Author, author.... Keri Neal guest post

...read all about her !!

Today i'm thrilled to introduce our guest blogger :)

Keri Neal  and her newest novel Flightless

Flightless is Free and My Top Ten

Thank you Krista for having me today! In case you didn’t know, Krista won my Bonus Giveaway and the grand prize of having a main character named after her. In Flightless 2, Jade will have a new friend named Krista. I’m having fun writing her, she’s a kick.

My baby is a month old! I can't remember what one month olds can do, it's amazing how quick you forget that stuff. I'm pretty sure they can't do much, but I'm making an exception since Flightless is a paranormal book.

Flightless is free today for Kindle.

I am about halfway through writing Flightless 2, the yet-unnamed sequel to Flightless. Is it called a sequel if it is part of a trilogy? I guess that's a whole other topic. Anyhoo, I've been thinking about things and I thought I'd share:

Top Ten Things I Do Not Do (AKA, Things I Suck At)

1. Queries/Synopses
2. Being tickled
3. Come up with names and titles
4. Public speaking
5. Sauerkraut
6. Cruises (on cruise ships)
7. Remember dates
8. Paint my own nails
9. Wash dishes
10. Rollercoasters

What is on your list?

Leave it in the comments below. I’m very curious.

Book Info:

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Release date: May 29, 2013

ISBN: 1484157338

ISBN13: 9781484157336

ASIN: B00D3OUXCU

Purchase links: Kindle and Paperback

Synopsis

Pen was a Guardian, but one violent night took his wings. Ten years later he is given the opportunity to earn them back.

Jade is spellbound by the new student. Pen is quiet, but she is determined to learn more about him. When her terrifying past comes back to haunt her, Pen reveals there is much more to him than she could have ever imagined.

With his soul on the line, Pen cannot protect Jade if his feelings keep getting in the way. But with Jade’s soul on the line, he must protect her from unearthly forces who want her blood. Will the truth redeem them, or tear them apart?

 Excerpt

Pen and I are lounging under a big white umbrella. I am curled up with my head on his chest. His heartbeat is steady and slow, his breathing shallow. He is asleep. I pinch his arm playfully. “You’re going to miss it.”

He takes a deep breath and chuckles. “I’m awake. And I’ve seen my share of sunsets.”

I turn my head and rest my chin on his chest. His eyes are still closed. “You’re a grouch, you know that?”

He opens one eye and stares at me. “You know I’m going to find you. You don’t need to do this.”

My throat burns with emotion. “Yes, I do. You might not make it in time.”

Both his eyes open and stare blankly up at the umbrella. He is angry. His jaw clenches and his nostrils flare.

“It’s almost time.” I crawl up and lie down, straddling him. My blonde hair makes a curtain around us. He looks sad as he reaches up and holds my face.

“I don’t know how to say goodbye to you.”

I smile. The sun is glowing in the horizon. Its resting place comes alive with color. I see it all happen in the reflection in his eyes.

“Yes, you do.” I press my lips against his, urgently stealing every taste of him. I pull his lip through my teeth, and he groans loudly. The sound is erotic. Suddenly his hand is on the back of my head, pulling me roughly against him. His lips are not gentle anymore. They are rough and scaly, like a snake. He is hurting me. I push hard against his chest, only to realize my hands are bound. I start to cry as the sun descends into its salty grave.

Bio

Keri Neal designs book covers. Flightless is her fourth published book. She lives near Austin, Texas with her husband, two children, two hamsters and a snake. She crochets, sews, reads, paints and loves all things artsy & craftsy.    

Contact info

Blog: writingas.kerineal.com

Cover Artist: booklovers.kerineal.com

Twitter: @authorkerineal

Facebook: facebook.com/authorkerineal

Zazzle Store: http://www.zazzle.com/writingaskerineal

Author, author... Release Day Blitz !! Resisting Fate by Heather Van Fleet

.... read all about it !!!

Resisting Fate
by
Heather Van Fleet

a Young Adult
 Paranormal Romance

Available now through

Sunshine Press Books

Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Emmy O’Connell is the epitome of a hot mess.

Her boyfriend’s been shipped out of town to some boarding school four states away. Her step-douche is constantly drunk and badgering her. And then there’s her good-ole-mom… The lady is nothing more than a miserable shell of a woman. She’s turned off all of her feelings and her ability to be a good mother as well, leaving poor Emmy and her four year old brother Jamie to suffer. Life couldn’t get much worse, right?

