coin that my Mother gave me before she passed, photos of my family, breath mints and also some sort of jewelry in case I decide it is fitting to wear it.

Do you like to cook? What is your favorite dish to make?
I love to cook so much. I grew up in the South and so much of our culture is based on food and spending time in the kitchen. I would say my favorite things to cook are traditional Southern dishes: fried chicken, okra, homemade biscuits, gravy, and veggies. I try to be careful about frying everything, but here, it is a given!

If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, real or fictional, with whom would it be?
I would say Edna, the main character from The Awakening by Kate Chopin. She led a somber unhappy life, but she threw caution to the wind and allowed herself to live in a time when it wasn’t acceptable for women to be rebels and to shed their ladylikeness.

Have you ever thrown a book you’ve been reading against the wall because you couldn’t finish it?
Yes! I normally always read a book before I see a movie version of it, but I watched “Under a Tuscan Sun” and loved it so much that I got the book. I began reading it and just couldn’t finish, it was so hard to understand and I was highly irritated that it didn’t flow and I had to keep refereeing back to even make sense of it at all.

What are you scared of most – spiders or snakes? If neither, what are you most afraid of?
Oh, good gracious, snakes! I just saw a black racer in my yard the other day and I flipped out. I detest them, it doesn’t matter if they are poisonous or nonpoisonous; I act like a two year having a tantrum when I see them.
***You and me both!!! My boys were never allowed to have rubber snakes. Seriously couldn’t even stand those ones. I’m very terrified of ANY snake.***

Who is your celebrity crush?
Oh that is tough; I have a couple or five! Kenny Chesney, because we have similar backgrounds and heritage and I admire his “don’t quit and don’t care what people think” attitude. Also, (and, yes, I am a weirdo), I grew up with a huge crush on Chewbacca from Star Wars!

If you were given an all-expense paid, five day/night trip to anywhere, where would you go?
I would go right here in my home state to the shore. I love the Outer Banks area, and Rodanthe, where the wild horses run freely along the beach and all you can see is water and sand.

Which Avenger character are you?
Oh, I am the Hulk. Actually, my Mom used to call me that. My eyes change colors, and when I am mad they change from blue to green, so the Hulk seems very fitting.

If you could have a superpower, what would you wish it to be?
I would want to have the power of healing. So many people suffer in this world, some with visible illnesses and others that can’t be seen, and to be able to heal them would be such a great gift.

What song are you most sick of hearing on the radio right now?
Happy, by Pharell! I can’t handle that song! I find myself singing along with it and it makes me crazy!

If you had the chance to meet one author – past or present – who would it be? Why?
Oh, such a hard question. I would say from the past, Ernest Hemingway. I am in love with his work and have been my entire life. As for modern day, I would choose Nicholas Sparks. I am fascinated by how his mind works and how he creates such amazing pieces.

Tell us about your “big break” in the publishing world. Was there any one person believe in your work first (besides yourself of course)?
My Mom had urged me to share my writing for many years. I began writing as a child, but was very afraid to share it. I followed her guidance and decided that I would take the leap. She never waivered in her belief in me and my writing; and even though she is no longer with me here, I still feel her presence when I begin to write. What did you do to celebrate your first contract? I think my Mom, my sons and I ordered Chinese take out, and danced the entire night away in my living room with random bouts of screaming in disbelief.

Did you always want to be an author?
For as long as I can remember I have been writing. I went through a brief period in high school when I wanted to be a marine biologist, but writing has always been my one true love.

No matter the story, where do you always draw inspiration from when you begin each story?
I look into my past, I look into happenings around me and I compare what elements could be the same. I listen to so many people and I observe them, and I store it all away in my mind until it’s time for it to surface and be used on paper.

Uniquely Nobody (Author’s Edition)

I am nobody. I have no celebrity status other than possibly being known locally as the one who taped her pants in high school, or the bait shop girl.

I am not wealthy.

At times, I’m clueless.

I have taken many pages of mental notes and learned on my journey as a mother, friend, daughter, and, ultimately, a human being, that this chaotic world we live in is about the little things.

Moments, experiences, and priceless joys that we all share make us our own Unique Nobody.

Life can swirl by us pretty fast. Don’t we owe it to ourselves to hold hands with friends, skip, go fishing, and to remind ourselves that we are all here to live in each moment and treasure being our own somebody!

This book was written in hopes of making people feel good about themselves, and to make them assess their own lives.

Walking away feeling a sense of pride because of who and what you are, every one of us nobodies are our own somebody!

The Author’s Edition is much like a Director’s cut, it contains new content, and some deleted text and many revisions.

Buy Links:
Amazon.com — Ebook
Amazon.com – Paperback

Bio:
Teresa Hardister is forty one years old, she lives with her husband and two sons in North Carolina. She hopes to touch one person daily and bring them new insight.

