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Guest Author: Jenna Bayley-Burke & Giveaway!

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Do you like contemporary romance that’s sexy, funny, and still has a lot of warmth?  Then you’ll love my featured author today.  She’s Jenna Bayley-Burke, and she writes for Mills & Boon and Samhain Publishing.

Jenna’s first book was Just One Spark, which according to Cataromance is a “romantic sizzler which is packed with passionate love scenes, delicious humor, and exhilarating romance!”

Sounds like my kind of book!  Cooking Up A Storm followed, along with several single title romances from Samhain.  All of Jenna’s books got great reviews, emphasizing her smart, sexy writing, appealing characters, and humorous elements.  Here’s what what RT Book Reviews had to say about Jenna’s bestselling romance, Compromising Positions:

“This thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy has likable characters and a smart, spitfire heroine…Bayley-Burke delivers a really fun read.”

Luckily for her readers, Jenna has two new books out right now.  The first is an e-book called For Kicks.

Here’s the book blurb:

Breeze Cohen senses something is missing from her life, but her career doesn’t leave time for anything but retail business strategy—particularly the upcoming product launch for her cornerstone client, Nitrous.

No way is she going to let live-for-the-moment Logan Chandler tarnish her professional reputation. Even if the ex-athlete poster boy for Nitrous makes her heart pound like she’s run a marathon.

After surviving a near-fatal accident, Logan doesn’t want to waste a minute of life. It’s meant to be lived, ravished, enjoyed—and there’s no one he’d like to ravish more than Breeze. There’s a deep pool of mutual desire beneath her icy façade. He can feel it every time they touch.

When a training snafu at Nitrous launches Breeze into damage control, Logan is ready and waiting to lace up and take her for a run on the wilder side—if he can catch her.

Warning: Side effects may include a desire to melt chocolate with body heat, spontaneous phone sex, and an intense drive to find loopholes in your workplace fraternization policy.

Romance Divas calls this book: “a little spicy, a little sweet, and very fulfilling.”

Jenna’s other book is Private Scandal, which is out in print.

This book got 4-1/2 stars from RT Book Reviews, who called it “as juicy as a soap opera and more fun than a day at the beach!”

Here’s the blurb for Private Scandal:

Three months ago, Megan Carlton had the world on a string. That was before the man she loved took over her family’s hotel business and wiped out a family fortune it had taken generations to build. And before she caught him kissing another woman.

Her only solace: the secrecy of their affair saved the family from public scandal, and kept her embarrassment private. Meanwhile, with a mountain of self-confidence to rebuild, she trades her Manolos and late-night parties for coffee-stained sneakers and early morning barista shifts.

Brandon Knight had everything he ever wanted—then the woman of his dreams disappeared without one word of explanation. When he finds Megan serving coffee, he wonders if the socialite is suffering from amnesia. A hot venti to the chest proves she recognizes him. But she’s got the situation—and him—all wrong. All he has to do now is prove it.

That sounds like total fun, doesn’t it?  You can visit Jenna’s website to read more reviews, and to find out all about her books.  She’s got excerpts too, so be sure to check those out.

For my readers today, Jenna is giving away a copy of Private Scandal (I really want to read this one!).  To be eligible to win, just leave a comment.  Since Jenna’s heroine in this book is a barista, let’s talk coffee.  What’s your favorite coffee drink?  Do you like a mocha latte, a soy latte, or just a plain old cup of coffee?  Or maybe you prefer tea?  Whatever, let us know what’s your choice of hot beverage.  One person who comments will win a copy of Jenna’s book.

Guest Author: Heather Snow & Giveaway!

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One of the best things about reading romance is the opportunity to discover debut authors–writers who bring something fresh to the game, and who take some of those tired old tropes and stand them on end.  I have one such debut author featured on the blog today:  historical romance writer Heather Snow.

Heather, interestingly enough, has a degree in Chemistry, but she discovered she much prefers creating chemistry on the page rather than in the lab.  I love that!  She also says it’s a challenge to wrangle her left and right brain to work together, but she fortunately loves challenges…she just goes about solving them analytically.  Well, the results of her experiments in developing chemistry between her hero and heroine have certainly paid off in her debut book, Sweet Enemy.