Enter the elusive, cocky, and oh-so-broody Jack Hartman…

The jerk cousin of her boyfriend becomes Emmy’s worst nightmare…times ten. He’s cruel. He’s insensitive. But he also has this strange little ability over her – he makes her weak in the knees with thea single touch. No matter how miserable or amazing Jack makes her feel, Emmy can’t seem to deny him, especially when he takes on the role of her protector –her pseudo-knight in a black leather coat.

A knight who also happens to ride in on his black Harley, instead of a white horse…

And to make a bad situation worse…

Werewolves and teens shouldn’t mix! But what can Emmy do when she finds herself thrown head first into the center of it all. Can she handle the supernatural mess her life rapidly becomes or will she fight against the inevitable fate her heart desires?

Excerpt:

“That smart mouth doesn’t sit well with me,” he licked his lips. His eyes never wavered from mine.

 I nibbled on my lower lip, just as a small smile graced the edges of my mouth. Oh yeah, my bravado was about ready to kick some ass. I think I kind of liked being a smart ass.

“What are you going to do about it Jack?” I inhaled a breath, taking in his warm, delicious scent. My throat went even drier

than before. I practically stared holes into his face as I studied every tiny mark, every single scar on his perfectly flawed skin. He was gorgeous, with a little scar here, a little white patch there. His hotness could have left me breathless for days if I kept up my perusal any longer.

And then I blinked, Christ. I knew exactly what had to be done. I had to kiss him. I had to get this itch scratched and then I had to move on. His eyes darkened, his breath was warm and heavy over my face, and he licked his lips. I blinked. Holy-balls… He wanted to kiss me too.

That ever-present electricity running between us wouldn’t stop. If anything, it only increased our pull. I moved in; his lips touching my lips was all I wanted. I needed to feel again, feel it all with a boy who hated me, but apparently wanted to kiss me as badly.

 Dryness on dryness soon changed to warmth on warmth, and when I pressed my mouth fully to his, his hands left my neck, and went to my waist. His fingernails dug into my sides and the son of a bitch pushed me away from him.

So there I was, my head tilted to the side, ready, willing, and able to do whatever the hell this moment led us too, and all he could do was chuckle. Yes. Chuckle. He was the biggest rat bastard.

Ever.

Buy Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Resisting-Fate-Predetermined-ebook/dp/B00DNTHLA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372369691&sr=8-1&keywords=resisting+fate

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/resisting-fate-heather-van-fleet/1115861990?ean=2940016481982

http://sunshinepressbooks.com/shop/resisting-fate-by-heather-van-fleet/

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/330685

Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lXGw0OhJBQ

Author Bio:

Heather Van Fleet currently resides in northern Illinois, with her three little ladies, Kelsey, Emma, and Isabella, and her fabulous hubby (and high school sweetheart) Chris, with whom she’s been blissfully married to now for ten years. She’s a stay at home mom by day, and an avid and completely obsessive writer and reader by night.

Heather always had a soft spot in her heart for books, and she’s been creating her own little stories since she was a seven year old. But she never really had the confidence or the time to actually sit down and really do something about it, until her youngest daughter was born just two years ago.

Resisting Fate, book one in her Predetermined series, is her young adult, paranormal baby! It’s packed full of wolves…witches…and one sassy little red-headed teenage girl! She had an absolute blast writing it, and can’t wait to share it with the world!

Website  / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Giveaway !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author, author.... Winter Austin ~ The Degrees of Darkness Series & Giveaway

...read all about it !!

So excited to introduce Winter Austin.  Welcome Winter, so great to have you here with us.  Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a military wife (hopefully soon the wife of a teacher) and the mother of 4. A pet wrangler, a taxi cab driver, 4-H parent, and full-time author with a crazy penchant for baking. In my family I’m the weird writer you need to steer clear of lest you become the next character who meets their demise in some deadly fashion, but my crazy family members don’t run away. J In fact they all gravitate toward me, because I picked up on the great storytelling abilities that my grandmother’s family is known for.

Do real life events find their way into your stories?

Not usually. I write romantic thrillers and I’d be freaked out if some of the things I wrote in my books actually happened in my life. But I do steal dialogue lines from my husband and some of the people around me.

Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?

Little things like comments or gestures from family and friends tend to work their way into most of my characters. But no one person would be able to see themselves in any of my characters. Though my husband is somewhat the inspiration for a secondary character in my series, which tickles him.

I have warned people not to tick me off. LOL! Pays to be a thriller/suspense author. You can throw that comment around the: “if you irk me I’ll kill you off in my book.” *snicker*

Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?

