Spring into Romance Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Spring is here! What better time to share our favorite reads for the season? Join in and tell everyone about what new reads you're excited about!

For my stop on the hop, I'm giving away an e-copy of Elysium. The book takes place in the spring, and for good reason—themes include new beginnings, taking a chance on a new romance, and all sorts of other ideas we associate with the season. (Heck, the heroine's name is even April!) All the participating sites are hosting giveaways, so be sure to check them all out!

 

And here's the blurb and giveaway for Elysium. Good luck, and happy spring!

Two years have passed since April Patterson’s husband was shot and killed in the line of duty, and she’s trapped in a haze of grief and uncertainty. Having grown frustrated by all other efforts to engage her in activities where she could meet new people, her cousin pays for a date via 1Night Stand. Not thrilled with the idea, April nevertheless contacts Madame Eve and requests the impossible: a date with her deceased husband.

Brilliant software engineer Drew Monroe created his company, Elysium, to help give closure to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, through the use of virtual reality. Though passionate about his work, being constantly surrounded by heartache and death has taken a toll on his mental health. When he accepts the case of a young widow referred to him by Madame Eve, her tragic tale depresses him further, but he commits himself to programming April the romantic date she desires.

April arrives at Elysium and prepares to enter Drew’s virtual realm. Will she find the solace she seeks within? Or will she discover she doesn’t need a fantasy world to discover happiness again? 
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The Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Hop (and Giveaway!)

October is a busy time for blog hops! This time we're all talking about our favorite spooky movies and books in preparation for Halloween on the 31st. I'm glad that's the topic, and I will neither confirm nor deny already having eaten a bunch of Halloween candy....

ANYWAY! I'm not really a big fan of "scary" movies, per se, but as regular readers have learned from my recent posts and my current WIP, I do love mysteries and suspense/thrillers. If I have to pick a favorite creepy movie, I'll go with The Silence of the Lambs. I hate violence and gore on screen, so I appreciate that all of the suspense and nail-biting and general feelings of unease are all psychological. Combined with the expert acting and plotting, there's a reason why it frequently makes lists of the best movies of all time.

In addition to the fabulous prize package giveaway for this hop, I'm giving away two e-copies of Elysium. True story - many, many (many?) years ago, when I first had the idea to write a romance about a grieving widow encountering her dead husband, it was originally going to be a ghost story. Obviously the circumstances of the plot changed a lot by the time I finally wrote the story, but there's a fun bit of trivia for you! Tell me in the comments, if you could spend the day with the ghost/spirit/whatever of any one person, who would it be?

Two years have passed since April Patterson’s husband was shot and killed in the line of duty, and she’s trapped in a haze of grief and uncertainty. Having grown frustrated by all other efforts to engage her in activities where she could meet new people, her cousin pays for a date via 1Night Stand. Not thrilled with the idea, April nevertheless contacts Madame Eve and requests the impossible: a date with her deceased husband.

Brilliant software engineer Drew Monroe created his company, Elysium, to help give closure to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, through the use of virtual reality. Though passionate about his work, being constantly surrounded by heartache and death has taken a toll on his mental health. When he accepts the case of a young widow referred to him by Madame Eve, her tragic tale depresses him further, but he commits himself to programming April the romantic date she desires.

April arrives at Elysium and prepares to enter Drew’s virtual realm. Will she find the solace she seeks within? Or will she discover she doesn’t need a fantasy world to discover happiness again? 


Follow the directions below for the games and giveaways! Good luck, and happy reading!

It's that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the air is getting cooler and the nights are getting spookier. Yes, it's time for tricks and treats, goblins and ghouls, chills and thrills and huge amounts of sugary sweets. But at the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog it's also time for the 5th annual Attack of the 14 Nights of Halloween Giveaway. Join Laughing Vixen Lounge and our bewitching co-hosts The Kids Did It, The Mommy Island, Herding Cats and Burning Soup, The Hopping Bloggers, Mama Smith's Reviews and Women and Their Pretties for a spooktacular Halloween event.

Enter to win a $250 Prize Pack filled with goodies from 10 wickedly fabulous shops. All shops are offering Gift Cards or your choice of item(s) so there will be something for everyone. Many of the shops have items perfect for any book lover along with lots of unique, handcrafted and custom designs to choose from.

Visit the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog daily during the giveaway for the Halloween Movie Marathon. Test your movie knowledge with the Guess the Movie Game. Then try to solve the Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt, if you dare! Each event will get you daily entries in the giveaway plus a special giveaway for the Scavenger Hunt. Find full details for these events HERE.

