April 24th, 2012 | 
Author: 
Blackmailed by the Billionaire by Nina Croft
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 60,000 words
Summary:
Seduction by any means necessary…
Olivia Brent is happy with her quiet life in the country, until the imminent loss of her home forces her to embark on a search for her estranged father. Catapulted into a world of criminals and totally out of her depth, Olivia is rescued by the stunningly gorgeous and enigmatic billionaire Luc Severino.
Luc has never considered himself a knight in shining armor, and if he had been, then Jimmy Brent’s daughter was the last person he would choose to rescue. But Olivia is the key to finding her father, and Luc is willing to use any methods available, including blackmail, to persuade Olivia to help him find Jimmy and finally put the past behind him.
And if blackmail doesn’t gain her total cooperation, then perhaps a little seduction will…
Beth’s Review:
Lia’s father disappeared ten years ago and her mother has since passed away waiting for him to come back. Now Lia wants to find him and tries to track him down through his past business acquaintances. She’s introduced to a man who seem
s to be her best choice in finding him. What she doesn’t know is Luc will twist her simple existence into a life filled with deceit, betrayal and blackmail. He’s a handsome, hard to resist bachelor who’s got one goal in mind…to find her father and extract his revenge for the death of his own father.
Blackmailed by the Billionaire has intrigue, romance, and an enticing byplay between the hero and heroine from start to finish. There is a high volume of sexual tension that will keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of the final outcome. Luc blackmails Lia with private pictures to gain her compliance with his wishes and you’ll enjoy what this does to spice up the story. I was completely involved and loved every part of this book. There’s really no “threat” to Lia with the blackmail and in her mind she knows Luc will never use those pictures against her. I like the fact that she basically plays along just to spend time with him. It’s always so adorable when the hero and heroine, at first, dislike each other and don’t ever think they’ll fall in love when, of course, they always do.
Blackmailed by the Billionaire is absolutely scrumptious and I would read it again in a heartbeat! You just can’t miss this one!
Rated 5 Seashells by Beth!
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Holiday Affair by Annie Seaton
Publisher: Entangled Publishing/ Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 225 pages
Summary:
Staid professor Lissy McIntyre believes that choosing a mate should be based on common sense, not runaway passion. And she would certainly never pick a rolling stone like Nick Richards for long-term love. But a red-hot, tropical romance? Oh, yeah. He’s got a body just made for sinning and his sizzling kisses leave her senseless.
When Nick blows into town, he’s stunned to discover that his no-nonsense new neighbor and co-worker is the same sultry creature he seduced for one night of forbidden island pleasure. He’s unaccustomed to staying in one place for long, but he just can’t seem to keep his hands off the multi-faceted woman. Will Nick break loyal Lissy’s heart or will she be the one woman he simply can’t walk away from?
JULIANNE
The publisher and author have been notified and will send you the book.
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Redneck Heaven by Marchelle Wallace
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Length: 306 pages
Summary:
Meredith Colt has an epiphany on her way to her own wedding. The epiphany leaves her in the arms of sexy green-eyed stranger Marlon Bridges. Four weeks later, the lovely Miss Colt arrives at her deceased Grandfather’s house in search of herself in Heaven Pennsylvania (Redneck Capital of the World, according to her mother and sister) only to find her closest neighbor is none other than the sexy Redneck Marlon Bridges, owner of the Heavenly Timber and Logging Company.
The town has very strict views on Flatlanders and Meredith lives down to their expectations of how a flatlander should act. Marlon is a card carrying member of the Rednecks-R-us club.
Can these two strangers put their differences aside and discover that true love hits you upside the head with a two by four, when you least expect it.
Filled with Redneck and Flatlander insults, flying spit, flying fruit and good old fashioned fun. This fun-filled read will leave you begging for more.
Cloe’s Review:
Redneck Heaven by Marchelle Wallace is a true bucket of redneck/flatlander fun! I could not keep myself from laughing throughout this insanely funny book. I have to say there are a few tearing moments as well.
Meredith and Marlon are a delightful couple that have to deal with issues and battles, which come up through their getting to know each other stage. Meredith was not only a character I extremely liked, but one that was extremely realistic and as down to earth as one can get after a certain redneck knocks her off her feet. Marlon, the oldest of a thrown together family, took care of himself and his siblings. He took his idea for a business and built it f
rom the ground up as a gift of love and gave said siblings a job. Marlon is considered a smart “Red Neck “but that still didn’t prepare him for the leap his desires took when he got a look at his flatlander neighbor. Now the woman who stirred those desires was in his neck of the woods. Things are about to get interesting. Marlon is such a sweet ham, and his sense of humor is downright funny. I so adore him.
Marchelle Wallace I have to ask, are we going to revisit Meredith and Marlon anytime soon? With the supporting characters that you have in Redneck Heaven, I think you could keep us laughing for some time to come. I have to admit, there were a few twists and turns that had me saying, “Well crap!” and “Wow!”, but that only added to the greatness of Redneck Heaven.
What you can find in Redneck Heaven is hot passions igniting, love, red necks coming out of the wood work, as well as many quirky moments. I say let the Redneck Games Begin!
Rated 5 Seashells and a Recommended Read by Cloe!
The Marriage Contract by Lisa Mondello
Series: Fate with a Helping Hand, Book 2
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy
Length: 164 pages
Available At:
Amazon Barnes and Noble KOBO Smashwords Sony iTunes
Summary:
“Hilariously funny!” “Delightful!” 4 STARS Romantic Times Magazine (Book 2 of the Fate with a Helping Hand Series)
What would you do to get a second chance at love? Sometimes fate needs a little helping hand…
When Ruthie Carvalho finds an old birthday card with a marriage proposal scribbled on the back, she figures she’s hit pay dirt and is destined to get her 35 year old daughter married.
The trouble is, Ruthie can’t stand Cara’s boyfriend and Cara is just stubborn enough to push in the opposite direction of what her mother wants.
When Devin Michaels gets a phone call from his old friend’s mom, he knows Ruthie is up to something. But he’s at a crossroad. It’s been 17 years since he’s seen Cara and memories of their soulful talks and walks on the beach make him long to reconnect.
Going back to the seaside town of Westport Massachusetts to reconnect with Cara seems like just the thing to do. One look at Cara and the years seem to melt away. With a little help and “creative” planning from Ruthie, can these old friends become lovers and have a second chance at happiness?
FILLIA O.
I’ll be sending you the books shortly. Congrats!
Holiday Affair by Annie Seaton
Publisher: Entangled Publishing/ Indulgence
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 225 pages
Summary:
Staid professor Lissy McIntyre believes that choosing a mate should be based on common sense, not runaway passion. And she would certainly never pick a rolling stone like Nick Richards for long-term love. But a red-hot, tropical romance? Oh, yeah. He’s got a body just made for sinning and his sizzling kisses leave her senseless.
