Romancing Rakes For The Love of Romance: November 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway with Jana Richards

WELCOME TO THE BOOK TOUR:

Have you been invited to your high school reunion? Did you go? How did you plan for it? Author Jana Richards gives a few tips on how to survive your high school reunion. Today on the blog, let's give a big Texas "Howdy" to Jana Richards, author of THE GIRL MOST LIKELY.

HOWDY JANA!

Meet Jana:

Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.

When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.

Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, along with two university aged daughters and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou.

Where To Find Jana: Author Site | Blog | Facebook

Guest Post:

Hello my lovelies. Please excuse the dust. I am figuring out a new layout and background and all that good stuff for the month of December. Please enjoy this half naked sweaty man. Do not be afraid if the look of the blog keeps changing every time you visit. I promise I'll settle on one layout when I'm satisfied. Until then, enjoy this other guy.

They're helping me...

Interview with Nancy Gideon, author of HUNTER OF SHADOWS

When I read Nancy Gideon's blurb for her latest book, HUNTER OF SHADOWS, I knew I had to host her on the blog. Hellooo! The Moonlight series is set in NOLA (New Orleans) and I think it's a sign for me to visit soon since I've been seeing NOLA in book blurbs and shows I watch. Nancy is not only an author but she's listed on IMDB (my complete movie info bible) as an extra and a writer. Let's give Nancy a warm welcome to the blog today:

HOWDY NANCY!

MEET NANCY:

With over 50 sales to her credit since her first publication in 1987, Portage, Michigan author Nancy Gideon’s writing career is as versatile as the romance market, itself. Her books encompass genres from historicals and regencies to contemporary suspense and the paranormal. Her works have been published overseas in Romanian, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Danish, German, Icelandic and Chinese, among other languages.

Also listed on the International Movie Database (IMDB), she collaborated on the indie horror films In the Woods and Savage with screenwriting and ADR script credits, and even played the character “Bar Extra.”

A national speaker on writing in general and romance in particular, Gideon is a Western Michigan University honors grad with a major in journalism and minors in history and communications. She’s a member of Novelist, Inc. and the Mid-Michigan, Greater Detroit, PASIC and FF&P chapters of Romance Writers of America®, and is former vice-president, published author co-liaison and award-winning newsletter editor for MMRWA.

While the pace is often hectic, Gideon, a Gemini, enjoys tackling diverse projects. One month it’s researching the gritty existence of 1880’s Texas Rangers only to jump to modern themes of intrigue and possibly a legal thriller or two. Then, it’s back to the shadowy netherworld of shape shifters, vampires and movie serial killers. When not working on her latest plot twist before sunrise or arranging medical depositions, she enjoys indulging in Netflix, hosting her critique group, and feeding a variety of wildlife on her fourth-floor balcony including a yearly family of raccoons. And, of course, reading.

WHERE TO FIND NANCY: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Q&A:

HUNTER OF SHADOWS by Nancy Gideon
FORMAT: Paperback
GENRE: Paranormal
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 416 pages
PUBLISHER: Pocket Star (November 29, 2011)
ISBN: 9781439199507

The secrets he knows about her could get him killed.
Transferring to the New Orleans Police Department, Detective Silas MacCreedy has a hidden agenda: to secure his clan's place on again in the Shifter hierarchy. What he didn't count on was stumbling upon a sexy assassin who could shred his best intentions and lead him into a dangerous dance that threatens to engage his heart.

But the ones he doesn't know...
Monica Fraser knows just how to make a man beg--for his life. But she has no clue how to fight her attraction to the fiercely intense detective who seems determined to get in her way, both professionally and intimately.

...could kill them both.
When emotional attachments to the past and an unexpected glimpse of a different future have her questioning her deadly purpose, Nica must discover the truth about her secret abilities in order to free herself from the forces that control her. But that freedom comes with a price--trusting those she's been ordered to eliminate. (source:back cover)

I loved it.

OTHER BOOKS IN SERIES (click on covers for excerpts)

REVIEW:

Erotic Contemporary Review: Infatuation by Melissa Schroeder

INFATUATION by Melissa Schroeder
FORMAT: PDF
GENRE: Erotic Contemporary
FILE SIZE: 211KB (about 32,000 words)
PUBLISHER: Melissa Schroeder (November 13, 2011)

Francis McKade is a man in lust. He’s had a crush on his best friend’s little sister for years but he has never acted on it. Besides that fact that she’s Malachi’s sister, he’s a Seal and he learned his lesson with his ex-fiancé. Women do not like being left alone for long months at a time. Still, at a wedding in Hawaii anything can happen—and does. Unfortunately, after the best night of his life, he and Mal are called away to one of their most dangerous missions.