 You can start by entering the Rafflecopter widget below. To experience all the games, movies, shop features, giveaway info and all around awesome fun make sure to stop by the Laughing Vixen Lounge blog HERE. 

The giveaway runs October 18th - November 1st and is open worldwide to anyone 18+. 1 winner will win the Prize Pack and 1 winner will win the Scavenger Hunt Prize Pack. Laughing Vixen Lounge is responsible for all giveaway details. Click HERE for full details.

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Fall into Romance Giveaway Hop

After a hot and humid summer (that stretched well into September and even a bit of October), I'm thrilled to finally surround myself with sweaters and soup and other fall things that don't necessarily begin with S. And at the risk of sounding like a stereotype, I do enjoy pumpkin spice. To celebrate, I'm participating in the "Fall into Romance" blog hop - be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of this post and visit all the other stops!

I first became interested in the romance genre when someone gave me a copy of Obsidian Butterfly, from Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, for my 16th birthday. (We will not talk about how long ago that was.) Truthfully, out of the whole series, it's probably the lightest on the romance, but I liked it enough that I picked up the next book. *That* one was a bit steamier, and I was hooked and went back to the beginning.

It's hard to say how much Anita & Co. influenced my writing, as I didn't start writing my own stories until many years later. Also, the paranormal genre isn't really my thing. I have nothing against vampires and werewolves and the like, I've just never felt compelled to write about them myself. On the flip side, though, we all know how much I adore a strong heroine, so maybe Anita's creeping in a bit there.

On the topic of my own writing (excellent segue, no?), for my stop on this hop, I'm giving away two copies of Second Skin, my first 1Night Stand book. Anna and Brendan's date takes place in the summer, but they dream of meeting again in the fall, getting cozy in front of a fireplace and admiring the changing leaves in upstate New York. Read on for the blurb, and follow the Rafflecopter instructions to increase your chances of winning! I can't wait to hear about your favorite parts of fall. Good luck and happy reading!

Anna’s career as a high-level CIA operative is put on involuntary hiatus. When a trusted colleague passes along the information for the 1Night Stand service, Anna decides to take the plunge against her better judgment and seek some intimate company. But her CIA instincts can’t be ignored, and when she contacts Madame Eve, she uses an alias.

Brendan owns a lucrative manufacturing company, but he’s yet to achieve the goal of finding a woman with whom he can share his successes and joys. But beneath his polished, capable exterior hides the painfully shy teenager he’s never been able to escape. When his own efforts in the dating scene fall short, he turns to 1Night Stand.

It would be so easy to fall in love with Brendan, and Anna’s protective mask slides away, piece-by-piece, revealing more of herself than she should dare. Before she can slip away with the sunrise, Brendan shows their encounter in a new light. Will Anna take a chance on their future, or will she choose to return to her undercover, but lonely life?


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The Smexy Romance Blog Hop and Giveaway

 It's blog hop time again! Welcome to my spot along the Smexy Romance Blog Hop and Giveaway! We're all posting super-steamy excerpts today, along with offering opportunities to win some great books.

Elysium has been out for about a year now, and it still remains one of my favorites of all my book-children. To celebrate my bias, I'll be giving away an e-copy to one lucky reader. Enjoy the smexy excerpt, keep scrolling down for the giveaways, and don't forget to visit the other stops on the blog hop!

Excerpt:
We became trapped in a vicious, glorious cycle. With every nip and nibble of mine, she responded with a breathy moan or a roll of her hips. It was all the motivation I needed to further incite her pleasure. My erection swelled so heavy and hard it hurt, but her velvet skin tasted so good, I wasn’t ready to let her go yet.

Sliding my hands into her jeans, underneath the elastic of her panties, I groped her ass. She hooked one leg over mine, slamming our bodies together and trapping my engorged shaft between us. Even through multiple layers of fabric, I felt her blossoming heat, and it drove me crazy with lust.

I let her breast fell from my mouth and struggled for air. She pushed the scraggly hair from my eyes. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Every drop of blood had rushed between my legs, erasing the ability to formulate coherent thoughts. “I…I want you,” I ground out between pants. My cock bulged against her as the words escaped and I bit back a groan. “I need you.”

April’s fingers skated down my chest toward the top of the khakis. She made quick work of the button and zipper and her hand slipped inside. “Say it again,” she murmured.

A flimsy piece of cotton separated me from paradise. “I want you.”

