What’s in a title? With Doris O’Conner

Posted on July 15, 2013 by S.J. Maylee

I’m super excited today to have Doris O’Conner in my ehouse. Woot! I’m a huge fan of this talented author and I always enjoy her flash fiction talents. I just finished reading two of her Romance on the Go titles from Evernight Publishing, yum, and she’s brought one of them with her today. Enjoy. 🙂

What’s in a title?

Hello everyone, and a huge thanks to S.J. for hosting me today. I thought I would ponder about the importance of titles today. One of my funny quirks is that I need a title before I even start writing. More often than not that original title stays, but sometimes the story takes an unexpected twist. Heck what am I saying? My stories always take an unexpected twist. Even when I have a vague idea where a story might be going, my characters do something that I didn’t see coming and somehow by the end of it all it just works—somehow. Don’t ask me how, though, I have no clue.

I’ve learnt to simply trust in the process.

Now, The Orgasm Project started as a Flash and it didn’t have a name to start with. Jake and Carter, however, niggled at me, until I sat down and wrote their story, and there was only one title I could give this.

I had such fun writing this story and I hope readers will love it as much as I loved writing this.

The Orgasm Project

by Doris O’Connor

Release Date: July 3, 2013
Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Blurb:

What’s a girl to do when her best friend confides her inability to orgasm? Set up the Orgasm Project of course, and Maria knows just the guys to do it. Full of themselves her hot as Hades brothers might be, but at least they are safe. What can possibly go wrong?

Anastasia wants the ground to swallow her whole, when she meets the twins. How embarrassing can this be, even if the gorgeous hunks set her knickers aflame with just one look?

Jake and Carter know their mate when they see her, and nothing is going to stop these cougar shifters from claiming her. Their night of passion leads to discoveries neither one of them is prepared for.

Has their bite awakened a monster or their destiny?

Excerpt:

“What if I don’t want to go home with you?”

She opened her eyes to find Jake smiling down at her. Carter’s gaze, too, sought hers through the rear view mirror, and a shiver of unease went down her spine at the disapproval she read in his eyes—eyes that bled from blue to golden and back again as she watched in stunned fascination.

“What are you?” The question left her lips before she could stop herself, and she inwardly groaned at her stupidity.

“You know what we are.” Jake said, his hot breath a whisper’s breadth away from her neck as he sniffed her again. “Look into yourself and tell me that you don’t feel this connection. I know you do. Your body gives you away as surely as your sweet scent. You’re wet for us just thinking about what we might do to you, and that’s not fear I can smell, but arousal. You want us as much as we want you, have wanted you from the first moment we caught your scent all those months ago.”

“You can’t be serious.”

Anastasia shook her head and pushed against his chest. His heartbeat thundered under her fingertips in tune with her own galloping rhythm. The fact that he seemed as affected as her by whatever was happening between them gave her a heady rush of feminine power. Liquid arousal pooled between her thighs and slicked the top of her legs. She put up no resistance to Jake’s questing digits trailing up her inner thigh. Underneath the skimpy dress she had worn at Maria’s insistence, his hand inched ever upwards until his knuckles brushed against the damp fabric covering her slit, and she bit back a moan when his thumb found her clit. That normally shy little bundle of nerves contracted under that slight touch and seemed to swell in need. Jake caught her groan in his mouth, and Anastasia forgot any objections she might have had at the first swipe of his tongue inside her mouth.

If she thought he smelled good, then he tasted even better. His musk exploded on her tongue, and she opened to his gentle insistence. He swooped in and took possession of the kiss. One hand fisted in her hair while the other still showed homage to her little nubbin, and she gasped into the ever more passionate kiss, when one of his incredibly long fingers slid under the elastic of her thong. She was so wet that he slipped right into the tight clasp of her body, and her internal muscles contracted around that digit. He growled low in his throat, and she ground herself against his hand as his thumb settled on her clit.

He added another finger and then a third, thrusting in and out of her needy pussy in tune with his tongue’s thrusts inside her mouth, and Anastasia gave herself up to the ever more urgent demands of her body. Her hands fisted in his shirt, as the tingles started deep inside her core. Like a tidal wave of sensation they grew and tumbled forth, retreating a bit with every thrust, only to double in force with every faster pump of his fingers inside her channel.

The car lurched round a corner and then came to an abrupt stop. Cool air rushed into the heated interior, and Anastasia moaned her denial when Jake withdrew his fingers. In the blink of an eye she was freed out of her seat belt, and Jake broke the kiss to shift her body backwards. Carter’s strong hands gripped her thighs, and she caught a glimpse of his glowing eyes, before he buried his head between her thighs. Her underwear gave way with an audible rip, and then his hot breath on her swollen folds robbed her of any coherent thoughts.

“My turn to taste her, brother.” The growled words vibrated against her slit, seconds before his tongue delved into her quivering channel. Anastasia arched her back in desperate need to get closer to the hot mouth he used to such devastating effect on her clit. Jake chuckled in her ear, and she saw him lick his fingers, slick with her arousal. The sight was incredibly erotic, and she could taste herself in the kiss he gave her. Carter chose that moment to bite down on her clit, and she screamed. The barely functioning side of her brain marveled at that need-filled scream, muffled as it was by Jake’s kiss, and she clamped her thighs around Carter’s head, as she started to tumble over that elusive edge no man had ever managed to help her over.