Connect with Teresa:
Teresa’s Blog
Facebook
Twitter

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7Jul2014

#MeetandGreetMonday with Eva LeFoy #Futuristic #Sci-Fi #Romance @Eva_Lefoy

Posted in Decadent Publishing, Evernight Publishing, Guest Author, Kacey Hammell, Meet and Greet Mondays, New Release, romance by kaceyhammell

Good morning. It’s Meet and Greet Monday!

With us today is Romance Author, Eva Lefoy.

Welcome, Eva!

Thanks for having me here!
Describe a typical day in the life of Eva Lefoy.
Oh it’s much less exciting than you might think. M-F I word 8-5 so I get up and head to the office. I am a commercial insurance account manager and some days that’s boring, other days, it’s exciting in the all the wrong ways. I write at home after dinner. Sometimes it’s hard to make myself go to bed on time!

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you live, do you have a significant other, any young ones running around?
I’m a lifelong resident of Washington state although if I could I’d probably move to Europe. Norway maybe, Greece, France, to name a few places. In the meantime I hang out with my hubby gardener and one bossy cat.

What is your favorite junk food?
Chocolate. Chips. Wait, that’s two.

What do you like to do for fun and relax?
Hike. I know, that sounds like work and not relaxing but believe me, when I get to the top of wherever I’m going and I look at the view, it’s very relaxing.

Do you get road rage? What pisses you off the most about other drivers?
I try to avoid road rage. I do live in a very small town at the moment so it’s not so bad. I lived in Seattle for 15 years and the traffic only got worse. It became rather annoying! And dangerous, too, IMO.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Who isn’t? Johnny Depp, Peter Dinklage, Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr. are all yum!

What three words would your family use to describe you?
Bratty. Pushy. Bossy. But I’m not, really! It’s just my family are a bunch of whiners!

What is your favorite scent?
Perfume-wise I LOVE Opium and Ysatis and Curve. And Chanel /Coco. Natural wise I’m heavy into Patchouli. You either love it or you hate it and I could bathe in it every hour and never get tired of it!

What was the worst summer job you had in your teens?
Probably babysitting. I didn’t have that many summer jobs so that was nice.

If you had the chance to meet one author – past or present – who would it be? Why?
As far as current authors I would say Sherrilyn Kenyon so I can pick her brain and learn her secrets. Especially since I’m going to write a UF version of The Snow Queen.

Do you have a bucket list? If so, how many items are on it? Have you been able to cross many items off the list?
No. And no. But stay tuned. I might come up with one yet!

Who/What are you currently reading?
I’m reading a little werewolf ditty for research purposes. It’s called Taming Heather by Lorie O’Clare and it’s book I in the Cariboo Lunewulf series.

Writing can be a crazy business. How do you stay positive within the craziness?
Hiking, wine and chocolate. All three in equal measure!

Did you always want to be an author?
I don’t know. I’ve always written but writing for fun and being an author are two different animals. One is far easier than the other.

No matter the story, where do you always draw inspiration from when you begin each story?
It’s always easy for me to come up with a line. Any line. And bam! You’re off and running. Pick a scene and start it right before the action. I’m not big on backstory. If the scene is in the woods then the character is going to be near the woods to start with and I’m not going to put in three pages worth of description!

What is your one pet peeve about the writing business?
It seems like there’s a bit of high school about it sometimes. People at publishing houses can be cliquey. But the authors themselves are usually great to get along with in social media.

What do you find most challenging about writing?
Always learning, always trying to improve and wrap your head around something new.

If you knew then what you know now (about yourself, life, etc) what main piece of advice would you give yourself at age 21?
Ignore men! Seriously. I thought life was all about romantic love at that age. It’s really not. It’s actually all about hiking!

From Eva:
I recently participated in the Sci Spanks blog hop. If you like science fiction or science fiction romance, or if you happen to like spanking stories, take a look at the two themes combined. Every author provided a 2,000 word free short story on their blog. We had such fun doing this!

The hop is over now, but the stories are still great reads.
Here’s a sneak peek at mine:

He raised a bushy dark brown eyebrow the same color as his braided hair. “I promise I will decide your fate fairly.”

I pursed my lips in what I hoped was a pretty pout. “Can’t you maybe punish me for being bad and then let me go?”

Oo’ir’s eyes gleamed at the word punish. I’d heard theirs was a discipline-focused sexuality, but the reports hadn’t been explicit about their tastes. I was forging into unknown territory, both exhilarated and terrified at the possibilities.

“You wish to be punished, Earthling?”

“Yes,” I breathed. “Punish me, Oo’ir. I’ve been a very bad girl.”