Heather’s book has only been out for a few weeks, but it’s already garnered an impressive list of reviews, including this one from BookPage:

“Sweet Enemy pairs a strong, independent heroine with a compassionate, politically active hero. The heroine’s unique knowledge of chemistry provides for some interesting twists, which combine with a solid plot, well-developed characters and deftly drawn setting to make an excellent first novel. Readers will be delighted to add Ms. Snow to their list of must-read authors.”

And how about this one from The Book Reading Gals?

“Whenever I read a debut book from an author I go into it a bit excited and a little hopeful that I will have found a new favorite, only to be disappointed too many times to count when it did not quite hit the spot for me. Well I am happy to say this is not one of those times! I picked up Sweet Enemy and at first thought it sounded a little familiar but that feeling ended after page 3, the next thing I know I am almost done with the book, could not put it down!”

Here’s the book blurb for Sweet Enemy:

Geoffrey Wentworth, a war hero and rising political star, never wanted to be the Earl, but when his brother dies, he knows his duty—take up the responsibility for his family’s estates.  His mother’s definition of duty differs from his, however, and can be summed up in one word—heirs.  When Geoffrey rushes home to answer her urgent summons, he finds himself host to a house full of women, all vying to become the next Countess of Stratford.  But his love is Parliament, where he wields his influence and reputation to better the lives of ex-soldiers, until a tempting houseguest and a secret from his past threaten his freedom…and his heart.

Liliana Claremont, a brilliant chemist, doesn’t want to be any man’s wife, much less a countess.  If she had tuppence for every time she’d been told her place was filling the nursery, not experimenting in the laboratory, she could buy the Tower Bridge.  However, when she receives a coveted invitation to the Earl’s house party, she trades in her beakers for ball gowns and gladly takes on the guise of husband hunter—for the chance to uncover what the Earl had to do with the murder of her father.

Liliana believes the best way to get the answers she needs is to keep her enemy close, though romance is not part of her formula.  But it only takes one kiss to start a reaction she can’t control…

Doesn’t that sound fabulous?  I love the fact that Heather’s heroine is a chemist!  To read an excerpt of Sweet Enemy just hop on over to Heather’s website, where you can also watch her book trailer.  While you’re there, be sure to check out the other stops on her blog tour.  Heather is a lovely person, and I think you’ll enjoy spending time with her!

For my readers today, Heather is giving away a copy of Sweet Enemy.  After watching the conclusion of Downton Abbey last night, I’m definitely in the mood to talk about historical clothing.  Didn’t you just love the outfits on the women of Downton?  So, tell me what your favorite period is for clothing–one person who comments will win a copy of Sweet Enemy.

 

Winners & Contests!

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The winner of Lex Valentine’s book, Kissing Joan Collins, is Yvette, and the winner of Jody Wallace’s book, Pack and Coven, is donna ann.  Congratulations, ladies!  I’ll be in touch.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by the blog.  My guests next week will be historical romance author Heather Snow, contemporary romance author Jenna Bayley-Burke, and romance/thriller writer Leslie Langtry.  You won’t want to miss any of them!

And don’t forget I’m running a fabulous contest with a group of truly terrific authors.  Elise Rome, Shana Galen, Lila DiPasqua, and Heather Snow are joining me in giving away the ENTIRE, signed backlists of some of your favorite authors.  I’m giving away the fabulous Cynthia Eden’s backlist – Cynthia writes very sexy paranormal romance and romantic suspense.  She’s one of my personal favorites, and if you haven’t read her books you’re in for an incredible treat.

The other backlists will be from the following authors:  Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Hoyt, Julie Garwood.

Okay, so what do you have to do to enter this contest?  Elise, Shana, Lila, Heather, and I are running a special facebook application on our individual pages where you can enter to win the complete, signed backlists from the amazing authors I’ve listed above.  For those of you who are already following me on facebook, just check out the Indulge in Our Favorite Authors tab on my facebook page sidebar to complete your entry.