Unlike the weak orgasms she had managed by her own hand, this one took her breath away. All sense of time and reason disappeared as her body convulsed under the hands of her lovers. Carter pushed her over that edge again, and again, and again, whilst Jake’s hands played with her breasts and nipples. He rolled each hard nub between his thumb and forefinger, pinching hard, and the sharp pain zinged straight to her clit.

Jake finally broke the kiss and nibbled his way down her neck as her body shook in delicious aftershocks.

“All ours,” the men grumbled in unison.

Buy Links:

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/the-orgasm-project-by-doris-oconnor/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DR3YJUY

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theorgasmproject-1227977-146.html

http://www.bookstrand.com/the-orgasm-project-mfm

****

Author Bio:

Glutton for punishment would be a good description for Doris… at least that’s what she hears on an almost daily basis when people find out that she has a brood of nine children, ranging from adult to toddler and lives happily in a far too small house, cluttered with children, pets, dust bunnies, and one very understanding and supportive husband. Domestic goddess she is not.

There is always something better to do after all, like working on the latest manuscript and trying not to scare the locals even

more than usual by talking out loud to the voices in her head. Her characters tend to be pretty insistent to get their stories told, and you will find Doris burning the midnight oil on a regular basis. Only time to get any peace and quiet and besides, sleep is for wimps.

She likes to spin sensual, sassy, and sexy tales involving alpha heroes to die for, and heroines who give as good as they get. From contemporary to paranormal, BDSM to F/F, and Ménage, haunting love stories are guaranteed.

STALKING LINKS:

Amazon | All Romance E-Books | BookStrand | Barnes&Noble

@mamaD8

Interview and Giveaway: Altered Frequency by Joya Fields

Posted on June 19, 2013 by S.J. Maylee

Please help me welcome Joya Fields. She’s here today with the details on her latest release, Altered Frequency. She’s answered a bunch of questions from me, she’s so interesting. Plus, she’s kindly offered two GIVEAWAYS. See it all below. 🙂

Altered Frequency
Hauntings at Inner Harbor #2

by Joya Fields

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Length: 137 pages

Released: May 17th 2013

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Blurb:

After losing her father and brother in the line of duty, Missy Prescott vows never to get involved with anyone who has a dangerous job. Blessed with a golden voice, she takes a job as a disc jockey with her own late-night lovelorn dedication show on a popular radio station in Baltimore.

Blake Decker has never had a family. He has come to count on the only family he knows—his brothers on the police force. He’s a one-night-stand kind of guy when it comes to relationships.

Betty McAllister, the caring woman who used to live in Missy’s apartment, is now a ghost. She refuses to cross over until Blake—whom she viewed as her own son—is happily in love. She thinks Missy is the perfect girl for him.

Missy and Blake need to keep each other at a distance as they work together to help Betty find a way to cross over. But when danger lurks, will Missy and Blake lose everything?

Interview:

What was the first book to make a lasting impression on you?

What a great question. I read lots of books growing up, but I think the book that made the most lasting impression on me was the first book in the Little House on the Prairie series. I think it was Little House in the Big Woods. I just loved reading about Laura Ingalls and her Pa. Their family endured so much hardship, but Laura sure had a can-do attitude.

Laura Ingalls, that brings back some fabulous reading memories of my own. Which one of your characters would you NOT like to meet in real life?

Well, I would certainly NOT want to meet the evil presence from Hereafter (Hauntings at Inner Harbor, Book 1). It’s dark, scary…and wants to hurt the heroine. Heck, I watch horror movies from behind my hands. I definitely don’t want to meet a scary paranormal being.

Good choice, no thank you, lol. Which one of your characters would you most like to meet in real life?

While book one in the series has some scary paranormal activity, Altered Frequency (Hauntings at Inner Harbor, Book 2), has a very different tone because of a matchmaking ghost. I pictured someone like Betty White. So I would love to meet Betty McAlister, the ghost, because I think she’d be a hoot. I’d sure like to meet Betty White in person, too.

I would too. She’s fabulous inspiration for a character, love it. What turns you on creatively?

Injustice. I know that sounds strange, but when I hear about an injustice, or view one, I want to highlight it and bring it to people’s attention through a fictional story. Often, my characters have a disability, or something that makes them have to work harder at abilities the rest of us take for granted.

That’s very admirable. What quality do you most admire in a friend?

Good listening skills. Sometimes you don’t want opinions or suggestions, you know? You just want someone to listen. So I think a good friend knows when to sit quietly and let you vent. Lots of my characters are good listeners.

I totally agree. Allowing someone to vent and know that’s all they need is a venerable quality. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Farming. I love being outside, admire the hard work it takes to raise crops and livestock, and enjoy seeing progress when I work. My kids were in 4-H when they were kids, and I think I had more fun than they did raising pigs and chickens and growing vegetables.

I too admire their hard work and I’ve heard many good things about 4-H. I’d love to spend all day in my yard tending my gardens. What is your greatest extravagance?

A bubble bath with candles. Sooooo relaxing.

I haven’t had the opportunity for a nice long bath in a long time. Calgon take me away, lol. What is your motto?

I like borrowing Henry Ford’s motto and I have it taped near my computer. “Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.”

That’s a great quote of Henry Ford’s. He also wrote another of my favorites: Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a writer?