His hands grabbed me and pulled me to his chest. The pads of his fingers were rough, like sandpaper. The feel of his chest like warm steel. I bit my lip as my pussy clenched in anticipation.

“Bad,” he repeated.

“Yes. Very bad girl.” Oh, how bad I’d truly been. Oo’ir had no idea.

He picked me up as though I weighed nothing, and strode toward the throne. When he reached it, he set me down on my feet and gave me an appraising look. He fingered the placket of my coat, his gaze on my breasts. “You are fragile. Weak. You will not take much punishment.”

I shook my head in disagreement. The gesture meant the same thing in our languages. “I can take it. Really. Give me what I deserve, Oo’ir.”

He snorted a hot breath out his nose before pulling my coat down and ripping open my blouse. Since I’d worn no bra – who needs one in space with light gravity anyway? – my breasts were fully exposed. He sucked in a breath and grasped both nipples, pinching them hard.

The pain-pleasure circuit in my brain kicked in. I lived for this. To experience exactly this. In every way and with every race I possibly could before I died. I’d made it my life’s study. Showing Oo’ir my submission without betraying my greediness for more would be my difficulty. Wanting to encourage him, I laid my head back and gave the lightest of moans.

“Sturdy enough,” Oo’ir said approvingly. “We will proceed.”

Yes, there is some spanking involved here shortly. But who gets spanked is the question. Who wants it more, her or him? Find out when the longer anthology version of the story is released. For now, read the rest of my short story here: http://writery.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/sci-spanks-a-spanking-scifi-blog-hop-for-the-dirty-minded-alien-loving-crowd-wheee/

I also have a very sexy android-human romance out from Decadent Publishing called Download My Love.

DOWNLOAD MY LOVE

Security Core agent Everett is assigned a special case—protect the daughter of Simon Gold, the father of modern mechanoid life. To ensure her survival, Everett’s given a special EMO upgrade, and can experience love for the first time. He’s soon head over heels and the super-charged sexual attraction threatens to fry his circuits while he fights to stay one step ahead of the bad guys.

Samantha Gold detests her father’s work. She’s an off-the-grid back-to-lander who wants to keep life simple with her cows and her crops. When her father dies and inadvertently transfers a secret code to a hidden receptor in her brain, it’s only android Agent Everett who can protect her. Can she ever forgive her father for creating Everett—a man so perfect for her that he even loves her cows?

Who doesn’t love androids and cows?

Buy Download My Love here:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Download-Love-Futuristic-Sci-Fi-Romance-ebook/dp/B00IQEOWTC

All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-downloadmylove-1441134-340.html

Find Eva here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eva-Lefoy/344907072265234

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Eva_Lefoy

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elefoy/

Blog: http://writery.wordpress.com/

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26May2014

#MeetandGreetMonday with Shelley Munro #SamhainPublishing #Historical #Romance

Posted in Guest Author, Kacey Hammell, Meet and Greet Mondays, romance by kaceyhammell

Good morning. It’s Meet and Greet Monday!

With us today is Romance Author, Shelley Munro.

Welcome, Shelley!

Describe a typical day in the life of Shelley Munro.
Greetings from New Zealand, and thanks for having me to visit today. When I first started writing full time, I decided to treat writing as a job. My writing day starts by at least nine and I write during the mornings. The afternoon and evening is for editing, promo and for taking care of the business side of writing. I usually fit a bike ride and a walk with the puppy into my day as well to combat the bottom spread that comes from sitting around for too long.

Even though I’m essentially “the boss” I tend to work longer hours than I ever did while working in an office.

Tell us, what’s the first thought that comes to your head when you read the following words…
Romance … Husband
Baseball … American
Vacation … Cruise
Vin Diesel … Movies
Rubix Cube… Vibrant color

What is your favorite word in the English Dictionary?
At the moment it’s cantankerous. I like the way it sounds on the tongue. Shenanigans comes a close second.

What is the most devilish thing you’ve ever done? (ie: maybe a prank pulled on someone)
I’m not big on pranks. It’s not that I don’t have a sense of humor because I do. It’s more that I don’t get a chance since my husband is the prankster in this family. He always seems to be one step ahead of me!

What is your favorite junk food?
For me it’s sushi. It’s my favorite. Not really junk food but we don’t do takeaway or fast food. We like to cook and hubby and I discuss our days while making dinner together.

Preference – Sam or Dean Winchester? If you haven’t seen Supernatural (and why not! It’s MY Fave show LOL), then would you prefer Iron Man or Wolverine?
I have to be honest and say I haven’t watched Supernatural for a while, but I’m on team Dean. *g*

What do you like to do for fun and relax?
I like cycling and walking the dog, reading, cooking and travel. Hubby and I try and get away and explore the rest of the world as often as time and money allow.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Let’s see – how about Alex O’Loughlin from Hawaii Five 0.

