Author Archives: Cindy Woolf

An Interview with Lily Rede

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Please help me welcome Lily Rede to my blog today. Lily had generously agreed to gie away and ecopy of her book today to onw lucky commenter so be sure and leave ehr a comment.


How has your experience with self-publishing been? What advice do you
have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

The only advice I have for authors who are curious about self-publishing is DO IT. For a long time, I think the world felt about self-publishing the same way they felt about internet dating – curious, but wary. Now, the situation is different. A solid chunk of my nearest and dearest found their better halves online, and self-publishing has become just as mainstream. If you have a solid critique group, a good editor, and some graphics skills (or a few pennies to throw at an artist with Photoshop), there’s no reason you can’t put out a quality product in a fraction of the time. Why wait two years to see your book in print if you don’t have to? Don’t get me wrong, those big publishing houses are there for a reason, but self-publishing is a great way for new writers to get their feet wet, build up an audience, and see if this whole crazy business is actually for them.

Tell us about your current series.

My current series – BRIGHT’S FERRY – is about a fictional New England seaside town where everybody knows everybody. I wanted to create a place where people have known each other for decades, but really have no idea what kind of strange and twisted things lie under the surface. The series is planned for three books, but may go further – a blend of hot erotic romance and romantic suspense.

Tell us a little about yourself and your latest book.

SAFE FROM THE DARK is the first in the BRIGHT’S FERRY series – Evie Asher, a disgraced New York cop, heads back to town in search of a new start, and finds that and a whole lot more. From the start, she’s drawn to Colin Daniels, the popular mayor, who is exactly the kind of guy she should avoid – controlling, powerful, and dangerously
attractive. Unfortunately, she’s not the only one who thinks so, and Evie and Colin are thrown together to catch a killer. Colin finds Evie stubborn, pushy, and impossible to resist, so of course the sparks are going to fly as they try to protect each other from a dangerous predator.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I like contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I’ve got some fun paranormal and fantasy titles planned for 2013! The process of building new worlds and filling them with great characters is completely addictive. And writing romance lets me really push
characters to their emotional limits, which is half the fun!

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Continuity. Sigh. Any time you change something on p.173, you have go back and make sure that it tracks on p.8, p.42, and p. 96. It’s the bane of my existence, because whenever I think I’m done, there’s ONE MORE MISTAKE! Argh.

What is your typical day like?

Snooze button. Hungry cats. Hungry dogs. Half an hour checking email and wasting time. I try to get all my promo stuff done in the morning, and then write for a couple of hours. Sadly, I’m not writing full time quite yet, so the afternoon is usually spent doing “paycheck” work, and then more writing. If I’m lucky, I’ll knock off
around seven.

What do you have planned for the future? How far do you plan ahead?

I usually have a concrete plan for about two months ahead, and a loose idea beyond that. I’ve learned that flexibility is key – in self-publishing, your deadlines are your own, so while it’s great to stick to a schedule, over-planning takes all the fun out of it.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?

Don’t stop. If you get a bad review, don’t stop. If the book is just a total mess, don’t stop. If nothing is selling, don’t stop. Natural talent is all well and good, but how do we get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice. My first attempts at writing were horrific, but I’m a better writer than I was five years ago, and I’ll be a better
writer five years from now. Do it because you love it and don’t listen to anyone who tells you to quit.

SAFE FROM THE DARK

By Lily Rede

EXCERPT

SHIVERING AND COMPLETELY DRENCHED, Evie dropped her backpack on the Daniels’ porch. It was a beautiful hundred-year-old farmhouse that was obviously in the process of being restored – scaffolding protected a new wing off the side of the two-story structure. Evie spared only a quick glance around – her teeth were starting to chatter.
Fingers tight with cold, Evie raised a hand to knock.
Nothing.
Come on, come on.
Someone had to be home, judging from the sporty little SUV in the driveway sitting behind a more utilitarian truck. The lights within blazed with beckoning warmth and the smoky scent of a fireplace teased Evie with promises of heat and comfort.
She knocked harder, kicking the door for good measure, stumbling back as it jerked open.
“What the hell, Tom? Can’t a guy take one Sunday afternoon – ”
He broke off abruptly, hazel eyes widening.
Evie tried to form words, but her brain inconveniently chose that moment to shut down, obviously overloaded by impending hypothermia and the sight of six plus feet of bare, tanned muscle standing in the doorway, clutching a blanket around his waist with lean, elegant hands. His skin had a light sheen of sweat and his dark hair was ruffled over those bright hazel eyes.
Hot.
Even the inner cop whimpered and she gave it a mental shove.
Pull it together, Asher.
“I’m so sorry to bother you, but I was looking for Mr. or Mrs. Daniels – ”
His brows snapped together with a frown.
“They’re dead. Over a year now. Car accident.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I was headed to the old Asher cabin down the road and my car got stuck.”
“You were trying to get out there in this?”
Incredulous, he gestured and the blanket slipped just a bit, exposing another inch of taut waist and a narrow pelt of dark hair under his navel that arrowed downward in a most interesting manner.
Evie swallowed and kept her eyes on his.
“I just need a phone to call the garage, if that’s okay.”
“Colin?” The breathy voice drifting down the stairs had Evie’s face heating in a blush, despite her shivers, as her brain stuttered back into working order.
Two cars in the driveway, panting sex god in the doorway. Way to go, Asher. You just cock-blocked your new neighbor.

Amazon Buy Link – http://amzn.com/B00A1SR2NY

SAFE FROM THE DARK – BLURB:
Nursing a broken heart and a couple of bullet wounds, no-nonsense Evie-Asher leaves her career with the NYPD to move into her grandmother’s old house in a small New England town in the middle of nowhere. She wants nothing more than a new start and a chance to
forget the mistakes of the past and get her life back on track, minus the shootouts. Her plans are shattered when her new neighbor, the town’s hunky young mayor, starts receiving death threats from a dangerous stalker. Evie is unwillingly drawn back into a world of peril, and while her bruised heart tries to resist the out-of-control sparks that zing between them, she is forced to stay close to keep him safe as the stalking quickly turns to murder…

Colin Daniels has his hands full running Bright’s Ferry as their popular and busy young mayor. He doesn’t have time for stalkers or threats, much less a lovely gray-eyed cop with control issues who insists that the stalker is a member of the community, someone he knows and loves. When the situation takes a deadly turn, Colin finds that he has no choice but to give up some control himself and rely on Evie to protect him until they can unmask the killer. Passion sizzles between two stubborn hearts as they clash over the best way to handle a dangerous situation, but can they keep each other safe as the dark closes in?