Another great question. I seem to be able to write books pretty quickly, but it’s the revisions that take me a while to complete. Lucky for me, I have great critique partners who step in and help me make the stories the best they can be. Other than that, I’ve been very lucky and haven’t faced too many writing challenges.

Revisions can be tough, especially when you realize a large change is needed. I often stumble at this point, but once I let the change soak in and get over the shock at face value, it often isn’t as horrible as I originally made it out to be, lol. What is the one thing you do after finishing a story?

High five our pug, Peanut! And then we go for a celebratory walk. Since I work from home, she’s the only one around, and she gets very excited when I say “the end!” Or…on second thought, maybe she gets excited about the part where I say, “want to go for a walk?” haha. Then, I get back to writing.

That’s awesome. Peanut is such a cute name for a pug. Tell us a bit about the projects you are working on now?

Thanks very much for asking! I just received a contract for book 3 in the Hauntings at Inner Harbor series, so we’ll be working on those edits soon. My work-in-progress is a farm trilogy. Hot, sexy, muscular guys who are working hard to keep their family farm in business. I’m having a lot of fun visiting local farms in Maryland for the research on these books.

Author Bio:

Joya Fields has had over 100 stories and articles published in local and national magazines. Her debut novel, a romantic suspense, was a NJRW GOLDEN LEAF WINNER FOR BEST FIRST BOOK OF 2012 and was nominated for RT Book Reviews 2012 Indie Press/Self-Published Contemporary Romance award. She’s since released three more books.

Over the years, Joya has taught arts and crafts, worked in public relations, owned a daycare center, helped her children raise prize-winning 4-H livestock, competed in three marathons, and even spent a year as a Baltimore Colts cheerleader. Joya loves spending time with her high school sweetheart/husband of over twenty-five years, two very supportive children, and a pug who follows her everywhere. www.joyafields.com

Find Joya:

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=joya+fields

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5395700.Joya_Fields

Twitter: @joyafields https://twitter.com/JoyaFields

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/JoyaFieldsAuthor

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Frequency-Hauntings-Harbor-ebook/dp/B00CSXJ2GU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369272959&sr=8-1&keywords=altered+frequency+joya

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/altered-frequency-joya-fields/1115318179?ean=2940016586243

Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=778&osCsid=6v09v6em02ct5d9r6t7k212767

AllRomance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-alteredfrequency-1211906-149.html

GIVEAWAYS

#1 – One lucky commentor will receive trading cards for the book. I’ll number the comments in the order they were received and utilize random.org to select a winner on the morning of Friday, June 21st.

#2 – GRAND PRIZE: $25 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to one winner
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spotlight: Destiny’s Chance by Cara Bristol

Posted on May 17, 2013 by S.J. Maylee

It’s a double release week for one my favorite must read authors. Of course I jumped at the chance to highlight one of them. I have all the details on Cara Bristol’s Destiny’s Chance. Squee. I know what I’ll be reading this weekend. 🙂

Destiny’s Chance

by Cara Bristol

Genre: contemporary paranormal/fantasy
Length: 115 pgs
Released: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Loose Id

Blurb:

Destiny Grable can’t help that she’s fallen in with love Chance Everett, her best friend’s boyfriend, but she’s never, ever acted on her feelings — until she and Zoe are in a car accident, her friend is killed, and she is reincarnated in her body. She never wished for something like this to happen, but perhaps now she’ll be free to love Chance the way she always wanted to.

Chance might have had pursued Destiny, but he has a kinky side and she was a nice girl. But now she’s dead, and the accident has forced him to take in his ex-girlfriend. As soon as she recovers and moves out, he’ll get on with his life.

Can two star-crossed lovers ever find happiness?

Excerpt:

A bleeping permeated her brain, steady, repetitive, as annoying as a dripping faucet. She tried to turn away from the sound but couldn’t and found herself waiting for the blips, clinging to the respite of silence in between. Nor could she escape the smell. Rusty. Antiseptic. Invasive. She wrinkled her nose, but the odor crept into her sinuses, stuck to her skin, seeped into her bones.

Her cold bones. Her hands and feet had frozen to ice, and she curled into a fetal ball to conserve her heat, ward off the pain. She hurt all over. Why?

Warmth arrived out of cold and darkness to settle on her shoulder with light pressure, like the soothing caress of a man’s hand. Destiny moved against it, seeking comfort. So real. So solid she could almost imagine fingers curling over…She peeled open her eyelids.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Chance Everett leaned close.

Though she ached everywhere, she found relief in his presence. Chance often had visited her fantasies looking like this: broad-shouldered, his body-molding T-shirt showing off serious pecs, his dark hair finger tousled, his worn blue jeans more faded over the parts she shouldn’t gawk at.

But since she only dreamed him, her conscience allowed her to feast her eyes on every inch of his six-foot frame.

To smell him too. Destiny inhaled to capture soap, masculine comfort, and…automotive grease?

She glanced at the hand warming her shoulder. Roughened by work, it bore a line of grime under the fingernails, the result of a cursory washing. She creased her forehead into a tiny frown and lifted her gaze to his face.

Tension bracketed his sexy, full mouth; the usual twinkle in his rich brown eyes had dulled to flatness.

