Spotlight: Surrendering to the Beast by Tina Donahue #Giveaway #FIVEPrizes #RomCom #SamhainPub @tinadonahue

Posted in Guest Author, Kacey Hammell, romance, Spotlight by kaceyhammell

To celebrate the upcoming release of Surrendering to the Beast, Tina is giving away FIVE full-length, bestselling, award-winning romances to one lucky winner – 25 titles to choose from.

SURRENDERING TO THE BEAST

(Book Two – Taming the Beast series)

Erotic Paranormal – Romantic Comedy

by Tina Donahue

Amazon – Samhain – BN

Available for pre-order September 13

Ready to read October 13

Blurb:

When she’s good, she’s very good. But when he’s bad, she’s better.

Taming the Beast, Book 2

As a good fairy, Heather is empathetic and chaste to a fault. No bad language, no dirty thoughts, flirting and no sex. But when a satyr named Daemon steps up to her reception desk at From Crud to Stud, she finds herself on the fast track to exquisite corruption.

Daemon is the total bad-boy package with a kiss straight from the dark side. Though he’s here for a supernatural makeover, Heather can’t imagine why any red-blooded woman would want him to change.

A disciple of the god of wine, Daemon has had his share of good times. But sex has never been this good. Heather brings out a new side of him, a side that makes him want to protect as well as pillage.

But Daemon needs a little creative backup to help set his fairy’s naughtiness free. And that means bringing in Mistress Jin. Under the genie’s tutelage and Daemon’s shameless lust, Heather is about to learn what it means to let loose.

Warning: Not your typical bedtime story. May lead to indecent behavior, a taste for voyeurism, discipline, bondage, m/f, m/f/f and f/f action, which will result in screaming orgasms. Proceed with caution.

Excerpt:

Heather steeled herself to do battle with Satan. Cautiously, she faced her webcam and his image on her computer monitor. This evening, he’d assumed the form of a European playboy, a snifter of cognac held casually in one hand, dark hair slicked back, his blood-red ascot contrasting nicely with his white shirt and navy blazer.

He certainly knew how to dress.

“Cara mia.” Heat smoldered in his voice and dark eyes. “What can I do to you?”

“For me,” she corrected gently, wondering when he’d ever get that right.

Grinning, he focused on her white peasant blouse and jutted nipples, her areolas tightened from the chilly weather, not him. Tonight was damp and cool thanks to a spring storm that continued to rage in the French Quarter. Lightning flashed and the office lights flickered.

Flames flared briefly in his pupils. “We’ll do many things to each other, no?”

Heather smiled politely, a knee-jerk reaction for a good fairy. Needing to get tough, she held up his overdue bill, hoping he’d look at it rather than her chest. Her hand shook so badly the paper rattled.

“How you tremble,” he cooed. “How pale you are. Allow me to put some color in your lovely cheeks. Heat that will last an eternity.”

Her skin got even clammier. “Please, just pay your account.” She waved the paper and talked fast before losing her nerve. “Your grandson failed to show for his last two appointments. I’m sure he had a good reason. Unfortunately, he didn’t call to cancel.” She offered an apologetic smile and pressed on. “Because you’re the cardholder, we had to charge you for the time. I’m so sorry, but it is the rule.”

One she was honor-bound to enforce as an employee of From Crud to Stud, a makeover service for supernatural beings. Howls from weres, hisses from vampires and obscenities from demons poured from the treatment rooms. Those poor souls were going through proverbial hell to suppress their beasts. They longed to date mortal women without freaking them out, while also winning their hearts the normal way. With real charm, not magic, with integrity and love, not lies and manipulation.

But these makeovers took the staff’s valuable time and clients needed to pay for the effort. Even Satan should understand that.

He gave her an indulgent smile. “What charges?”

Gasping, she dropped the flaming paper in her trashcan before it burnt her fingers.

“Later,” he said and killed the call.