I’m an action junkie, so a lot of the times I fuel my imagination with thriller novels, movies, or intense romantic suspense novels. Cop shows like Castle have been a good source for picking up a plot point I could run with. Real life crime stories have been a huge source of inspiration, and right now I’m working on the 4^th book in my Degrees of Darkness series and the plot is practically ripped from the headlines, but with my twist to it.

When do you write?  Early morning? During the day sometime or all day?  After the kids go to bed?

Most of my mornings are eaten up with getting my family going, and then prepping for the rest of the day, ie meals and errands. If the writing is going strong I will write in the morning. But mostly I sit down around noon or after and get to writing. Sometimes I’ll write in the evenings if nothing is going on with the family.

How do you feel about marketing your book?

I’ll admit if I didn’t have the agent I do I wouldn’t know the first thing about doing this properly. Marketing is hard, but with the right tools you can make it successful. I’m finding the tips and help from my agent helped me build my platform before I was even published. Now that I am, it’s building readership and readers love to communicate with you via Twitter and Facebook.

What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?

Twitter and Facebook. Everyone uses those 2 social media outlets. For authors, each of those needs to have a separate feel. I use my Twitter for announcing reviews and links to my books or special events. My Facebook page is where I interact more with the readers. On occasion I’ll be seen communicating with followers on Twitter, but I prefer Facebook for that. Feels more personal.

Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in?

For my Degrees of Darkness series, I already had the first 2 books written and half of the third one done and a hook line for book 4. My publisher Crimson Romance picked up the series with a proposal and the knowledge that 2 of the books were done. I’ve found it does make it easier if the book is completed because most publishers are looking to publish as soon as they can, and the less time they have to wait on the book to be completed, the happier they are. And like I said I have an awesome agent to help with proposals, so I just do the hard work—can we say ick on the synopsis writing—and she runs with the rest.

Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing?  If so, what is it?

I’m actually pretty happy writing in the genre I’m in: Romantic Thriller. And I did self-publish an Urban-Fantasy, I would like to expand on that a bit more. It does have my brand of thriller/suspense elements in it.

Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?

No. But I will admit, I will “act” out the dialogue scenes between the Hero and Heroine in order to hear what they’re really saying. Ahem, and no one is around when I do this. J

Just for fun, I have a few personal questions, 

Favorite 5

1)   Favorite Male Actor  - Tom Selleck

2)  Favorite vehicle – ’69 Ford Mustang—red or black

3)  Favorite way to relax – Reading or baking

4)  Favorite ice cream – Homemade with whole milk, Vanilla

5)  Favorite outfit – Anything I can wear my cowboy boots with.

And for a bonus:  If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be?  (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)

Oh, do I have to choose one? First, I’d probably live in Louisiana for a few years, then move to France, after that—if my husband could convince me to do so—live in Germany for a while. I’d love to connect with my long-buried French roots, despite what my family thinks. J

Where can our readers find you?? 

Email: author.winteraustin@gmail.com

Twitter: @WinterAustin_

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/w.austin.degressofdarkness

Website/blog: http://www.winteraustin.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/winteraustin/

Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/winteraustin

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6880807.Winter_Austin

TRR: http://www.theromancereviews.com/mypageprofile.php?location=authorwinteraustin

Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?

Book 1 of The Degrees of Darkness Series—Relentless

“RELENTLESS is an intensely suspenseful book that will have you turning the pages wanting to know who the killer is, as well as find out who Remy really is and what is he running from.”–The Romance Reviews

“Winter Austin takes you on a chase to find the Rodeo Sweetheart Killer before it is too late. Once the killer is discovered, you'll be in shock like I was who it actually was. Be prepared for twists and turns in "Relentless" and once you do read "Relentless" you'll understand why it was named that title exactly.”—Book Lovin’ Mamas

Relentless is available now @  Crimson Romance:  Amazon:  Barnes and Noble:  Kobo: 

Book 2 of The Degrees of Darkness Series—Retribution currently released

Blurb

Called to the homicide of a Dallas criminal lawyer, Detective Remy LeBeau stares at a scene that drags him back into his past. To another murdered lawyer in New Orleans. A case that put Remy on a collision course with death.

Cody Lewis struggles with the horrific memories of her kidnapping and the need to numb the pain. The battle she puts up causes her to avoid Remy and their undetermined relationship. But the flashbacks and nightmares are proving more potent than Cody thought and she’s having a harder time resisting the cravings for alcohol.