This wasn’t the way her dreams went. Far from it—by now their clothing should have mysteriously disappeared, and he should be kissing her while whispering the naughty things he planned to do to her. Nor had he ever seemed quite this solid, had the sensation of being touched felt so real. And what is that irritating blip? She grimaced.

“Can you speak?” he asked.

“Uh, um. Yeah.” Or maybe not. The husky, quavering voice didn’t sound like hers. And her throat hurt.

Destiny rolled her head to the side, noting institutional green walls, medical machines and monitors, and that the bed on which she lay had rails. Like a hospital bed. Hospital!

“Do you remember what happened?” he asked.

Memories flooded in. Sheeting rain. Malfunctioning windshield wipers. A massive truck. Skidding. Crashing. Screaming. Grabbing for her friend Zoe, who was driving the car.

Please, be a nightmare.

Voicing her fear would solidify it. But Chance waited. “The accident.” She swallowed. “It was real, wasn’t it?”

He nodded. “Yes. The police called me at the body shop.”

That accounted for the grease under his fingernails. He’d been working, hadn’t taken the time to fully clean up. It also explained his presence at the hospital. Although he and Zoe had split up recently, they had remained on good terms, and since she had no close relations, authorities would have notified him. So why was Chance with her and not Zoe?

Unless…unless…

She would have bolted upright, except for Chance’s hand on her shoulder. “Oh my God!

She’s…she’s all right, isn’t she?”

Buy Link:

Amazon buy link

Where you can Find Cara:

Website/blog | Twitter | Facebook

Be sure to visit Cara to find out what she released this week and what she has coming next week.

Review: The Summoning (Dragon’s Lair #2) by Seraphina Donavan

Posted on April 22, 2013 by S.J. Maylee

The Summoning (Dragon’s Lair #2)

by Seraphina Donavan

Published: December 14th 2012
Publisher: Cobblestone Press
Genre: Erotic Romance, Shifter, Menage

BLURB:

As dragon shifters, Remy and Philippe had spent their lives searching for their perfect mate, and in Lilly Montague, they found her. But enemies from their past are threatening their happiness. Dragon law dictates that they must meet the issued challenge and face their enemies in battle. But when Lilly sees them in Dragon form, will she be able to accept them?

SJ’s Review:

This is the second short story in the Dragon’s Lair series. In the first Lilly finds her mates in dragon shifters Remy and Philippe. The story is short but it quickly takes you to several fun places. The first is hot and steamy, yum. The second is completely nerve racking. The tension and worry Seraphina creates is palpable. From here, you’ll get more steam, a brief romantic M/M scene, action, and a satisfying end.

The plot could definitely fill and would be worthy of a full length novel. At times, it may feel a bit rushed and there are a couple of head hopping moments, but I really enjoyed this quick tale.

I give The Summoning 4 stars and recommend it to paranormal menage fans that want a quick satisfying read.

I was given a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest and fair review.

You can click the cool cover at the top to see The Summoning on Goodreads.

Cover Reveal for The Awakening: Aidan by Abby Niles

Posted on April 19, 2013 by S.J. Maylee

The Awakening: Aidan

by Abby Niles

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

@abbyniles

Synopsis:

Is the gift of eternal love a blessing or a curse?

After years of counseling grieving shifters, psychiatrist and half-shifter, Dr. Jaylin Avgar has become jaded on shifter mating. She wants to marry a human and forget about the love for eternity crap.

Then she meets Aidan O’Connell, an infuriatingly laid back shifter who represents everything she doesn’t want. Yet, the more he pursues her, the more she craves a future with him. Only one thing stands in her

way: death. Can she overcome her fear of losing Aidan to the one guarantee in life?

Millionaire consultant, Aidan O’Connell knows he’ll one day meet a woman who?ll awaken an unrelenting mating instinct. Unfortunately, that woman is Jaylin, who has no qualms about telling him that he and his so-called eternity can shove it. When she pushes him away, he takes a drastic step so she can no longer escape. The close proximity throws the instinct into overdrive. Can he control the need engrained in him until he?s certain she will reciprocate the bond, or will a moment of weakness doom him to hell on earth?

Giveaway: $50 Visa Gift Card. Contest runs from 4/19-4/30.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: WEREWOLVES BE DAMNED by Stacey Kennedy

Posted on April 12, 2013 by S.J. Maylee

WEREWOLVES BE DAMNED

A Magic & Mayhem Novel

by Stacey Kennedy

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Release date: April 15, 2013

Book link <~ takes you to Stacey’s site

Goodreads

Book Description:

Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way.

Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.

But when a vampire paints a bull’s-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.”

About the Author:

Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.

Website – http://www.staceykennedy.com/

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy

Facebook Fan Page – www.facebook.com/StaceyKennedyFanPage

Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3473046.Stacey_Kennedy

Teaser:

I’ve found you, fur ball.

Nexi peered from behind the large oak tree and spotted the small log cabin nestled in the thick forest. The porch light cast a warm glow into the night. Fog settled over the lush grass, and the night was dark, eerie.

Stepping away from her hiding place behind the tree, she strode forward and gripped the dagger tightly in her hand. Keeping the silver blade pointed outward, she climbed the cabin’s porch steps, taking each one slowly to avoid detection.