Amazon Buy Link – http://amzn.com/B00A1SR2NY

BIO:
Lily has been writing since she was ten. She lives steps from the beach with a bunch of semi-feral cats and two goofy dogs who are forever tracking sand into the house, but she loves them anyway. She has lived all over the world and jumped into writing full time when her cubicle city became too confining. Lily writes hot contemporary
romance, paranormal, and works of ludicrous fantasy, depending on her mood. Titles include: BUILD ME UP, POUR ON THE HEAT, HOT FOR JOE, PASSION & PUMPKINS, MY FAIR HEX, and HOT & SWEET – BEGINNINGS.

Twitter: @RedeLily

Blythe Gifford introduces The Brunson Clan in RETURN OF THE BORDER WARRIOR

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Please help me welcome Blythe Gifford to my blog today. Blythe is giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commentor so be sure and leave a comment for her.

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park?

I started writing seriously after a corporate layoff. Ten years later and one layoff later, I was an “overnight success” when Harlequin Historicals bought my Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist manuscript.

Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold? If so, did you send them out yourself?

I did not get an agent until I had two books sold and a contract in hand for two more. I sold my second completed manuscript. But by the time frame, you can see I made one of the number one rookie mistakes. I spent too long on my first manuscript! Six years writing, rewriting, submitting, reworking…! I did finally sell it, but I should have moved on much earlier.

Do you have any other words of inspiration for aspiring authors?

Obviously, based on the above, I’m a big believer in perseverance. But my advice sounds like just the opposite: If you can quit, do. What I mean by that is, if writing is something you are doing on a lark or for fame or because that lady who wrote 50 Shades of Gray made a mint, that won’t be enough to get you through all the difficulties of this profession. Make it easy on yourself. Quit now, while you’re ahead! Each writer has to find that inner reason that drives the work.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write historical romance. When I first started writing seriously, that was my favorite genre to read.


Has your muse always known what genre you would write and be published in?

Well, I started writing (and illustrating) my first historical novel at age ten. In pencil. Thankfully for the world, I gave up illustration. But yes, I am firmly rooted in history. I just don’t get any contemporary ideas! But when I read history, which I do, even for fun, I start wondering what that event would have meant to a real person.

Do you prefer to read in the same genres you write in or do you avoid reading that genre? Why?

It’s so hard to keep up with my genre these days. (True confession: I have NOT read 50 Shades!) And, sadly, it’s harder for me to be swept away by a romance now because I read as a writer, analyzing how the author put the story together. To escape, I’ll read non-fiction (history) or a thriller.

Tell us about your current series.

RETURN OF THE BORDER WARRIOR is the first of three about the Brunson Clan, a family of Reivers on the Scottish Borders during the early Tudor era. It is the story of John, the youngest son, who returns home after years of serving as a “big brother” to the young Scottish king. John is a man with something to prove, both to himself and to his family. As the only blue-eyed Brunson, he’s always felt as if he didn’t belong. Now, he no longer wants to. As soon as he enforces the king’s command for peace, he plans to return to his life at court and leave the valley of his birth for the last time.

But first, he must persuade Cate Gilnock to release his family from their promise to avenge her father’s death. Cate is a woman fierce as a warrior, but behind her eyes John senses vulnerability and secrets she refuses to share. Bit by bit, he falls in love with her, and with each step, he is drawn back into the life he thought he had left behind forever. Because of Cate, he discovers he is more like the rest of his family than he thought until, finally, he must decide: Is he truly a Brunson? Or is he the King’s man after all?

CAPTIVE OF THE BORDER LORD, January 2013, will tell the story of John’s sister, Bessie Brunson and finally, Black Rob Brunson, oldest son and leader of the family, meets his match in TAKEN BY THE BORDER REBEL, March 2013.

What inspired your latest book?

The trilogy was inspired by a real historical event, the execution of a famous Border Reiver. The story is told, or sung, more accurately, in “The Ballad of Johnnie Armstrong.” Johnnie was one of the most notorious reivers on the Borders. According to the balladeer, Johnnie was not lawfully tried and convicted, but basely murdered when he was lured to a meeting with the king by a “loving letter” that insisted he come unarmed.

I thought Johnnie deserved a happy ending, so I set out to write one.

Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?

Oh, hearing from readers, absolutely. Even seeing a review that someone liked my book makes my day.

One lucky reader who comments on today’s blog will be randomly selected to win a signed copy of RETURN OF THE BORDER WARRIOR.

In this excerpt from Chapter One of RETURN OF THE BORDER WARRIOR, John has come across Cate, practicing her sword fighting against her own shadow. He thinks to play with her, easily besting her sword with his dagger, but the woman proves more capable than he imagined…

He jumped just in time to escape a touch. Now was not the time for distractions. He had expected a playful joust. Instead, he faced a warrior.

He swung high, but she held up her sword, turned sideways, to block his stroke. A clever move, but lifting the two-handed sword had strained her strength and when she lowered it, her arms shook.

Seizing on her weakness, he attacked and they crossed blades again. Prepared now, he leveraged his strength against her sword. Though she kept her grip, he pushed the blade away, coming close enough to feel her chest rise and fall, nearly touching his.

Close enough that his mind wandered, careless of the blades, thinking that under her tunic and vest, she had breasts. Now he could see her face, the angles of it, sharp and cleanly sculpted as her sword. Yet thick lashes edged her brown eyes, disguising some of the hatred there.

“Surrender now?”

Panting, she shook her head. Yet her lips parted, tempting him to take them. She was, after all, a woman. A kiss would be mightier than a sword.

He pushed her sword arm down, pulled her to him, and took her lips.

She yielded for a breath, no more.

But it was long enough for him to lose his thoughts, to forget she held a sword and remember only that she was a woman, breasts soft against his chest, smelling of heather…

In a flash, she turned stiff as a sword and leaned away, though her lips did not leave his, so he thought she only teased.

When he felt the point of a dirk at his throat, he knew she did not.

“Let me go,” she said, her lips still close that they moved over his. “Or you’ll be bleeding and I’ll leave you to it, I swear.”