What three words would your family use to describe you?
Determined. Optimistic. Easy-going.

If you were given an all-expense paid, five day/night trip to anywhere, where would you go?
I’d fly down to the South Island of New Zealand and spend time in Queenstown and the surrounding area. It’s so pretty and yet it is not overcrowded with people.

What song are you most sick of hearing right now?
I haven’t spent much time listening to the radio or to music recently, since I’ve been on an audio book kick, but Lorde’s Royals has been thrashed to death on the radio down here.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
So many! I like Nalini Singh, Jeaniene Frost, Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb, Lorelei James, Jennifer Ashley, Jess Michaels just to mention a few. I read a lot and read widely across lots of genres.

If you had the chance to meet one author – past or present – who would it be? Why?
I’d like to meet Agatha Christie. I grew up reading her mysteries and would love to learn about her writing process.

Tell us about your “big break” in the publishing world. Was there any one person believe in your work first (besides yourself of course)? What did you do to celebrate your first contract?
My first sale was an e-book. My husband believed in me from the start, and he’s still my biggest champion. My first contract came via email. I shrieked at the top of my voice and my husband and our dog came running to see what was wrong. I was almost incoherent, but finally communicated I’d sold my first book. We celebrated with a bottle of nice wine with dinner.

Writing can be a crazy business. How do you stay positive within the craziness?
I try to balance work and rest, make sure I eat properly and exercise. If I do this I’m much better prepared to handle anything that’s chucked in my direction. If I don’t do some sort of exercise each day, I tend to get fidgety and very grouchy.

What is your one pet peeve about the writing business?
Everything seems to move at the speed of a snail. Thank goodness for self-publishing where I can go at my own pace.

Blog Post:

In my recent release, Mistress of Merrivale, my hero and heroine have an arranged marriage.
They come to their marriage with different expectations. Jocelyn, my heroine, wants security and a home for both her and her eccentric mother. Leo, my hero, wants a wife to replace his first one and to make his life more comfortable. His first marriage wasn’t successful, and above all, Leo desires peace and a biddable wife.
Leo journeys to London to stay with his cousin the Earl of Melburn. This is the letter I imagine Leo wrote to his cousin before arriving to begin his search for a wife.

Dear Melburn,
After much soul-searching, I’ve come to the decision I need to remarry and the sooner the better. To that end, I will arrive in London in two weeks to begin my search for a wife. If you have any suggestions as to suitable women, I’d appreciate your input.

Any candidate should possess intelligence and loyalty. I have no preference regarding appearance but do require the following qualities. She must be trustworthy and discreet. She must like children and be happy to live at Merrivale in Dartmoor rather than spend the season in London. I want a biddable wife.

I look forward to seeing you again and wish you happy on the occasion of your betrothal to the Neville girl.

Fond regards,
Your cousin, Leo.

On arrival in London, Leo meets Jocelyn, and they decide a marriage of convenience will suit their needs. Both Leo and Jocelyn have their reasons for agreeing to the marriage, but it is only after they’re married that they come to learn the full truth and must face the monsters hovering in the background.

Here’s the blurb:
A marriage of convenience…full of inconvenient secrets.

Jocelyn Townsend’s life as a courtesan bears no resemblance to the life she envisioned in girlish dreams. But it allows her and her eccentric mother to live in relative security—until her protector marries and no longer requires her services.

Desperate to find a new benefactor, one kind enough to accept her mother’s increasingly mad flights of fancy, Jocelyn is nearly overwhelmed with uncertainty when a lifeline comes from an unexpected source.

Leo Sherbourne’s requirements for a wife are few. She must mother his young daughter, run his household, and warm his bed. All in a calm, dignified manner with a full measure of common sense. After his late wife’s histrionics and infidelity, he craves a simpler, quieter life.

As they embark on their arrangement, Leo and Jocelyn discover an attraction that heats their bedroom and a mutual admiration that warms their days. But it isn’t long before gossip regarding the fate of Leo’s first wife, and his frequent, unexplained absences, make Jocelyn wonder if the secrets of Merrivale Manor are rooted in murder…

Warning: Contains mysterious incidents, a mad mother who screeches without provocation, scheming relatives, and a captivating husband who blows scorching hot and suspiciously cold. All is not as it seems…and isn’t that delicious?

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1eW93rW

All Romance ebooks: http://bit.ly/RjmH1W

Shelley’s Bio:
Shelley Munro is tall and curvaceous with blue eyes and a smile that turns masculine heads everywhere she goes. She’s a university tutor and an explorer/treasure hunter during her vacations. Skilled with weapons and combat, she is currently in talks with a producer about a television series based on her world adventures.