As the case takes a turn in revealing a professional assassin is behind the death, Remy begins to make decisions that could cost him his job and Cody. Because the deeper he sinks, the closer the enemies of his past come to finding him.

“RETRIBUTION keeps a rapid pace with turn of events that kept me at the edge of my seat. It was a wild journey with unexpected events and new characters that will make the upcoming books even more intense.”—The Romance Reviews

Retribution is available @   Crimson Romance:   Amazon:    Kobo:

Rafflecopter Giveaway (Two Digital Copies of RETRIBUTION & $5.00 Amazon GC)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link to Follow the Entire Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/05/now-booking-tasty-virtual-book-tour-for_11.html

Author, author... Grading on Curves ~ Tasty Book Blurb

...read all about it !!

Grading on Curves

By: Tara Mills

Blurb

One-on-one instruction never felt so right—or so wrong.

There’s nothing unusual about Mia Page’s attraction to the young science teacher at the middle school. After all, she’s not the only one who finds him enticing. But when he pulls her son aside to ask for her phone number, she knows she’s in serious trouble. Since her divorce four years earlier, she’s been out of circulation, choosing to focus on parenting instead, and she’s not entirely sure she can handle an entanglement with the sexy Mr. Walden.

There are also other reasons why getting involved with Curt would be a bad idea. He’s two years shy of thirty, and she’s on the downside of that unmentionable number. He’s adamant about never having kids, and she has a son. Even the guy’s romantic gifts are suspect. Energy saving light bulbs? He has to be kidding.

On the other hand, he’s fun, sweet, and smart. He stimulates her intellectually, emotionally, and Lord help her, physically, opening her eyes to life outside her comfortable world. Yet their differences quietly gnaw at Mia even while she succumbs to their undeniable chemistry.

As their romance deepens, so do Mia’s fears that Curt will eventually hurt her. On edge, all it takes is an innocent comment to provoke her into drawing first blood. Mia recklessly wounds Curt, learning only too late that this blade cuts both ways. Frantic to make amends, she fears it might be too late to admit the feelings she’s tried so hard to suppress.

Content Warning: contains sensual sex

Read the First Chapter Here: http://www.taramillsromance.com/grading-on-curves.html

Available now at Beachwalk Press, Amazon, 

Amazon UK, and Barnes & Noble,

Author Info

I write stories I like to read -- contemporary romances with identifiable characters and themes. Life is hard, love makes it bearable. If you like stories with heart, heat, and humor, I have a title for you.

In the real world I'm a pampered wife, lucky mom to three amazing sons and one wonderful daughter-in-law, and I just became a very young grandma. I should probably underline the word very. Oh heck, why not the word young too? Nah, you get the point. I'm also the daily monitor of one naughty dog with an attitude.

Author Links

Visit Tara Mills Romance or find me on Facebook

Giveaway (Two Digital Copies of GRADING ON CURVES)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link to follow the entire tour here : http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/03/now-booking-tasty-blurb-tour-for_2550.html

Author, author.... Cover Reveal

... read all about it !!

The Melody In My Head

 Love and Music in Texas, Book Two

 by 

Nikki Lynn Barrett

 Blurb:   

Welcome back to Harmony's Echo, Texas.....

Melody Roland is on the run from the one person she trusted completely. One who hid a dark past she could never have imagined. When a pregnant woman on the bus she's fleeing on goes into labor, Melody rushes to her aide. Now she finds herself stranded in a tiny remote town just off the highway, with no way to her original destination. 

She's alone, on edge, and unsure who to trust. Her instincts scream to get far away and fast. But how and where?

Jameson Grant struggles through the roughest year of his life. Suffering from the loss of his father, one grief stricken night, he made a mistake. One which cost him the only woman he's ever loved. Each lonely day he's faced with the constant reminders of how quick things can change. Throwing himself into the one thing he has left, his music, helps dull the pain he fights to keep hidden. His last salvation begins to crumble as things spiral out of control and he has no choice but to face the 'music' of his past. 

The last thing he needs or wants in his life is a woman with more trouble on her heels than the best of country music lyrics. But Melody sings a sirens call within him that can't be ignored.

Jameson and Melody bond in ways stronger than either could have imagined, but one dangerous person from her past may threaten it all...

If she doesn't flee before he can convince her to stay, and that some love songs last an eternity.

