|
It's that time of year again...time to go back to school. It's going to be another busy year and they all feel like they go a little too fast. Not sure how much I'll get to blog as I dive back into my full-time job and balance it with editing, reading, writing, and mom-ing. But here are a few dates that you can put on your calendar, if you want. I'd really be happy if you did.  From August 31 (Wednesday) to September 10th, you can vote for both DAMAGED & FALLING FOR HOME, which were nominated for the Indie Book 2016 award. Just click on the image to the left and it will take you to their site. Thank you, in advance.
 image from https://www.google.ca/search I'm not sure how long it'll be before I stop using Friends references for all things. If you've never seen the one where Ross talks about the night of five times, then you have no idea what I'm talking about. Which is fine. My husband is in your shoes all. the. time. Summer is coming to a close. Technically, there are still three weeks left but time has a way of speeding by without my permission. All in all, it's been a pretty great summer, despite the lackluster weather. I made it to New York City with my best friend to celebrate my 40th birthday. That was every bit as wonderful as I'd hoped it would be. Not only did we see three Broadway shows and walk the Brooklyn Bridge, I met my agent. And that was, literally, a dream come true. We've also done some fun family stuff. We've gone down to Vancouver a couple of times, gone swimming, and done some shopping.  In between all of the other wonderful things I've gotten to enjoy this summer...a boatload of book news goodness came my way as well. Sometimes, it feels like all or nothing in this industry. You spend time in a writing cave (or in my case, my bedroom), head down, trying to get the words right. Some days, there's endless chatting online as the words come. Other days, it's quiet. This summer has been not so quiet in the best possible way. If you didn't see, my three book deal with Entangled Publishing (Bliss Line) was announced this week. I'm already working on notes from my awesome editor, Stacy Cantor Abrams and her assistant.  In addition to this, I posted earlier in the summer that a novella "sequel" to Falling for Home, titled Falling for Kate, was signed by Penner Publishing. I'm very happy to be working with them again on another book. This one is out (tentatively) October 3rd. If you're counting, that's four and I said the summer of five. The fifth one that I'm really excited about is also with Penner Publishing. This one is called Caught Looking. Between now and the end of 2017, I will have five books released, all signed this summer.  So. Needless to say, I'm seriously excited. And in serious edit mode for the foreseeable future. Every book I write matters to me. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know that I'll get to share this many of them with all of you. I'm grateful to both Entangled Publishing and to Penner Publishing for believing in my work. I'm very grateful to my agent, Fran, for believing in me. And I'm extremely grateful to all of the people that help me and support me by forgiving me when I'm late or forget things, read my work-- some repeatedly, talk down my uncertainty, let me bounce ideas off of them endlessly, share in my enthusiasm when things are great and stand by me when they aren't. And as bonus good news, this morning I was notified that my books, Falling for Home and Damaged were nominated for the Summer Indie Book Awards for 2016! Voting takes place between September 1-11, 2016.  I'm not sure how to top this summer or if I need to, but I definitely know what I'll be doing for the rest of it: editing.
SELECT CONTEMPORARY MAN CANDY CONCESSION STAND
Welcome to the Select Contemporary Man Candy Concession Stand-featuring heroes that are so irresistible, you'll be kicking your current book boyfriend to the curb! Below, MK Meredith, Abby Niles, Hayson Manning, Alison Bliss, and Carol Pavliska are kicking off the Man Candy Wars by introducing you to their heroes (both new and old). So be sure to read up on these men so you can vote for you favorite fictional man candy at tonight's Man Candy Wars!
Drago
My name is Drago DeLuca.
I’m known in the Italian business world as The Dragon, but don’t let that dissuade you. I may be a corporate carnivore, but a maiden in or out of distress is surely my favorite meal. Women are beautiful creatures, and one who isn’t afraid of her power, who shows spunk and confidence is like eating dessert first. All the glory, followed by a savory dish that leaves one satisfied for days.
Though I’m a man of the world, my heart belongs to my nonna. She’s the one women I’d give everything up for. That’s the kind of loyalty you get from me once I believe your love is true. But therein lies the challenge. Experience has taught me true love is a rare, and one might even say endangered, entity. I admire bravery and intelligence and if ever both qualities were found in one woman who also puts me in my place, the temptation would be far too great to resist--and believe me, once you get a taste of The Dragon, you won't want me to.
