That scary time has once more reached us in the Southern US. No, I’m not talking about Halloween…It’s Football Season! SEC fans are fanatical in the deep South, to the point that families split over rivalries. Scary, scary times.
I’m a rarity in my neck of the woods—a woman who couldn’t give a lick about football (high school, college, or otherwise). But don’t tell any of my neighbors, or I’ll be in for a yard trashin’, at the very least. Luckily, my hubby overlooks this major flaw in favor of some of my other, um, talents.
I never know how to answer the “Alabama or Auburn” question, because people around here don’t respond well to “why the hell would I care?” So I simply say my husband’s favorite, because I trust his judgment in these matters. :)
Heck, I only started attending the local high school football games when Book Worm joined the marching band. Did you know there are people who don’t have kids in school ho go to those games? It boggles my mind.
I’m sure I’m an alien to them too. A working woman and mother who spends all her time with her hands on the keyboard or mind busy dreaming up stories. I do enjoy 1 part of football though: those sculpted male bodies in skin tight athletic pants. That I can watch for a bit! LOL
Are you a football fan? Do you have a fanatical follower in your house?
Dani
My author friend Andrea Laurence has an awesome new book out featuring a former professional football player turned coach and the sexy rock star who wrote a song denigrating his man parts. It’s hilarious! Check it out on Amazon here.
In this sizzling and hilarious contemporary e-book romance, pop sensation Ivy Hudson returns to her small town to face her ex. Only trouble is, she made her Taylor-Swift-like career with the hit song “Size Matters”—and the football hero has had to live it down ever since.
Six years ago, high school sweethearts Ivy and Blake’s relationship imploded and both their lives were changed forever. Ivy became a rock star and Blake lost not only his dreams of a successful NFL career, but his reputation. Ivy’s angry song about their breakup, called “Size Matters,” hit the top of the charts and Blake became a national laughingstock. He’s salvaged his career and returned to Rosewood to be the high school football coach, regaining his status as town hero and leading the boys to the state championships.
When a tornado whips through town and destroys the high school gymnasium and stadium, a committee is formed to help rebuild and plan some charity fundraisers. Blake’s grandmother requests that Ivy return to Rosewood for the events. Forced back together for the good of their hometown and their careers, Ivy and Blake have no choice but to put aside their differences, stop running from their pasts, and finally face the music.
For fans of Kristen Proby and Colette Auclair, Facing the Music hits a perfect balance between small-town romance and big-time success. Follow Ivy and Blake as they fall back in love and figure out what does matter in the end…
I’m a rarity in my neck of the woods—a woman who couldn’t give a lick about football (high school, college, or otherwise). But don’t tell any of my neighbors, or I’ll be in for a yard trashin’, at the very least. Luckily, my hubby overlooks this major flaw in favor of some of my other, um, talents.
I never know how to answer the “Alabama or Auburn” question, because people around here don’t respond well to “why the hell would I care?” So I simply say my husband’s favorite, because I trust his judgment in these matters. :)
Heck, I only started attending the local high school football games when Book Worm joined the marching band. Did you know there are people who don’t have kids in school ho go to those games? It boggles my mind.
I’m sure I’m an alien to them too. A working woman and mother who spends all her time with her hands on the keyboard or mind busy dreaming up stories. I do enjoy 1 part of football though: those sculpted male bodies in skin tight athletic pants. That I can watch for a bit! LOL
Are you a football fan? Do you have a fanatical follower in your house?
Dani
My author friend Andrea Laurence has an awesome new book out featuring a former professional football player turned coach and the sexy rock star who wrote a song denigrating his man parts. It’s hilarious! Check it out on Amazon here.
In this sizzling and hilarious contemporary e-book romance, pop sensation Ivy Hudson returns to her small town to face her ex. Only trouble is, she made her Taylor-Swift-like career with the hit song “Size Matters”—and the football hero has had to live it down ever since.
Six years ago, high school sweethearts Ivy and Blake’s relationship imploded and both their lives were changed forever. Ivy became a rock star and Blake lost not only his dreams of a successful NFL career, but his reputation. Ivy’s angry song about their breakup, called “Size Matters,” hit the top of the charts and Blake became a national laughingstock. He’s salvaged his career and returned to Rosewood to be the high school football coach, regaining his status as town hero and leading the boys to the state championships.
When a tornado whips through town and destroys the high school gymnasium and stadium, a committee is formed to help rebuild and plan some charity fundraisers. Blake’s grandmother requests that Ivy return to Rosewood for the events. Forced back together for the good of their hometown and their careers, Ivy and Blake have no choice but to put aside their differences, stop running from their pasts, and finally face the music.
For fans of Kristen Proby and Colette Auclair, Facing the Music hits a perfect balance between small-town romance and big-time success. Follow Ivy and Blake as they fall back in love and figure out what does matter in the end…
Signs can be some of the funniest examples of communication—I’m sure you’ve noticed. They can have hidden, unintended meaning, or they can be deliberately humorous on several levels.
Some of you may remember the sign blog I did with Ella Sheridan after our trip to Ireland last year. It was so fun to do, we’ve decided to indulge our funny bones once more with Volume 2 from Savannah, GA, earlier this month. I hope you enjoy our southern version of Here’s Your Sign.
To see the other half of the blog, go to www.ellasheridanauthor.com for more funnies!
A true southern place! After all, we know all about living through true grit! I wonder if John Wayne ever ate here...