When Nick blows into town, he’s stunned to discover that his no-nonsense new neighbor and co-worker is the same sultry creature he seduced for one night of forbidden island pleasure. He’s unaccustomed to staying in one place for long, but he just can’t seem to keep his hands off the multi-faceted woman. Will Nick break loyal Lissy’s heart or will she be the one woman he simply can’t walk away from?
Cloe’s Review:
Holiday Affair is a sweet, heartwarming story that has many bumps along the way, but in the end becomes a sweet HEA.
Nick and Lissy’s story had me cheering for them at times, but at other, times I wanted to scream. Their so called on again off again relationship kept me engrossed until the very end wondering what would happen with these two. Yet, from the moment that they met on the island, the sparks were flying.
Ms. Seaton brilliantly captured the emotions of her characters. Even though I thought Nick’s character was a bit harsh at times, it evened out well with Lissy’s uncertainty regarding whether or not to engage in a relationship without love. In addition, both Lissy and Nick had huge trust issues, which also kept me wondering how this story would end.
The secondary characters were a true delight. They added much to this book as did the hero and heroine.
There are a few twists thrown in that I found myself saying, “Really, I did not see that coming.” After meeting Thomas, Nicks brother, I have to ask, do you have any plans for him Ms. Seaton?
The setting described by Ms. Seaton is picturesque and amazing, which has me asking the question, do these places exist? I found myself in love with Lissy’s Grandpa’s family place on the water.
I must say if you love, delightfully written romances then go out and grab, Holiday Affair by Annie Seaton and give this book and author a try. Ms. Seaton will set your heart souring.
Rated 5 Seashells by Cloe!
Thanks for the review Cloe! Holiday Affair sounds awesome. 
Hello Annie and welcome to The Readers Roundtable by Candlelight. Let’s begin with you telling us a little about yourself.
I live on the edge of the south Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Australia. Recently retired from the world of full time work, I am fulfilling my lifelong dream of writing, and have had instant success! My first two books were both published on the same day! I write across genres: steampunk, historical and paranormal romance and romantic suspense but my favorite genre is contemporary romance.
I live with my own hero of many years. Our two children are now grown up and married, and two beautiful grandchildren have arrived. We share their home with “Bob” the dog and two white cats.
My working life was spent in education from early childhood through to teaching trainee teachers at university. I have worked as a librarian, teacher, technology consultant and university tutor.
Now I have retired and I spend my days writing down all the stories in my head. When not writing I can be found in my beautiful garden or walking on the beach… or maybe on my deck overlooking the ocean, a chilled glass of sauvignon blanc in hand as the sun sets.
What was your reaction when you knew your book would be published? This particular morning, I rose early to a wonderful email from Entangled, offering me a contract for Holiay Affair.
Being downunder, most of my emails come in from the United States overnight I promptly burst into tears (of joy!) and ran in to wake my poor husband who wondered why on earth I was crying at 5.30am. I was delighted to be picked up by Entangled as I think they are fantastic.
Annie, what is it like planning for a release?
Busy, busy, busy!
It has been a wonderful time answering blog questions, promoting on Facebook and Twitter, not to mention the highly supportive author email groups that we all belong to. I am planning a launch in my home town in a few weeks and it has been fun trying to work out how much champagne to purchase!
Were you nervous about the first review of your book? What was your reaction when the first review came in hot off the presses?
I have had some wonderful reviews and my first review was five star! It is highly satisfying to know that readers resonate with your story and immerse themselves in the lives of the characters. I have had some great reviews extolling the appeal of the exotic locations that came alive for them as they read Holiday Affair.
Annie, I’m sure this is an answer to a question that many novice authors would want to know. How did you pitch your first book to the publisher?
I took a long time to compose and polish my query letter and my synopsis. Both of those must be well written, engaging and hook the reader in the first sentence. I consider these words equally important as the book.
In reviewing your site, you have a serious challenge going for yourself. How do you plan to write 50,000 words in 30 days?
Just put my head down and do it! I love sprinting in chat rooms. Not being an athletic person and hating real sprinting, I come to the fore when sprinting with fellow authors. I have been known to produce 1100 words in a twenty-minute sprint! For some reason, the race gets the creative juices flowing. Much of Holiday Affair was written in sprints. Being a died in the wool panster really helps this process. My characters just up and run and I chase them on the keyboard.
It’s obvious that you enjoy writing contemporary romance, but is there a genre that you would like to try writing, but have not?
I have written steampunk, romantic suspense and paranormal…. I would love to write a single title novel exploring the resilience of the female spirit.. there is one floating around in my head at the moment
Annie, what inspired Holiday Affair? Moreover, did you happen to bring an excerpt to share with us today?
Every July for the past ten years or so, my husband and I have chartered a bareboat sailing catamaran with two or three other couples, and sailed around the seventy-four islands of the Whitsundays. If you need your batteries recharged and want to take the opportunity of experiencing Mother Nature at her best…this is the trip to take.
Seven days and nights of lazy life basking in the winter tropical sun. Deserted islands, fantastic snorkelling, great food and wine, and of course the opportunity to laze on the deck and read a book with the sails snapping above.
Each of the descriptive Whitsunday scenes in Holiday Affair was based on a real place and my visit to them. At Butterfly Bay, I stood entranced among thousands of black butterflies.
Each evening, the five crew and the skipper (my husband) would all vie for the best sunset photo of the day and many of these actual photos can be seen on my face book photo gallery! (annieseaton26)
We would wander along the beaches at the islands where there were resorts and listen to the many different languages of the backpackers as they enjoyed the Whitsunday experience.
Of course, romance is always in the air and the romance of Nick and Lissy was inspired as I watched tanned backpackers stroll hand in hand along the beach.
A visit to New Zealand and my awe at the number of boats and marinas in Auckland planted the seed for them living on a boat. We always dream about living in a marina when we return from our sailing holiday each year!
Nick and Lissy fulfilled the dream for me.
EXCERPT
As she reached out, she experienced that instant electricity that seemed to ignite between them. Nick put his warm hands on her bare shoulders, pulling her in close. Her heart started thudding and her legs felt shaky, and she lowered her lashes demurely as the intensity of feeling pulled the blood from her head to her heart.
“I feel safe now,” she said breathlessly, even though she felt decidedly unsafe. She hoped that the combination of her demure expression and the sexy huskiness of her voice would have the desired reaction on him. She smiled to herself, keeping her eyes lowered as his hand slid down her arm and he lifted her hand to his mouth. He moved his lips gently across her palm. He was certainly persistent, despite the truce he had called last night around the fire.
“Come on, the dinghy is waiting to take the last group back.” He kept hold of her hand as he led her down the track through the coastal she-oak trees. As they came back onto the beach, hundreds of black butterflies fluttered from the bush at the eastern end of the bay.
“Spectacular, isn’t it?” Nick was relaxed with her. “That’s why they call it Butterfly Bay.” As he looked down at her, he reached across to push a strand of hair from her eyes. “Delicate creatures, a lot like you.”