Brody
I hate these things. The internet is too impersonal. I’m more of a one-on-one, face-to-face sort of guy. But what the hell, Abby asked me to tell all you lovely readers a little about myself. Since I love that woman, she gets what she wants. Though if I had my preference, I’d rather do a meet and greet so I’d have the honor of seeing each of your beautiful faces.
Unfortunately, this will have to do for now. I’m Brody “The Iron” Minton. I’m a heavyweight fighter. But don’t let that tough man career fool you. While I can knock the shit out of any man I square off with, and will do so without hesitation, I’m a huge softy. I blame it on having five sisters.
As far as I’m concerned, family is everything. I take my role as Uncle Brody seriously. To prove my point, I have a white Persian cat named Princess—picked out and named by my niece. Yes, it can be embarrassing to tell people that, but that child is my world. And if she wanted to name it Princess, then by damn, that cat was going to be named Princess, and to hell with anyone that laughed at me for sticking to it.
I love my Harley and going on long rides in the country. I find my peace out on the open road.
Tattoos are cool as fuck. I’m working on finishing my sleeve right now. I have a couple more frames to go. One of Hawkeye then of Deadpool. Yes, I’m a comic book nerd and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
I believe women should be treated with respect. I have five sisters, remember? I’ve watched them cry too many times over douchebags. I refuse to be one.
Well ladies, I need to jet. My niece will be here in just a bit. I’m babysitting for a few hours so my sister and her husband can go on a much needed date. I hope each one you has an amazing day!
Brody
Dug
The name I go by at the moment is Dug. You all don’t know me yet. I am book two of the Bound series. You might have met me in Bound to the Bounty Hunter. I don’t talk much, but I observe a lot, especially my work colleague Arabella Tennyson, who used to go by the name of Mia. Guess she’s hiding secrets too. There isn’t a lot to know about me. I like my beer cold and my food hot. I don’t date, and I don’t do relationships which kills my mother and sisters, who have not stopped matchmaking since I landed back in Colorado where I now work for Harlan Franco. I foster severely neglected dogs, I’m a Bronco’s supporter, and I once had a perfect life.
Jake
I’m FBI Special Agent Jake Ward and, without a doubt, I am your ideal man candy hero. I may not always be forthcoming with my feelings, but I’m always honest. Maybe even to a fault. Okay, so I can be a bit cocky and arrogant at times. I admit it. Some might even say I’m infuriatingly alpha. Mostly because I like for a woman to play by the rules. Oh, wait. I’m supposed to be listing my good qualities, aren't I? Okay, let me try this again. I’m protective, loyal, and rule-abiding…when I get to make the rules. I’d take a bullet for those I love, and I always protect what’s mine.
Julian
I’m Julian and I don’t do crowds, so I’m honestly not looking forward to being dragged off to a carnival and paraded around as man candy. And although I’ve been promised a spot in the kissing booth if I behave myself, I’m highly suspicious I’ll end up in the dunking booth instead. One thing I definitely won’t be doing at the carnival is eating carnival food. I haven’t always treated my body like a temple, but I do now. No meat, no dairy, lots of working out. I admit that some people find it annoying, but nobody complains about the result. In fact, women seem to rather enjoy it. They also appreciate my many tattoos, British accent (I might play that up a bit), and lightning fast fingers. Get your minds out of the gutter, loves. I’m a guitarist. I’m also known for the somewhat peculiar condition of synesthesia, which means I see sounds as colors. Believe me it’s not as lovely as you might think. It’s why I left the stage for the sanctity of my recording studio. I no longer crave the spotlight, and the attention of one special woman is all I need. Be sure to stop by and say hello at the carnival. I might end up being the thrill ride of your life.
GIVEAWAY
Don't forget to check out the authors and their books!
Malibu Secrets by MK Meredith, on sale for just 99¢!
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
Fighting Love by Abby Niles, on sale for just 99¢!
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
A Wife in Name Only by Hayson Manning
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
Rules of Protection by Alison Bliss
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
Color Me Crazy by Carol Pavliska
Find it online:
Author Info:
And be sure to stop by the other carnival booths for more fun and giveaways and each day stop by the Facebook event page to chat with the authors.
EMBRACE DUNK TANK BOOTH
Click to set custom HTML
Welcome to the Embrace Dunk Tank where we’re talking about book boyfriends and wet t-shirts! Jennifer Blackwood, Shae Ross, Stacy Wise, Marnee Blake, Jus Accardo, and Rebecca Yarros are all sharing their favorite book boyfriends that they would L-O-V-E to see in the dunk tank. Check out the video below, and let us know: Who would you add to the list?