He eased his arms from her back and she pushed him away, wiped her mouth, and spat into the dirt.

He touched the scratch she’d left on his neck, grateful she had not drawn blood.
Her eyes, which he had thought to turn soft with pleasure, narrowed, hard with fury.
“It’s a Brunson you’re facing,” he said, trying a smile. “Not a Storwick.”

She raised both sword and dirk, the larger wobbling in her grip. “It’s a man I’m facing who thinks what I want is of no consequence if it interferes with his privileges and pleasures.”

Had he imagined the echo of the bedchamber in her voice? No more.

He raised his eyebrows, opened his arms and made a slight bow. “A thousand pardons.” Words as insincere as the feelings behind them.

She frowned. “You are a stranger here, so you know no better. And because you are a Brunson, I’ll let you keep your head, but I’ll warn you just once. You will not do that again. Ever.”

She lowered her sword, slowly.

You are a stranger. She was the Brunson, besting him with a sword, displacing him at the family table. His temper rose. “And what if I do?”

The blade rose, this time, not pointed at his throat, but between his legs. “If you do, you won’t have to worry about bedding a woman ever again.”

He swallowed, gingerly, his body on fire. Only because she had challenged him. Nothing more. No man could desire such a woman.

“Then have no worries on that score, Catie Gilnock,” he said, flush with anger. “When next I bed a woman, it most certainly will not be you.”

BIO

Blythe Gifford has been known for medieval romances featuring characters born on the wrong side of the royal blanket. Now, she’s launching a trilogy set on the turbulent Scottish Borders of the early Tudor era, starting with RETURN OF THE BORDER WARRIOR, November 2012, Harlequin Historical. CAPTIVE OF THE BORDER LORD will follow in January 2013, and TAKEN BY THE BORDER REBEL in March 2013. The Chicago Tribune has called her work “the perfect balance between history and romance.” Visit her at www.blythegifford.com, www.facebook.com/BlytheGifford, or on Twitter @BlytheGifford.

Excerpt © 2012 Photo credits. Cover used with permission. Author photo by Jennifer Girard.

Character Interview with the Hero and Heroine from A Hunter’s Blade

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Please welcome Cera duBois to my blog today. Cera is having a giveaway. One Lucky poster will be picked to receive a custom designed bead set (necklace and earrings). So make sure you LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS in your post!

Thank you, Cynthia, for allowing me to take over your blog today. I hope you don’t mind I brought along two special friends of mine—Austin Calhoun and Brigit Wolfe from my recent release A Hunter’s Blade—and they agreed to let me interview them for your readers.

Cera: So, let’s begin with you each telling me about yourselves. Brigit, would you please go first?

Brigit: Oh my, where do I start? I’m a Lykan werewolf, which means I’m a direct descended from the demon hellhound Lykos and his human lover Meci. I was born in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania in 1635. Due to our darker complexions and tight family bonds, my pack pretended to be Gypsies. After my pack was killed, I roamed most of Romania and Eastern Europe as a fortuneteller until hundred years ago, when I moved to the US and settled in Silver Creek, Colorado. *smiles at Austin* Your turn.

Austin: *rubs the back of his neck* Man, I hate talking about myself.

Cera: You were in A Hunter’s Angel as Ian McHenry’s human FBI partner and best friend, Brad Morris. Why did you change your name?

Austin: *shrugs* I had to get out of the country right after Ian’s and Grace’s story ended. The authorities believed I died in the fire that destroyed the slaughterhouse. Besides, the FBI had a warrant out for my arrest. It seemed a no-brainer. Take an alias and get out. But once I made it to Ireland, I liked the alias and it seemed to fit me more than my human name, so I kept it. When I became a vampire, Brad Morris died. I didn’t feel like that man anymore. *Brigit leans in and kisses his cheek. He wraps his arm around her shoulders*

Cera: You were an FBI agent. Can you share why they’d have a warrant for your arrest?

Austin: Sure. My sire made me a monster. I killed my former lover, and my sire made sure there was no question that I’d been the one who did the deed. After the fire, I joined Master Pomeroy and now live by his code.

Cera: How did you meet your mate?

Brigit: *she smirks at Austin* He ambled into my bar like some bad-ass cowboy. I knew instantly he was a bloodsucker, but my instincts to rip him to shreds didn’t overpower my desire to get him naked and have him every way possible. Which totally disgusted me…at first.

Austin: *snickers* I was meeting a fellow vampire at the Silver Nugget to get intel on the werewolf killing humans in the area. Master Pomeroy sent me here as a hunter to destroy the killer. I about choked on my wine when I saw her. She was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in high heels.

Cera: Okay, all this talk of sex makes me wonder what is the sexiest thing has your mate done?

Austin: I’m not answering that.

Brigit: Oh, that’s an easy one. He cooks for me. He’s actually a good cook.

Cera: I think this needs explained. *Looks at Austin* A vampire cook?

Austin: I might not need to eat, but she does. Simple as that.

Cera: What is the most embarrassing thing I’ve done to you in your story?

Austin: I still don’t know what you were thinking when you wrote me taking Brigit with me when I went hunting. I can only imagine how repulsive it was for her to watch me feed.

Brigit: *squeezes his hand* Actually, that’s one of my favorite scenes. *he narrows his eyes at her* Don’t you glare at me. I mean it. By watching your struggle, it showed me the real you.

Cera: If you were stranded on an island with me, what would we talk about?

*they both raise their eyebrows at me*

Austin: Would you really want to be stranded on an island with a werewolf and a vampire?

Cera: Okay, maybe not. Last question: What advice would you give to the people reading your story?

Brigit: *laughs* Enjoy it. I hope you laugh and you cry and you fall in love with Austin as deeply as I did.

~*~*~*~*~
A Hunter’s Blade, Book 2 of The Hunter’s Dagger Series

Blurb:

Brigit Wolfe, a born werewolf, hasn’t killed a human in over a hundred years, although now, she wonders if the animal attacking people in Silver Creek, Colorado, isn’t her. But she might have bigger problems when her cowboy neighbor, Austin Calhoun, ambles into her bar. Austin hasn’t been a vampire for long, but he is determined to prove to himself that he’s worthy of his hunter’s dagger. Brigit’s rare beauty and blade-sharp tongue enchants him. She ignites a passion he thought was dead, but is she the killer his master sent him to destroy? During Austin’s investigation regarding Brigit’s involvement in the deaths, an old crime surfaces connected to her human best friend. These two immortal enemies have to join forces to solve the mystery before someone else dies. But can they survive the heat of their own desire?