Again, all you need to do is hop onto Facebook and follow the authors who want to give away these books:  Elise Rome, Shana Galen, Lila DiPasqua, Heather Snow.  And moi, of course!  Again, if you’re already following me, you just have to complete the very quick and easy application – click on the Indulge Our Favorite Authors tab in my sidebar to do that.

Please note, you must follow and enter on each of the five Facebook pages to be eligible to win each backlist. The giveaway will run till the end of February, when we will then select the winners. Even better, this contest is open to US and international residents! All books will be in English as print books; if any books in the backlists are currently our of print, used books will be purchased for those titles so that the backlist will be complete

Those are the rules! Tell your friends, tell your family, tell any fellow romance fan you know. And get out there and start liking those pages!

Guest Author: Jody Wallace & Giveaway!

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I’m very pleased to have multi-published romance author Jody Wallace guest blogging with me today.  Jody writes in several genres for Samhain Publishing and Carina Press, and most of her books have what she calls a “fantastical bent.”  Jody has a new book coming out this month called Pack and Coven, and it’s a paranormal romance.  I’d like to hear more about it, so take it away, Jody!

The Same but Different, or Different but the Same?

Let’s talk about werewolves in romance fiction. Certainly werewolves didn’t start out as hero or heroine material. Poor, unfortunate souls savaged by other werewolves and condemned to terrorize the neighborhood during the full moon, this guy was not the one you wanted leaving his boots under your bed. Or his pelt.

It wasn’t until the paranormal romance genre increased in popularity in the late 1980′s and early 1990′s that wolves and their kin began appearing as desirable lovers. They often came packaged with loyalty, mate bonds, the ability to transform their lovers into wolves, pack politics, and enhanced, ah, abilities. You know…strength and eyesight and hearing. That’s all I’m talking about!

One might even say that in 2012, werewolves, along with vampires and other supernaturals, have become ubiquitous. The classic romantic triangle lends itself so perfectly to the paranormal genre that you’ll probably find more triangles with a vampire, a werewolf and some lucky lady (and do they walk into a bar??) than three regular humans. This is, of course, when the triangle is a standard triangle and not a threesome of hair, teeth and hijinks.

And male werewolves? Down, boy. Are they ever alpha! Some paranormal romances and urban fantasies portray werewolves as existing in a structure somewhat like actual wolves, with an alpha male and an alpha female at the head of the pack, while others take different paths. However, I don’t think I’ve read any werewolf romances in which there were no alphas, particularly those romance staples, the alpha males.

It’s an excuse to write an alpha male so alpha he’s actually Alpha instead of just a Duke who’s used to getting his way, know what I mean?

So why write another paranormal romance with werewolf characters? What have I done in Pack and Coven that’s the same but different, and different but the same? For one, there are no vampires in Pack and Coven. Instead, I’ve got witches who use organically-based magic. For two, no triangles…unless you mean the scrumptious shape of a slice of pie. For three, our hero Harry might be an alpha genetically, but no WAY does he want to be in charge of some whiny pack of quarrelsome shifters. For four–see, I promised, no triangles–our heroine June is the plot instigator in the beginning, rushing in on her white horse, which looks an awful lot like a Smart car, to save her friend Harry when the local pack tries to conscript him.

So hopefully those and other aspects of Pack and Coven will be different enough to set my werewolf and witch tale apart, while being familiar enough to interest paranormal romance readers. Maybe even Regency readers! Hey, an author can dream.

Thank you, Vanessa, for inviting me to your cyber-house today. You must all be sure to check next week at my blog when Vanessa is going to be interviewed by Meankitty (the alpha of the Wallace household), and then Meankitty, who took a liking to Vanessa despite her catless state, is going to “fix” one of Vanessa’s books and covers with a spot of cattification.

Vanessa, here.  Jody, thanks for the fantastic post!  I must admit to being a little nervous about my interview with Meankitty, though.  I hope she takes pity on me!  Meanwhile, here’s the blurb for Pack and Coven:

Harry Smith is a lone wolf, and he likes it that way. When he’s targeted to be co-alpha of the local pack, there is only one thing he can do to maintain his freedom: flee. But it’ll take a miracle to stay a step ahead of shifters in their own territory.