She pushed the pants and boxers down several inches, freeing my erection. The brief shock of cold air was replaced by her fingers wrapping around the shaft, and I shuddered.

“One more time. I need to hear it.” As she spoke, she gave me a deliberate squeeze.

I couldn’t take any more torment. The dam broke, and I launched another assault on her mouth. She eased her hips back just enough to grant me access to the front of her jeans. I wrenched away the last of her clothing and cupped her mound with a palm.

“I want you, April,” I said in between frenzied kisses. One finger skimmed the length of her dampened cleft. “I want to be inside you so bad.”

Blurb:
Two years have passed since April Patterson’s husband was shot and killed in the line of duty, and she’s trapped in a haze of grief and uncertainty. Having grown frustrated by all other efforts to engage her in activities where she could meet new people, her cousin pays for a date via 1Night Stand. Not thrilled with the idea, April nevertheless contacts Madame Eve and requests the impossible: a date with her deceased husband.

Brilliant software engineer Drew Monroe created his company, Elysium, to help give closure to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, through the use of virtual reality. Though passionate about his work, being constantly surrounded by heartache and death has taken a toll on his mental health. When he accepts the case of a young widow referred to him by Madame Eve, her tragic tale depresses him further, but he commits himself to programming April the romantic date she desires.

April arrives at Elysium and prepares to enter Drew’s virtual realm. Will she find the solace she seeks within? Or will she discover she doesn’t need a fantasy world to discover happiness again?
 
Buy Links:

Amazon

Kobo

iTunes

Google Play

Barnes &Noble

All Romance

DecadentPublishing

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Entry-Form

Hello Blog Hop!

We’re ringing in the New Year with lots of giveaways! And by sharing some fun and wacky facts about ourselves. There’s a new giveaway at each stop so be sure to visit them all!

I'm giving away an e-copy of The Edge of the Sphere, for reasons you'll learn as soon as you read my list of quirks. Follow the directions on the Rafflecopter to make sure you maximize your chances of winning!

Now on to my list of fun, silly things that I don't think I've ever revealed on this blog....

1. I refuse to use store-bought tomato sauce. I know I'm anal-retentive in a lot of areas in my life, but I insist on knowing exactly what goes into my sauce. When writing the beginning of The Edge of the Sphere, I needed to convey what type of person Stephen's ex-girlfriend was and the sort of things they argued over without spending a lot of time on it, so I borrowed from my own non-negotiable demands. (Though unlike Alison, I don't hold it against people who try to serve me can from a jar. Most of the time. ;) )

2. I've always looked very young for my age. (I appreciate it, I promise!) I've been mistaken for a college student within the past couple months, and I'm approaching the ten-year anniversary of graduation. Sometimes when I'm out with my kids, people think I'm the babysitter/nanny.

3. I'm afraid of snails, to the point where I have a panic attack if I even see a picture of one. I don't know what it is about those little fuckers that freaks me out so much.

4. I will eat any kind of seafood, even if I don't know what it is. (And I have done this on some Caribbean vacations, in fact.)

5. When I was younger, my ideal woman was Geena Davis's character in A League of Their Own. I didn't know if I wanted to grow up to be her or date her.

6. One of my claims to fame in college was being able to tell what season a Law & Order rerun was from before the opening credits rolled. Seasons 7 and 8 were the most challenging because the casts were the same, but the film had a different quality.

7. I love Legos and I buy a new set to add to my Lego Christmas village every year. Hey, there are perks to being an adult with disposable income!

Stephen’s quiet life is turned upside down when he experiences vivid dreams of a woman he’s never met. Liora, having grown tired of her forced isolation and servitude in the land of Marindal, uses the mystical sphere housed in her cellar to attempt to reach someone to help her break free. They meet up several times in a subconscious illusion Liora creates for them and quickly form a strong bond. Stephen follows her to Marindal, where he’s instantly captured by her cruel master, Thirvar. Plans for escape become their top priority, and their feelings grow deeper during their secret meetings in the realm of fantasy. The knowledge that they will want different things once they are safe from Thirvar’s clutches taints the prospect of reaching their goal. They are faced with the decision between seeking out the lives they left behind and taking a chance on the future of their love.

Good luck in the giveaway, and don't forget to visit the other stops on the blog hop! 
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Winter Wonder Man Blog Hop!

Hop along to all the sites on the list!

