Did you know that September is Be Kind to Authors (and Editors) month? Okay, I’ll concede its probably a little known holiday to anyone outside of publishing, but its been around for a few years, I promise.
At the risk of sounding greedy, I want to talk about something you, the reader, can do for authors. Or rather, something MORE. Because the fact that you read and enjoy our books is a special gift all on its own! But let’s also talk about the dreaded R (at least for authors). REVIEWS.
I didn’t realize until I published just how important reviews were. As a reader, I never gave them a second thought. Had barely even read any. Turns out, not all readers work that way. Especially not readers looking for a new author—they want to know what an author does well, and not so well. Reader reviews give them clues as to whether this book will work for them.
Having lots of reviews does help authors sell books. It helps them garner new readers, and allows authors to apply for ad space with certain companies. Guess what? Those reviews can (and should) only come from readers like you! Every review, regardless of whether its 1 or 5 stars, is a precious gift. Why? Because a reader felt enthusiastic enough about the author’s work to use their precious time to leave their impressions for others readers to see.
So in honor of National Be Kind to Authors (and Editors) Month, let me ask…have you reviewed an author today???
Dani
Do You Have Your Backstage Pass?
I didn’t realize until I published just how important reviews were. As a reader, I never gave them a second thought. Had barely even read any. Turns out, not all readers work that way. Especially not readers looking for a new author—they want to know what an author does well, and not so well. Reader reviews give them clues as to whether this book will work for them.
Having lots of reviews does help authors sell books. It helps them garner new readers, and allows authors to apply for ad space with certain companies. Guess what? Those reviews can (and should) only come from readers like you! Every review, regardless of whether its 1 or 5 stars, is a precious gift. Why? Because a reader felt enthusiastic enough about the author’s work to use their precious time to leave their impressions for others readers to see.
So in honor of National Be Kind to Authors (and Editors) Month, let me ask…have you reviewed an author today???
Dani
Do You Have Your Backstage Pass?
I've known author Ella Sheridan for a long time (since the womb, actually) so I'll admit to a slight bias in her favor. :) But I know a book is really good when I can read it and hear the characters' voices--not the author's. In her upcoming Southern Nights release, Teach Me, Conlan and Jess's voices are as full-bodied as a merlot, and just as intoxicating. (Oh, and the villain is a man I just love to hate!).
Pre-order this beauty now! You won't regret it.
Dani
A woman determined to heal…
Shy researcher Jess Kingston spent the last eight weeks recovering from her ex-boyfriend’s brutal attack. Body healed, she’s ready to put her life back together—except her ex isn’t ready to let go. She won’t cower in a corner while Brit tortures her, but she’s powerless to fight back.
A man determined to resist…
Ex-military security specialist Conlan James avoids commitment like the plague. His job, his Harley, and the occasional one-night stand are all he needs, until the day he rescues Jess from a tense situation and realizes he can’t get her off his mind. He can teach her to protect herself, but protecting his heart is another matter.
A madman determined to win…
As the deadly game of cat-and-mouse with Brit heats up, so does the hunger between Con and Jess. Safety might be found in numbers, but in bed, all bets are off—and the wrong move could lead to heartbreak. Or death.
Teach Me releases on October 28th, but it’s available starting today for PREORDER — and it’s only 99 CENTS! You can go ahead and nab your copy today from one of these vendors:
AMAZON
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS
KOBO
And just to whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt for you to enjoy. Boy, Conlan still makes me swoon… ;)
What the hell are you doing here?
This wasn’t the first time in the last five minutes that Conlan had asked himself the same question. Maybe if he had an answer, the revolving door in his brain would stop spinning, but that didn’t seem likely. Not anytime soon. Not with the beautiful brunette he’d come to see sitting close enough that, if he let himself look, he could detect the light dusting of freckles across her nose. But he wasn’t looking, and he shouldn’t be here, so how had he ended up standing in line behind the thirtysomething latte league? It sure as hell wasn’t for the coffee.
Legs braced wide, he shifted from one hip to the other, the creak of his motorcycle chaps reminding him he could be enjoying a few extra minutes on the Harley before work instead of spending that precious time here, mooning over a woman. Doe Eyes. The first time he’d seen her all those months ago, he’d thought her eyes reminded him of sweet Georgia pecans and skittish does. The name stuck, as had the memory of her eyes—and a hundred other glimpses he shouldn’t have taken.
Another name called, another latte dispensed, another shuffle forward.
He hadn’t seen those eyes in eight weeks, and yet still he’d shown up every Monday, like clockwork, hoping for one more glimpse and calling himself an idiot. Wasn’t like he planned on asking her out. So why the hell did he torture himself with these weekly forays into enemy territory?
Sex. Or sex appeal, at least.
Another step closer to the counter. The move didn’t ease the constriction behind the zipper of his jeans. This was what she did to him, thinking about her. Especially now, after so long apart.