Feeling a little peckish? When I think of cookies (especially those as yummy as the ones in this place), I don't think of eating like a bird. Far from it. I polished off a package in a few hours.
In the south, Velvet Elvis's are practically treasure.
From a hat shop on the River Walk in Savannah. Apropos, don't you think?
Love this! An open tap is the best kind of bar.
Is this really encouragement to eat here? An advertisement for high fat food and the new belly fat you'll add? I thought seafood was supposed to be healthy?
I think this is self-explanatory (and a warning all who know me should heed). Crazy author alert!
As for this restaurant, its a chain that we found all over Savannah and Tybee Island. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time ordering food from something that reminds me of spit...
What's your funniest sign of the bunch? Can you caption them?
Dani
Don't forget to check out part 2 at www.ellasheridanauthor.com .
A true southern place! After all, we know all about living through true grit! I wonder if John Wayne ever ate here...
Feeling a little peckish? When I think of cookies (especially those as yummy as the ones in this place), I don't think of eating like a bird. Far from it. I polished off a package in a few hours.
In the south, Velvet Elvis's are practically treasure.
From a hat shop on the River Walk in Savannah. Apropos, don't you think?
Love this! An open tap is the best kind of bar.
Is this really encouragement to eat here? An advertisement for high fat food and the new belly fat you'll add? I thought seafood was supposed to be healthy?
I think this is self-explanatory (and a warning all who know me should heed). Crazy author alert!
As for this restaurant, its a chain that we found all over Savannah and Tybee Island. I don't know about you, but I have a hard time ordering food from something that reminds me of spit...
What's your funniest sign of the bunch? Can you caption them?
Dani
Don't forget to check out part 2 at www.ellasheridanauthor.com .
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?
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.
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!
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
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
What makes someone feel sexy? How can someone embrace who they are and know they have something very important to give another person? Well, I know from experience, it isn't easy. The same is true for my heroine, Christina, in A Bride's Tangled Vows. Life has done a number on her, but she's finding her worth-and making her new husband see it for himself!
He didn’t hear the footsteps until too late. He’d barely looked up before colliding with someone coming down the stairs. A soft someone who emitted a little squeal as she stumbled. Certain they’d fall, Aiden surged forward to keep from losing his balance. Christina tried to pull back, but her momentum worked against her. Hands flailed, finding purchase on his shoulders. Her front crushed to his. Their weight pressed dead against each other, stabilizing as two became one.
Everything froze for Aiden, as if his very cells locked down. He managed one strangled breath, filled with the fresh scent of her hair, before his body sprang to life. Her soft curves and sexy smell urged him to pull her closer, so much so that his fingers tightened against the rounded curves of her denim-covered hips. The soft flesh gave beneath his grip.
Darkness permeated the staircase, heightening the illusion of intimacy. His and Christina’s accelerated breaths were the only sound between them. They were so close, he felt the slight tremor that raced over her echo throughout his entire body. It took more minutes than Aiden cared to admit for his mind to kick into gear. “Dreamed up more ways to invade my territory, Christina?”
He felt her stiffen against his palms, tension replacing that delicious softness. Just as he’d intended.
Before he could regret anything, she retreated, stabilizing herself with a hand against the wall. “Aiden,” she said, prim disapproval not hiding a hint of breathlessness, “I’m sorry for not seeing you.”
I’m not.
“And for the record, I’m not invading anything. So I’d thank you to never call me by that stupid nickname.” Her voice came out low, intensifying the sense of intimacy. “I’m trying to help, Aiden. I really am.”
From A Bride's Tangled Vows, Harlequin Desire:
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’s 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 it’s too late. Because there’s an enemy on the horizon, threatening to take away all they hold dear, including their newfound passion.
Don't forget to check out more sexy fun with cool authors at My Sexy Saturday blog.
He didn’t hear the footsteps until too late. He’d barely looked up before colliding with someone coming down the stairs. A soft someone who emitted a little squeal as she stumbled. Certain they’d fall, Aiden surged forward to keep from losing his balance. Christina tried to pull back, but her momentum worked against her. Hands flailed, finding purchase on his shoulders. Her front crushed to his. Their weight pressed dead against each other, stabilizing as two became one.
Everything froze for Aiden, as if his very cells locked down. He managed one strangled breath, filled with the fresh scent of her hair, before his body sprang to life. Her soft curves and sexy smell urged him to pull her closer, so much so that his fingers tightened against the rounded curves of her denim-covered hips. The soft flesh gave beneath his grip.
Darkness permeated the staircase, heightening the illusion of intimacy. His and Christina’s accelerated breaths were the only sound between them. They were so close, he felt the slight tremor that raced over her echo throughout his entire body. It took more minutes than Aiden cared to admit for his mind to kick into gear. “Dreamed up more ways to invade my territory, Christina?”
He felt her stiffen against his palms, tension replacing that delicious softness. Just as he’d intended.
Before he could regret anything, she retreated, stabilizing herself with a hand against the wall. “Aiden,” she said, prim disapproval not hiding a hint of breathlessness, “I’m sorry for not seeing you.”
I’m not.
“And for the record, I’m not invading anything. So I’d thank you to never call me by that stupid nickname.” Her voice came out low, intensifying the sense of intimacy. “I’m trying to help, Aiden. I really am.”
From A Bride's Tangled Vows, Harlequin Desire:
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’s 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 it’s too late. Because there’s an enemy on the horizon, threatening to take away all they hold dear, including their newfound passion.
Don't forget to check out more sexy fun with cool authors at My Sexy Saturday blog.