It's blog hop time! (And don't you just love the title of this one? I do!) We've had some crazy cold temperatures here in the northeast and though it's been milder this week, we're allegedly due for some more snow this weekend. I hope you've all been finding ways to stay warm!

Let's snuggle up to some heroes on this blog hop. The other authors and I are waxing poetic about what makes them so wonderful. It's a rather subjective topic, of course, and I'm sure we can all go on for pages and days. Me, I like there to be something that sets my hero apart from the other people around him. There's got to be something special, something unique, something that captivates his love interest and doesn't let him/her go.

That special something doesn't necessarily have to be a grand heroic act or an impressive feat of strength. I sometimes refer to Stephen MacClare, one of the protagonists of The Edge of the Sphere as my "quiet hero". He may not be physically imposing and he's not going to sweep the heroine off her feet and carry her fifteen miles in the snow uphill both ways, but he's got his strengths and talents nonetheless. Let's take a look at one of them.

Stephen knew he was starting to ramble nervously, and he didn’t want to bore his companion. “I thought moving out of the city would help me find the inspiration I needed. It didn’t.” The familiar flush of color rose to his cheeks, and he continued on regardless, knowing he had nothing to lose. “Until now. I…uh…I’ve been painting you,” he confessed.
 
She sat up straight and stared at him with an unreadable expression in her eyes. He shrunk away beneath the intensity of her gaze and looked down. “I’m sorry. That’s kind of weird, I know.”
 
She shook her head vigorously, and tilted his face back to meet hers with a finger on his chin. He thought he saw the beginnings of another smile appear at the corners of her mouth, yet he didn’t have much time to observe it before she leaned closer to him. Her lips brushed against his, and she slid her hand down to his chest, letting it rest right above his pounding heart. His mouth opened and her tongue slipped inside, playfully entangling with his own.

I don't know about you, but if a handsome artist confessed that I was his muse, I'd get some warm tingly feelings. If you'd like to read more, enter the rafflecopter for the chance to win The Edge of the Sphere in e-book form! Don't forget to leave a comment on the post as well (here and at all the other stops!) so you can be eligible for the hop's grand prize, an Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card! 
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Hot Autumn Nights Blog Hop!

It's almost wintertime, but that doesn't mean we can't have one last celebration of racing through falling leaves before the weather gets too cold to venture outside. Autumn is a great time for romance, whether you're strolling through a picturesque scene of reds and golds or curling up in front of a warm fireplace. Hop on through all the links on the list to check out all our different takes on this season of love, and be sure to comment at each site to up your chances for winning the grand prize, a $70 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card!

For my stop on the hop, I'll take us allllll the way back to Geneva and Marcus's fire-lit first kiss in Searching the Skies. (My, how that seems so long ago!) Want a chance to win an e-copy of this book? Follow the Rafflecopter instructions after the excerpt. Good luck!

His words to her were honest and pure and for the first time, she realized that no matter how far she tried to run, a tiny piece of her would always belong to the home planet for which she had shown so much disdain. She didn’t know whether to thank him, apologize to him, or pretend that nothing had ever happened, so they sat in silence for several awkward minutes, wrapped in their own personal reflections and the shadows of the darkening room.
 
Marcus suddenly jumped to his feet, disrupting the nervous tension that had settled around them. “Can I, uh, get you anything else from the kitchen?” he stammered.
 
Geneva did the same. “Marcus, I....” She continued to struggle to find the right words. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize what a good friend I had here until now. I know we can never make up for lost time, but I’m willing to start over again.”
 
The light from the flickering fire reflected in his soulful eyes as he nodded a tacit acknowledgment. She suddenly had the urge to hug him, and she took a step closer in order to do so. As he was considerably taller than her, she cautiously slid her arms around his waist, and he reciprocated the gesture. The crisp fabric of his shirt was warm from his body as she leaned her cheek against his chest, the aroma of red wine and expensive cologne mingling at her nose.
 
She didn’t have more than a few moments to rest comfortably before he moved back to look down at her. With one finger, he gently tilted her chin up towards his face and brought his mouth down to meet hers. Geneva almost felt strange at first as she remembered the boy she once knew, but she soon relaxed into kissing the man he had become. Their lips separated, and she tasted the sweet velvet of his tongue, no longer thinking about past missed opportunities, but future possibilities. She felt her knees grow weak as he kissed her unrelentingly and tightened her embrace, not wanting to let him go.
 
Her eyes were still closed when he pulled away and moved his lips to the side of her face. “I could do this all night, but it’s getting late.”
 