Excerpt:

When preternatural power touched her nape, Brigit assumed Bo Reynard was back, which was unusual. He never came in on Wednesdays, the slowest night of the week. Brigit set a margarita before a woman flirting with one of the other regulars at the end of the bar and took the man’s money for the woman’s drink.

After closing the cash drawer, she turned and sucked in a breath. The most beautiful pair of hazel eyes she had ever seen stared back at her from the other end of the bar.

The cowboy vamp removed his hat and set it on the empty stool beside him. Grinning at her, he ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. “Hello, there. I’ll have a glass of red wine,” he said in a voice as smooth as Kentucky bourbon.

She swallowed hard, took a deep breath and earthy spiciness tickled her senses. How did he smell that damned good? He’s supposed to smell like a rotting corpse. “Uh…which one?”

He shrugged with wry amusement playing on his lips. “What was my friend drinking the other night?”

“Syrah…the most expensive red wine I have.”

He pulled his wallet from his back pocket and flipped it open to take out a bill. “I’ll have a glass of that.”

A moment later, she set the glass before him and told him the price.

He handed her a bill and smiled. “Keep the change.” Before she could turn away, he said, “So, how long have you lived here? I’m new in town.”

She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. “Yes, I know. You bought the Wagner ranch. Just moved in. Your name is Austin Calhoun.”

He raised an eyebrow and picked up the glass. “Checking up on me?”

“I like to know who all my neighbors are.” She bent closer and hissed, “So when they start dropping dead I know who the prime suspects are.”

He leaned over the edge of the bar, peered deeply into her eyes. The image of him closing the distance and covering her mouth in a kiss zapped through her. His low-pitched voice did nothing to ease the erotic vision.

“Interestingly, I like to know my neighbors for the same reason, Brigit Wolfe, werewolf.” She narrowed her eyes and fisted her hands. His voice dropped even lower as he said, “You didn’t answer my question. How long have you lived in Silver Creek?”

She wanted to turn away, but something in those amazing eyes made her stay, and even more alarming, answer his nosy question. “Almost a year—this time. Why are you here? I know it wasn’t for the wine.”

Straightening his spine, he sipped from the glass and shrugged. “I thought I’d drop in to see you.”

“You’ve seen me, now leave.” She turned away.

Austin snorted. “Not so fast, puppy.”

She faced him with her hands fisted at her sides. “Oh, that’s mature. You think because you’re one of Lucas Pomeroy’s pet bats you’re so much better than the rest of us.”

He smirked and set his glass on the bar. “You do know I can’t turn into a bat, don’t you?”

She rolled her eyes, and he chuckled, infuriating her further.

“I follow a different code of ethics, you could say, than most of the damned and undead.” He looked around.

With only an hour before closing, there were only a handful of people in the place. When he locked those shifting golden-gray-green eyes on hers, she shivered.

“I think we should have a private chat after you close.” The serrated edge of his voice sawed through her. “I have some questions and want to get all the facts straight before I become judge, jury, and executioner.”

A cold lump fell into her stomach, but she fought the urge to run and leaned closer. Her mouth so dry she had to lick her lips to speak. “I’m not the one doing the killing, bloodsucker.”

“Then you shouldn’t mind helping me find out who is.”

Brigit spun away to take an order for a drink. How could she help him find the killer when she wasn’t a hundred percent sure she hadn’t attacked those humans?

Available now at Amazon and everywhere January 2, 2013.

~*~*~*~*~

A Hunter’s Angel, Book 1 of The Hunter’s Dagger Series

Blurb:

The serial killer stalking Clayton, Pennsylvania, isn’t all that has Chief of Police Grace Wallace worried. For a year, she’s tried to forget Special Agent Ian McHenry and now he’s the expert the FBI sent to catch the killer. She can’t stay away from him, but something primal is telling her to run to save much more than just her heart. Despite the strict code of ethics Ian vowed to follow as a vampire hunter, he craves Grace’s blood above all others. If he chooses to stay, Ian risks losing his chance at divine forgiveness. But if he leaves Grace unprotected from the evil he’s hunted for over a century, he loses more than just his soul…

Excerpt:

Part of Grace desperately wanted to look up, and a bigger part of her dreaded this moment. She couldn’t hide for long. After all, she was in charge of this shindig.

Standing, Grace sucked in a fortifying breath and rubbed her sweaty palms together. Everyone stood respectfully when she moved from around the table to the front of the room. “Please. Be seated.”

Determined not to look at the woman and three men standing off to the left, she stared straight ahead. Her heart raced, and her scalp itched where perspiration gathered. “In order to better protect the citizens of our communities, I called this meeting to ensure we’re all on the same page regarding the investigation of the murders. Although I’ve been in contact with all of you since the first murder, four weeks ago, and have led the investigation, the FBI has sent a crack team of experts to assist us in hunting down the murderer.” Her voice betrayed nothing, but her mouth was dryer than the dog days of a Pennsylvania August. “Special Agent in Charge Ian McHenry?”

She looked at Ian and her heart stuttered over a beat. How could he be so calm and act as if nothing had happened between them?

How could he lead her on? Hadn’t the chemistry between them been instant and intense enough for them to throw caution and office taboos out the proverbial window?

Did he forget all those times they’d gone out for drinks and dancing? They’d spent weekends antiquing the countryside of Chester County. He’d taken her horseback riding at his magnificent country estate he’d inherited from his uncle. What about the beautiful necklace he’d given to her for Christmas, had it meant nothing?

He’d always been such an old-fashioned gentleman and seemed interested in her as a person and not just for sex. She fell so deeply in love with him it hurt. Had it all been a ploy to get her into bed for a one-night stand?

Why did you leave me?

****

The muscles in Ian’s back tensed as Grace’s silent question ricocheted around his head as if she’d screamed it at him. He forced a smile and looked around the room. “Thank you, Chief Wallace. I’d like to thank all of you for coming today to meet with us. Now to introduce my colleagues.”