Unethical by Jennifer Blackwood, on sale for just 99¢!
About the Book:
Love burns hotter the second time around…
Two years ago, the medical world was shaken by scandal, and Payton Daniels’s family was at the center of it. The second she graduated, Payton left everything behind—her high school sweetheart, her family, and the controversy surrounding her mother’s death—and hid within the anonymity of college. But Payton’s ex, Blake Hiller, hasn’t forgiven her for leaving, and when he enrolls in the same medical ethics class, she panics. She can’t run the risk of him telling everyone who she really is.
As if being at the same university isn’t enough, both Blake and Payton land the same internship. Forced together, their passion for each other reignites, but when Payton is asked to testify in her father’s high-profile trial, she must choose between risking her acceptance into medical school to help her father, and losing every connection to her past—including the only guy she’s ever loved.
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
Pretty Smart Girls Lace Up by Shae Ross, on sale for just 99¢!
About the Book:
Let the games begin…
Team Ryan
Ryan Rose and her fellow Spartans are finalists in a high-profile entrepreneurial competition. They’re competing for life-changing money and for their futures. They have a solid plan to win. All they need to do is trounce the competition: rich frat boys from an archrival university. Easy, right?
Team Jett
Jett Trebuchet’s first mistake was not realizing that Ryan and her friends were the competition. His second was expressing his unabashed confidence in his team’s ability to win. After all, everyone knows the only thing MSU does better than U of M is produce beautiful, easy women…oh, and he almost forgot to say “dumb.” And boy, does his team pay for that one.
Game On
As each side tries to game the other, something else seems to be getting in the way—attraction. Now Ryan and Jett must keep their teams from getting distracted by the opposite sex…and each other. All is not fair in love and war when it comes to winning this game.
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
Beyond the Stars by Stacy Wise, on sale for just 99¢!
About the Book:
Falling for him wasn’t in the plans…
Most girls would kill for the opportunity to work for Jack McAlister, Hollywood’s hottest actor, but twenty-one-year-old Jessica Beckett is ready to kick him out of her red Ford Fiesta and never look back. She should be spending her junior year in France, eating pastries and sharpening her foreign language skills. Instead she’s reluctantly working as Jack’s personal assistant, thanks to her powerhouse talent agent aunt.
Jack is private, prickly, and downright condescending. Jessica pushes his buttons—she’s not the type of girl to swoon over celebrity heartthrobs, precisely why her aunt thought she’d be perfect for the job—and Jack pushes right back.
But as she begins to peel away his layers, Jessica is shocked to find she craves her boss’s easy smile and sexy blue eyes. The problem is, so does the entire female population. And what started out as the job from hell soon has Jess wondering if a guy like Jack could ever find love with a regular girl like her.
Find it online:
Author Info:
Altered by Marnee Blake
About the Book:
When “normal” ends, survival begins…
Blue Michaels doesn’t know who to trust. She wakes in her sleepy little town to discover everyone is dead—well, almost everyone. U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell is alive, and a handful of her friends survived. But they’re different—each of them has powers they didn’t have when they went to bed.
Oh, and someone wants them dead.
It’s going to take all of their gifts if they are going to survive until they can figure out what to do. Blue wants to believe Seth has their best interests at heart. That he really does want to take care of them and get them to safety. God knows she can’t stop thinking about him.
But, can she trust him with their lives…and her heart?
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
Rules of Survival by Jus Accardo
About the Book:
If you want to survive, you have to follow the rules…
Mikayla Morgan is wanted for her mother’s murder. She’s been on the run for almost a year now, avoiding not only the police but the real killer. Tired of running and desperate to clear her name, she breaks one of the most sacred rules: never return to the scene of the crime.
Every bounty hunter on the Eastern Seaboard is after the Morgan girl—but Shaun Denver and his partner snagged her. She’s a piece of work, and Shaun can’t decide if he wants to kiss her or kill her. When things take a sharp turn south, Shaun does the only thing he can think of to keep her close—he handcuffs them together.
As the danger mounts and the killer closes in, the chemistry between them threatens to explode. Shaun and Kayla will need to break all the rules if they hope to get out of this alive.