Shelley is also a writer blessed with a VERY vivid imagination and lives with her own hero in New Zealand. She writes mainly erotic romance in the contemporary, paranormal and historical genres for publishers Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. You can learn more about Shelley and her books at her website and you might even find her lurking at Facebook or Twitter.

Connect with Shelly:

WEBSITE: http://www.shelleymunro.com

BLOG: http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyMunroAuthor

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/ShelleyMunro

PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/ShelleyMunro

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/ShelleyMunro

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Shelley-Munro/e/B001JOWGNK

NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/A2xfH

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5May2014

#MeetandGreetMonday with Nikka Michaels #Romance #MM @NikkaMichaels

Posted in Guest Author, Kacey Hammell, Meet and Greet Mondays, romance by kaceyhammell

Good morning. It’s Meet and Greet Monday!

With us today is Romance Author, Nikka Michaels.

Welcome, Nikka!
Thanks for having me! 🙂

Describe a typical day in the life of you and your Muse.
Wake up, drink all the coffee in the known universe, then hop on the inter webs and catch up with the social media stuff, then I brainstorm with my co-writer Eileen Griffin if we’re working on a project together. After that? I write. And work on all the other things like around the house stuff and hang with the family. Then write some more.

Tell us, what’s the first thought that comes to your head when you read the following words…
Romance …isn’t just a guilty pleasure.
Winter …break.
Vacation …staycation.
Thor …me.
The Walking Dead…scare the bejesus out of me.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you live, do you have a significant other, any young ones running around?
I’m blessed to live in Portland, Oregon full of quirky people, breweries and lots of good food. I have a family which include a significant other, a couple of minions and a farty dog.

What is your favorite junk food?
Cheeseburger. I haz it.

What do you like to do for fun and relax?
Read. Listen to music. Cook. Eat.

If we were to come over to your house for dinner, what dish would you make us?
Spaghetti and bacon filled meatballs. With extra cheese.

Who do you think is hotter – Liam or Chris Hemsworth?
Liam. Hands down. I’m a sucker for a brunett.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Chef Chuck Hughes. Him speaking French just does all the right things.

What three words would your family use to describe you?
Scatterbrained, Goofy, Funny.

What is the most played song on your iPod/MP3 Player?
Right now? Probably Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. Big Minion loves to sing along.

What song are you most sick of hearing right now?
Right now? Happy by Pharell. I love the song and him but it’s overplayed right now.

If you had the chance to meet one author – past or present – who would it be? Why?
I’d love to meet my co-writer Eileen Griffin in person one day. We’re besties separated by distance but she always makes me laugh. And she’s an awesome writer. (I’m spoiled since she lets me beta read)

Who/What are you currently reading?
Stay by Riley Hart.

Tell us about your “big break” in the publishing world. Was there any one person believe in your work first (besides yourself of course)? What did you do to celebrate your first contract?
My big break was a novella called Chasing Matt, co-written with Eileen Griffin. It was definitely a learning experience, from writing to revising, to editing to the whole subbing process. The one person who has always believed in me is Eileen. When something I write sucks? She’ll tell me and she pushes me to write better.
My family took me out to celebrate my first contract and I had a big old cheeseburger. 🙂

Writing can be a crazy business. How do you stay positive within the craziness?
Just keep writing, surround yourself with positive people, realize every day you get to do this is a gift, accept criticism, learn from it and always grow.

No matter the story, where do you always draw inspiration from when you begin each story?
Music. I have to have music to write.

What do you find most challenging about writing?
Outlining. I used to be a pantser but it’s too easy for me to get overwhelmed so learning how to do outlines to stay on track has been the most challenging thing about writing.

Nikka’s Note:
Lip Service was fun to write as it’s revisiting Seth and Carson from Room Service. I admire what they have and how they make time for each other even though they’re always busy. It might not be a relationship for everyone but these two make it work and I love writing about nontraditional relationships.

What is Cobblestone Press’ Blue Line?
The Blue short story line is erotica. For us, erotica is about the fulfillment of a sexual fantasy. These stories are sexy, very graphic, and are by no means a “traditional romance”.

Dr. Seth Campbell and Carson Randall from ROOM SERVICE return in this short erotic sequel. Separated by their jobs on a daily basis, the partners have to make time for each other when they can. They combine their passion for each other in mini interludes to reconnect with each other and rekindle their connection.

When Seth finds Carson waiting for him in the hotel bar, their attraction and awareness smolders to life. When their already limited time together is interrupted by an important phone call, an impatient Seth takes matters into his own hands.