Hurriedly, Heather put out the small blaze, chiding herself for letting the account get to this point. She should have been firm with Satan’s grandson when he signed up for the service. Determined to make up for being too nice, she brought up her bank account to pay the charges herself. She was about to transfer the funds when the lights flickered twice, thunder boomed and the front door flew open, banging against the wall.

She flinched.

A blast of dank air and rain blew inside, followed by a guy who looked to be thirty or so. He wore a black cowboy hat, snug navy tee, low-slung jeans and cowboy boots.

Once he shoved the door shut, he slumped against it, breathing hard.

Heather stood so quickly her chair rolled into the wall.

He didn’t notice. He’d closed his eyes and raised his face to the ceiling, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing with his hard swallow.

Alarmed yet intrigued, she regarded the short, dark hairs on his throat and took the rest of him in. His rain-dampened hair was the color of dark chocolate, thick and wavy, flowing to his broad shoulders. They heaved with his next ragged breath. Tall, possibly six-three, he was lean yet muscular. His wet tee clung to his well-defined pecs and abs, those bruising biceps. Stubble covered his strong jaw, upper lip and cheeks. His bronze skin spoke of days in the sun.

Even from where she stood, Heather smelled his scent. Clean and masculine, a woodsy, fresh fragrance along with something else…the unmistakable odor of liquor.

Uh-oh. It wasn’t often that mortals, drunk or otherwise, happened upon this place. When they did, Heather had ironclad rules to follow. First, buzz Constance, a voodoo priestess who could remove memories by laying her hands on someone’s head. Following that, Heather was supposed to buzz Becca, a half-mortal witch who owned this place.

Heather leaned over her desk to press the intercom button.

The guy turned to her, blinked slowly and stared.

Her hand stalled.

His eyes were amazing, the color of Lipton tea, ringed by long, sooty lashes, his attention riveted as he drank her in. Given his slow, sexy smile, Heather suspected he was undressing her with his eyes.

She swallowed and was about to press the button when he groaned suddenly and mournfully, the sound of someone in serious pain.

Heather paused and decided not to call for anyone just yet. “Are you all right?”

*** CONTEST ALERT *** CONTEST ALERT *** CONTEST ALERT ***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please support my Thunderclap campaign: http://thndr.it/1NZSRHw

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About Me (You know you want to know!):

I’m an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Kensington, Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, Luminosity, Decadent, and indie. Yay! Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised my work, and trust me, I’m forever grateful for that. I’ve had my books reach finals in the EPIC competition, one title was named Book of the Year at a review site, and others have won awards in RWA-sponsored contests. I’m actually featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Talk about feeling like a freaking star. Before my writing career, I was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company. Outside of being an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, I’ve flown a single-engine plane (scary stuff), rewired an old house using an electricity for dummies book, and have been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally whenever I’m eating anything Mexican or Italian. Yeah, I like to eat (burp).

You can check me out here – yes, I am everywhere! 🙂

FB Fanpage: http://on.fb.me/1ChWdD7

Email: tina@tinadonahue.com

Website: http://bit.ly/15Xy6LI

Blog: http://bit.ly/1yRB9k9

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Twitter: http://bit.ly/1ziy4IU

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Freeing the Beast by Tina Donahue #Giveaway #Erotic #SamhainPub @tinadonahue

Posted in Guest Author, Kacey Hammell, New Release, romance by kaceyhammell

FREEING THE BEAST

(Book One – Taming the Beast series)

Erotic Paranormal

by Tina Donahue

Please support my Thunderclap campaign: http://thndr.it/1z2lkHH

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1z1GIIk

Samhain: http://bit.ly/1C3HCas

B&N: http://bit.ly/1zaLecb

Available for pre-order February 8 – click here

Ready to read March 10

________

Blurb:

No more Mr. Nice Guy

Magic is Becca Salt’s business, but it ain’t happening in her bedroom. The half-witch proprietress of From Crud to Stud performs miracle makeovers for paranormal creatures. Once she’s done with them, they’re out the door hunting for hot babes, not hanging around for a too-curvy, plain Jane like her.

Her newest client is hot, hung, mouthwatering perfection. What could she possibly improve upon?