Find it online:
Author Info:
Hallowed Ground by Rebecca Yarros
About the Book:
There are some debts you can’t repay…
Josh Walker is loyal, reckless, and every girl’s dream. But he only has eyes for December Howard, the girl he has yearned for since his high school hockey days. Together they have survived grief, the military, distance, and time as they’ve fought for stolen weekends between his post at Ft. Rucker and her schooling at Vanderbilt. Now that Josh is a medevac pilot and Ember is headed toward graduation, they’re moving on—and in—together.
Ember never wanted the Army life, but loving Josh means accepting whatever the army dictates—even when that means saying goodbye as Josh heads to Afghanistan, a country that nearly killed him once before and that took her father. But filling their last days together with love, passion, and plans for their future doesn’t temper Ember’s fear, and if there’s one thing she’s learned from her father’s death, it’s that there are some obstacles even love can’t conquer.
Flight school is over.
This is war.
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
GIVEAWAY
And be sure to stop by the other carnival booths for more fun and giveaways and each day stop by the Facebook event page to chat with the authors.
LOVESTRUCK RING TOSS BOOTH
Step right up to the Entangled Summer Carnival Soda Ring Toss Booth! A bottle of soda pop is great but let’s get real for as hard as that game could be there are a lot of other things we would love to win. The Entangled Lovestruck authors are sharing what (or who!) they would love to win with a lucky toss of the ring. Let us know what/who you would want to win at the ring toss booth?
Message in a bottle: Gone are the days of hoping to win the giant pink panda, hanging from the rafters of the carnival game vendor. Now I want bigger and better! If I’m spending money and tossing a ring onto a soda pop bottle, I’m not looking to score a sugary drink or another stuffed animal. I have a house full of those already thanks to my little one’s Beanie Boo obsession. I’d much rather toss a ring and find a message inside the bottle—like a voucher for an all-inclusive, weeklong vacation on a private tropical island for my hubby and me!! That would be a prize worth tossing a few dozen rings for! I can almost feel the sand between my toes…the icy drink in my hand...
Hula Hoop toss: This would be a fun twist on the traditional soda pop toss. Instead of rings, I’m going to use hula hoops and instead of bottles, I’m lassoing people to join me and hubs on our private island vacation! And since I’m making the rules, I can win more than once. LOL. First up, Josh Holloway is snagged. Mmm. Do I need to tell you why? No, of course I don’t. Just look at him. (happy sigh). My second win is Giada De Laurentiis for hubs. I’m nice like that. Not only is she super hot and one of his favorites, but she can cook us some super yummy food while we lounge on the beach drinking margaritas and watching Josh surf shirtless! Does life get better than that? You betcha, ‘cause I’m not done winning yet! My last hoop actually snags 3 heads at once. Elon Musk, JK Rowling, and Jim Gaffigan are all coming with us because they are interesting, inspiring, and hilarious. Sounds like a great trip to me! Who would you hope to snag in a hula hoop toss?
If I get to toss a ring on someone, it's GOT to be my husband. Granted, sometimes that ring needs to go around his neck (after over 20 years together, that feeling is probably mutual) but they also make lovely rings for, um, other very specific regions. Granted, they're not so very much for tossing, but if I had ninja moves I could probably make it happen. Or injure him. Which brings us back to that ring he'd probably like to put around *my* neck...which could be freaking HOT with a fistful of hair. (I have a feeling I've gone off track, but now you're all left with a deeper understanding of my books, so there is that.)
I grew up in a small town and one of the things we looked forward to every summer was the County Fair with the 4H livestock, the quilting displays, the scent of corn dogs and funnel cakes in the air, and the carnival. The midway had thrill rides and games and offered a chance to laugh with your friends or hope that special someone took you on a ride or tried to win you a stuffed animal.
The Soda Pop Ring Toss was always a favorite, but you usually missed the bottle, and if you made one, the best you could hope to win was a flimsy plastic toy or a cheap stuffed animal. Not that I’m older and wiser, I would have different choices for the prizes at the Ring Toss game. If I was at the carnival now and could choose what (or whom) I would love to toss a ring over and win, then I would have to choose Red Jamie from Outlander. I would then choose for him to lift me astride his trusty steed and wrap me in his muscular arms as he whisked me away to gallop along the Scottish Highlands while whispering lovely Gaelic words in my ear.
Is that too much to ask for? Okay, I’ll rein it in a little and choose to toss my ring to win a night with Iron Man…er…I mean Robert Downey Jr. I just love that ridiculously cute smile of his. Wait, my current crush is Chris Pratt, so I mean I would probably have to choose him. Seriously, did you see that scene with him and the motorcycle in Jurassic Park, I could die, his grin is so hunky. Wait, maybe I should choose Thor, or Hugh Jackman. Yes, definitely Hugh Jackman…is it getting warm in here? Aw heck, I usually missed the ring anyway.