Do you have a sexy ritual that you perform in order to help you get into the mood to write romance novels?
I don’t know about sexy… but a stroll along the beach as the sun rises or sets always puts me in the mood…. for writing that is!
What are 5 things you want your readers to know about Annie Seaton?
Annie Seaton loves writing stories and plans to write lots more.
She is a water person and the ocean is as necessary to her life as air to breathe.
Her favourite place to read is in a bubble bath with candles and a glass of champagne.
She has two white cats who are spoiled rotten, almost as much as her grandchildren.
She wants to go to Italy soon to research the sequel to Holiday Affair.
Annie, I’ve been to Italy on several different occasions and have enjoyed every bit of it and I know that you will too as you do your research. Shoot! I need a job where I can do research all over the world writing wonderful romances. That would be hoot! But enough about me. LOL!
Okay Annie, I have to ask. Professor Lissy McIntyre and Professor Nick Richards are such a odd couple; therefore, how did you develop these character’s and decide that they would be a perfect fit for one another?
My background working in an academic environment and my study of Pacific history during my undergraduate history studies was the inspiration for Lissy’s role in the history faculty in the university. Combined with my love of the ocean and the islands, this gave me the inspiration for both characters. Nick and Lissy are very similar in their love for beach climes, and both are intelligent, academic researchers. Each of them were damaged from previous experiences and they had to work together through the emotional issues, before realizing they were indeed a perfect match
Annie, thank you so much for dropping by to visit with us today. Before you go, can you tell us what we can expect to read next from Annie Seaton?
Italian Affair is the story of Tom, Nick’s brother who was a bit of a stuffed shirt in Holiday Affair. Tom travels to Italy and meets a gorgeous, sexy, sex therapist. Will she be the one for him? Look forward to it! Followed by that is Outback Affair, the story of the youngest Richards brother Alex and his emotional rebirth in the Australian outback.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with for the brothers.
Thank you for hosting me. It has been a pleasure visiting!
I would love to give away a copy of Holiday Affair to a lucky reader.
Do you have a favourite tropical location you have visied or one you would really love to visit?
About the Author
Annie Seaton lives on the edge of the south Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Australia. Recently retired from the world of full time work, she is fulfilling her lifelong dream of writing, and had instant success! Her first two books were both published on the same day! She writes across genres: steampunk, historical and paranormal romance and romantic suspense but her favorite genre is contemporary romance.
She lives with her own hero of many years. Their two children are now grown up and married, and two beautiful grandchildren have arrived. They share their home with “Bob” the dog and two white cats. Annie’s working life was spent in education from early childhood through to teaching trainee teachers at university. She has worked as librarian, teacher, technology consultant and university tutor.
Annie has now retired and spends her days writing down all the stories in her head. When she is not writing she can be found in her garden or walking on the beach… or most likely on her deck overlooking the ocean, a chilled glass of sauvignon blanc in hand as the sun sets.
She loves hearing from readers and can be contacted via :
http://www.facebook.com/annieseaton26
Twitter: @annieseaton 26
Holiday Affair can be purchased at Amazon & BN
To be entered follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter. You MUST answer Annie’s question to be entered.
The Marriage Contract by Lisa Mondello
Series: Fate with a Helping Hand, Book 2
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy
Length: 164 pages
Available At:
Amazon Barnes and Noble KOBO Smashwords Sony iTunes
Summary:
“Hilariously funny!” “Delightful!” 4 STARS Romantic Times Magazine (Book 2 of the Fate with a Helping Hand Series)
What would you do to get a second chance at love? Sometimes fate needs a little helping hand…
When Ruthie Carvalho finds an old birthday card with a marriage proposal scribbled on the back, she figures she’s hit pay dirt and is destined to get her 35 year old daughter married.
The trouble is, Ruthie can’t stand Cara’s boyfriend and Cara is just stubborn enough to push in the opposite direction of what her mother wants.
When Devin Michaels gets a phone call from his old friend’s mom, he knows Ruthie is up to something. But he’s at a crossroad. It’s been 17 years since he’s seen Cara and memories of their soulful talks and walks on the beach make him long to reconnect.
Going back to the seaside town of Westport Massachusetts to reconnect with Cara seems like just the thing to do. One look at Cara and the years seem to melt away. With a little help and “creative” planning from Ruthie, can these old friends become lovers and have a second chance at happiness?
AJ’s Review:
The Marriage Contract by Lisa Mondello is full of witty humor and banter between a mother and daughter, intense longing between two best friends who haven’t seen each other in years, and unbridled passion that is so overwhelming that you can’t wait to see what happens when Cara and Devin finally not only acknowledge, but also act on their true feelings.
Ms. Mondello has penned an exhilarating, refreshing romance that will make you all gooey inside. The characters are intelligent, loving, and will instantly warm your hearts. The reader is quickly drawn into the story with the introduction of Cara and her mother cleaning out the attic and going through some mementos. I couldn’t help but laugh at Ruthie, Cara’s mom, who is determined not only to marry off her daughter to her childhood best friend, but also to get the fires burning for those grandchildren that she’s been longing for all these years.
Devin is at a crossroads in his life, so when the opportunity presents itself to meet up with his best friend and a woman he soon discovers holds the key to his heart and soul, he thanks the Gods up above and jumps on a plane. You can’t help but fall in love with Devin because he’s not afraid to assess what’s wrong in his life and embrace it. The comraderie between Devin and Ruthie is absolutely adorable and the exact type of relationship a soon-to-be son-in-law would want to have with his future mother-in-law.
The secondary characters are well-developed and help our hero and heroine find their way to each other without overshadowing them. Elsie, Cara’s grandmother, is an absolute hoot and I hope that I’m as spunky as she is when I’m 78 years old. LOL! The plot is well-thought out and will really get you to thinking about the choices that you’ve made in life. Moreover, it delves deep into the fact that the dreams we developed or aspired to when we were younger, aren’t always the dreams that we want or need as we mature, become wiser, and eventually grow into the person we’re truly meant to be. I loved how Ms. Mondello allowed the plot of the story to play out as Cara and Devin struggled to accept the life altering changes that was confronting them on a daily basis, as they renewed their friendship and acknowledged their deeper feelings for one another.
Ms. Mondello has crafted a soulful romance with delightful three-dimensional characters who are faced with realistic, everyday problems that make it easy for the reader to relate to the story. Although there were a few minor editing errors, it wasn’t enough to draw me away from the story.
The Marriage Contract an enlightening, heart-warming story about two lovable people who have somewhat come full circle in their lives and suddenly find themselves at a crossroads in regards to their future. The characters are engaging and obviously in love with one another, but the question remains whether or not they’re willing to accept the life altering changes they suddenly find themselves faced with in order to embrace their Happily Ever After? If you haven’t picked up a copy of The Marriage Contract by Lisa Mondello then you’re definitely missing out on an enjoyable read.