The thought had a snort escaping. Ahead of him, Mr. Suit and Tie startled and glanced over a shoulder, but Conlan ignored the look. He was too busy figuring out when “this” had become enough like a relationship in his head that he would think things like “after so long apart.” Doe Eyes might appear prominently in his thoughts from time to time—especially certain times—but he’d never seen her outside of this coffee shop. And he wouldn’t. A quick roll in the hay was one thing, but Doe Eyes wasn’t the kind of woman who had one-night stands. He could tell that much just by looking at her. She was a relationship kind of woman, and he was a relationship-phobic kind of guy. Which meant he seriously needed to get a grip—and not on the part of him growing even harder at the idea.
Idiot was right.
He should be at work. Southern summer heat brought out the crazies almost as well as full moons did, and JCL Security was feeling the impact, juggling cases like they had eight arms, which they didn’t. Too many sleepless nights had been spent at his office, especially with the Bennett case coming up. Just a couple more weeks before Thea Bennett had her bastard of a husband before a judge and hopefully out of her life, but the paper- and prep work to get the high-profile bastard there had been a bitch. He seriously needed to—
“Conlan, hey!”
For a passing moment he was convinced the voice belonged to the woman filling his thoughts. But when the high, candied voice called again, he realized it was coming from the counter. The cashier. Tonya, Tammy? Tracy? He couldn’t remember. She was blonde with a deep tan he would’ve deemed impossible in a landlocked city like Atlanta, the shade a stark contrast to her white smile. Stepping up, he threw her a grin. “Hey.”
She batted long lashes, almost hiding the way her glance slid down to the crotch of his jeans, framed in his leather chaps. “Long time, no see.”
He winked automatically. “It’s a long wait between Mondays.”
The girl giggled. “Your usual?”
“That’s right. Thanks,” he said, passing over a ten-dollar bill.
She made change, certain to caress his hand as she laid the money in his palm. Conlan was more interested in the dark Colombian roast another employee was walking toward them. High-octane all the way. The sight of the near-black brew had him salivating for something other than Doe Eyes for the first time that morning.
He reached the condiment counter just as his phone buzzed in his back pocket. Probably Jack. Retrieving the cell confirmed his suspicion.
Where the hell are you? his partner had texted.
Piss off, Con replied, a grin tugging at his lips. The irony that he’d spent too much time asking himself the very same question didn’t escape him. In a half hour he’d be at the office and they could both stop wondering.
With a little back-and-forth he managed to cram the phone back in his tight jeans. He glanced around absently, and his gaze snagged on a pair of amber-brown eyes that suddenly met his.
He froze.
Doe Eyes dropped her chin and shifted over the slightest bit, enough that her friend’s position blocked her from view, but not before he caught the blush coloring her creamy cheeks.
His cock banged against his zipper as if begging to be let out. The bite of pain caught his breath in his throat. Jesus, what the hell was he—
Don’t! Ask. Again. He knew what the hell he was doing here, and he needed to go; he really did. He needed to stop letting his dick run this show, grab his coffee, and get back to reality.
He was restless, that was all. He was a man who needed action. Needed to be doing something, anything, not sitting behind a desk like he’d been for weeks while prepping Thea’s case. Usually he worked off his frustration in a way that involved cool silk sheets and bare skin and satisfaction on both sides, but there’d been no damn time. Just his hand and the additional chafing it provided, which wasn’t near as effective—or satisfying. That had to be the reason he couldn’t stop thinking about his mystery woman.
Of course. That had to be it.
Popping the lid off his cardboard cup released the rich aroma of ground coffee beans into the air. He lifted his cup and blew across the hot liquid, the sound almost a sigh of relief. He was already reaching for the packets of sugar when black squiggles caught his eye. There. On the part of the paper sleeve now facing him, he could see a name and number were clearly written: Tiffany. A 470 area-code phone number.
So that was her name. Sounded like an eighties pop star. A glance over his shoulder found the cashier leaning across the bar where drinks were picked up, her mounded breasts shelved there, on display. Come back soon, she mouthed, her shoulders doing a little wiggle. On reflex, he threw her a grin, but her seemingly seductive move couldn’t pull his glance downward. His dick didn’t even twitch. Apparently only one thing could trigger his runaway libido this morning.
He added the sugar, trying to ignore the panic in his gut and his one-track mind. The latter was impossible. He wanted to know Doe Eyes’ name, her phone number. Were her breasts as full as they looked beneath that starched white button-down? Was her hair as soft as he swore it would be when he fisted it between his fingers?
He stirred a bit too vigorously, and coffee sloshed over the side of the cup.
Don’t look. Don’t. He realized he’d closed his eyes. A sigh escaped as he rubbed a thumb and finger against them, but as soon as the lids popped open, he searched for her. Had to see her. Felt his heartbeat pick up knowing she might meet his eyes.
He was so screwed—and smart enough to admit it. He let go, let the conflict and the churning in his gut and the tension cramping his muscles go. And then he looked toward her table.