 Excerpt

Jameson set the bag on the table and followed the sound. Not only was she playing the guitar, but she was singing, too. She sat on the stool in the middle of the garage, wearing a white half sleeved shirt that showed enough skin to drive him crazy. She had her legs crossed and her hands gracefully strummed the strings.   

            She was beautiful. She seemed at ease, her eyelids half shut as she played her heart  out with the song. Jameson made sure to stay out of sight. She hadn't caught on that he was there yet, and if he made her aware of his presence, she might stop. He wanted to hear more.  Good God, her hands on his guitar, he wanted those hands back on him.

            She finished the song. Jameson had to catch his breath before popping in, clapping and grinning. She practically jumped from the stool and she put that guitar down quick.  “That was beautiful. I didn't realize you played!”

            “Oh! Jameson, you startled me. I'm sorry, I had no idea you were home already. I couldn't help but pick up the guitar..I just, I felt compelled.” She was blabbering and apologizing for nothing. Jameson crossed the room, closing the distance between them and gathered her in his arms.

            “Melody, why would you apologize? You keep doing that, and I can't understand why.” Jameson kissed her forehead, then threaded his fingers through her hair. She looked up at him with wide eyes.  “I'm not mad at you, angel. I loved what you were playing.” He dipped his head and took her lips again, nibbling on the bottom one. When he pulled away, he smiled. “ Not to mention how hot it was to watch your hands move on my guitar. It made me think of a not to distant morning when your hands were doing something else.”

            That got her to laugh as she leaned against him. “You crack me up, you know. Thank you for the beautiful flowers and the card.”

            “You're welcome.  I just wanted to let you know how much I was thinking about you. I can't stop. You're in my head. I've got Melody in my head. Hey, that's a good song title. The Melody in My head.”

            She blushed and ducked away, but Jameson pulled her closer to him. “I love it when you blush. It's sexy.” 

            “You are determined to get me all flustered, aren't you?” She questioned with a smile.

            Jameson shrugged, playing coy. “It's working quite well, I'd say. My master plan to woo and seduce you is playing out just fine.”

            She raised a brow at him. “Oh, is that what it's all about?” Melody backed out of his arms and wagged a finger at him. “I should have known. You want me for my skills. I think I'll be taking them and going now...” She slowly backed away, watching him with a mischievous grin as her eyes lit up.

            Jameson caught her at the door, pinning her to the wall. “ You didn't get very far, did you?” He lowered his head, ready to devour her again. He teased her neck with kisses until she moaned. “Looks like I won this round.”

                “You're evil.”

Fun Facts about The Melody in My Head,

 and the Love and Music in Texas Book series

1.    Jameson's character wasn't originally going to be a good guy.  (I know, I know...what was I thinking?) As I wrote Baby Stetson, he surprised me and grew on me. I loved him so much, I had to give him his own story and HEA.

               

  2.  Melody's character actually had a part in another book. I had her backstory and plot figured out a  long time ago, I just had no idea I'd pair her with Jameson and send her to Harmony's Echo, Texas. But it worked out so well! Love it when I can combine story ideas!

 3.    The song lyrics I incorporate in the story are mine. I am a lyric writer, and so I fit some of my own songs in the story as I see fit. :)

4.    Book Three will feature Jameson's sister, Blaine, and the keyboardist for Baby Stetson Randy. I started thinking about them while writing The Melody in My Head. That story should come out 2014.

From now until the end of July, Baby Stetson, the first in the Love and Music in Texas series, is 

discounted to just $.99.  You'll meet Jameson in this book, and then you can get his story when The Melody in My Head comes out. 

Baby Stetson Blurb:

In small Texas towns, strangers come and go...

Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she's never lacked for love...only the knowledge of her past.

By day she works the Inn, but by night...Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good...stable, until new guests blew into town.

Some strangers come with secrets and lies

Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn't matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony's Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery.

Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery's ignited within, he's intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn't want Avery to know.

Each time they're near the other things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie.

But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start.

Add this book to your goodreads list!

  

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17341981-baby-stetson

BUY LINKS:

Amazon     Barnes & Noble       Kobo

Other books by Nikki Lynn Barrett

The Secret Santa Wishing Well

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16159845-the-secret-santa-wishing-well

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She's an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing books in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade. The Secret Santa Wishing Well is her debut book. You can visit Nikki's site at: www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com for more information. She is working on her next book. Nikki would love to hear from readers. Email her at nikkilynnbarrett@yahoo.com

www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583655.Nikki_Lynn_Barrett

https://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor

@Stormgoddess925 on Twitter