Once she arrived at the front door, she wrapped her hand around the door handle. Rich hunger for revenge burned in her veins and made her intent on one thing: to slaughter the werewolf who escaped the night of her parents’ murder. Not caring what awaited her, she stormed inside, dagger pointed, ready to kill.

The simple cabin had two large brown couches near a wood-burning stove, a kitchenette behind the living room, and a quilt-covered bed resting in the back. And that was it; there were no other rooms to investigate. No secret hiding places she could see.

No damned werewolf.

She cursed, shut the front door behind her, then trotted down the steps to return to her hiding spot. On her way across the yard, she glanced at the space to the right of the tree, which looked much like a heat wave, indicating that the portal to the Otherworld remained.

In some places around the world—or the Earthworld, as supernaturals had called it—there were permanent portals to the supernatural realm. This portal had only appeared because Nexi had travelled to this cabin from the Otherworld. Once she passed through the portal again, the gateway would vanish.

Magic had its perks. Quick travel was one of them.

Nexi shook her head at how normal all this magical stuff seemed now. Just over a month ago she’d never believed in anything that went bump in the night. Now she knew all those things existed, and in fact, she was one of them.

To her horror, she had learned that her birth mother, Tillie, had been murdered by a power-hungry vampire, Lazarus. All those years ago, her birth father, Drake, had protectively decided to block Nexi’s supernatural abilities. He had planned for her to live and die as a mortal. Now with her return to the Otherworld and the removal of the block on her true identity, there was no going back.

She was no longer plain, human, Nexi Jones.

She was Nexi Jones, part guardian, part witch.

Looking away from the portal and to her hiding spot until the werewolf returned, she hurried her steps. She wasn’t ready to return to the Otherworld yet. Not until she had the werewolf’s head as her wall ornament would she dare go home.

Just as she neared the tree, a woodsy scent that had nothing to do with the forest mixed with the citrusy aroma of aftershave. A blink of an eye later, the dagger she held was now at her throat, a hard body closed in on her back.

“You smelled lovely when you arrived.” The low voice by her ear held a faint English accent. “But I never imagined you’d be so pretty.”

The blade pressed into her skin, not drawing blood, but implying that if the werewolf chose, she’d be destined for the grave. “I’m…”

“Going to explain yourself.” He lowered the dagger, took hold of her arm, and jerked her forward.

In a few short strides, the werewolf tossed her through the threshold of the cabin, and slammed the door behind them. He sauntered to the couch, sat down, and regarded her. “Now then, darlin’.” His olive skin was stunningly flawless, and his chocolate-colored hair was spiked tall. “Why would a pretty lass like yourself plan to attack me?”

“Don’t move.” That charm wouldn’t fool her. “Stay right where you are.”

“My mouth is the only thing moving.” His slanted amber eyes raked over her. “Would you like me to stop talking?”

“No.” She hesitated then added, “Only your mouth can move. Nothing else. Tell me what you know.”

He gave her a long look. “I’d be glad to tell you anything you’d like, love.”

His kind face and soft voice wouldn’t trick her. He was a werewolf. She was certain, which was another oddity.

After the block on her supernatural abilities had been lifted, she could identify a supernatural creature as if knowing the difference between a brunette and a redhead. “Tell me why you killed my family.”

“That’s an interesting accusation.” He cocked his head, studying her with a frown. “But I think the more important question is who are you?”

She lifted her chin. “The lass who’s going to cut off your furry wolf balls.”

PRE-ORDER NOW!

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Spotlight: A Hell Hound’s Fire by Siobhan Muir

Posted on April 5, 2013 by S.J. Maylee

A Hell Hound’s Fire

by Siobhan Muir

Published: April 01, 2013
Words: 17,609 (approximate)
Genre: Paranormal Romance

I fell for this book as Siobhan shared a snippet at a time on Sundays. I’m excited it’s finally out and did I mention this is a free read. Oh yeah. The blurb, excerpt, and all the details on Siobhan are below, along with the download link. Enjoy.

BLURB:

Love can be found in the most unlikely places, even the heart of a Hell Hound.

Alex MacLaren figures he’ll never find love again after his mate dies. As one of the rare Hell Hound werewolves, his chances are slim to none. And slim went home. When the local Morukai shaman calls on him to protect a lovely Irish werewolf and her young son from demons, he can’t help but take the job.

Sarah Flanagan is desperate to save her son Liam from the deadly monster trailing them, but she’s out of options and places to hide. She lost her mate the last time she encountered a demon, and with Liam depending on her, the stakes are far higher this time. After meeting Alex, she’s not sure about the Hell Hound, but she’s no fool. He’s their best hope for survival… and hers for another chance at love.

EXCERPT:

Sarah jerked her head around so fast she heard her neck pop. The man’s rich, rumbling voice offered comfort in ways she’d never experienced before. She inhaled to get more of an understanding of the salt-and-pepper haired man standing in the doorway. He carried the scents of alpine river and hot stone, but more importantly, he smelled like a Moon Singer.

Don’t be fooled, gel. The demon can pull off such trickery.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Alex MacLaren. Lt. Fitzroy called me to take you somewhere safe.”

She sighed. “Thank you, but I don’t think there’s anywhere safe from what’s following us.”

“Fitzroy says running water helps throw off the scents. I happen to own a house surrounded by the river. What say we get you there and then figure out an additional plan of action?”

“Are you west of left field, Mr. MacLaren?” The Moon Singer code popped out before she thought.