Grab your copy at:
Cobblestone Press

About Nikka:
Nikka Michaels lives in the often rainy Pacific Northwest where she spends her time cooking, laughing and crafting romantic tales to satisfy her craving for HEAs with heat. A voracious reader, novice knitter and music lover she’s been known to multitask without breaking a sweat. She loves to read and write M/M romance but believes everyone deserves a love story. She currently has several releases out, Chasing Matt, a M/M novella co-authored with Eileen Griffin, Christmas with Caden, a M/F romance novella from Cobblestone Press, “Waking up Wolf”, a M/M shifter romance in Evernight Publishing’s Alpha’s Claim: Manlove Edition anthology, and Room Service and Lip Service the M/M short stories from Cobblestone Press’ Blue line. Mile High Service, the Prequel to Room Service & Lip Service releases from Cobblestone Press on July 15. She also has an M/M anthology story, His Assistant in Evernight Publishing’s forthcoming Executive Assistant: Manlove Edition Anthology. Nikka is currently at work with her co-author on a M/M foodie romance series including In the Raw releasing in October and In the Fire in November 2014 from Carina Press.

Connect with Nikka:
Website and Blog: http://www.nikkamichaels.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nikkamichaels

Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/Nikka.Michaels

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/nikkamichaelsauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7231273.Nikka_Michaels

Cobblestone Press: http://cobblestone-press.com/catalog/author/nikkamichaels.htm

Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/nikka-michaels/

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/author/nikkamichaels

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28Apr2014

#MeetandGreetMonday with Michelle Graham #Romance #RoTG @MichelleGAuthor

Posted in Contemporary Erotic Romance, Evernight Publishing, Guest Author, Kacey Hammell, Meet and Greet Mondays, romance by kaceyhammell

Good morning. It’s Meet and Greet Monday!

With us today is Romance Author, Michelle Graham.

Welcome, Michelle!
Describe a typical day in the life of Michelle Graham?
Pretty crazy! I’m up early to get the kids ready for school, then I hit the road for my EDJ. When I get home, I cook, help with homework, chauffeur the offspring to various activities, and then try to squeeze some writing in before I go to bed.

Tell us, what’s the first thought that comes to your head when you read the following words…
Romance …Sigh
Spring …Where is it?
Las Vegas …FUN!
Game of Thrones …What’s that? (I know – I’ve been living under a rock apparently)
Miley Cyrus…Wrecked

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you live, do you have a significant other, any young ones running around?
I live in southern Ontario with my hubby of 14 years and our two kids (13 & 8) and a kitty.

What do you like to do for fun and relax?
Reading and writing are my biggest pastimes, but I also like to watch movies and play cards. I’m more of a homebody than a social butterfly.

What five items do you take everywhere with you – besides cell phone, keys and purse/wallet?
Hmmm. Cell phone, keys, and wallet pretty much covers it. I try to take a notebook and pen in case I have a few minutes to do some writing.

If we were to come over to your house for dinner, what dish would you make us?
Oh, I found this amazing recipe for Chicken Stuffed Peppers that I’ve been making a lot lately, so probably that. Or else something on the barbecue.

Have you read any books that have made you cry?
I’m a bit of an emotional lush, so I tend to cry at everything, including books! There are too many of them to list!

Have you ever thrown a book you’ve been reading against the wall because you couldn’t finish it?
This has happened to me more since I started writing. I won’t name names but sometimes I wonder how some people ever got published!

Who do you think is hotter – Channing Tatum or Bradley Cooper?
Channing Tatum!!!!

What three words would your family use to describe you?
Quirky, creative, devoted.

If you were given an all-expense paid, five day/night trip to anywhere, where would you go?
I’d love to go to Australia.

What is the most played song on your iPod/MP3 Player?
Am I going to sound like a total geek if I say I don’t have one? I listen to an adult contemporary type station on the radio.

What song are you most sick of hearing right now?
I don’t know what it’s called but it’s the one about the guy who goes to ask a father for his blessing to marry his daughter, but the father says no and the guy says he’s going to marry her anyway. Totally annoying.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
Kelley Armstrong is my number one fave, and I also like Kim Harrison, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Kathy Reichs.

If you had the chance to meet one author – past or present – who would it be? Why?
I’ve met Kelley on several occasions but I never get tired of it. I wouldn’t mind meeting Kim Harrison either. I’d love to talk to her about her writing process and inspirations.

Who/What are you currently reading?
I’m in the process of reading Jenika Snow’s Grizzly MC series.

Did you always want to be an author?
I’ve always loved to write, but I was practical, too, and had a healthy helping of self-doubt so I never thought I might actually get published someday. Sending my first manuscript to Siren was a whim, and when the accepted it I was ecstatic and started to think that maybe my dream wasn’t all that unrealistic after all. It’s a balancing act though!