With a gesture of his hand, Ian indicated an attractive, thirty-something, dark-haired woman and the dark-skinned, younger man. “This is Dr. Beth Otto and her assistant, Mark Hazelton. They will be working closely with Coroner Swartz. They both specialize in forensic pathology.” He then pointed toward a tall man dressed as Ian in dark pants, shirt and blazer. “And this is Special Agent Brad Morris. He and I will be working closely with the rest of you.”

Ian let Beth take the first round of discussion. An excellent medical examiner, she had worked with him and Brad for the past four years. Now was one of those times, he wished she wasn’t part of his team. She was extremely hard to fool. She’d never discovered anything that pointed to a vampire, and even if she had, her scientific mind would discredit it. But Ian always had a harder time coming up with reasons for the inconsistencies when things didn’t add up.

Available Everywhere E-books are sold:
The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

~*~*~*~*~

Bio:

Cera duBois has a strong belief in never giving up on your dreams…

Although Cera was unable to read due to dyslexia and a learning disability until she was in the fourth grade, she always had a story to tell. She wrote her first novel in eleventh grade when she had to keep a journal for her academic English class. Since her life was far from exciting growing up as a farm girl in West Central Pennsylvania, she decided to rely on her imagination to give her something to write about. Over the course of the school year, she wrote a tangled romance set in the Deep South during the Civil War. Becoming an author was her ultimate dream. Despite holding a BS in secondary social studies education from Penn State University, she currently works full-time as a medical secretary. A mother of a teenage son and pre-teen daughter, she lives near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with her husband of nearly 20 years. If she isn’t sitting in a quiet corner with her laptop, warm days will find her in the English garden surrounding her house. Cera loves to read and is interested in history, romance, science fiction and the paranormal. She also writes contemporary Westerns under her real name of Sara Walter Ellwood.

Website Links:

Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | To sign up for my newsletter

I’m also having a giveaway!

One Lucky poster will be picked to receive a custom designed bead set (necklace and earrings). So make sure you LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS in your post!

Are You Ready for the Hobgoblins? By Terry Spear

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Please help me welcome Terry Spear to my blog today. Remember to leave a comment and answer Terry’s question for an entry into the prize drawing.

Are You Ready for the Hobgoblins? By Terry Spear

What if your best friend says she wants you to come over and have fun at her special Halloween party, costumes not necessary? But she’s always been a stickler for them. “If you’re going to party, do it right!” So it’s got you thinking, what’s she up to this time?
You’re ultra-curious and you’ve been asking her all month long—what’s so special about this party? Who’s going to be there? You’re thinking old boyfriends, and she’s got some idea she wants you to get back together with one of them. You really haven’t a clue. You don’t want to go unprepared.
Ever have a fear of the unknown? Sure, fear of the known can be pretty hard to overcome, too. But let your imagination run wild when you haven’t any idea what’s going to happen, and it can be seriously unfun.

Of course you could chicken out. But you never chicken out and you’re not about to start now.

So feeling a little strange not to be wearing a costume, you arrive in jeans and a T-shirt featuring an old-time looking jack-o-lantern. You had to wear something! And you feel you’ve entered the Twilight Zone as soon as you walk in the door.

Everyone turns to look at you, men and women dressed in jeans and cotton shirts, no sign of anything Halloween like, but it’s a veritable jungle in here. Jungle drums and the sounds of the rainforest are playing overhead.

The heater is on full blast. Humidifiers are pouring out wet air. Real plants fill the whole place, every table space, every wall drips with vines, a soft mist is sprayed through the air, making your hair drip and your mouth gape.

“Can she climb a tree?” a man asked, clutching a drink in his hand.

“Does she like to swim?” Another raked her with his golden gaze.

“Does she purr?” a woman asked, purring the words.

“Does she like to bite?” The first man set his empty glass down among a hodgepodge of greenery and took a step toward her.

Vampires, you’re thinking. Although you can’t imagine how your friend got mixed up with those.

Then a sleek golden cat wearing black ringed rosettes moves into view, a jaguar with green eyes studying you, her mouth opening to show a lot of very sharp wicked teeth. It can’t be her. Your best friend.

You have to get out of here, now! Why didn’t she tell you?

Why didn’t you tell her?

Before anyone moves any closer, you lift your chin and howl.

Hisses fill the air as if the room is full of vampires or riled up snakes or…jaguar shifters.

You back up toward the door and escape. You hear the howls in the distance, but you don’t want your new wolf pack mates to fight these cats.
You give one last longing look at your friend standing in the doorway of her house, looking confused. And you wished you’d turned her first.

Then you’re off, racing toward your pack.

Maybe, next year you’ll play it safe and just wear a costume.

What do you think? Ready to play with the big boys with teeth?

Thanks so much, Cynthia, for having me here today, and one lucky person that answers my question will have a chance to win a copy of SAVAGE HUNGER.US/Canada Addresses Only.

About the Author
USA Today bestselling and an award-winning author of urban fantasy and medieval romantic suspense, Terry Spear also writes true stories for adult and young adult audiences. She’s a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and has an MBA from Monmouth University. She also creates award-winning teddy bears, Wilde & Woolly Bears, that are personalized that have found homes all over the world. When she’s not writing or making bears, she’s teaching online writing courses or gardening. Her family has roots in the Highlands of Scotland where her love of all things Scottish came into being. Originally from California, she’s lived in eight states and now resides in the heart of Texas. She is the author of the Heart of the Wolf series and the Heart of the Jaguar series, plus numerous other paranormal romance and historical romance novels. For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com, or follow her on Twitter, @TerrySpear. She is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/terry.spear .
http://terry-spear.blogspot.com/ (blog)

http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Hunger-ebook/dp/B008BWABXU/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345942102&sr=1-2&keywords=savage+hunger

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-savage-hunger-terry-spear/1108936806?ean=9781402266928

Excerpt from SAVAGE HUNGER by Terry Spear:

His senses on high alert, sniffing the air and listening for any movement, Connor walked with Kat onto the screened porch. He had a bad feeling about the men looking for Kat and didn’t like where this seemed to be headed.

Then to his astonishment, Maya roared. What the hell? She was supposed to be watching from the lookout post with the rifle aimed and ready.
He knew her unexpected behavior meant that the men they had heard talking in the jungle were dangerous. Maya must have overheard more of their conversation and changed tactics.

“Kat, can you shift?” he asked quietly.