He gave her a half smile. “I haven’t heard that phrase in a long time. But, yes, ma’am, I surely am west of left field.”

Sarah hadn’t known she’d been holding her breath until it rushed out in a relieved sigh. More relief than required over his not being the demon. What’s that about?

“Do you think we’d be safe from…what’s coming?”

“Let’s talk about it on the way. The fewer people who know, the less likely someone might tip off your pursuer.”

Sarah wanted to ask more questions, but a sense of urgency made her rise and pull Liam up with her. Her son watched Alex with wide, blue eyes, clutching the book.

“Mama, can we bring the book with us?”

“It doesn’t belong to us, Liam.”

“Bring it. Fitzroy won’t mind. He keeps books just for that reason. We’ll just go out the back to my Jeep.” Alex gestured to the door. No one stood in the hallway outside and Sarah scented Alex’s relief.

He ushered them out to a cherry red Jeep Rubicon and helped them inside. He buckled Liam in directly behind him as if to protect the boy with his own body. The inside of the Jeep smelled like Alex. His strength, comfort, and power wrapped around them as he closed the doors. Old sorrow spiced the other scents and Sarah wondered what wounds he carried.

“I’m taking you to the River House. I don’t go there very much anymore, so most people in town won’t know about it.” Alex scanned the world outside the windows with careful eyes as he drove. “It may be a little dusty, but it’s quiet and safe.”

“Why don’t you go there much?” Liam asked.

Sarah hissed a warning and the boy frowned.

“My mate and I built it for relaxation. After she left, it just didn’t feel the same.”

“I’m sorry about your mate.” Sarah smelled his pain as he shrugged nonchalantly.

“It happened a long time ago.” Alex checked his mirrors and made a turn up a dirt road. “Let’s talk about what’s going on with you. Fitzroy told me you have a demon after you. Want to tell me how that happened?”

Sarah clenched her jaw and looked at her son. She hated revisiting the memories, but she’d come to the Morukai and he’d brought Alex in to help. Knowledge is power and I can’t do this alone anymore.

“Six years ago, demons attacked our village.” Alex raised his eyebrows and Sarah shrugged, pushing away fresh grief. “We’d just learned of my pregnancy and had gone out to celebrate. They killed my mate, Malcolm, and left me for dead.” She rubbed the ragged scar along her thigh under her jeans. “They killed so many people. If we’d stayed home, we might have escaped.”

Alex whistled with amazement. “They bit you?”

She nodded. “Bit, scratched. They left my body a bloody mess.”

“How did you survive the venom?”

“I don’t know. Sheer dumb luck? I wish I could explain.” She glanced at Liam. He met her gaze with love and trust.

“Why would the demons pursue you now?” Alex downshifted and slowed the Jeep, sparing her a thoughtful look.

Sarah sighed and clenched her fists on her legs. “They’re after Liam.” Alex only raised an eyebrow. “He must have incorporated some of the venom during his development because now he can smell and sense when demons are around. He has saved us from them many times.”

Alex’s expression softened. “That’s a mighty useful skill to have, Liam.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You can call me Alex.” He smiled. “What do they smell like to you?”

Liam didn’t say anything for a long time and the seconds ticked by with the growl of the engine. Sarah tried to forget the putrid demonic stench, but it festered inside her, engraved in her scent memory. At last, Liam glanced at her as if seeking permission and she nodded.

“They smell like rotten eggs and really hot rock.” He paused and hugged himself. “A little like you.”

BUY LINK:

Free ~~> Smashwords <~~ Free

BIO:

Siobhan Muir lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband, two daughters, and a vegetarian cat she swears is a shape-shifter, though he’s never shifted when she can see him. When not writing, she can be found looking down a microscope at fossil fox teeth, pursuing her other love, paleontology. An avid reader of science fiction/fantasy, her husband gave her a paranormal romance for Christmas one year, and she was hooked for good.

In previous lives, Siobhan has been an actor at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, a field geologist in the Aleutian Islands, and restored inter-planetary imagery at the USGS. She’s hiked to the top of Mount St. Helens and to the bottom of Meteor Crater.

Siobhan writes kick-ass adventure with hot sex for men and women to enjoy. She believes in happily ever after, redemption, and communication, all of which you will find in her paranormal romance stories.

Siobhan’s upcoming release, Not a Dragon’s Standard Virgin, is from Siren Publishing, and she has published Queen Bitch of the Callowwood Pack through Siren, and Her Devoted Vampire through Evernight Publishing.

Where you can find Siobhan

@SiobhanMuir

Spotlight: Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert

Posted on April 3, 2013 by S.J. Maylee

I have all the details today on Juliana Haygerts latest book, Destiny Gift. In this post you’ll find all the different ways to connect with Juliana, also the blurb, an excerpt, details on Juliana’a up coming blog tour and giveaway, and the buy links. Enjoy.

DESTINY GIFT

by Juliana Haygert

Genre: NA paranormal romance
Word Count: 73,000
Release date: April 1st, 2013

BLURB:

Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.

A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.

To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

EXCERPT:

I heard a heavy sigh and turned toward it. It was Victor. He was leaving the elevator down the hall and coming toward his grandma’s room. He had seen me and didn’t seem happy about it.