It was empty.
“Well shit.”
He stood for a moment, cursing himself, the coffee, and everything else he could think of. When another customer stepped up behind him and cleared his throat, wanting access to the counter, Con grabbed his cup and headed out the door. On his way, he chucked the coffee in the trash without a single sip.
Enjoy!
Dani
A woman determined to heal…
Shy researcher Jess Kingston spent the last eight weeks recovering from her ex-boyfriend’s brutal attack. Body healed, she’s ready to put her life back together—except her ex isn’t ready to let go. She won’t cower in a corner while Brit tortures her, but she’s powerless to fight back.
A man determined to resist…
Ex-military security specialist Conlan James avoids commitment like the plague. His job, his Harley, and the occasional one-night stand are all he needs, until the day he rescues Jess from a tense situation and realizes he can’t get her off his mind. He can teach her to protect herself, but protecting his heart is another matter.
A madman determined to win…
As the deadly game of cat-and-mouse with Brit heats up, so does the hunger between Con and Jess. Safety might be found in numbers, but in bed, all bets are off—and the wrong move could lead to heartbreak. Or death.
Teach Me releases on October 28th, but it’s available starting today for PREORDER — and it’s only 99 CENTS! You can go ahead and nab your copy today from one of these vendors:
AMAZON
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS
KOBO
And just to whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt for you to enjoy. Boy, Conlan still makes me swoon… ;)
What the hell are you doing here?
This wasn’t the first time in the last five minutes that Conlan had asked himself the same question. Maybe if he had an answer, the revolving door in his brain would stop spinning, but that didn’t seem likely. Not anytime soon. Not with the beautiful brunette he’d come to see sitting close enough that, if he let himself look, he could detect the light dusting of freckles across her nose. But he wasn’t looking, and he shouldn’t be here, so how had he ended up standing in line behind the thirtysomething latte league? It sure as hell wasn’t for the coffee.
Legs braced wide, he shifted from one hip to the other, the creak of his motorcycle chaps reminding him he could be enjoying a few extra minutes on the Harley before work instead of spending that precious time here, mooning over a woman. Doe Eyes. The first time he’d seen her all those months ago, he’d thought her eyes reminded him of sweet Georgia pecans and skittish does. The name stuck, as had the memory of her eyes—and a hundred other glimpses he shouldn’t have taken.
Another name called, another latte dispensed, another shuffle forward.
He hadn’t seen those eyes in eight weeks, and yet still he’d shown up every Monday, like clockwork, hoping for one more glimpse and calling himself an idiot. Wasn’t like he planned on asking her out. So why the hell did he torture himself with these weekly forays into enemy territory?
Sex. Or sex appeal, at least.
Another step closer to the counter. The move didn’t ease the constriction behind the zipper of his jeans. This was what she did to him, thinking about her. Especially now, after so long apart.
The thought had a snort escaping. Ahead of him, Mr. Suit and Tie startled and glanced over a shoulder, but Conlan ignored the look. He was too busy figuring out when “this” had become enough like a relationship in his head that he would think things like “after so long apart.” Doe Eyes might appear prominently in his thoughts from time to time—especially certain times—but he’d never seen her outside of this coffee shop. And he wouldn’t. A quick roll in the hay was one thing, but Doe Eyes wasn’t the kind of woman who had one-night stands. He could tell that much just by looking at her. She was a relationship kind of woman, and he was a relationship-phobic kind of guy. Which meant he seriously needed to get a grip—and not on the part of him growing even harder at the idea.
Idiot was right.
He should be at work. Southern summer heat brought out the crazies almost as well as full moons did, and JCL Security was feeling the impact, juggling cases like they had eight arms, which they didn’t. Too many sleepless nights had been spent at his office, especially with the Bennett case coming up. Just a couple more weeks before Thea Bennett had her bastard of a husband before a judge and hopefully out of her life, but the paper- and prep work to get the high-profile bastard there had been a bitch. He seriously needed to—
“Conlan, hey!”
For a passing moment he was convinced the voice belonged to the woman filling his thoughts. But when the high, candied voice called again, he realized it was coming from the counter. The cashier. Tonya, Tammy? Tracy? He couldn’t remember. She was blonde with a deep tan he would’ve deemed impossible in a landlocked city like Atlanta, the shade a stark contrast to her white smile. Stepping up, he threw her a grin. “Hey.”
She batted long lashes, almost hiding the way her glance slid down to the crotch of his jeans, framed in his leather chaps. “Long time, no see.”
He winked automatically. “It’s a long wait between Mondays.”
The girl giggled. “Your usual?”
“That’s right. Thanks,” he said, passing over a ten-dollar bill.
She made change, certain to caress his hand as she laid the money in his palm. Conlan was more interested in the dark Colombian roast another employee was walking toward them. High-octane all the way. The sight of the near-black brew had him salivating for something other than Doe Eyes for the first time that morning.