Eric Diletto. Descendant of Cupid, bred for courtship, courtesy, and all that other gentlemanly junk. What has it gotten him? Dumped time and again for bad boys. He needs Becca’s help for an entirely different reason—regression therapy to release his inner beast. Grrrr.

Two potions later, they’re crawling all over each other. Becca aches for a man who loves her as she is, not because he’s under the influence. But Eric isn’t as impaired as she thinks. And he intends to take Becca here, there, and everywhere—anything to convince her his desire isn’t just the potions talking.

Product Warnings

A witchdoctor’s nightmare. Contains potions with weird side effects, a sorceress with limited magical skills and a yearning heart, plus a minor god who wants to get down and dirty. Bad, bad boy!

Excerpt:

He gaped at the claw marks on the walls, the padded table with extensions for arms and legs with leather restraints dangling from both areas. In other words, the props for an executioner’s wet dream.

Eric circled the table. “You’re going to strap me to this?”

Becca closed the door and locked it. She heard Constance and Heather move closer immediately, their shoes tapping the floor. “It’s for your protection…and mine. It’s in the contract.” She held it up to remind him. “Page fifty-two, right above where you initialed it.”

He seemed sorry he had. “How much of my beast are you going to pull out?”

“Only a little,” she promised. “If there’s any at all.”

“There is.” He appeared offended that she kept questioning it. “There has to be. I’m a guy, all right?”

Becca wasn’t about to argue with him. He’d worn a navy tee and battered jeans that didn’t hide one muscle on his gorgeous body. She sagged against the door, needing it for support. Even his feet were luscious, nice and big, his toes long, coming right to the edges of his leather sandals.

Given that this was a weekday, he must have taken off from work because he didn’t know what to expect.

Join the club. She murmured, “What do you do?”

He stopped fingering the wrist restraints. “Do?”

“At your job.”

“Oh. I’m a financial analyst. I make sure my extended family’s investments are sound. Were you thinking of investing?”

Before he whipped out his business card, Becca shook her head. “How aggressive do financial analysts get?”

“In their recommendations?”

“While they’re at work. Once I’ve pulled out some of your inner beast…that is, if there is any to pull—”

“Haven’t I already said there is? Don’t you worry. I don’t have to be a pussycat at work.” He hooked his thumbs into his front pockets. “Let’s get started.”

A lock of hair had fallen over his forehead. The rest of those sun-kissed waves were mussed as though he’d just rolled off a woman and out of bed. He was rumpled and all male. Hotter than sin. With just a smidgen of his inner beast liberated, he’d be irresistible to every female on planet earth and beyond.

Damn him.

“Becca?”

On watery legs, she forced herself to the sink to mix her mom’s potions. “Take off your clothes.”

“What? Why?”

An image flashed in her mind of him tugging the stretchy boxers up his thighs, but only after she’d gotten a good look at his stuff. She wanted to see it again. Was that so damn bad? “Sorry, didn’t know you were modest.”

“I’m not. But I am curious.”

Becca put the bottle of cloves and apple seeds next to the Bordeaux, stalling for a good lie. At last, she had it. “I need to see the potion’s effect on every part of your body.” She turned. “All right?”

He stared at his groin. “By every part do you mean…”

“Nope. Just your skin.” She hoped.

He sighed in obvious relief and ditched his clothes, tossing them on one of the institutional chairs. Naked, unashamed and exceedingly well hung, he faced her.

The world stopped.

Slabs of firm, hard muscle draped his frame, all golden skin with no trace of a tan line. He swam or sunbathed in the nude and was more gorgeous than any Greek god Becca had read about in her literature classes.

“What now?” he asked.

“Huh?”

“What happens now?”

Not what Becca wanted, that was for sure. “Turn around.”

He frowned. “Why?”