He wore faded jeans, a T-shirt, and a thin jacket. Too casual. I shook my head. The fact that my dream Victor and this real Victor were exactly the same physically, while their clothing styles and posture were the opposite of each other still boggled my mind.

He came to a stop before me. “You again.” There was disdain in his tone. I cringed.

“How are you?” I managed to ask and immediately felt silly. I had planted myself here in this hallway for over an hour waiting for him, and when he finally arrived, I didn’t know what to say. Though I really did want to know how he was. The last time I had seen him in the flesh, he’d been jerking on the floor of the hospital’s garage, in pain. “What was that … ah … before …?”” I trailed off, hoping he would understand what I was referring to.

He shrugged, his sea-green eyes still staring at me with suspicion. “I don’t know. By the way, how do you know my name?”

I twirled a lock of my hair around my index finger as I considered my answer. I wanted to answer him. I wanted to be honest, but he would never believe me.

As if my answer would pop out of the walls, I scanned the hallway.

At the end of the corridor, a nurse left a room and entered another.

“The nurse,” I almost shouted, hoping he wouldn’t notice my sudden lie. I avoided his inquisitive eyes. “I heard a nurse calling you earlier that day.”

His deadpan expression hid his thoughts and didn’t let me know if he was buying it or not.

“What did you do to me last night?” he asked, crossing his arms. God, I hated how his voice and his posture were so guarded and mistrustful. I wasn’t used to it.

“What do you mean?”

“When you touched me, the shock and the pain went away. How did you do that?”

“I don’t know.” This time I wasn’t lying. I really didn’t know. He frowned, clearly still suspicious. “Seriously, I have no idea.”

His shoulders stiffened. “What are you doing here? What do you want?”

My eyes widened as I retreated a few steps, trying to avoid his toxic tone.

Yes, he looked like my Victor—the same voice, the same hair, the same face, the same mouth that had offered me smiles that had rendered me breathless many, many times. I wanted to touch him, to embrace him, to tell him everything was going to be okay. Maybe if I touched him, he would remember me and he would want to touch me too.

I came closer to him, looking deeply into those wary green eyes, my fingers itching to stroke his skin, to feel it smoldering under my caress. But I didn’t. He was like my Victor, but he wasn’t my Victor. The Victor from my visions would never speak to me like this. He would never snap at me. No, no. My Victor loved my company, loved to hear me sing, loved to embrace me and inhale my scent.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice croaking under the heavy pressure inside my chest.

Then, I walked away.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Smashwords | Kobo

Juliana’s blog tour will take place April 29^th to May 10^th and there will be a rafflecopter giveaway:

April 29th

–New Adult Addiction >> Review

–Mom With A Kindle >> Interview

–Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance >> Review

April 30th

–The LUV’NV >> Review

–Two Fantasy Floozies >> Review

May 1st

–Bookittyblog >> Review + Interview

–Heather’s Book Chatter >> Excerpt

May 2nd

–Michelle’s Paranormal Vault of Books >> Review + Excerpt

–Just a Booklover >> Review

–Inkk Reviews >> Guest Post

May 3rd

–A Dream Within A Dream >> Review

–Wanted Readers >> Review

May 6th

–Justin’s Book Blog >> Review

–Froggarita’s Bookcase >> Interview

May 7th

–The Girl in a Cafe >> Review

–Bibliophile Mystery >> Review

May 8th
What’s Beyond Forks? >> Review + Excerpt
Reader Girls >> Review>
Ramblings of a Diva Booknerd >> Review
May 9th
For The Love Of Film And Novels >> Interview
Writing Belle >> Guest Post
May 10th
Gizmos Reviews >> Guest Post
The Shadow Realm >> Review>

BIO:

Juliana Haygert

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Goodreads | NA Alley

@Juliana_Haygert

Review: Eternity by Tmonique Stephens

Posted on December 22, 2012 by S.J. Maylee

Eternity

by Tmonique Stephens

Published: August 29th 2012
Publisher: Soulmate Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Print Length: 271 pages

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

@Tmoniquebooks

BLURB:

Cursed for 2000 years, Roman Nicolis has tracked his lovers’ soul through each reincarnation only to lose her horribly every time. Reclaiming their love is their only salvation. He’s been her friend, her father, her neighbor, but never again her lover . . . until now.

A late night walk home throws Stella into the path of a killer. The last thing she remembers are the deep blue eyes of the man trying to kill her—and the first things she sees after a seven day coma are the same blue eyes in the handsome face of the man hired to protect her. Is it fears she feels when Roman touches her or the memory of something sweeter? She will have to push past her fears and reclaim a love that has lasted two millennia.

REVIEW:

This story is packed full of all kinds of things that will keep your heart beating with passion, with fear, with anger, with excitement, and with love. The story starts fast and does not let go. It’s a page turner. It all starts with fabulous suspense and mystery, there’s a serial killer, Egyptian mythology, and it’s all mixed up with real love and passion.

It was so much fun to watch Stella grow and discover her strength through this book. She gets a lot thrown at her and she’s not perfect, she stumbles through her feelings in a real, refreshing way. Roman is not perfect either and that’s part of why I love him. At one point he thinks: It galled to be lumped together with everyone else that hurt, left, and disappointed her. No, he’s not perfect. He’s lived through a whole lot of loss, and even though he puts her needs first, his choices add to her pain. The love story here is fascinating, at times it’s raw and filled with pain and at others it’s erotic and beautiful.