He reached the condiment counter just as his phone buzzed in his back pocket. Probably Jack. Retrieving the cell confirmed his suspicion.
Where the hell are you? his partner had texted.
Piss off, Con replied, a grin tugging at his lips. The irony that he’d spent too much time asking himself the very same question didn’t escape him. In a half hour he’d be at the office and they could both stop wondering.
With a little back-and-forth he managed to cram the phone back in his tight jeans. He glanced around absently, and his gaze snagged on a pair of amber-brown eyes that suddenly met his.
He froze.
Doe Eyes dropped her chin and shifted over the slightest bit, enough that her friend’s position blocked her from view, but not before he caught the blush coloring her creamy cheeks.
His cock banged against his zipper as if begging to be let out. The bite of pain caught his breath in his throat. Jesus, what the hell was he—
Don’t! Ask. Again. He knew what the hell he was doing here, and he needed to go; he really did. He needed to stop letting his dick run this show, grab his coffee, and get back to reality.
He was restless, that was all. He was a man who needed action. Needed to be doing something, anything, not sitting behind a desk like he’d been for weeks while prepping Thea’s case. Usually he worked off his frustration in a way that involved cool silk sheets and bare skin and satisfaction on both sides, but there’d been no damn time. Just his hand and the additional chafing it provided, which wasn’t near as effective—or satisfying. That had to be the reason he couldn’t stop thinking about his mystery woman.
Of course. That had to be it.
Popping the lid off his cardboard cup released the rich aroma of ground coffee beans into the air. He lifted his cup and blew across the hot liquid, the sound almost a sigh of relief. He was already reaching for the packets of sugar when black squiggles caught his eye. There. On the part of the paper sleeve now facing him, he could see a name and number were clearly written: Tiffany. A 470 area-code phone number.
So that was her name. Sounded like an eighties pop star. A glance over his shoulder found the cashier leaning across the bar where drinks were picked up, her mounded breasts shelved there, on display. Come back soon, she mouthed, her shoulders doing a little wiggle. On reflex, he threw her a grin, but her seemingly seductive move couldn’t pull his glance downward. His dick didn’t even twitch. Apparently only one thing could trigger his runaway libido this morning.
He added the sugar, trying to ignore the panic in his gut and his one-track mind. The latter was impossible. He wanted to know Doe Eyes’ name, her phone number. Were her breasts as full as they looked beneath that starched white button-down? Was her hair as soft as he swore it would be when he fisted it between his fingers?
He stirred a bit too vigorously, and coffee sloshed over the side of the cup.
Don’t look. Don’t. He realized he’d closed his eyes. A sigh escaped as he rubbed a thumb and finger against them, but as soon as the lids popped open, he searched for her. Had to see her. Felt his heartbeat pick up knowing she might meet his eyes.
He was so screwed—and smart enough to admit it. He let go, let the conflict and the churning in his gut and the tension cramping his muscles go. And then he looked toward her table.
It was empty.
“Well shit.”
He stood for a moment, cursing himself, the coffee, and everything else he could think of. When another customer stepped up behind him and cleared his throat, wanting access to the counter, Con grabbed his cup and headed out the door. On his way, he chucked the coffee in the trash without a single sip.
Enjoy!
Dani
September brings cooler weather (hopefully), a change of colors, and kiddios heading back to school, which inspired a pretty sweet blog hop for this month’s Nice Girls Writing Naughty event. All the cool authors from NGWN will be posting one of their yummy heroes as their Teacher's Pet and some juicy tidbits of what they might have been like in school.
So where’s the reader fun? Well, for one - a chance at a $50 gift certificate from Amazon. Just check out the post HERE for all the juicy details. And I promise it will be fun!
Oh, and did I mention that each author will be giving away of pretty cool prize on their blogs? Mine will be a free ecopies of the first 2 books of my Backstage Pass series, Finding Her Rhythm and Settling the Score. Just comment below with your name and an email addy so I can contact you if you win. Anyone who also signs up for my author newsletter (see sidebar) will get an additional entry!
Now that I got the contest stuff taken care of...lets bring on Dani's Pet.
Colin McIntyre is the hero for the first novel in my upcoming Small Town Secrets series, set in the rural Tennessee town of Caldwell. Secrets abound there. Everyone has something to hide.
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret gathering exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell. Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her kidnapped sister.
Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering are exposed along the way. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?
5 Fast Facts:
~ When I graduated high school I was voted the most likely to…?
Never leave town. Even then, all my friends knew my family was here, my family’s pub Bailey's was also here, and it would take a miracle to move me. Which made me an easy target for the local secret-keepers when my dad died…
~I spent my prom night…?
Holding my dates hair back while she vomited. True story. I think someone spiked the punch and Sissie was not the type to hold liquor well. I cleaned her up as best I could and took her home to her mother without telling a soul. I just couldn’t embarrass her in front of everyone.
~I was the…president of the … or captain of the….team?