So she’d quit seeing herself on her knees, his glorious shaft in her palms. She’d sniff it first, then his balls, finally his thick thatch of hair, needing to drown in his scent. He’d smell of the outdoors and something masculine. She’d moan. He’d smile, then push to his toes as she licked his wiry curls and tasted his crown, lapping it as she would a scoop of decadent fudge ice cream, savoring the bead of moisture glistening on the small slit. His pre-come. Already excited, he’d go over the moon with her slavish attention, his rod growing longer and harder and…

Becca stifled a needy whimper and continued to lie, “So you don’t see the secret ingredients I’m using.”

“Would I even recognize them?”

“You might.”

“Then they’re normal.”

“Define normal.”

________

*** CONTEST ALERT ***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

__________

About Tina:

(You know you want to know!):

I’m an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, and Kensington. Yay! Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised my work, and trust me, I’m forever grateful for that. I’ve had my books reach finals in the EPIC competition, one title was named Book of the Year at a review site, and others have won awards in RWA-sponsored contests. I’m actually featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Talk about feeling like a freaking star. Before my writing career, I was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company. Outside of being an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, I’ve flown a single-engine plane (scary stuff), rewired an old house using an electricity for dummies book, and have been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally whenever I’m eating anything Mexican or Italian. Yeah, I like to eat (burp).

You can check me out here – yes, I am everywhere!

FB Fanpage: http://on.fb.me/1ChWdD7

Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website: http://bit.ly/15Xy6LI

Blog: http://bit.ly/1yRB9k9

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1wFmIu6

Twitter: http://bit.ly/1ziy4IU

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1Dl8DHy

Triberr: http://bit.ly/1CE2ec7

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1yFLeMx

Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/1ChWFkO

My page at TRR: http://bit.ly/1vb7eEc

EC Author Page: http://bit.ly/1Dh9wor

Samhain Author Page: http://bit.ly/1Bvw6mL

Sweet ‘n Sexy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K

Romance Books 4 US: http://bit.ly/1JPtfeS

Teasers!!

16Jun2014

#MeetandGreetMonday with Missy Jane #GargoyleMasters #Fantasy

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, Missy Jane.

Welcome, Missy!

What goals have you set for your writing this year?
Well, I have quite a few works in progress to finish, most especially sequels to my archangel book and gargoyle book. Both of those were just released this year and I’m hoping to have the sequels out next year.

Tell us, what’s the first thought that comes to your head when you read the following words…
Wolverine … Hugh Jackman
Romeo & Juliet … Shakespeare
Candlelight … dinner
Dean Winchester … hot
Shapeshifters … werewolves

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you live, do you have a significant other, any young ones running around?
I live just north of Houston with my husband of 18 years and our four daughters. They aren’t exactly little though. I have three teenagers and a ten year old. 😉

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 came in 2008 when I submitted my shapeshifter book to Samhain Publishing. I had taken a Beginning Writers course with Judi McCoy and she gave me a very encouraging critique. When I was offered my first contract on They Call Me Death, I danced around the house with my daughters.

Did you always want to be an author?
I’ve always loved reading and enjoyed writing, but photography was really my first love. I wanted to be a freelancer photographer.

Name one quirk you have.
This one’s kind of funny: no matter how messy and disorganized my desk is at home, my desk at work is impeccable. Everything in its place every day.

What is your favorite junk food?
Anything chocolate. I’m a huge chocoholic.

What is your favorite meal that you wish you could eat at least three times a week?
Spaghetti marinara with mushrooms. Mmmm.

What do you like to do for fun and relax?
Read, of course!

What are you a collector of?
Books, shot glasses, wall masks, and anything to do with clowns (including marionettes and harlequins).

What five items do you take everywhere with you – besides cell phone, keys and purse/wallet?
Does each of my daughters count? Lol. Probably: camera, pills, wedding ring, calendar, and checkbook.

If we were to come over to your house for dinner, what dish would you make us?
Chicken fajita tacos or chili if it’s cold.

No matter the story, where do you always draw inspiration from when you begin each story?
My characters. Each one of them is unique and they each draw me into their worlds in different ways.

What book – print or e-book – is sitting on top of your to be read pile that you are eager to read?
Scarlet Devices by Delphine Dryden.

What three words best describe you?
Mom, Wife, Writer

If you were given an all-expense paid, five day/night trip to anywhere, where would you go?
Ireland.