Shannon is blown over by Kade. She’s always had a crush on him and after their night together, it starts to feel a little like love. But, after the mission, Kade never calls or writes and she starts to wonder if it was all a dream. Until one night, her brother Mal drags him into her bar and grill and Shannon gets the shock of her life.

Kade isn’t the man Shannon knew in Hawaii, or even the last few years. Twelve hours of torture changes a man, especially one who had never felt so vulnerable. He still can’t shake the terror that keeps him up at night. Worse, he is realizing that the career he loves just might be over.

Shannon is still mad, but she can’t help but hurt for the man she loves. He is darker, a bit more dangerous, but beneath that, he is the Kade she's known for so many years. When he pushes her to her limits in the bedroom, Shannon refuses to back down. One way or another, this military man is going to learn there is no walking away from love—not while she still has breath in her body.

Warning: This book contains two infatuated lovers, some drunken dancing, a hard-headed military man, a determined woman, some old friends, and a little taste of New Orleans. As always, ice water is suggested while reading. It might be the first military Harmless book, but the only thing that has changed is how hot our hero looks in his uniform—not to mention out of it.

Go and Buy it NOW!

REVIEW:

Julia Quinn Reading Challenge 2012- Hosted by Aislynn at Stitch-Read-Cook

Several years ago Aislynn was introduced to Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series. Little did Aislynn know at the time that she would become one of her favorite authors! Since then Aislynn has collected almost every single one of her books. Her books are the type to make you smile, make you laugh and sigh a little.

Aislynn's goal this year is to re-read all her books - all 26 of them (including the novella's)!

The Bevelstoke series: The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever ~ What Happens In London ~ Ten Things I Love About You

The Two Dukes of Wyndham: The Lost Duke of Wyndham ~ Mr. Cavendish, I Presume

The Bridgertons Series: The Duke and I ~ The Viscount Who Loved Me ~ An Offer From A Gentleman ~ Romancing Mister Bridgerton ~ To Sir Philip, With Love ~ When He Was Wicked ~ It's In His Kiss ~ On The Way To The Wedding

Agents of the Crown: To Catch An Heiress ~ How To Marry A Marquis

The Lyndon Sisters: Everything And The Moon ~ Brighter Than The Sun

The Splendid Trilogy: Splendid ~ Dancing At Midnight ~ Minx

The Smythe-Smith Quartet: Just Like Heaven

Novellas: The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown ~ Lady Whistledown Strikes Back ~ Scottish Brides ~ Where's My Hero ~ The Lady Most Likely..

MARSHAL OF HEL DORADO by Heather Long
FORMAT: PDF
GENRE: Historical/Paranormal
PAPERBACK: 328 pages
PUBLISHER: Heather Long (November 8,2011)
ISBN: 9781452441726

In the shadows of the old west, the untamed land live bands of outlaws and outsiders. In a time when fevers could fell whole towns, these few survivors are marked. Marked…and forever changed.

Sam Kane is the oldest brother, the steadfast son and the confidant marshal. He’s never met a problem to hot to handle until a gang behind a string of robberies across the territory set their sights on his town. Now with the bank’s gold inexplicably missing from a locked safe, the town hunting the elusive thieves and a passionate redhead with a fiery secret in his jail, Sam has his hands full.

Scarlett Morning Star lived in seclusion in the mountains of West Texas most of her life. She longs for adventure, but with seven very protective older brothers, adventure is hard to come by. When she tags along uninvited on their latest escapade, she is left behind during a bank robbery and finds herself in the custody of the very sexy town marshal.

The town wants to lynch her, the Marshal wants answers and her brothers want her back, can Scarlett keep it together or will her explosive secret burn them all?

Her life. His badge. Their fight.

Go and Buy it NOW!

REVIEW:

Ack! It's the end of the month and there's some awesome books coming out today. I can't believe I totally forgot. *think White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland--'I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date...'* Anywho, you know the drill: click on the book covers for excepts and such. Sandra Hill's WET & WILD is a re-release with a shinier, prettier cover. I finished reading Nancy Gideon's HUNTER OF SHADOWS on the plane ride to Austin and Starr Ambrose's SILVER SPARKS on the way back to San Diego. Both fantastic reads.