June Travis has been in love with Harry for years, but he doesn’t know her real identity. He sees her as the sweet owner of the local tearoom—the facade June presents to humans and werewolves to keep them from finding out she’s a witch. She may not be able to offer Harry a miracle, but she can help him escape.

Harry is drawn to this new side of June, and not just because he’s grateful for her help. With her magic temporarily hiding Harry from his pursuers, the witch and the wolf explore their mutual attraction. But there are consequences for witches who bed down with wolves…

For more info on Jody’s books, check out her website.  You might also want to stop by her blog and see what’s happening with Meankitty!

For my readers today, Jody will be giving away a copy of Pack and Coven.  Let’s talk paranormal heroes, to continue the theme of Jody’s post.  Who’s your favorite alpha paranormal guy from books, TV, or movies?  One person who comments will win a copy of Jody’s book.

Guest Author: Lex Valentine & Giveaway!

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I have the perfect guest blogger for the day after Valentine’s Day – erotic romance author Lex Valentine.  Lex is an award winning, multi-published author, a member of Romance Writers of America, and she’s also active in several RWA chapters including her local OCC chapter. Her publishers include: Ellora’s Cave, Pink Petal Books, MLR Press, Liquid Silver Books and Cobblestone Press. She is published in both ebook and print.

I asked Lex to write a special Valentine’s blog for today and she’s done just that, with an interesting story about how her latest book took an unexpected twist.

For an author with a name like Valentine, you’d think I’d do something special for Valentine’s Day. Well, this year, I did. I wrote my first ever Valentine’s love story. Originally, I’d planned for a story of two people who meet in college and became friends. The girl is pretty and popular and the guy is a big lumbering bear who stumbles over his own feet. After years of them each thinking they weren’t the other’s type, the girl does something outrageous on Valentine’s Day in an effort to see if there’s any chance for her at all with this guy.

Now, me being me, the person for whom nothing ever works out as planned, of course this book did not turn out the way it should have. Did it follow the plot I outlined? Er, pretty much. But the girl refused to stay a girl. And thus, Kissing Joan Collins was born.

You don’t have to be a reader of gay romances to read this blog post. It’s not exactly about the Valentine’s Day romance I wrote. It’s more about how my writing process and two incorrigible characters sabotaged my plot. You see, sometimes there are forces at work that even an author cannot turn to her will.

Kissing Joan Collins was a working title. It was about the plot device and I figured at some point in the writing, the real title would come to me. It never did because the story took on a life of its own the instant I stopped trying to make it a contemporary het romance.

I had my plot written down. I had my characters written down. I had my main scenes mapped out in my head. But the scenes wouldn’t commit themselves to paper. I sat and stared at the blank Word screen night after night. Finally, one Saturday, I stopped struggling with this story and took a nap. While I slept, I dreamed. In the dream one of the key scenes came to life.

Logan Moore (the stumble over his feet hero) comes home and hears someone in his bathroom. Then he remembers his best friend Chase is there visiting. He has a moment of heart stopping fantasy about Chase and then the bathroom door opens and something more than a fantasy comes out. It’s Chase dressed as Joan Collins in Dynasty. For the space of several heartbeats, Logan can’t think who the woman is except that the costume is amazing. A skin tight dress that lovingly cups the butt cheeks of the woman before him, a woman who turns her back to him and obligingly bends over to grab her ankles, showing off the perfection of her ass and thighs.

I bolted awake because in my dream Chase is not a woman, but a man.

The story pretty much wrote itself after I made the change. It literally flew from my fingertips. Chase became, as Logan describes him, the most perfect gay man ever. He’s beautiful, masculine, athletic, popular and confident. Everything that Logan is not. Logan takes one look at him and can’t look away. He stares like a deer caught in headlights. His stare does not go unnoticed. Chase catches him staring and the two begin a friendship that leads to them being college roommates and best friends for a dozen years.