“We’ll just have to start earlier next time,” she responded, and instantly blushed when she realized what she’d said.


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Hot Summer Heroes Blog Hop!

It's finally getting a little cooler here in the Northeast, but that doesn't mean we can't nudge the temperature back up with some hot summer heroes! No matter what your preferred flavor of hero is, you're bound to find something you like in this blog hop!

When I started the Searching the Skies series, I found it hard to incorporate so many appealing traits into one man...so I wrote two! Ash is bold, charismatic, and his military uniform can barely contain his bulging muscles. Marcus has more of a quiet elegance - with his dark features and brooding stares, he can still captivate a room with his sophisticated charm. Either on their own or together, they offer our heroine Geneva more wild nights of passion than she could have ever dreamed of.

Such decadence and the pleasure of having the best of both worlds puts us all in a generous mood, so I'm giving away two e-copies of the original Searching the Skies. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post (or follow the Rafflecopter directions for more chances to win). By commenting, not only will you be entered in my giveaway, but you'll also be eligible for the Grand Prize! Be sure to stop at all the blogs on the hop and check out their hot summer heroes!


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Caliente Blog Hop!

I don't know where you're geographically located, but the weather's finally warming up where I am! Summer's just around the corner, and it's time to crank up the heat with the Caliente Blog Hop! Every blogger on the tour will be contributing a sizzling post and hosting a giveaway with some great prizes, so be sure to check them all out!

Disintegration takes place in the desert, so my mind naturally went there when thinking about hot, steamy fun. Keep a glass of ice water handy!

The sun’s glare was bright and oppressive, yet it wasn’t as painful to his sensitive eyes as it had been before. They exited onto the sand; no other creatures were to be found on the barren landscape. “Now we have a real cactus for you to shoot at,” Ro said.
 
“I’ve heard they’re especially vicious this time of year.”
 
“Smartass.” She chuckled. “What, you wanted me to lug the targets and other equipment all the way up here?”
 
Callum inserted the earpiece she’d provided him with. “I’m ready to start whenever you are.”
He followed all her commands, shooting where she directed and tearing down any shrubbery that stood in his way. While she shouted instructions, various noises cycled through the tiny speaker in his ear. Monotonous buzzing, raucous commotions, and the echo of gunfire all rang out, controlled by a device encircling Ro’s wrist. He did his best to ignore it. Sweat trickled down his cheek and neck, collecting in the collar of his shirt. Nothing stopped him.
 
At one point, Ro snatched his glasses off his face. “Keep going!” she yelled. His mechanical eye adjusted to the influx of light, and he continued firing at the designated targets. The previous breakdown of his functions during the battle with Tanith and her guards remained a mystery. He needed to demonstrate his skills and prove his worth. Not only was he never sure of Ro’s opinions, he wanted to regain trust in himself.
 
Assorted shards of plant fiber cluttered the sands. Callum only stopped pulling the trigger when he realized there was nothing left to shoot at. He lowered his gun and waited for further commands from Ro. None came.
 
He looked around. She had returned to the outside of the hidden chamber from which they emerged. Her eyes were hidden behind the dark glasses, and he couldn’t tell where she was staring as he approached. “How are you feeling?” she asked.
 
“Fine.”
 
“If there were other people out here, you think you could tear them to shreds?”
 
“…Probably.”
 
“Good.” She pushed herself off the ledge she’d been leaning against, and climbed down into the elevator car. Callum followed her. He waited for her to push the buttons that would close the roof and send them back underground. When she didn’t, he reached for the illuminated panel.
 
She grabbed his wrist. “I didn’t say we were done here.”
 
“What else do you want me to do?”

Ro fiddled with the bottom of his shirt. Her fingers walked up his chest, dancing across the thin fabric that separated her touch from the firm muscles. “I did always enjoy watching you move,” she said. “When you get into that zone, when your body takes over….”
 
He glanced up. All he saw was the flawless blue sky, yet he was skeptical. “Here? But—”
 
“There’s no one else around for miles and miles.” She pressed against him. Droplets of sweat dotted her forehead, and her skin glistened with the lotion she had applied earlier. “Don’t you want to take advantage of the fresh air while we still can?"

You can enter to win one of two e-copies of Disintegration, plus a supernifty magnet by following the directions in the Rafflecopter*. (Impatient? Buy links are here.) Directly beneath that is a second widget for you to use to be eligible for the hop's grand prize! Good luck, and stay cool!
(*E-book prizes are international, magnets are US only)

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