Rated 4.5 Seashells by AJ!
Good afternoon Lisa and welcome to The Readers Roundtable by Candlelight. Let’s begin with you telling us a little about yourself.
First off, I hate talking about myself. I’d rather talk about books, music and movies! I have been writing professionally for 16 years and have published 13 novels. I’m currently working on a screenplay with a producer as well as revising a novel and would love to be able to add about 10 more hours into every day to get it all done!
You only need 10 more hours in a day. I’m not going to lie, I need a full 24 bordering on 48. LOL! First, I must tell you that I love the cover of The Marriage Contract. What inspired not only this story, but also the entire series?
LOl! Thank you for the compliment on THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT cover. I really love that cover and the ones that Purple Girl Design did for my Texas Hearts series. THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT is part of the Fate with a Helping Hand series which also includes the award winning All I Want for Christmas is You and The Knight and Maggie’s Baby. They’re all set in Massachusetts. When I first started writing I followed that rule, “Write what you know.” So I wrote books set in places where I’ve lived or spent a great deal of time. Having lived in Massachusetts my whole life, it was easy to put the series together based on location and the fact that I happen to love stories with a little meddling going on in order to get the hero and heroine together. THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT has a beach setting in Westport, Massachusetts, a place where I spent many summers with friends and family, and with my husband. So I revisited those memories a lot when writing the book and could understand Cara’s feelings of nostalgia about her parents moving from her childhood home, and her meeting an old friend and falling in love again at a point where she was at a crossroad in her life.
Lisa, you’ve self-published The Marriage Contract. Why did you decided to self-publish instead of submitting your manuscript to a publisher? Moreover, how difficult is it to self-publish a book?
Actually, THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT was originally published traditionally by a small press. I was released in ebook, trade paperback, hardcover and in large print back in 2000. I have had the rights back to the book for a while now and decided to release it as an ebook because I’ve built a fan base writing for Harlequin and I thought those readers, as well as new readers, would enjoy the book. With all the positive response I’ve gotten, I’m glad I did it. It wasn’t difficult to release the book since I had the files on my hard drive. I was very lucky that several authors I know had already released their backlist books and they were available to help with questions.
From visiting your site, I know that you also enjoy helping other authors and screenwriters promote their books. Is it difficult promoting your own self-published work? What processes have worked best for you in this arena?
I’ll say that it’s more fun promoting someone else. I love meeting new people and hearing about what they’re doing. When I’ve been writing and working on something for days and months on end, the last thing I usually want to do is talk about it when close the file. I have a Facebook page and Twitter account and I do try to post on those. I’d say I enjoy blogging and guest blogging more because to me it seems more personal. I don’t know why because Facebook is very personal too. It just seems more intimate, like visiting a friend for coffee.
Lisa, tell us a little about The Marriage Contract, and please tell me that you brought an excerpt to share with us this morning?
Yes, I have an excerpt! Here is a blurb for THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT:
What would you do to get a second chance at love? Sometimes fate needs a little helping hand…
When Ruthie Carvalho finds an old birthday card with a marriage proposal scribbled on the back, she figures she’s hit pay dirt and is destined to get her 35 year old daughter married.
The trouble is, Ruthie can’t stand Cara’s boyfriend and Cara is just stubborn enough to push in the opposite direction of what her mother wants.
When Devin Michaels gets a phone call from his old friend’s mom, he knows Ruthie is up to something. But he’s at a crossroad. It’s been 17 years since he’s seen Cara and memories of their soulful talks and walks on the beach make him long to reconnect.
Going back to the seaside town of Westport Massachusetts to reconnect with Cara seems like just the thing to do. One look at Cara and the years seem to melt away. With a little help and “creative” planning from Ruthie, can these old friends become lovers and have a second chance at happiness?
While perusing your site, I also noticed that you had a few interview questions of our own that you ask other authors. However, since you’re the one in the hot seat today, I’m going to turn the tables. LOL! So, here’s a question that you’ve asked authors/screenwriters: Was it hard breaking into the publishing/screenwriting business?
Hard is a relative term. The doing isn’t hard. You contact people. You send your work out to agents, editors. You meet with editors and agents at conferences and pitch your work. It’s a process and it’s not hard. It’s nerve wracking! The hardest thing about it is keeping your spirits up and developing a thick skin. I already had practice in that before I starting writing. I used to manage a rock band and had already gone the submitting and rejection route so I knew what I was getting myself into. I’m also pretty tenacious. I think it’s my Sicilian blood that gives me that don’t-quit attitude. Too many times people just quit because the process can break you down and suck your creativity dry if you let it.
You are correct in that everyone wants to know about a writer’s writing space, so what’s yours like?
A mess. It’s an organized mess, but still messy. For me it fades to the background while I’m writing. As long as I can get my hands on what I need, I’m fine. I dream of the day when I have a nicely decorated office.
LOL! Sounds like my office and my desk at home. However, sometimes I do hide things from myself. I think that I found myself intrigued by this question the most. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to research a story idea?
LOL I haven’t done anything “crazy”. But I know other authors have done things like take up fencing, take barrel-racing classes, and go to the police academy as a way to research their stories. I usually don’t have a problem picking up the phone and calling someone if I can’t find the information I need by researching the Internet. Luckily I’m married to a police officer so he fields all my police questions.
Lisa, you’ve mentioned that The Marriage Contract was partly inspired by a pact that you made with your friend. How much in your novels involve real life experience?
All my novels are fiction. But it’s hard not to inject some part of my life into them. I think people who know me very well can see certain parallels in some things. For instance, I wrote His Heart for the Trusting, book 2 in my Texas Hearts series, at a time when my husband and I became legal guardians of my niece and nephew because of alcoholism. I touch on a lot of that in His Heart for the Trusting. I was surprised when I began rereading the rough draft of the novel just how much I purged! Luckily my editor had me tone things down a bit and I’m happy with how the story came out.
Lisa, tell us about the third book in the series: The Knight and Maggie’s Baby. What inspired this delicious story.
Although The Knight and Maggie’s Baby was just released for the first time September 2011, I actually wrote the book 11 years ago. I’m a huge Elton John fan and the idea for the story came about after Elton John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Elton John is very active with his AIDS charity, The Elton John Aids Foundation. So in plotting the story, I pulled that philanthropic spirit and put it into Jonah Wallace, an English million who’d been knighted by the queen for his work with runaway and troubled youths. I love Cinderella stories. There’s something about having a hero and heroine, who are polar opposites of each other, come together in love and learn from the differences in their lives.
Okay, here’s my silly question for the day. Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backwards, or your slippers on, and after realizing it, just said screw it? LOL!
LOL. Not that I remember. At least no one ever told me if I did!