Tmonique does a beautiful job of rolling out the details of her story at just the right time. Just when you think she’s pulled her last surprise, wait, there’s more. Oh, and the side characters add all kinds of enjoyable color and depth. I will most definitely be reading the next book in this series.

I recommend Eternity to all paranormal romance readers and give it a 5.0

note from S. J. : Eternity was provided to me for an honest and fair review

Spotlight: The Witch’s Dream By Victoria Danann

Posted on October 18, 2012 by S.J. Maylee

The Witch’s Dream, By Victoria Danann

The Order of the Black Swan #2

Genre: Adult Paranormal ROMANCE, Paranormal Fantasy

Publisher: 7th House

Release Date: October 14, 2012

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

@vdanann

Would you just look at that cover, it’s beautiful. Lucky Victoria and lucky us. I have all kinds of treats for you today. Paranormal Romance author Victoria Danann is celebrating the release of book two in her series, The Order of the Black Swan: The Witch’s Dream. She’s holding a tour wide GIVEAWAY!! Victoria is offering one Autographed Print Copy of her book plus a mousepad!! Check out the mouse pad right here on the right. All you need to do is comment, right here on this blog post.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

He was left behind when Elora Laiken made her choice. Now he’s had it with love, but a transplanted witch who happens to be the world’s best tracker hopes she can change his mind.

The Witch’s Dream begins with B Team on loan for temporary assignment to Black Swan headquarters in Edinburgh where they are supposed to fill in for stretched-thin resources and assist with a werewolf issue. They’ve been given permission to stop in Ireland for a few days and help Ram and Elora celebrate their handfasting at the palace in Derry.

When they reach Edinburgh, the afterglow of an elftale wedding quickly turns all business. A missing person report turns into a demon abduction. A simple werewolf sanction becomes a diplomatic issue requiring the one thing Elora is no longer willing to give – finesse. From New York to Ireland to Edinburgh to Siena to the Texas Hill Country to Napa Valley. From promises to rages to hunts to epiphanies.

This is a story that proves true love can find you when you’re least expecting it – even when you’re far, far from home.

Erotic quotient: A few steamy scenes. No menage. No BDSM.

EXCERPT:

When Kay’s bunch arrived it suddenly seemed as if the one hundred seventy five room palace on twelve thousand acres would not be nearly big enough. His family had migrated to South Texas in the nineteenth century and found it agreeably inhospitable. Berserkers enjoy a good challenge. So they founded an organization to clean up the mess, taking on rowdy itinerants who heartily embraced a get-it-done, no-rules philosophy and called it the Texas Rangers. Were it not for berserkers it seems unlikely that the frontier mix of Comanche, desperados, and javelina could have been subdued so relatively quickly and by so few.

Chaos Caelian, named such by his maternal grandmother as was her privilege in berserker society, was affectionately known as Kay. It was the nickname bestowed upon him by his teammate Rammel Hawking soon after they’d met. Ram had thought a knight named Kay – like the foster brother of King Arthur from Arthurian legend – was amusing. So Chaos became Sir Kay and it stuck. Even his own parents eventually began calling him Kay.

Yes. Everybody knew the near giant knight as Kay except for his three older sisters who refused to give up calling him Bubba, never letting him forget for a minute that he was the “baby” of the family. The four youngest Caelian children were close in age, only a year apart, and in familial ties. There was a much older brother, but he and their parents almost seemed to comprise a second family. The three preschool girls started out calling him “brother”, but the nickname quickly degenerated into Bubba and would not go away.

Their grandmother, sometimes called Evil Gran by those she had named, gave the girls similar hardships to bear. Having inherited the “sight” from her own grandmother, Evil Gran claimed she knew three girls were coming and set out to name them after the Norns; the three keepers of time according to Norse myth. Hence, they were named in order of linear time – past, present, and future: Urda, Verdandia, and Skulda. In a triumph of sibling camaraderie and conspiracy over custom, their names had morphed into something more suitable before they entered kindergarten. Urda became known as “Urz”, Verdandia as “Dandie” and Skulda did a triple twist into “Squoozie” which, odd as it was, seemed like a custom fit.

Elora had once heard Kay say that opening the door to his boyhood home was like going through the wardrobe to the land of “Nornia”.

The entire family resembled the popular perception of Vikings: tall, fair haired, fair skinned, with blue eyes, an abundance of athletic ability, and an indomitable desire to know where to plunder the best jewelry. Fortunately the family had accumulated multigenerational wealth in land, cattle, and oil in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century so the quest for jewelry did not require going a’viking as it was known in the old days. Kay’s sisters were content with the occasional plunder of Gump’s, Tiffany, and Cartier.

Author Bio:

For the past thirteen years, Victoria has illustrated and authored Seasons of the Witch calendars and planners.

Though works of fiction are a departure for her, she has had this series simmering on the back burner of her mind for years. In addition to authoring and illustrating Seasons of the Witch, she plays rock music and manages one of Houston’s premier R&B/Variety/Pop bands.

This series will eventually include some of my actual experience in the paranormal with fictionalized anecdotes from my journals during the years when I was a practicing “metaphysician”, but most of the material is fantasy – of course.

Buy Links

Paperback : Amazon

eBook : Amazon