Who would you choose?
Okay, Jennie. We may have a problem here because that handsome hunk of Scottish manliness was my first choice for the ring toss. I mean, who wouldn’t want to win Red Jamie (aka Sam Heughan)? Aside from his obvious ruggedly, devastatingly handsome sexiness, the man is loyal, protective, brave to a fault, honorable, and loves with a passion that has me melting from 200 years away!
I’m afraid I just can’t give him up that easily. We’re going to have to have a Toss Off. Winner gets the Highlander! We’ll toss rings at his…um…well…maybe we’ll let him pick an appendage *ahem* Best 3 out of 5!!
Just on the very off chance I do not win my darling Jamie, my second choice of Ring Toss prizes would be Jason Momoa (and only by a very small margin…I mean really if I’m being honest I’d really love to just claim both of them. Can I do that? Am I making the rules for this game? I declare it approved!!) Have you seen the trailer for the Justice League? Jason as Aquaman? O.O
Give me a handful of rings – I’ll aim right for his…trident :-D And I’m going to win too. Jason and Jamie/Sam. Yes, I’m taking both. Because I’m greedy like that. And an excellent ring tosser ;-)
LOL. Anyone else duking it out to try and snag Jamie? Let us know what/who you would want to win at the ring toss booth?
GIVEAWAY
Don't forget to check out the authors and their books below!
The Hometown Hoax by Heather Thurmeier
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
The Three-Week Arrangement by Sarah Ballance, on sale for just 99¢!
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
Romancing the Ranger by Jennie Marts
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
Truly, Madly, Sweetly by Kira Archer
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
And be sure to stop by the other carnival booths for more fun and giveaways and each day stop by the Facebook event page to chat with the authors. LOVESTRUCK DUCK POND
Step right up to the Entangled Summer Carnival Duck Pond Booth! Have you ever played this game and realized just how hard it actually is to line that magnetic fishing line up with the magnet in the little rubber duck?! Really it is harder than it looks but we have some amazing heroes who are dying to win that lucky prize for you. Who would you want to try out the Duck Pond game with? What was the best prize you have ever won from the Duck Pond game?
If you're looking for the perfect hero to win you an awesome carnival prize My hero, Paul, from Pretend It's Love is your best bet. He's a bartender, so he's used to working with his hands. Whether it's flipping bottles, working cocktail shakers or sliding a drink down the bar, he knows exactly how to handle himself. Plus, carrying slabs of beer and crates of wine around mean he's got the strength as well as the finesse. What more could you possibly want than a hero who's an expert in working with his hands?
I asked Quinn, the biker from Accidentally in Love with the Biker, about the duck pond. He sighed, and rubbed his chin. "Okay," he said. "Don't tell any of the guys at the shop this, but when I was a kid, if there had been an award, I would have been the North Las Vegas Duck Pond Champion. There's a certain tilt to the good ones, and if you stand there and watch the other kids play, you'll figure out which ones have the lucky number on the bottom. I can't really explain it, there's just a feeling." He smirks. "Kind of like how I know what Kellie's in the mood for. When she puts on that black stretchy top thing--Ow!"
Kellie glared at Quinn. "I don't think you need to share all of your secrets over the internet, babe."
Ladies, my hero, Ian, from The Seduction of Kinley Foster, is the man you want on your arm when you venture to the duck pond at the carnival. Why? Because he's sexy as sin, and he's an agent for erotica writers. As such, he's all about turning something as innocent as a duck pond into something so steamy you'll be losing your panties the first chance you get. Just last night he made a list of prizes for drawn numbers. If your duck has a one on it's bottom, you get a scorching hot kiss. A two will get you spanked. A three, well, let's just say a three has long slow strokes with his tongue in all of the right places.
GIVEAWAY
Don't forget to check out the authors and their books below!
Pretend It's Love by Stefanie London, only 99¢!
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
Accidentally in Love with the Biker by Teri Anne Stanley, only 99¢!
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
The Seduction of Kinley Foster by Lisa Wells, only 99¢!
Find it online:
Author Info:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter
And be sure to stop by the other carnival booths for more fun and giveaways and each day stop by the Facebook event page to chat with the authors.
|
Archives
May 2021
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