Lisa, I’m sad to say that our time has come to a close, but thank you so much for dropping by The Readers Roundtable by Candlelight. However, before you go, tell us what you have in the works and what we can expect to read from Lisa Mondello soon.
I’m getting ready to release three books in the next few months. In a few days, THE MORE I SEE, book 3 of Texas Hearts will be released. Then a young adult book I wrote with my daughter. That will come sometime in May. Lastly, I have my first single title Romantic Suspense under my L.A. Mondello name, called Material Witness that will be released in June.
About the Author
Lisa Mondello is the best selling author of 13 published books. Her first published book, the award winning ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU, was recently reissued as an ebook and has had over 226,000 downloads worldwide. In addition to publishing her Fate with a Helping Hand series, which includes THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT and THE KNIGHT AND MAGGIE’S BABY, she is releasing her popular Texas Hearts Romance series as ebooks in early 2012. She currently writes for Harlequin Love Inspired Romance and is collaborating with a film producer/screenwriter on a screenplay.
She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at LisaMondello@aol.com, find her on her blog talking about writing, movies and music at http://www.lisamondello.blogspot.com or chat on Twitter at @LisaMondello.
Hot Summer by Judy Powell
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Summary:
A hot-tempered spitfire and a sexy, arrogant man – put them together and sparks fly!
After her first embarrassing encounter Summer Jones vows to stay away from suave record producer, Lance Munroe. But then she ends up working for the man. Her quick temper and sharp tongue keep landing her in hot water with him but no matter how hard she tries she can’t deny her growing attraction for him. Then they go on a business trip to Jamaica – and her world is turned upside down.
Lance is intrigued by the feisty woman who practically tells him off the first time they meet. When they begin working together he realizes how much he enjoys the challenge of taming the little tigress. But, before he knows it, he’s the one caught in the snare of passion. The tables are turned – the tigress has tamed the lion.
If you love the sizzle of a romance between two strong-willed individuals, follow Summer and Lance from Chicago to Jamaica and be swept away in the thrill of their hot summer.
Excerpt:
As he spoke he leaned back into the couch and peered up at her through half-closed eyes. She turned away from his gaze and quickly opened the bottles and poured bubbling liquid into both glasses.
“Here you go,” she said with a smile and handed him the drink. She sat on the edge of the sofa beside him but as far away as was polite. She put the glass to her lips and sipped the sharp cold liquid, feeling the bubbles bursting in her mouth.
She felt his eyes on her and gulped more liquid, then opened her eyes wide as it flooded her throat. Her eyes burned and she struggled to swallow but it was no use. Before she could cover her mouth she coughed violently, spraying her lap and the coffee table with soda.
Summer clapped her hands over her mouth, but too late. The damage was already done. Her eyes grew huge with distress and she looked across at Lance, hot with embarrassment.
“Are you alright?” He’d quickly rested his glass on the table and was leaning towards her, a large white handkerchief in his hand. She took it gratefully, still coughing. Then the spasms gradually subsided and she was able to look at him again. Her eyes were brimming with tears.
“Are you crying?” He looked incredulous, almost out of his depth, as he raised his hand and wiped away a tear with his thumb.
Summer dabbed at her eyes, sniffed, then looked up at him again, her lips curling into a grin. “Of course not, silly. I’m not crying. It’s the coughing that made my eyes fill up with tears.” Somehow, seeing him look so nonplussed had made her more at ease with him.
“Silly, huh?” He smiled back at her. “You’re the one who gulped down a carbonated drink too fast and ended up losing the whole lot all over yourself. So, who’s silly?”
While he was speaking Lance had rested his arm at the back of the couch right behind her head and had begun to gently stroke her nape with his thumb. Summer swallowed hard but couldn’t get the lump out of her throat.
“I guess…I am,” she said, her voice breathless.
“Yes,” he whispered as he leaned forward to press his warm lips against the side of her neck, “you are.”
Summer’s breath came in shallow gasps as she sat still, not feeling she could move even if she wanted to. She was like a bird frozen in the mesmerizing stare of a snake, knowing it was about to be eaten alive but not able to make a move to save its own life.
She moaned and closed her eyes as his lips stroked the sensitive skin then moved to the base of her throat where he licked softly and gently. She didn’t realize that she was still clutching the handkerchief tightly in her hand until she felt his strong fingers pry hers open to pull it away so that he could seduce her palm with his thumb.
“Relax, baby.” He moved his lips up her neck and to her ear. “You’re so tense. Just relax.”
As he spoke he pushed her back gently into the plush pillows and began to nibble her ear lobe. He gave a lick just behind her ear and shock waves ran down her spine.
“Oh, God,” she breathed, “what are you doing to me?”
“What someone should have done to you a long time ago, Summer Jones,” he whispered. “Teach you what it means to be a woman.”
He dipped his head and slid his lips back down her neck, over her collar bone and down to that oh, so sensitive place between the curves of her breasts. Here he paused and she held her breath, eyes shut tight, wondering if he was going to stop now. She prayed he wouldn’t.
She was not disappointed. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips as he slipped a warm tongue down her cleavage, sliding it between the orbs and teasing her soft flesh until her body screamed and she felt she would die from the sweet sensation. She grabbed the back of his head and pressed him into her, wanting more of the pleasure, more of the sweetness…
About the Author
Judy Powell is a writer and marketing consultant who lives in Ontario, Canada. Her works are diverse, featuring romance novels, a historical novel and non-fiction essays which have appeared in anthologies. Her titles include ‘Hot Summer’ which placed second in the Toronto Romance Writers Contemporary Romance Competition, ‘Hot Chocolat’ – the sequel to ‘Hot Summer’, ‘Some Like It Hot’ – a sensual multicultural romance novel, and ‘Coffee, Cream and Curry’ – a literary work which received the silver medal in a national creative writing competition.
Judy is a great lover of learning which is reflected in the diversity of her studies which includes Masters degrees in Spanish, Marketing, Literature and Creative Writing and a BA in Foreign Languages & International Business. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa (US Honor Society), Romance Writers of America, Toronto Romance Writers, and Writers and Editors Network of Canada. She loves to travel and has lived in countries including Puerto Rico, the USA, France, Jamaica and Canada. She likes to feature diverse cultures in her works.
Website
Educating Ethan by Jennifer Lynne
Publisher: Breathless Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Spicy
Length: 16,320 words
Also Available At : Amazon | All Romance eBooks | Bookstrand | 1 Place for Romance
Summary:
Ida Deloraine intends to build herself a new life and a new career in catering, after a painful divorce. When the much younger Ethan Holt moves in across the street, an innocent flirtation quickly becomes serious when the two realise their age difference is no barrier to all-consuming passion.
But Ethan is the exact opposite of what Ida is looking for in a sexual partner. He is young and vibrant, with his life and his dreams still ahead of him, whereas hers are all in the past. Can Ethan, who is fighting his own demons in the form of a car accident, failed marriage and forced career change, convince Ida to overcome the past and live for the moment?