She would be safer as a jaguar, he thought. She could climb high into a tree and stay hidden in the canopy while he and Maya took care of the men.
She shook her head, her expression schooled.

“Stay here then.”

“I can shoot. You know I was in the Army. I had rifle and handgun training. I even qualified as a sharpshooter. I can shoot.”

He knew she must be able to, though he had not seen her actually kill anyone.

“I don’t want them to know where you are or even be able to get close to you.” His heart was pounding furiously, and he realized he didn’t want her anywhere near the men. He could see losing her in a shower of bullets. Yes, he and his sister healed more quickly than humans and could survive injuries a human might not be able to. Although if they bled out too fast, their healing genetics wouldn’t have time to take care of the wounds. But what if that part of the genetic change hadn’t taken effect for Kat? What if she wasn’t exactly like them?

“I can’t shift,” she said, her voice urgent, hushed.

He wasn’t sure if she meant she truly couldn’t or she wouldn’t, although he suspected she didn’t have the ability to shift at will like he and his sister could. Hopefully, with time, she would.

“Come on.” He took her to a vine-covered tree trunk that looked as though it was part of the vegetation, a naturally occurring fallen trunk high up in the canopy that butted up against their primitively made lookout post.

It was a heavily concealed spot high in the trees that easily hid the viewer from sight, perfect for observing unwelcome visitors while staying camouflaged from view. He stood with her there now, not wanting to leave her but having no other choice. He didn’t want her to see what he might have to do to the men, and he had to hurry and join Maya before she got herself into a dangerous bind.

He would judge the men while listening to their conversation and learning what they had in mind. If they turned out to be a danger to Kat or his sister or himself, he would take care of them.

Maya was already stalking the men, listening and waiting for him to join her. That’s what her roaring was all about. He hoped she wouldn’t act until he was there to watch her back.

“Maya’s out there,” he warned Kat, as if getting permission from her to take his leave.

Kat looked determined to see this through and scooped up the rifle lying where Maya had left it on the wooden floor of the small lookout platform. Maya’s clothes were sitting in a pile in one corner where she had shifted.

“Go,” Kat urgently whispered. “I’ll be all right. I’ve done this before. Protect Maya.”

Her raw concern for Maya touched him. If he’d had any doubts before about Kat’s loyalty to him and Maya, he now knew Kat was truly one of them. Part of their little jaguar-shifter team.

He cupped her face quickly, kissed her, and hugged her, wanting to hold her forever and protect her from the evils of the world. Beyond a doubt, he knew she would be his. He might have a time convincing her they were meant to be together, but he would do whatever it took.

Then he released her. He was out of his clothes in no time, feeling Kat’s eyes on him the whole time, and then he shifted into his jaguar coat. After giving her one last lingering look, feeling torn by needing to keep both Maya and his sister safe and not being able to be in two places at once, he leapt onto the tree branch above Kat. She gazed up at him and gave him a slight nod, telling him she would be okay.

No matter how much he wanted to believe it would be so, he had his doubts. Anything could go wrong in the rain forest. All he had to do was think back to that day a year ago when Kat had nearly died.

He leapt to another branch and then another, the adrenaline speeding through his blood, propelling him to seek out Maya and the men, and determine what they intended to do next.

He didn’t want to kill them if he didn’t have to. But if he needed to kill to save Maya or Kat’s life, or even his own, he would have no qualms about doing it.

Halloween…When the Dead Walk the Earth by Judy Teel

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Please help me welcome Judy Teel to my blog today. She’s giving away a copy of one of her ebooks, winners choice, to one lucky commenter, so be sure and leave a comment for her.

Chilling, isn’t it? Originally Halloween was considered the festival of the dead, the biggest Celtic holiday of the year. What became November 1 on our calendar marked the beginning of winter for the Celts (their New Year), making October 31 both an ending and a beginning, much like death itself.

During Halloween, or Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween), it was believed that the barrier between the worlds of the living and the dead thinned. Ghosts, both evil and good, could cross into our reality and walk among us. Breaching dimensions wasn’t limited to the dead, but also applied to fairies, leprechauns, demons and other mystical beings.

As near as I could determine, when Christianity spread abroad in 601 A.D., Pope Gregory the First ordered his missionaries to morph local customs into Christian ones to make conversion of the population easier. This was a brilliant approach and Samhain turned into All Hallows Eve with November 1 becoming All Saints Day. However, much to the missionary’s frustration, local people hung on to this particular festival and refused to give it up.

Deciding to oust the competition, these early Christians then branded the local Celtic priests and priestesses as evil and malicious devil worshippers. With Samhain being the most important day of the year for the Celts, it was only natural that October 31 would get a corresponding bad rap. Thus, witches, black cats , sorcerers and the devil became integrated into the spooky Halloween story.

Fearing for their souls on what was now called Hallows Eve, peasants donned masks to fool the evil entities roaming about and put out food and drink to pacify them. Supposedly trick-or-treating started as a way to get free cake in exchange for praying for the givers departed loved ones. Personally, I think nobody wanted to risk offending the other side, so anyone who showed up at the door looking like a creepy crawly and asking for goodies got them, no doubt to the delight of enterprising children.

To me, the most amazing aspect of this holiday is how well it’s held up over thousands of years. Despite ongoing religious influences from the Romans to the Christians, Halloween has maintained many of its original, or near-original traditions. Even carving pumpkins, bobbing for apples and drinking warm apple cider harkens back to the core of the festival which was to celebrate the harvest and prepare for winter.

How has this happened? Maybe because it’s fun to dress up, act crazy and beg for free treats. Or perhaps because a day when the dead can walk among us calls to the mystical side of our psyche and the hope that death is not an end but a beginning.

How do you feel about Halloween?

Find out more about Judy Teel and the Cinderella Heiresses series at http://judyteel.com.

Friend her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judy.teel.10

Follow her on Twitter: JudyTeelBooks

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Reference articles:
The Fantasy and Folklore of Halloween by Jack Santino

History of Halloween

Eight line Saturday

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These are the first eight lines of my upcoming book. It is the third in the Swords of Gregara series and is call Honora. I’ll be giving away a ecopy of the 2nd book in the series, Riza to one person and a $5 Starbucks card to another. Just leave me a comment to get an entry.

From Chapter 1

“Ohh” a woman’s voice awash with pain reached his ears.