Honestly, none of the above. I worked at Bailey's after school and on weekends, though my parents were lenient enough to give me the go-ahead to spend time with my friends and just hang out. But between the job and helping watch out for my younger sisters, there wasn’t time to commit to something as demanding as sports.
~Growing up I wanted to be…?
A man my father could be proud of. Sure, I went through phases of wanting to be the next professional football star or a doctor or an astronaut. But my family is really close, and I couldn’t imagine leaving them behind. Especially after my father died. After all, who was going to keep my 3 younger sisters out of trouble?
~In college my crush was…?
Any girl who didn’t remind me of my high school crush. Emma Hartwell had been bad news-coming from a rough family on the wrong side of town. I wanted her, even though I knew my family wouldn’t approve. But the one time she needed me, I let her down. How could I face her after something like that?
What to know more about release dates for Colin’s upcoming book, Beneath the Surface? Sign up for my author newsletter, full of goodies, news, winners, and fun stuff. Just for joining, you will receive a free copy of my novella Snow Bound! The first taste of my Small Town Secrets series!
Check out the other Nice Girls Writing Naughty and their prizes here! There’s lots of sexy to be had! Thanks for dropping by!
Who’s been your favorite Teacher’s Pet so far???
Dani
So where’s the reader fun? Well, for one - a chance at a $50 gift certificate from Amazon. Just check out the post HERE for all the juicy details. And I promise it will be fun!
Oh, and did I mention that each author will be giving away of pretty cool prize on their blogs? Mine will be a free ecopies of the first 2 books of my Backstage Pass series, Finding Her Rhythm and Settling the Score. Just comment below with your name and an email addy so I can contact you if you win. Anyone who also signs up for my author newsletter (see sidebar) will get an additional entry!
Now that I got the contest stuff taken care of...lets bring on Dani's Pet.
Colin McIntyre is the hero for the first novel in my upcoming Small Town Secrets series, set in the rural Tennessee town of Caldwell. Secrets abound there. Everyone has something to hide.
Hidden in a quiet town along the Tennessee border, a secret gathering exists where the privileged fulfill their darkest desires. One of their members initiates a desperate act designed to bring home his lifelong obsession: Emma Hartwell. Drawn back to her hometown by the psychic connection with her twin, Emma must fight the stubborn silence of those around her in her quest to find her kidnapped sister.
Colin McIntyre hopes to make up for his past mistakes with Emma by helping her, but his own ties to the Gathering are exposed along the way. Can they fight the secrets and lies to rescue Emma’s sister… and their own chance at life-long love?
5 Fast Facts:
~ When I graduated high school I was voted the most likely to…?
Never leave town. Even then, all my friends knew my family was here, my family’s pub Bailey's was also here, and it would take a miracle to move me. Which made me an easy target for the local secret-keepers when my dad died…
~I spent my prom night…?
Holding my dates hair back while she vomited. True story. I think someone spiked the punch and Sissie was not the type to hold liquor well. I cleaned her up as best I could and took her home to her mother without telling a soul. I just couldn’t embarrass her in front of everyone.
~I was the…president of the … or captain of the….team?
Honestly, none of the above. I worked at Bailey's after school and on weekends, though my parents were lenient enough to give me the go-ahead to spend time with my friends and just hang out. But between the job and helping watch out for my younger sisters, there wasn’t time to commit to something as demanding as sports.
~Growing up I wanted to be…?
A man my father could be proud of. Sure, I went through phases of wanting to be the next professional football star or a doctor or an astronaut. But my family is really close, and I couldn’t imagine leaving them behind. Especially after my father died. After all, who was going to keep my 3 younger sisters out of trouble?
~In college my crush was…?
Any girl who didn’t remind me of my high school crush. Emma Hartwell had been bad news-coming from a rough family on the wrong side of town. I wanted her, even though I knew my family wouldn’t approve. But the one time she needed me, I let her down. How could I face her after something like that?
What to know more about release dates for Colin’s upcoming book, Beneath the Surface? Sign up for my author newsletter, full of goodies, news, winners, and fun stuff. Just for joining, you will receive a free copy of my novella Snow Bound! The first taste of my Small Town Secrets series!
Check out the other Nice Girls Writing Naughty and their prizes here! There’s lots of sexy to be had! Thanks for dropping by!
Who’s been your favorite Teacher’s Pet so far???
Dani
My fellow romance author Andrea Laurence has a new southern contemporary book out right now – FACING THE MUSIC. To celebrate the release, she’s hosting a Southern Movie Sweet Sixteen playoff bracket to let readers vote on which southern movie is really the greatest of all time. One reader will win a copy of the winning movie and a copy of FACING THE MUSIC just for voting! The contest runs through September 29th with a new pairing each day! The winner of the bracket and a winning reader will be announced on September 30th!
Today’s pairing is To Kill a Mockingbird VS The Help. I have to admit, even as an English major, I’ll be leaning toward The Help—funny and thought provoking movie. Reminds me of a Steel Magnolias from another era.