Tell us about your “big break” in the publishing world. Was there any one person believe in your work first (besides yourself of course)? What did you do to celebrate your first contract?
As I mentioned, I’ve always loved to write, but I think I lacked the proper motivation. I read a lot of Laurell K. Hamilton, and when I searched for one of her books at the library, I noticed that in the genre classification it said, “Erotic Romance.” I hadn’t even realized that was a genre! I went looking for more and stumbled across the Siren website where I noticed the Submissions tab. And ideas started coming like gangbusters. So I wrote and submitted my first manuscript. Of course, I didn’t tell anyone except my husband that I was writing, and even for him, it was hard to accept that I was taking so much time for a ‘hobby.’ When I got that first contract, I was thrilled! We bought a big bottle of wine. Of course, I can’t really tell anyone what I write, so I have to keep it quiet.

Writing can be a crazy business. How do you stay positive within the craziness?
It’s not always easy. When I see others producing books faster, and selling better, it’s easy to get discouraged. But I try to remember that I’m doing something most people never get to do and I’m just grateful for the chance. I’ll keep plugging away.

No matter the story, where do you always draw inspiration from when you begin each story?
I wish I had a good answer for this. Most of my ideas just kind of pop into my head and I’ll think about them for a while, developing the story until I’m satisfied I can turn it into a full manuscript.

Keeping Sex Interesting

My new release features a heroine who married the first man she ever slept with and ended up with a sexual dud who couldn’t give her the satisfaction she wanted. Mostly because he was finding it elsewhere. She dumps his ass and meets a real man in the book so it all works out for her, but I got to thinking about how people keep their sex lives from being boring.

When hubby and I first started dating, sex was exciting because we were both shiny and new to each other. I’m sure many couples find the same thing. Then comes the wedding, and then the kids, and suddenly sex slips down on the list of priorities.

We went through our slumps, especially after our second was born. I’m lucky because hubby is good at communicating and willing to try new things. It helped that I discovered erotic romance and started getting all sorts of fun ideas. 😉 I could show him a passage in a book and say I’d like to try it and he’d be all for it.

Today I’d have to say we’re doing almost as well as when we first got together. Of course we have our ups and downs as all couples do, but we keep working at it.

What is the most important way to keep sex interesting?

Blurb: Losing It All Over Again

What if your first time left you unsatisfied and your sex life never improved?

Lauren Monroe is no virgin. Four years of crappy sex with a cheating husband took care of that. With her divorce nearly finalized, she can’t help wondering what her first time might have been like with someone else. Online hook-up site Losing It offers the perfect solution.

Hank Abramo vowed to remain a bachelor. The arrival of a daughter he’d never known put a serious crimp in his social life. After a year without a date, he turns to Losing It to find a safe, easy tryst.

When Lauren suspects that Hank is being unfaithful, she sneaks away. But they can’t stop thinking about each other, and when fate throws them together again, it adds a twist that neither one of them anticipated.

Buy Links:

Evernight http://www.evernightpublishing.com/

Bookstrand http://www.bookstrand.com/michelle-graham

Website http://www.MichelleGrahamBooks.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michelle.graham.562114

Twitter @MichelleGAuthor

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21Apr2014

#MeetandGreetMonday with Jorja Lovett #Romance #TotallyBound @JorjaLovett

Posted in Guest Author, Kacey Hammell, Meet and Greet Mondays, romance by kaceyhammell

Good morning. It’s Meet and Greet Monday!

With us today is Romance Author, Jorja Lovett.

Welcome, Jorja!

Hiya!

Tell us, what’s the first thought that comes to your head when you read the following words…
Romance … Sex
Winter … Fire
Vacation … Beach
Thor … Muscles
The Walking Dead…Daryl!

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you live, do you have a significant other, any young Jorjas running around?
I live in Northern Ireland, just outside Belfast. I’ve been with my husband for twenty years, married seventeen years. (I was a child bride, obviously) We have two teenage boys, so basically my house permanently smells of feet and sweaty clothes. It’s no wonder I write romance.

What is the most devilish thing you’ve ever done?
I’m the eldest of three girls so it is my job in life to constantly prank my younger sisters.

What is your favorite junk food?
Chocolate. I would look like Victoria Beckham if it wasn’t for the damn stuff.

Preference – Sam or Dean Winchester? If you haven’t seen Supernatural (and why not! It’s MY Fave show LOL), then would you prefer Iron Man or Wolverine?
I’ve only started watching it but I think I prefer the more serious one. Sam? I don’t like cocky men lol
***Oh dear, Jorja, I’m a Dean girl all the way!! Sam is too serious for me LOL *g* ***

What do you like to do for fun and relax?
If it’s cold outside, which it usually is here, I like nothing better than to read…and eat chocolate. On a nice day me and hubs will go for a walk to chill out.