And just who is educating who in this cougar encounter?
AJ’s Review:
Educating Ethan is a sensual build up of foreplay that explodes into unbridled passion between two people who deserve some happiness in their lives.
Ms. Lynne quickly draws you into the story with a delicious description of Ethan’s sinful body from the perspective of Ida. Although these two were strangers, there was definitely chemistry simmering below the surface, even as they acknowledged each others’ presence from a distance through silent communication. I like Ida and wanted to beat the crap out of her ex-husband for being so cruel to such a kind and generous woman. Therefore, I couldn’t help but root for this cougar as she built up the courage to go after what she really wanted…Ethan.
Ethan is simply delicious, but don’t let his young age fool you. He is a man with depth, character, many facets, and an understanding of exactly what a woman needs regardless of the age. I liked him instantly and couldn’t wait for him to figure out a way to sweep Ida off her feet.
In such a short story, Ms. Lynne did a wonderful job of creating two characters with depth, as they struggled to embrace their fears and desires, while confronting the past and leaving it where it belonged…in the past. The secondary characters were minimal, but helped the story progress. In addition, the plot is engaging and well-developed. Some would consider this insta-love, but I for one thought that it was kismet. You know what I mean… When the universe and the Gods decide that two people have endured enough pain and loneliness in their lives and sets out to bring them together in hopes of a Happily Ever After.
With that said… if you’re looking for a sensual story where the characters are delightful and refreshing, the sexual play is intense and uninhibited once they give in to their desires, and the possibilities of a Happily Ever After is unlimited, then Educating Ethan by Jennifer Lynne is definitely the book to read. This story will put a smile on your face and warm you up in all the right places.
Rated 4.5 Seashells by AJ!
About the Author
Jennifer Lynne is a multi-published author who writes sensual and erotic romance from her home in Melbourne, Australia. She has two novellas published with Red Sage, including Seducing Serena in Secrets Volume 28 Sensual Cravings, and Pandora’s Gift. Her first sensual romance with Breathless Press, Educating Ethan, will be out in February. Jen lives in hope that readers will continue to enjoy her novella-length tales of love and lust!
Find Jennifer on the web at:
http://www.jenniferlynne.com.au/blog
http://twitter.com/#!/JenniLynnAuthor
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Lynne-Romance-Author/297504180262670
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3228070.Jennifer_Lynne
Greetings everyone,
Today we have Jennifer Lynne joining us at The Readers Roundtable by Candlelight all the way from Melbourne, Australia. I’m so excited because not only does her book Educating Ethan sound delicious, but I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Melbourne, Australia and absolutely loved it.
So, if you haven’t done so already, grab cup of coffee and a sweet roll, sit down in your comfy chair and relax as you learn a little more about Jennifer Lynne and her path to becoming an author.
Good morning Jennifer and welcome! My name is AJ and today, I’m helping Sydney out.
Hi AJ, and thank you so much for having me here today. I’m glad you loved Melbourne when you were here – I certainly love my home town and I like to think others do, too!
Jennifer, I loved it so much that I’m dying to go back. I know that it’s late for you in Melbourne, but I’m glad that you could join us. Let’s begin with you telling us a little about yourself.
I’m a mum of two teenagers, stepmum of two young adults, and I work part time in medical admin. I write sensual and erotic romance – usually at night while everyone else is watching TV or asleep, but I do drag myself away from the computer when some of my favorite TV shows are on. I’m addicted to coffee, partial to red wine, and I’m one of the few people in the world (I think) who doesn’t like chocolate! I’d much rather have a plate of cheese, biscuits, dips and olives!
Jennifer, you mention on your site that you have a lazy cat due to a knee reconstruction and in some ways I envy you because I have two very rambuctious 11 month old cocker spaniels. They’ll be a year old in exactly 11 days. But enough said about that. Tell us why your heroes are rarely sunny and bright.
Yes, our cat Cleo is very fat, but I suppose with a double knee reconstruction she does have an excuse! Your cocker spaniels sound adorable, and I’m sure full of energy. Hmmm, my heroes. I think I was influenced by some of the early romances I read as a teenager, where the hero was dark, brooding and somewhat tortured. I love the idea of redemption, especially through the love of a good woman. I think maybe that was my fantasy – to have a “bad boy” fall in love with me and be able to save or redeem him through his love for me. So that’s the kind of hero I usually write, though in the case of my hero in Educating Ethan, he has a mature head on his young shoulders and while struggling with his own issues, Ethan is not a tortured hero as such. Doesn’t make him any less delectable, in my humble opinion!
You’ve stated Raoul from Mary Stewart’s Nine Coaches Waiting had a profound effect on your writing career today at the age of twelve. What was it like feeling such a powerful connection to Raoul’s character? Did you find yourself comparing the men you’ve dated in real life to Raoul? Sorry, I had to ask.
LOL, I wish! No, the men I’ve dated have been nothing like Raoul. I think maybe there’s that little place in your head where your fantasy man lives, but you know it’s just that – a fantasy – and you get on with real life in the end. I’m in a relationship with a wonderful man now, and we’re hoping to be married later this year, with “his’n'hers” kids in tow. He has grey hair and a – how shall I phrase it – a non-athletic physique J Nothing like Raoul – but my man is still the right one for me!
Jennifer, you’ve been writing since you were twelve, but you’ve only recently began submitting your work to publishers. What was the cornerstone in your life that gave you the courage to go after your dream?
A few years ago I went through a painful divorce (yeesh – what divorce isn’t painful?) and at that time had a serious re-evaluation of my life and my needs. I decided that it was more than past time to try and reach for my dreams, so I sat down and rewrote Seducing Serena, an erotic romance that I subsequently submitted to Red Sage. I was thrilled when they bought it for their Secrets anthologies, and it came out in 2009 in Volume 28. Pandora’s Gift followed, then a bout of ill health and moving house stalled the writing until the past year, when I wrote and self-published Platinum Passion – the first in a stand-alone series of novellas about the ancient Greek gods of love. Educating Ethan is my fourth published romance, though my first with the wonderful Breathless Press.
Tell us about your new release Educating Ethan.
Educating Ethan is an older woman/younger man love story, but I like to think there’s a bit of a twist on that classic concept. This story becomes less about an older woman educating a younger man in the ways of love, and becomes more about two people with emotional baggage trying to build a better life for themselves, and learning about the importance of putting the past behind them through the positive power of love. I hope that by the end of this novella, readers aren’t focused any longer on the age difference between Ida and Ethan. I wanted this to be a love story where age becomes irrelevant. Here’s the book blurb:
Ida Deloraine intends to build herself a new life and a new catering career after a painful divorce. When the much younger Ethan Holt moves in across the street, an innocent flirtation quickly becomes serious when the two realize their age difference is no barrier to all-consuming passion. But Ethan is the exact opposite of what Ida is looking for in a sexual partner. In her eyes he is young and vibrant, with his life and his dreams still ahead of him, whereas hers are all in the past. Can Ethan, who is fighting his own demons in the form of a car accident, failed marriage, and forced career change, convince Ida to overcome the past and live for the moment? And just who is educating who in this cougar encounter?