But don’t let me tell you how to vote! Join the fun and vote by visiting www.andrealaurence.com and look for the voting buttons on the sidebar. Check back each day to vote and see what movie comes out on top. Also be sure to check out FACING THE MUSIC, available at a special promotional price of $1.99 through the 30th.
Enjoy!
Dani
Today’s pairing is To Kill a Mockingbird VS The Help. I have to admit, even as an English major, I’ll be leaning toward The Help—funny and thought provoking movie. Reminds me of a Steel Magnolias from another era.
But don’t let me tell you how to vote! Join the fun and vote by visiting www.andrealaurence.com and look for the voting buttons on the sidebar. Check back each day to vote and see what movie comes out on top. Also be sure to check out FACING THE MUSIC, available at a special promotional price of $1.99 through the 30th.
Enjoy!
Dani
Welcome to my version of My Sexy Saturday! Some men have it all—or appear to. The hero of A Bride’s Tangled Vows, Aiden Blackstone, is the epitome of wealth and power. A self-made man. But there’s still something lacking in his life, even when he doesn’t want to admit it…
"Aiden?"
The sudden silence must have become too much for her, because Christina moved forward as if to continue down the stairs.
The polite thing would have been to step aside, but the ache to feel that body against his once more kept him perversely still. She slowed within a hair's breadth, tension mounting once more. "Aiden?"
"So you're really willing to do this? he asked, almost holding his breath as he awaited her answer. What delicious torture to spend the next year with this woman and keep his hands to himself. Could he? This was a huge mistake.
"I don't know. I don't think I can, you know, share a bed with you."
The way her voice trailed off told him how very uncomfortable she was, which only awakened images of making her very comfortable in a bed for two.
Maybe he could find a way to make this work.
A Bride's Tangled Vow is the first in the Mill Town Millionaires series for Harlequin Desire that received a 4.5 star review from Romantic Times Magazine! Its available now from Amazon and B&N.
THE TERM LIMIT BRIDE
Wealthy art dealer Aiden Blackstone has successfully avoided two things: returning to the hometown that haunts him, and taking a wife. Now thanks to his controlling grandfather's machinations he's reluctantly ended up doing both. But Christina Reece quickly proves she no mere platonic bride of convenience.
The only way she can make this marriage outlive their one-year agreement is if she can make her sexy husband open his heart and forget the demons of the past...before its too late. Because there's an enemy on the horizon, threatening to take away all they hold dear, including their newfound passion.
All subscribers to my author newsletter will receive all my cool updates, some hunky pics, chances to win...oh, and A FREE NOVELLA! All new subscribers receive a copy of my novella Snow Bound. Just click on the button to subscribe.
For more My Sexy Saturday fun, check out the cool authors listed here! And the #mysexysaturday hashtag on Twitter!
"Aiden?"
The sudden silence must have become too much for her, because Christina moved forward as if to continue down the stairs.
The polite thing would have been to step aside, but the ache to feel that body against his once more kept him perversely still. She slowed within a hair's breadth, tension mounting once more. "Aiden?"
"So you're really willing to do this? he asked, almost holding his breath as he awaited her answer. What delicious torture to spend the next year with this woman and keep his hands to himself. Could he? This was a huge mistake.
"I don't know. I don't think I can, you know, share a bed with you."
The way her voice trailed off told him how very uncomfortable she was, which only awakened images of making her very comfortable in a bed for two.
Maybe he could find a way to make this work.
A Bride's Tangled Vow is the first in the Mill Town Millionaires series for Harlequin Desire that received a 4.5 star review from Romantic Times Magazine! Its available now from Amazon and B&N.
THE TERM LIMIT BRIDE
Wealthy art dealer Aiden Blackstone has successfully avoided two things: returning to the hometown that haunts him, and taking a wife. Now thanks to his controlling grandfather's machinations he's reluctantly ended up doing both. But Christina Reece quickly proves she no mere platonic bride of convenience.
The only way she can make this marriage outlive their one-year agreement is if she can make her sexy husband open his heart and forget the demons of the past...before its too late. Because there's an enemy on the horizon, threatening to take away all they hold dear, including their newfound passion.
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Life lessons are everywhere. I’ve always been a big reader, and enjoy finding inspirational material, whether its in a card, blog post, book, or a song.
There’s a wonderful website for authors run by Kristen Lamb called Warrior Writers. She’s funny, irreverent, and very insightful. Though her posts are aimed at authors, some of them apply to life in general. One I’d love to share with you is her recent 5 Tips for Long-Term Writing Success! Yes, its about writing, but these 5 tips apply to a lot of life’s challenges. Check her out. I promise you’ll enjoy it!
Dani
There’s a wonderful website for authors run by Kristen Lamb called Warrior Writers. She’s funny, irreverent, and very insightful. Though her posts are aimed at authors, some of them apply to life in general. One I’d love to share with you is her recent 5 Tips for Long-Term Writing Success! Yes, its about writing, but these 5 tips apply to a lot of life’s challenges. Check her out. I promise you’ll enjoy it!