For Chase, Logan is everything he ever dreamed of. He’s tall (6’4”) and although he’s a little clumsy as a freshman, he grows out of that. He’s smart and funny and completely unaware of his charm and beauty. He has no idea that on the day they met, when Chase found him staring, that his sweet, guileless personality turned Chase into a babbling idiot who fell in love for the first and last time in his life. I sure didn’t see this part of the plot in this exact way when I first wrote it and Chase was a girl!

For twelve years, the two of them continue as best friends, each hiding from the other how they really feel. Chase never has a serious relationship and Logan dreads the day his friend falls in love. In Logan’s case, he has a series of failed relationships with men who cheat on him, never knowing that Chase longs to show him what it would be like to be with someone who worships the ground he walks on.  In the original incarnation of my plot, Logan is the one who never has a serious relationship and Chase is the one with the failed relationships. I actually like it better that the character who is seen as most confident, really isn’t.

Finally, when the two have been separated for a year because Chase moved away for work, Logan confesses to his brother that he’s always loved Chase.  His brother, who’s known for twelve years that Chase loves Logan, helps set up a Valentine’s Day Logan will never forget. The original plot had Chase asking Logan’s twin siblings for assistance and they’re reluctant because they think Chase is going to break their brother’s heart. This version is funnier because Jeremy and Julia (the twins) are actually pretty snarky about these two finally getting their butts in gear and getting together.

Logan’s sister has a Valentine’s Day masquerade party where the theme is couples. Chase, deciding he needs to shake Logan out of his comfort zone, buys a dress and plans to go to the party as Joan Collins. In the skin tight dress, Chase sets Logan’s libido on fire. Logan can’t stop looking at him and neither can anyone else. Every man who ogles Chase’s behind in the dress comes up against Logan’s primal growls of possession. In the original version, this wasn’t nearly as amusing.

The two end up back at Logan’s condo confessing their love for each other. Chase has arranged for a Valentine’s Day surprise of champagne, chocolates, roses and a ring box. He’s determined to make Logan his forever. A night of incredible passion, punctuated by confessions and explanations, ensues. The original plot grated on me a little because Chase the girl just never seemed like she’d do the whole romance thing.

Logan is shocked by the depth of love Chase shows him. The man he thought was only out for a good time turns out to be a man who wouldn’t compromise. All Chase’s years without a relationship were because the only man he wanted a relationship with didn’t want him. Chase shows Logan that beneath his handsome outgoing exterior is a man who will beg and plead for Logan to love him in return. See, in the original plot this was all turned around and Logan’s the begger which worked but not nearly as well as it works to have the most perfect gay man ever be the one whose confidence is shot to hell.

In the morning, Logan awakens with doubts based on his own feelings of inadequacy around Chase. He goes for a run, leaving Chase sleeping. When he returns, he faces a Chase he’s never seen before, a man pale faced and frightened of losing the only man he’s ever loved. The M/F version of the plot was just happy happy joy joy. This whole angst angle was missing. I just slapped the HEA on it and called it a novella. The end result, even though it’s no longer M/F, is much more satisfying to me. I wanted a memorable Valentine’s Day story and boy, is it!

Of course they work things out. Of course there’s some snarky humor. But the bottom line of the story is that sometimes things aren’t what they seem and sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone in order to reap amazing rewards. I know it felt as if I stepped out of my writer’s comfort zone with this story even though I have written gay rom before.

Normally, I don’t do much snark and I’ve never had a cross dresser in any of my stories. I’m not sure why this story decided to be a gay rom, but as my first Valentine’s Day story, I’m not unhappy with the love story itself. It’s a feel good love story, a true Valentine’s Day treat. But it sure wouldn’t write itself when the woman in the Joan Collins outfit was a woman. And honestly, I don’t think it matters whether this is a gay romance or a het romance. After all, love is love, isn’t it?

Vanessa, here.  Thanks, Lex, for sharing your Valentine’s story with us.  And, yes.  Love is love, and that is truly the message of Valentine’s Day.  Readers, you can check out all of Lex’s books on her website, and also be sure to pop over to her blog.

For my readers today, Lex will be giving away one of her books.  Just tell me about your favorite Valentine’s Day experience – a personal one that happened to you or someone close to you.  One person will win a copy of one of Lex’s sexy books!