I know it’s early for me anyway, but did you happen to bring an excerpt to share.
Most certainly! Here’s an excerpt from Educating Ethan:
Possibility, she thought. He represents the possibility of excitement. Of passion. The transient headiness of lust about to be fulfilled. All the things that most women wanted and rarely got. All the things that she wanted and had never truly had before.
“Ethan, do you mind if I ask how old you are?” She strove for dispassionate interest, took a careful sip of her wine, then sat where he indicated— on a bench seat in a little breakfast nook. But her glass clattered hard on the windowsill when she put it down.
“No, I don’t mind,” he answered. “I’m twenty-five. And you’re…what? Thirtyish?”
“Thirty-six.”
“Wow, you don’t look that old.”
“Oh—kay.”
Her tone was flat, and he flushed in response. “Shit! Sorry, that didn’t come out right. I meant—”
“It’s okay, Ethan. I think maybe I should—”
“Don’t go! Hell!” He reached out to stop her as she began to rise, and then exhaled noisily. “I’m an idiot, Ida. I didn’t mean it that way. I meant it…as a compliment, believe it or not. You look a lot younger than thirty-six. That’s what I meant.”
She saw genuine dismay in the depths of his eyes, and something in her relaxed. “It’s okay,” she said again, but this time she meant it. “Thanks.”
He sat heavily beside her and leaned close. That warm male scent enveloped her, elusive and yet tangible enough to send her heart rate into overdrive. But he was still frowning. She reached out to trace his jawline, and a hint of stubble rasped against her fingertip. A firm jaw; stubborn-looking. Manly.
“Relax, Ethan,” she said. “I won’t bite. Unless you want me to, that is.” Oh my God, did I actually say that out loud?
His intake of breath was sharp, and the brown eyes darkened almost black. “That sounds like an intriguing proposition.”
His gaze dropped to her neck where, no doubt, he could see how fast her pulse was racing. She tried to slow her breathing, but when he reached up to trace along her collarbone with spread fingers, her breath caught. She could feel the faint tremble in his touch as he moved over the pulsing point in her neck to the rounded line of her camisole top.
“So.” He stared into her eyes as one finger hooked onto the edge of the material.”I just need to say the word, and you would bite me? Anywhere?” One brow lifted slightly at her breathless nod. “And if I were to bite you, Miss Ida, where would you want it? Just out of curiosity, you know.” His fingers danced along the line of her top in a caress that felt incredibly intimate, avoiding her now jutting nipples but all the more enticing because of its elusive restraint. “Educate me.”
How had she doubted that this chemistry was one-sided? She’d seen the evidence of his interest yesterday in her kitchen, and she could sense it again now, without looking down this time, as she took in the heat of his gaze and the taut strength of the body leaning in toward her. She could almost smell the musky scent of arousal, though she was unsure whether that was coming from him or her. Maybe it was a combination of both. Her body responded to his closeness with a trembling anticipation, and she felt over-sensitized, like a guitar string pulled too tight. If he were to strum his thumb across her skin one more time, she might just come apart beneath his hands.
Educate him? Somehow, in the space of a few seconds, he had turned things around so that he was the one in control. How had that happened?
Since you’re such a lover of the written word, think back to all of the books that you’ve read and tell us which heroine you would switch places with in a heartbeat and why?
The heroines that appeal are strong, independent ones, who might be afraid of the challenges they face, but enter the fray anyway. I’m thinking of someone like Kate Daniels in Ilona Andrews’ books, or Raine Benares in Lisa Shearin’s series. I love their strength, their independence, their determination and resourcefulness. And of course, I love the heroes they are paired with – Curran for Kate, and the three-way bond between Raine, Mychael and the deliciously dark hero, Tam. One of my all-time favorite heroines, though, is Kinsey Millhone in Sue Grafton’s alphabet series. She is uncompromising and tough, yet vulnerable at the same time. Plus she never ages! Love her. But ultimately, I’m happy in my own skin, so I wouldn’t really want to switch!
Authors are always telling us about the heroines they love, but what about the ones you didn’t like. Have you ever encountered a heroine in a book that you didn’t like. You don’t have to name the book, but please tell us what turned you off about her.
I loved Gone with the Wind, but I really didn’t like Scarlett. I’m glad Rhett walked away from her in the end, and yet, at the same time, I feel immense pity for Scarlett, as I know her character was essentially a result of the circumstances in which she found herself. More recently, I read a story that I won’t name, but I wanted to gouge out the heroine’s eyes for being so stupid and weak. There’s submissive, and then there’s weak-willed idiocy. I will say no more, but clearly you can see I like strong heroines!
Jennifer, given that you’re a new author to this crazy business that we love, what’s one piece of advice that you’d give to new authors who are just starting out? Basically, what are some of your do’s and don’t's that you’ve learned?
Concentrate on writing the story you want to write, and don’t try and write for a particular publishing line, or what you think someone else wants. If you look for a publisher after you’ve written it, you have a better chance of staying true to yourself and that unique little voice inside you. I would also say that writing is a particularly isolating activity, so it is important to stay connected to other writers – and book lovers – by joining groups. Either local ones in your area, or perhaps some of those on Yahoo, or even on Facebook. It helps to know that you are not alone, even if your support is only via the internet. The biggest “don’t”? I would say don’t give up. If you have a dream of being published, go for it.
Now this isn’t your only book tour going on this week. Tell us about Platinum Passion. What or who inspired the story?
Thanks for mentioning Platinum Passion! This one is my first foray into menage romance, and is about a couple who have been married for twenty years and need a visit from an ancient Greek god of love (Pothos) to help put the spice back into their lives. It is the first in a series of stand-alone novellas with the erotes (aspects of Eros) as a common theme. Here is the blurb:
Three people. One erotic fantasy. And a twentieth wedding anniversary like no other. Jeannie yearns for the return of passion in her marriage. Jake craves new excitement in the form of another man. Pothos is one of the erotes, an aspect of Eros, the ancient Greek god of love, and this couple’s distinctive yearning has called to him. By the power of the erotes he intends to rekindle the flame of Jake and Jeannie’s passion in a night of desire that will be the ultimate platinum anniversary gift. And when the gods of love decide your marriage needs a boost, they never do it by halves.
Do you have an excerpt that you might be willing to share with us?
I do, but I must advise it is Adult-rated (18+). Here it is:
Different to the clean citrus smell of her husband, Pothos smelt exotic and sensual. Not quite musk, not quite spice, but altogether it was heady and enticing.
“Like someone bottled pheromones and sprayed you with it,” she muttered, wanting to bury herself deeper in his embrace.