Dani
Recently, one of my besties gave me a cool gift. Author Marilyn Baxter showed up to breakfast with this book:
She’d found it at a thrift store, and thought I would enjoy it since I write for the same line. This is from the Desire line when it was Silhouette Desire, a brand new venture, as this is #50. I absolutely love the cover! The ultra alpha male with a bushy mustache. Those high heels in the middle of the woods. And the (now) vintage car in the background. Dated as it is now, it's a true representation of the books I read that got me hooked on romance. The emotional draw of being swept off your feet by someone able to take car of everything (even if its not PC, I still dream of that some days). :)
Some of the first Desires I read were some older ones. A kind lady who lived across the street gave me a box of books when I was recovering from a very bad illness and it included this book and several others:
I still have this book and still read it too! It's Desire #712. A little closer to the traditional clinch cover, this one still represents the glamour of the Desire line. I'll be forever grateful to that kind lady! She reintroduced me to the joy of reading romance, and eventually writing it. Something I wouldn’t even think about until over 3 years after reading it.
Though vintage covers are cool, I have to admit I’m in love with my Desire covers. Now the line is Harlequin Desire, and my release for last month, A Bride’s Tangled Vows, was Desire #2322.
I think the full cover pic truly pops and draws the eye of the reader more. And I have a brand new cover coming soon. The Blackstone Heir, my Mill Town Millionaire book coming in February 2015, will be my first ever baby cover! It’s so cute! (The cover & the baby.)
So let’s talk about covers! What are your favorite old school and modern cover designs?
Dani
If you’ve ever wondered about the process for Indie authors creating their own covers, check out this really cool Inside Scoop post from yesterday on Nice Girls Writing Naughty by Ella Sheridan, who shares the awesomely hot hunk who will be on her upcoming cover with us!!!!
Nestled in the hills of South Carolina is the one town Aiden Blackstone has refused to acknowledge since he was eighteen years old. The town he grew up in. The town of his birthright. Lured home by his grandfather’s pretense of death, Aiden finds himself snared in a well-laid trap made of coercion, obligation, and duty. There’s no easy way out of his grandfather’s demands that he marry and take over the family business that supports the entire town, not if he wants to keep his invalid mother safe.
Saddled with a wife he shouldn’t want, and the town he never wanted to save, Aiden finds himself swimming through a mire of anger, responsibility, and lust, counting down the days until he can walk away, return to the life he built for himself in NYC, filled with socialites and high dollar art deals, not a town counting on their mill to stay open...and a woman whose soulful gaze gives him a redeeming purpose for every day.
Christina Reece spent her entire childhood wishing Aiden’s family was her own. When a tragic car accident left Aiden’s mother an invalid, Christina got her nursing degree and moved to Blackstone Manor to care for her. Over time, she ended up creating the family she’d always dreamed of...almost. Now she’ll do whatever she must to keep them safe and preserve their future.
When Aiden’s grandfather threatens all she holds dear, Christina volunteers to become Aiden’s wife—not realizing the tormentor from her childhood had transformed into a man she could truly love. A man eager to leave the minute his obligations are fulfilled. As they join forces to uncover a saboteur in their midst, outwit Aiden’s grandfather’s manipulations, and care for Lily, Christina sees the man Aiden truly is—and helps him to see it too. But how can she trust her heart to a man intent on walking away from everything they are building together?
Then their enemy strikes out, threatening everything they hold dear, Aiden and Christina must choose which is stronger—obligation or love?
She’d found it at a thrift store, and thought I would enjoy it since I write for the same line. This is from the Desire line when it was Silhouette Desire, a brand new venture, as this is #50. I absolutely love the cover! The ultra alpha male with a bushy mustache. Those high heels in the middle of the woods. And the (now) vintage car in the background. Dated as it is now, it's a true representation of the books I read that got me hooked on romance. The emotional draw of being swept off your feet by someone able to take car of everything (even if its not PC, I still dream of that some days). :)
Some of the first Desires I read were some older ones. A kind lady who lived across the street gave me a box of books when I was recovering from a very bad illness and it included this book and several others:
I still have this book and still read it too! It's Desire #712. A little closer to the traditional clinch cover, this one still represents the glamour of the Desire line. I'll be forever grateful to that kind lady! She reintroduced me to the joy of reading romance, and eventually writing it. Something I wouldn’t even think about until over 3 years after reading it.
Though vintage covers are cool, I have to admit I’m in love with my Desire covers. Now the line is Harlequin Desire, and my release for last month, A Bride’s Tangled Vows, was Desire #2322.
I think the full cover pic truly pops and draws the eye of the reader more. And I have a brand new cover coming soon. The Blackstone Heir, my Mill Town Millionaire book coming in February 2015, will be my first ever baby cover! It’s so cute! (The cover & the baby.)