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO:

So, what books are you looking forward to? Did any of these catch your eye?

Winners of Gratitude Giveaway Hop

We've got winners for the Gratitude Giveaway Hop. Since y'all are all sorts of awesome and I'm at 540 followers, I'm adding another winner. So instead of 2 people getting something off their wishlist from The Book Depository, 3 people get to pick a book off of their wishlist.

CONGRATS:

Holly L (hhollyl)

Megan Kyser

Linda Henderson (seriousreader)

All winners have been contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be chosen.

Don't fret my lovelies. There will be almost a months worth of giveaways in December. The Joyathon is only 2 days away. Keep up with the festivities here.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Happy Birthday Delilah & Lila!

I heart her like nobody's business.

Today is a double whammy. Hot men (Man Candy Monday) AND Delilah Marvelle and Lila DiPasqua's BIRTHDAYS!!!!! It's totally cosmic since Lila's name is in Delilah's *giggle*. Anyway, they're both such fabulous, fun and dirty sexy writers. I love them both.

Ms. Lila DiPasqua

Totally unfortunate that I couldn't get a picture with Lila since she wasn't able to go to RomCon11. Someday I'll be able to post the pictures side by side. Heck! A Lila/Delilah sandwich would be all sorts of fantastic.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DELILAH AND LILA!!!

Today is party like a rockstar in your birthday suit day ♥

Man Candy Monday: Australian Hotties

Happy Monday morning to all of you lovelies. I know that I've neglected your for the past couple of days. But I'm here to make it up to you in the form of shirtless men. I think you'll love today's theme. Don't forget to join us this evening on Twitter, 8PM CST (6,7 and 9 for the rest of us), look for the #mancandymonday hashtag and ogle to your hearts content. Remember, Sharing IS Caring so bring along some hotties to share with your fellow man candy Monday babes. Also, check out the official Man Candy Monday blog for a guest post from aspiring author, Nicole Flockton.

Today's theme is: Australian Movie Man Candy. And for the love of coccyx, please put a warning (NSFW) when you post pictures on Twitter. Some of us have been known to spew our drinks due to the shock factor of a full frontal peen on our screens. KThx.

Winners of the Turning Up the Heat tour

We've got winners for the Turning Up the Heat tour!!!

CONGRATS:

ELAING8

SEBRINA

JOLENE A.

Each of you has won a copy of Cara Elliott's TOO WICKED TO WED and Lilli Feisty's DELICIOUSLY SINFUL.

All winners have been contacted via email. Winner has 48 hours to respond or an alternate winner will be chosen.

Don't fret. There's 3 more days left to enter at my stop on the Gratitude Giveaway Hop.

A huge thank you to Cara and Lilli for stopping by the blog and for Forever for providing the copies for review and for giveaway.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

abc.go.com

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!! I hope everyone has a lovely day cooking, mingling, enjoying the company of family and friends and of course, sinking into that delicious Thanksgiving feast.

When I was younger, Thanksgiving at my house meant my mother getting up at the crack of dawn to stuff the turkey, chop up everything in preparation for what would be a whole day of cooking (yes, the dishes started piling up in the sink. good old dad to the rescue!) and adding a touch of the Philippines to Thanksgiving feast (which meant lumpia or you may know them as eggrolls). Funny thing is, my mother was making enough food to feed the whole neighborhood and there were only 3 of us. Since our family is scattered far and wide, it's hard to get together for holidays but it seems, summer is the only time we can get together. But that's a whole different story for another day.

Anywho, this is what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving:

Family. Now Mr. Kati and I are married, we have the split time between our families and it's so funny how his family is loud and rambunctious and mine is not. My parents have always let me learn from my mistakes, only guiding with a gentle hand towards the right path. They've never once put on that 'I told you so' face that some parents do when things go wrong. They just wiped the tears away, cleaned up the scrapes and bruises and let me find my own way.
Friends. Ah yes, friends. They're just simply fabulous and hilarious. I love each and every one of them. Whether it's late nights on the town, giggling over hotties, going to the movies at a midnight showing just cause or even using them as idea bouncers. They're even better than paying some therapist to help you decide the meaning of life. lol.
The Romance Community. I'm so glad I discovered romance books again. This community is loving, giving and all around amazing. They stand up for their own, applaud successes, share in their pain, raise awareness for causes and of course, share their love of all things romance. Not only are the bloggers and readers supportive of each other but authors as well. Authors who interact with their readers are the greatest people on earth.
Yummy food. Uh,it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without delicious, sleep inducing food. Now, I love to cook but my mother's home cooking is what I live for when we go home to visit. And the camaraderie that goes comes with making the yummy food is a bonus.
Texas Renaissance Festival. Now you're thinking I'm crazy but this festival is the shit! It has its own facility in the middle of nowhere East Texas. There's singing, there's dancing, there's comedy acts, fried foods that shouldn't be fried but somehow end up being fried because it can be dipped in batter, jousting, people in costume and lots and lots of spirits. Yes, those spirits. It's an after Thanksgiving tradition and rain or shine, it's there for a full days worth of entertainment. Acres and acres. There's even elephant rides in the very back of the fairgrounds.