“You like it, of course,” he said, and now it was Jeannie’s turn to laugh, at that supreme confidence.
“I love it,” she admitted, and at her words the aroma intensified around her, as if she were immersed in a sensual river, almost drowning in pleasure. Her knees buckled as erotic images began to assail her. Images of herself crammed between Jake and Pothos, the three of them somehow entwined on the sand, moaning and rutting and taking it in turns to love each other in the silvery light of the moon.
That’s what I want, she thought, and the ferocity of her longing had her hands reaching up to fist in his hair. “Can you bring Jake here, too? I want you both.”
“Good,” he said, voice rough with desire. “That is how it should be. The three of us, sharing a platinum night of passion. Together.”
His decadent words sent a delicious shiver across her skin, but before she could respond Pothos bent down to grasp the bottom of her nightgown and rip it up and over her head. Moments later and those cotton panties were gone too. She stood naked in front of him as he threw the underwear aside, but strangely, she felt no embarrassment. A light breeze tickled her flesh and puckered her already aching nipples. Pothos reached out one finger and lightly grazed one of the expanding nubs. “Beautiful,” he said, and now his voice had a deep huskiness. “Jake should see you like this. Bathed in moonlight and sensuality.”
His finger left her breast and traced the rest of her body in a delicate caress, skimming across ribs moving rapidly as she struggled to breathe evenly, down through the curve of her waist and over her abdomen to rest, feather-light, at the very top of her slit. Her mons was bare except for a tiny heart shape of hair right where Pothos’ index finger now rested. She’d had the Brazilian last week, leaving the heart in a display of whimsy and hoping Jake would enjoy the new look.
But he hadn’t even noticed.
Unlike Pothos, who now had a crooked little grin on his face as he traced around the heart.
“A genuine blonde,” he said.
She nodded in a distracted fashion. She was finding it more and more difficult to draw a breath. Her gaze fell to his jeans, the denim now clearly stretched to its limit across his groin. Not fair that he should still have clothing on, while she stood here dressed in nothing but her pussy heart.
“Would you…please…remove…?” She reached out a trembling hand to touch his straining bulge, and his intake of breath was audible. She enjoyed the momentary power, mimicking his fingertip exploration of her body to trace up the shape of his penis, over the ripped abdominal muscles and then down again, taking pleasure in the increasingly irregular pattern of his breathing.
So this…god of love, or whoever he was, could be moved by desire, too.
She fumbled again for the fastening on his jeans, but he shook his head, then stepped back to remove his clothing in a fluid movement that was far quicker than she’d have been able to achieve with her shaking hands.
His cock sprang free and she gasped at the enormous size and inherent power in his organ. Pothos was longer and wider than Jake, but not unduly so, as her husband was rather well-endowed. But it was not only his erect appendage that had her eyes wide and her whole body aching for sex. Though his shoulders were built for power his body tapered down in a long, lean arc to narrow hips, and as he turned toward the water for a moment she got a view of tight buttocks and impressively muscled thighs.
Had he done that twirl on purpose? So that she’d see and appreciate the perfection of his body from every angle?
Yes, she decided, as he glanced back at her over his shoulder and grinned boyishly. He most certainly had.
“Nice butt,” she managed, in the understatement of the century, but it was worth it to see the affronted look on his face.
“Nice?”
“Very nice, in fact.”
He moved so fast she only had time for a quick yelp before he was standing over her, gripping her shoulders. The head of his organ was almost, but not quite, touching her stomach, and she could feel the radiant heat leaching out from its proximity. “Nothing about me is nice, Jeannie.”
Jennifer, how much research do you put into your stories? Moreover, what’s your process when you sit down to write? For example, do you listen to music or does the room have to be in total silence?
I need peace and quiet. One of my quirks is that I enjoy hearing the ticking of the clock in our kitchen. It means everyone else is either asleep or out, and I can finally have the peace I need to write. I do research, but not too extensively. For Platinum Passion and Pandora’s Gift, I did some research into Greek mythology (I love mythology of any kind). In Educating Ethan, Ida is a caterer, and I watched cooking shows to get ideas for some of the food she cooks. The rest came from my own experience of living in the suburbs, going through a divorce and its aftermath, and my imagination! In terms of process, I tend to have an idea for the two main characters and perhaps their first scene, then I wing it from there. I have tried plotting in the past, but it takes something away from my writing and it ends up quite flat.
Okay, I know you’re probably going to gasp, but if you were given one wish to choose a hero who would sweep you off of your feet, who would it be? Now, here’s the kicker, it can’t be Raoul. LOL!
Easy! Eric Northman from Trueblood. Specifically, the Alexander Skarsgaͦrd version of Eric. I love him! I could look at him all day! He’s the ultimate in sexy from my point of view.
Well Jennifer, I’ve gotten into your business enough for one day. Thank you so much for dropping by The Readers Roundtable by Candlelight. I’ve enjoyed our chat and hope that you come back to visit us soon, but before you go, tell us what we can look forward to reading from Jennifer Lynne in 2012.
Next release will be #2 in the Gods of Love series. Aphrodite Calling is the story of Himeros (god of sexual desire) and his interactions with a career woman in need of some love in modern-day Melbourne, Australia. I’m working on #3 in that series, tentatively called Sex Club Secrets. It is about Anteros (god of requited/unrequited love) and he’s proving a rather naughty hero, I can tell you. I’m also developing an erotic fairy tale idea, but that one won’t be done till later this year. So there’s plenty to keep me occupied at the writing desk!
Thank you so much for having me. Don’t forget that all comments on today’s interview go in the draw to win a $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Winner will be announced after the blog tour finishes on March 30th.
If anyone would like to follow my tour, next stop will be http://www.romancingrakes4theluvofromance.blogspot.com/ on Mar 14th.
One lucky reader will win either a $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card, their choice at the end of the tour.
RULES
1. Must be or become a Linky Follower of the Readers Roundtable (Main Site) and the By Candleight Site
2. Must leave a comment
3. Must leave your name and email address in case you win
4. Hope you have some fun!
Good Luck Everyone!
Back to You by Natalie-Nicole Bates
Publisher: Bradley Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 73 pages
Available @ Amazon, BN, Bradley Publishing
Summary:
On the surface, Lynsey Reznor seems to have it all. She is beautiful, brilliant, and a successful true-crime writer who has been living the past decade in Miami. But what Lynsey lacks is what she needs the most—a family.
After the death of her mother, and yet another failed relationship, Lynsey makes an impulsive decision to return to her hometown of Unity. But Unity will present its own bittersweet memories, most notably, her first love, Nick Lincoln.
Twenty years ago, Nick broke teenager Lynsey’s heart when he decided to marry another. He had his own private reasons—reasons he never explained to Lynsey. Now she is back, along with a chance to reclaim her love. But Lynsey wants answers from him that he may never be able to give out of duty and guilt.
BARBARA B.
CBLS Promtions has been notified and will send you the book.