“You disappoint me, Honora. You continue to try to escape me. When will you learn?” asked a whiney voiced man.

The whip struck flesh and the woman moaned but didn’t scream. She didn’t scream.

When he woke again he was not alone. Chained across the room from him, hung by her wrists, was a woman. He could see the lash marks on her back.

10 Reasons Why You SHOULD Use A Pen Name

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Please help me welcome my friend, author Jennifer Zane. Jennifer is giving away an ecopy of her either of her books, winners choice.

I just read a great blog post by an author about 10 reasons why you should and shouldn’t use a pen name. I loved this post and want to add to it. To share my top 10 reasons why I use a pen name.

10. I feel a little bit like Wonder Woman. No one outside a small group of close family and friends knows I have a secret life, a secret identity as an author. I just wish I had the Wonder Woman bracelets that can deflect bullets, and the Lasso of Truth would be dang helpful.
9. I like to think spicy, sexy thoughts. I like to put them on paper, too. That doesn’t mean I want my next door neighbor or my kid’s teacher to know what they are!
8. Search Engines- Ever Googled yourself? Enough said.
7. Bad reviews- They aren’t dinging me, they’re dinging Jennifer Zane. Jennifer Zane can take quite a beating, although the real me is much more tenderhearted.
6. Jennifer Zane is very popular on social media. She has over 5,000 friends (and more if you want to Friend or Follow me!) who are complete strangers. I’m a little more particular about my acquaintances-no offense!
5. There are complete nut jobs out there. Again, enough said.
4. When you were a kid, didn’t you want to have a different name? I wanted to be named Diana after Princess Diana. I got my opportunity, but too late for my childhood royalty plans.
3. I have a job. And it’s not writing. Never the twain shall meet.
2. It’s actually pretty cool. Having an alter ego. It’s like having an imaginary friend.
1. I write romance with a ceramic garden gnome as a central theme through each book. I don’t want questions revolving around the ‘creativeness’ of this idea. Jennifer Zane can handle it. She can handle anything!

Blurb- Gnome On The Range-
Once you get the zing you can’t go back.

Jane West has everything a woman could want. A job in a small Montana town’s only adult store, two busy young boys and one dead husband. Everything except a little excitement–a little zing. But that changes one summer morning at a garage sale when her kids buy some garden gnomes.

Now someone wants those gnomes and will let nothing get in their way. Including Jane. This new excitement for Jane spells trouble for a relationship with new neighbor–and hot fireman–Ty Strickland. Can Jane and Ty handle a relationship meddling mother-in-law, crazy kids, and stay alive while trying to solve the mystery of the garden gnomes?

Blurb- Gnomeless-
Veronica Miller is a plumber on a mission–buy out her dad and the family business is finally hers. One big, handsome problem stands in her way. And it’s not a clogged toilet.

Jack Reid is the boy she mooned over in high school. He’s back in town, but he’s no longer a boy. Ten years ago he broke her heart, skipped town and never came back. Now he’s a big shot lawyer in Florida whose uncle feigned a health crisis to trick Jack into coming back into town. Upon arrival Jack finds his uncle is gone, he’s homeless, and forced to be roommates with the one woman he could never resist.

Jack discovers his lust hasn’t cooled for the sexy Veronica, but neither has her heart forgiven him. A sex-toy educational party, romance novel writing gone awry, Goldie’s meddling, an escape artist snake, a strange stalker in a fluffy pink coat, a house fire, plumbing gone awry, bitter cold, and a smart-faced garden gnome all conspire to force Jack and Veronica to work through a decade of baggage, disappointment, and unrequited lust while figuring out the mystery behind the stalker. Hilarity ensues on every page of this sequel to Gnome On The Range.

Gnome On The Range and Gnomeless are available on Amazon.

Follow Jennifer Zane:
www.jenniferzane.com
@jenniferzane
http://www.facebook.com/jenniferzanewriter
jennifer@jenniferzane.com

Gnome On The Range:
http://www.amazon.com/Gnome-Range-Novel-Series–ebook/dp/B006QQRH3A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1350928783&sr=8-2&keywords=gnome+on+the+range

Gnomeless:
http://www.amazon.com/Gnomeless-Gnome-Novel-Series-ebook/dp/B008BW5WZ2/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

Seven Sentence Thursday

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Here are the first seven sentences from my WIP, tentatively titled The Golden Bride. I’d love to hear what you think of it. I’ll be giving away to once commenter their choice of a paperback copy or a ebook copy of Tame A Wild Bride.

It was her last resort. Either this or prostitution and she didn’t choose prostitution. She couldn’t raise MaryAnn in that environment, nor if truth be told, could she live like that. At least this way there would be some stability in her little girl’s life.

Sarah turned the knob, took a deep breath and walked through the door to a better future for her daughter and, if she was lucky, for herself.

The office was small and neat. A single desk with a straight, high backed wooden chair in front of it was in the middle of the room.

An Interview with Tim Smith

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Please help me welcome Tim Smith to my blog. Tim is giving away an e-copy of his book “Mistletoe and Palm Trees to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave him a comment or a question.

Tell us about your current series.

My newest release, Never Look Back, is part of the Nick Seven romantic thriller series set in The Florida Keys. Nick is a former CIA spook who lives in Key Largo with a former co-worker, Felicia Hagens, who comes from Barbados. They both quit the spy game to carve out an anonymous idyllic life in The Keys, but in each story their former employer has different ideas. In the latest installment Nick and Felicia are used as unwilling pawns in America’s war on terror. They also have to deal with a rogue agent from their past who has a score to settle. In addition to the action and atmosphere, there’s plenty of hot sex. What more could you ask for?

What is your favorite part of writing?

Creating interesting characters and writing dialogue. I like to write in a pulp fiction, noir-ish style which lends itself to witty, flirtatious exchanges between the characters. The sex scenes are also fun to write, and I love describing atmosphere. When people tell me they felt like they were in the scene with the characters, I know I’ve done my job. My least favorite part of the process is the endless proofreading before I send it off to my publisher. There have been occasions when I’ve read a manuscript so many times I didn’t really care what it looked like. That isn’t a good thing.

How much time do you spend promoting your books? What works best for you?