So peeps, what are YOU thankful for on this Thanksgiving day? Did you watch the Macy's Parade and It's A Wonderful Life afterwards? What's YOUR favorite Thanksgiving day TV special? Have a safe and fun holiday weekend!

Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway with Candis Terry

WELCOME TO THE BLOG TOUR:

Football? Christmas? And finding love during the holidays? Candis Terry's recent release, ANY GIVEN CHRISTMAS, combines all three. I am excited to welcome Candis to the blog today. Let's give her a huge Texas "Howdy!" and let her give us some pointers on how to survive the holidays with our families. I know that those of you who have crazy families may need some tips to make it through the holidays.

HOWDY CANDIS!!!

MEET CANDIS:

Growing up in Southern California, I was too busy reading books, hanging out at the beach, or finding ways to have a good time that wouldn’t land me on restriction to even consider writing a book. Oddly enough, a college drama teacher (who politely discouraged my inept acting abilities) encouraged me to develop the A+ character bio I’d created into a complete story. Right. Years later, in the midst of a bleary-eyed all-nighter (rocking my newborn, that is), I picked up a romance novel and fell in love with more than just the infant in my arms.
The diversities in my life have enhanced (or twisted) my worldview. From working in a Hollywood recording studio to a graphic designer in marketing; from schmoozing with the likes of Charleton Heston and Motley Crüe to giving up my beach bum ways and making the move to an Idaho farm. I’ve designed costumes for 80’s heavy metal videos and scooped up road apples left on the parade route by my daughter’s rodeo queening horse.
Only one thing has remained constant: my passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily ever after. Though my stories are set in small towns, my wish is to give each of my characters a great big memorable love story rich with quirky characters, tons of fun, and a happy ending.
I’m married to a wonderful man who takes out the trash without being asked and who puts up with all my crazy ideas. To find inspiration, my family and I often grab our trailer and ATV and venture out to discover the off-road splendor of the Idaho wilderness. And when I need a fun dose of reality, I call upon my daughter and her little Mini-Me or one of our 3 furry troublemakers.
Life is good down on the farm!

Where To Find Candis: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

GUEST POST:

ANY GIVEN CHRISTMAS by Candis Terry
FORMAT: PDF
GENRE: Contemporary
PUBLISHER: Avon Impulse (November 22,2011)
ISBN: 9780062105233

Dean Silverthorne’s mother may be dead, but she still has matchmaking to do.

When an injury dashes NFL Quarterback Dean Silverthorne’s Super Bowl dreams, he heads back to Deer Lick, Montana with a chip on his wounded shoulder and more determined than ever to get back in the game. He loves his kooky family, but his trip home is nothing but a very brief Christmas visit.

His game plan didn’t include an instant attraction to Emma Hart, a feisty kindergarten teacher who seems to be the only person in Deer Lick not interested in the hometown hero. Or his dearly departed mom popping up with mistletoe in hand and meddling on the mind. Now Dean can’t help but wonder if there’s more to love than life between the goal posts.

Where To Find Candis: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter
Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I really loved it!

Other Book in Series(click on cover to learn more):

REVIEW:

Historical eARC Review: Pride & Passion by Charlotte Featherstone

PRIDE & PASSION by Charlotte Featherstone
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Historical
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 384 pages
PUBLISHER: HQN Books (November 15, 2011)
ISBN: 9780373776177

They each have their secrets. But what they share is Passion
Lucy Ashton had long ago given up her quest for true love. In the rarified society of Victorian England, Lucy plays the game--flirting, dancing and dabbling in the newly fashionable spiritualism. Even marrying when--and who--she's supposed to. If the stuffy Duke of Sussex cannot spark the passion she craves, he can at least give her a family, a home of her own,and a place to belong. But when her polite marriage reveals a caring and sensual man, Lucy begins to wonder if she can indeed have it all.
But Lord Sussex is not the man the London ton has come to admire. And Lucy has some ghosts of her own, as well. Thus, when a blackmail scheme turns to threats of danger, the newfound peace of the Sussex marriage is cast upon the rocks. Passion has a price, Lucy learns. And not all ghosts stay buried. (source)

Go and Buy it NOW!