So let’s talk about covers! What are your favorite old school and modern cover designs?
Dani
If you’ve ever wondered about the process for Indie authors creating their own covers, check out this really cool Inside Scoop post from yesterday on Nice Girls Writing Naughty by Ella Sheridan, who shares the awesomely hot hunk who will be on her upcoming cover with us!!!!
Nestled in the hills of South Carolina is the one town Aiden Blackstone has refused to acknowledge since he was eighteen years old. The town he grew up in. The town of his birthright. Lured home by his grandfather’s pretense of death, Aiden finds himself snared in a well-laid trap made of coercion, obligation, and duty. There’s no easy way out of his grandfather’s demands that he marry and take over the family business that supports the entire town, not if he wants to keep his invalid mother safe.
Saddled with a wife he shouldn’t want, and the town he never wanted to save, Aiden finds himself swimming through a mire of anger, responsibility, and lust, counting down the days until he can walk away, return to the life he built for himself in NYC, filled with socialites and high dollar art deals, not a town counting on their mill to stay open...and a woman whose soulful gaze gives him a redeeming purpose for every day.
Christina Reece spent her entire childhood wishing Aiden’s family was her own. When a tragic car accident left Aiden’s mother an invalid, Christina got her nursing degree and moved to Blackstone Manor to care for her. Over time, she ended up creating the family she’d always dreamed of...almost. Now she’ll do whatever she must to keep them safe and preserve their future.
When Aiden’s grandfather threatens all she holds dear, Christina volunteers to become Aiden’s wife—not realizing the tormentor from her childhood had transformed into a man she could truly love. A man eager to leave the minute his obligations are fulfilled. As they join forces to uncover a saboteur in their midst, outwit Aiden’s grandfather’s manipulations, and care for Lily, Christina sees the man Aiden truly is—and helps him to see it too. But how can she trust her heart to a man intent on walking away from everything they are building together?
Then their enemy strikes out, threatening everything they hold dear, Aiden and Christina must choose which is stronger—obligation or love?
I’m currently digging deep into Book 3 of my Mill Town Millionaires series, and am totally into my new hero Luke ‘Renegade’ Blackstone.
This bad boy escaped his oppressive childhood in Blackstone Manor with his own getaway car—and turned it into a profession as a stock car racer. In Book 2, The Blackstone Heir, something happens to completely sideline his career. Now he’s back in Black Hills, SC, once more, counting the days until he can escape again. But first he must be cleared for takeoff by the town’s only physical therapist—a woman he cruelly spurned when she was a high school senior.
I think this bad boy might have his hands full! Here’s his theme song: Renegade by Daughtry
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfypxzUF1y4?rel=0]
Enjoy!
Dani
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Summer is tough for me—not in the same it was when I was a Stay At Home Mom. Instead of going stir crazy at home with my kids, wondering what they’re doing, how can I arrange for them to have more fun during the summer, and always, always—have I made choices that are shortchanging my kids?
I’m never with them during the weekdays anymore, so I have to ask other people to watch them (which doesn’t always equal fun). I feel guilty for asking other people to take them places, do things with them. When I’m not at the Day Job, I’m trying to write, which is also not fun for them. Though sometimes I take them to things and write while they’re occupied. I try to say “yes” to weekend activities, then feel guilty when I get zero writing done.
Motherhood isn’t just tough, it’s a tug of war.
I never thought I’d resent having to leave someone else with my children every day—I also never understood the guilt that accompanies having no choice but to do that.
What do I give up? Where do I cut back? What does that mean in terms of my writing career? I’m already slow to release my books because of my other obligations.
No one said parenting would be easy. It’s the hardest, most emotional investment I’ve ever made. In the end, the question of whether I’ve made the best choices can’t be answered. Maybe after they’re grown and gone and its too late for me to change anything. But as a counselor friend of mine once said, “The fact that you question yourself makes you a good mother. Some mothers never do.”
What's the biggest thing you question as a mom?
Dani
I’m never with them during the weekdays anymore, so I have to ask other people to watch them (which doesn’t always equal fun). I feel guilty for asking other people to take them places, do things with them. When I’m not at the Day Job, I’m trying to write, which is also not fun for them. Though sometimes I take them to things and write while they’re occupied. I try to say “yes” to weekend activities, then feel guilty when I get zero writing done.
Motherhood isn’t just tough, it’s a tug of war.
I never thought I’d resent having to leave someone else with my children every day—I also never understood the guilt that accompanies having no choice but to do that.
What do I give up? Where do I cut back? What does that mean in terms of my writing career? I’m already slow to release my books because of my other obligations.
No one said parenting would be easy. It’s the hardest, most emotional investment I’ve ever made. In the end, the question of whether I’ve made the best choices can’t be answered. Maybe after they’re grown and gone and its too late for me to change anything. But as a counselor friend of mine once said, “The fact that you question yourself makes you a good mother. Some mothers never do.”
What's the biggest thing you question as a mom?
Dani