I try to devote one or two hours a day to promotion and networking. I’ve had success with blogs, interviews and chats. Facebook and Goodreads have also given me good exposure and I use two sites, Author Island and Readerviews, whenever I have a new book out. Both are reasonably priced and the response has been terrific, especially at Author Island. I also review books for Two Lips Reviews, which helps get my name out there.

What hasn’t worked for me are press releases offered by some online services. When I used these in the past I didn’t see an increase in sales or review requests, but it did increase the amount of spam e-mail I received. I don’t often post excerpts on chat boards, because if anyone reads them, I’m not aware of it. I’m also selective about buying ad space on sites unless my books are selling well there.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Many of my ideas come from everyday life. I may read an item in the news or hear a story and think “What if this happened instead?” My mystery/thrillers draw heavily from current events, which can be tricky at times. If you don’t do the right research, people will call you on it. I also include many personal experiences in my stories, especially the relationship elements. One of my books, Mistletoe and Palm Trees, was inspired by something that happened to me. I had planned a trip to The Keys but at the last minute my traveling companion had to cancel and I wound up going alone. That became the jumping off point for the story.

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?
Very likely because I write contemporary romance and I’m a people watcher. I may notice a look, characteristic or speech pattern that interests me and use it in a character. I like to make my characters as realistic as possible but I don’t base them in whole on any one person, despite what my friends may think. This caused a problem for me once when a friend swore that I based an unsavory female character on a mutual acquaintance. I pointed out the “work of fiction” disclaimer but she was still mad at me for trashing one of her BFF’s. Go figure.

Do you have any rejection stories to share?

Don’t we all? When I first pursued publication eleven years ago I collected enough rejection notices to paper my living room. Some publishers didn’t even bother to personalize them, but sent me form letters addressed “Dear Author.” How tacky!

One romance e-publisher rejected my submission because the first paragraph contained what she said was one of her pet peeves. Since I’m not a mind reader I didn’t know this ahead of time. That told me that she probably didn’t bother reading the rest of it, and that I wouldn’t be happy writing for them anyway.

Another romance publisher said they would only consider my manuscript if I used a pen name because they were convinced that their readers wouldn’t buy a straight romance written by a man. That one stung.

Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract?

Research the publishers you plan on submitting to and follow their guidelines to the letter. If you believe in what you’ve written, you’ll find an audience. Don’t stop until you get to the finish line and don’t get discouraged by rejections. Just remember that every “no” puts you one step closer to a “yes.”

What’s next for you?

My next book will be released on December 1. It’s a romantic comedy called Snowflakes and Palm Trees, which is a follow-up to Mistletoe and Palm Trees. I’m also working on the next installments in both of my series.

Author bio:

Tim Smith is an award-winning, bestselling author whose books range from romantic mystery/thrillers to contemporary erotic romance. He is also a freelance photographer. When he isn’t pursuing those two passions he can be found in The Florida Keys, doing research in between parasailing and seeking out the perfect Mojito. His website is www.timsmithauthor.com.

“Never Look Back” blurb:

Nick Seven and Felicia Hagens left the CIA to carve out an idyllic anonymous life in The Florida Keys. The last thing they wanted was to be used by their former employer as pawns in America’s war on terror. Nick and Felicia navigate a complex maze of intrigue and double-crosses while dealing with a rogue agent from their past who has a score to settle. When Felicia becomes part of the scheme the stakes get higher and more personal. Can Nick keep her out of harm’s way or will he finally be outwitted? Will Felicia stay with him or return to Barbados?

Excerpt:

Felicia covered her mouth to stifle a yawn. Nick placed his hand on hers and squeezed. “My angel looks tired. Want to go home?”
“Yeah.” She paused. “Thanks for makin’ me go out today. Made me feel better.”
“You’re welcome. I just wanted to cheer you up and get your mind off things.”
She reached over and caressed his cheek. “For a tough guy, you can be sensitive when you have to be.”
“Maybe I need to work on that.”
They left the club via the outdoor exit then walked to the parking lot out front. When they reached a dark spot Felicia suddenly stopped, pulled Nick’s face to hers then kissed him.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“Just because.” She stroked his brow. “You complainin’?”
“Of course not.”
Nick took her in his arms and kissed her again. He felt Felicia’s hands on his shoulders and got more into their passionate embrace. Felicia pulled him a bit lower while kissing him with more intensity.
Their intimate moment was interrupted by the sound of rapid gunfire and bullets hitting the building behind them. Nick looked in wide-eyed terror in the direction the shots were coming from, then shoved Felicia to the ground. He collapsed on top of her and hugged her tightly, keeping his head down. There was a brief lull and then the shooting started again. Chunks of plaster landed on Nick’s back. After another minute the shooting stopped. Nick heard sirens approaching, followed by the sound of a car peeling rubber as it left the parking lot.
Nick got to his feet and sprinted toward the exit but only saw a dark compact car speeding north on U.S. 1. He ran back to Felicia and helped her to her feet.
“Are you okay?” he frantically asked.
Felicia took deep breaths and nodded. “Okay.”

The Alpha Male – take him or leave him

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What is an Alpha Male?

We all love to read about an Alpha male. Our best heroes are Alpha males. But in real life would we really want our men to be totally Alpha? Do we really want a guy that takes charge of everything? Probably not. A true Alpha male would not allow us or our heroine to have our own lives. To do and be what we need to be.

Sure, in our books an alpha hero is great. We want him to take charge and keep our heroine safe but in the best books he also has a soft side. A heart that we can reach. A part of him that is not alpha but is as vulnerable as the rest of us. He wouldn’t be our hero without the part of him that we can capture and hold close to our own hearts.

A perfect Alpha male is tough and gentle, hard and soft, stern and giving. He’s all the things we need him to be. He cares for us but allows us our freedom to become all we can be. He loves us enough to let us spread our wings and fly without him, knowing all the while that he’s there to pick us up after we fall and will protect us with his life if we need him to.

What is your idea of an Alpha male and would you want to marry one? Or like me do you want a man who is the best of both the Alpha and the non-alpha male.

Leave me a comment, WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS and be entered into the drawing for one of three $5 Starbucks cards and a copy of my newest book, Tame A Wild Bride. Also, you will be entered in the drawings for the Grand Prizes of 1st prize, a Kindle Fire or BN Nook; 2nd prize $130 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble; 3rd prize a huge swag bag prize. The 1st and 2nd prizes are included in international entries. The swag prize is only for US entries.