Other Book in Series (click on cover for an excerpt/learn more):

available now

coming 2012

REVIEW:

Roll out the red carpet, throw some glitter and confetti because today is a book release day. Today is the day I have been waiting for since reading Larissa Ione's ETERNAL RIDER. Excuse me while I fangirl *grabs a pillow and screams into it*. Okay, I am composed. I will be hitting up my local B&N for a copy of it. It will sit on the shelf or in a moving box for a little while but I swear on the lost white ivory bowl of Limos, I will read it before the year is over. Sabrina Jeffries' TO WED A WILD LORD releases today. Her 4th book in the Hellions of Halstead series. Oh, my local B&N put it out a week early so it's sitting somewhere in one of the moving boxes, right next to the other books in the series. You don't want to miss out on the hot whisking action in Lilli Feisty's DELICIOUSLY SINFUL. And the stunning conclusion to The Royal House of Shadows series releases today.

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO:

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser(click on cover to read an excerpt):

Man Candy Monday: Historical Hotties

Good Monday morning to you all. I do apologize in dealing man candy a little late today but yours truly has been scheduling Joyathon posts, packing the whole house (we're moving next month) and packing for Thanksgiving (hellooo Texas! I'll be in you in 3 days). Anywho, enough about me. Let's get to what you came here for: Historical Hotties. Check out Isobel Carr's post on the official Man Candy Monday 2.0 blog. Now you know I will definitely have one, Mr. Henry Cavill in there somewhere. A sampling of Darcy's (yes, Colin Firth will always be Darcy to me but Hollywood likes to do re-makes), a half naked lord or two and maybe just naked men in general.

Don't forget to join us tonight on Twitter at 8PM CST (6,7,9 for the rest of us) to share in our appreciation of the male form. And for the love of coccyx! put a warning on those NSFW pictures. Please, please, please. Our keyboards have taken the brunt of those too sexy pictures (drool, wine, Coke Zero and what other liquids our man candy babes are partaking in while viewing said pictures).

And on to the men...

Stock Up Saturday(7)

Hey peeps. Happy Saturday! Breakout those Kindles and your pocketbooks. Today's Stock Up Saturday brings you discounted books from Avon and Sourcebooks. And there's a few are totally buy worthy. You know you want them. Okay, I'm also throwing in a few Pocket Star books. I'm excited about this sale because I love these authors. Sorry wallet. Please note: Prices subject to change. As of the publishing of this post, book prices reflect their price header. Also, the Lara Adrian, Kresley Cole and Delilah Marvelle novellas are for pre-order. The Jeaniene Frost one is a novella.

HAPPY READING!!!!

Five Friday Favorites

It's Friday, Friday, gonna get down on Friday... Guess what happens today? That's right. Twihards will be creaming their panties (if they haven't done so at midnight) during the headboard breaking smexing scene in Breaking Dawn Part 1. Really? Part 1? Just because Potter did it doesn't mean that every tween book turned movie has to do it with the last book in the series. The only good thing about the last Twilight book were Jacob's chapter titles. Anywho, rant over. Let's get on to the good stuff.

This weeks Five Friday Favorites:

Unfortunately, a Henry screensaver isn't available. Amazon
needs to get on that. STAT!

Put away those pocketbooks and grab your Kindles ladies and gents. I bring you this week's Kindle freebies. Some are from old favorite authors, others may be new to you and some may not be worth your time but they're free so it's up to you what you do or don't download. I do hope you find something that catches your eye. Please note: As of the publishing of this post, the books are free but prices may change without notice. Also, Sabrina Jeffries' free read is a super short novella so no whining. I gave you a heads up. However, it has a few chapters from her next release, TO WED A WILD LORD, at the end. Remember, Beverley Kendall will be giving away a Kindle Fire if her free downloads goal of 250,000 is reached. Check back at The Season to see if she achieved her goal or not. I also have download links for those of you who have other e-readers.

HAPPY READING!!!