What is your one pet peeve about the writing business?
Pirates.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
There are A LOT! Sherrilyn Kenyon, Alyssa Day, Kerrelyn Sparks, Jodi Thomas, Lynsay Sands, Stephen King, Joe Hill, Clive Barker, John Steinbeck and Shakespeare.

Who is your celebrity crush?
Henry Rollins, J. J. Watt, and Tom Hiddleston.

Who/What are you currently reading?
I just finished rereading Sherrilyn Kenyon and will probably continue rereading her Dark Hunters until I catch up to the newest release.

What do you find most challenging about writing?
Staying focused on one project at a time. I often have many characters vying for my attention.

Choosing a Title & Cover Isn’t Always Easy

Titles and covers are two things many authors have absolutely no control over. Which is a shame since those are the very first things a person looks at when picking up a book. Of course, publishers know this and do all they can to make both the title and cover unique and eye-catching. Unfortunately there are often repeats of titles across genres, and stock images on covers can make them similar to many others. I’ve had at least one book featuring a couple who are on, to this date, six other books that I’ve seen. It’s not a happy feeling. However, I will admit I’m usually forewarned about both title and cover well in advance of the book release date.

Born of Stone is a title that popped into my head while finishing up a work in progress about gargoyles. I did a quick internet search and didn’t find the exact same title on any other romance book, so I kept it. Often when I make up titles, the right one hits me and just fits. This is one I really liked. Now I’m working on more titles for this series.

As for the cover, I went through the usual process of filling out a questionnaire from Samhain’s art department about the plot and characters. They created the cover and sent it to me for approval. It was almost exactly as you see it here today, with one exception. The shoulder pads were missing. My first impression was the guy didn’t look big enough to be a gargoyle. So, they beefed up his shoulders. I’ve had a few people say it reminds them of the game Assassin’s Creed. I love it. I think the colors and the image itself are a very good representation of my hero Orestes.

Blurb:

Within a body strong as stone beats a heart ready for love.

For seventy years, Orestes and his eleven gargoyle brothers have done their duty to protect King Kadmos’ realm. There’s only one annoyance in his life—humans.

He’s content to leave them to their idol worship. Until he notices a small, frail woman serving at his table, doing her best to remain invisible. Something about her calls to him like no human before.

Astrid is terrified. Not of the powerful magical creature with kind eyes, but of the staff overseer’s lash for calling attention to herself. Instead she finds herself whisked away to paradise, where she is bathed, fed, and made love to by Orestes as if she is his reason to live. But she isn’t naïve enough to believe she is anything more than a temporary diversion.

When Orestes is called away to search for a missing brother, Astrid is kidnapped by traitors intent on using her to bend Orestes to their will. Little do they know that the connection between them is no weakness, but a strength their enemies would be fools to underestimate…

Warning: This book contains paranormal fighting, steamy sex scenes, strong-willed females, and men made of stone who prove to be soft as butter in the right hands.

Read an excerpt and buy it here: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/born-stone-p-73413.html

Here: http://www.amazon.com/Born-Stone-Gargoyle-Masters-Missy-ebook/dp/B00IBDKQIY

And here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/born-of-stone-missy-jane/1118602499?ean=9781619220232

Ms. Missy Jane is the alter ego of a married mother of four who was born and raised in Texas. A few years ago she finished reading a book by Mercedes Lackey and thought “Now, what if…” and a monster was created. Missy now spends most of her time lost in worlds of her own making, alternately loving and hating such creatures as vampires, shape-shifters and gargoyles (to name a few). When not writing, she spends her time reading, taking photos of her beautiful daughters and training her husband to believe she’s always right.

Excerpts from Missy’s paranormal and erotic tales can be found at http://www.authormissyjane.com and http://msmissyjane.blogspot.com/.

Missy can also be found online at:
https://twitter.com/msmissyjane & https://www.facebook.com/pages/Missy-Jane/208776832491620

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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?

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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.

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WEBSITE: http://www.shelleymunro.com

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