What five items do you take everywhere with you – besides cell phone, keys and purse/wallet?
A notebook, a pen, an umbrella, chocolate, and a laptop if I can fit it into my luggage. I think that list sums up my life lol

If we were to come over to your house for dinner, what dish would you make us?
I’m not the world’s greatest cook but I can make a good pasta dish. Or Irish stew if you’d prefer?
*** I LOVE Irish Stew…name the time and place *g* ***

Have you read any books that have made you cry?
It’s not often a book can move me to actual tears unless they’re autobiographies. Although I was trying to think what the last book was that made me tear up and it was actually one of yours – Sweetest Salvation!
*** Thank you so much!!! Sorry about the tears, but those are also words that are like music to my ears! Thanks!! ***

Have you ever thrown a book you’ve been reading against the wall because you couldn’t finish it?
If a book doesn’t grab me in the first chapter or so, I tend not to finish it. I won’t throw it against the wall, but casually drop it down the side of the bed with the intention of picking it up again someday.

Who do you think is hotter – George Clooney or Denzel Washington?
Definitely George Clooney! The voice, the eyes, the sense of humour, he’s got it all as far as I’m concerned.

What is the most played song on your iPod/MP3 Player?
I love to listen to the Dirty Dancing 2 soundtrack when I’m writing and I’m obsessed with ‘Represent, Cuba’ – Orishas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=motWb1O9SDQ

What song are you most sick of hearing right now?
That Fox Song. What the hell is that about? Although watching my husband’s face when he heard it for the first time was priceless.
*** That Fox Song should be banned forever!!! ***

Who are some of your favorite authors?
The one thing about being in such a fab crit group is the abundance of great books. I’m lucky to know many great authors like Doris O’Connor, Raven McAllan, Cherie Nicholls, Kiru Taye, Michaela Rhua and many more. My tbr pile is enormous!

Who is your celebrity crush?
My Joe Manganiello fixation is well documented but feel free to post a semi naked pic of him to accompany this article.

*** Ask, and you shall receive, Jorja!!! *** >>>>

Who/What are you currently reading?
I’m under pressure to finish the book I’m currently writing and I’m hoping to tackle that tbr list soon.

Tell us about your “big break” in the publishing world. Was there any one person believe in your work first (besides yourself of course)? What did you do to celebrate your first contract?
I think my crit partners really gave me the confidence to keep plugging away until I got that first contract. My husband took me out to dinner to celebrate and bought me a Kindle.

Did you always want to be an author?
Always. Even in primary school I loved writing stories and it was the only profession I could ever see myself doing.

No matter the story, where do you always draw inspiration from when you begin each story?
See celebrity crush answer. Seriously, the characters always come to me when on a long drive or somewhere quiet, and their story slowly evolves from there.

What do you find most challenging about writing?
Motivation/ procrastination. Even though I have work to do, I will always find something to distract me.

Setting the Scene – Jorja Lovett

Every time we write, we have to create a world our readers can immediately envisage. Whether it’s a fantasy land completely of our choosing, or a recreation of somewhere we’ve once seen, getting the setting right is integral to our story. Describing the things our characters can see, hear, smell going on around them, goes toward bringing the scene to life.

Research goes a long way, of course. I’ve set myself some challenges in the past. My first book, Pyramid of Passion, was set in Ancient Egypt. And my future release, Titanic’s Ondine, was set aboard the doomed liner. In these cases I had to rely on internet sources and books to accurately depict the surroundings.

When I was writing, The Wolf on the Hill, I decided I wanted to base it somewhere familiar hills to me. Olcan Hills may be a fictional village full of wolf shifters, but it is most definitely part of the Northern Irish landscape where I live. This was my favourite type of research – trips into the countryside where I could imagine my wolves roaming the desolate landscape. For an added touch of reality I made sure it was usually raining too lol

What’s the most unusual setting you’ve ever read/written about?

I hope you enjoy reading The Wild Irish Wolves as much as I did writing them.

About Jorja:
Jorja is a British author, with both Irish and Scottish roots, which makes for a very dry sense of humour. A necessity when living in a country where the climate is more suitable for ducks rather than humans.

Her childhood dreams revolved around becoming an author and exploring the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. In her debut novel, ‘Pyramid of Passion’, she hits the jackpot when she gets to live out all of her fantasies.

By day, Jorja is a mild mannered pillar of virtue. By night, a purveyor of smut and writer of filth. Well, that’s how her other half describes her, with his tongue firmly in cheek, and who is she to argue. Egged on by her crit group, UCW, she wrote this racy tale and enjoyed every hot minute of it.

Sometimes it’s good to be naughty 😉

You can find Jorja on Twitter and Facebook or here:
http://jorja-lovett.blogspot.com/

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