Book Review: Devious by Mark Love

Jamie Richmond, reporter turned author, is doing research for her next book. Attempting to capture the realism of a police officer’s duties while on patrol, she manages to tag along for a shift with a state police trooper. A few traffic stops and a high speed chase later, Jamie’s ride takes an unexpected turn when she witnesses the trooper being shot. Although it is not a fatal injury, Jamie becomes obsessed with unraveling the facts behind this violent act. While she is trying to sort out this puzzle, she becomes romantically involved with Malone, another trooper with a few mysteries of his own. Now Jamie’s attention is divided between a blooming romance and solving the crime which is haunting her. Jamie begins to question the events that took place and exactly who could be behind the shooting. It was a devious mind. But who?

I loooooooooove mystery thrillers. I am a long time fan of James Patterson and his cop/mystery books. I liked how this book had a bit of a Stephanie Plum and Castle feel to it. Jamie Richmond, lead heroine, sounds like my kind of buddy. Jamie likes to write and jumps from job to job and is a free spirit. Resourceful and clever, yet clumsy, she managed to get a book deal and an advance on her second book. With a criminal mystery thriller in mind, Jamie contacts her ex-step-father, who also happens to be the captain of the police force. While researching her a character role for her next book, Jamie witnesses a shooting that leaves her escort incapacitated and bleeding on the road. Captivated by the mystery of the shooter, Jamie begins an investigation of her own, but someone doesn't want her to figure it out.

I loved the characters in this book. Jamie and her ex-step-father are kinda close, even after her mother divorced him. Despite his gruff exterior, he loves Jamie like she was his flesh and blood. Another good thing about this book, is how the police are portrayed as human beings, instead of power hungry and obnoxious peeps. While on patrol with her escort, Smitty, there are several incidences that show how much leniency a cop can deliver especially when warranted. Not all cops are bad people and there are a number of good ones, but I think with all of the caught on camera beatings and scandalous hood top sexcapades, people tend to forget that. 

Now about the hero of the story. I guess it's my fault for reading too much about muscley guys with guns and spy routines. I had a picture in my mind about the hero, Malone, but he turned out to be an average Joe who sweeps Jamie off her feet with confidence. Their attraction reminds me of the relationship between Cilla McGowan and Ford Sawyer in Nora Roberts' book, Tribute. It was an odd but reasonable pairing. Good-looking girl with the dorky average guy; you think it's impossible with how most romance novels feature a hottie with a body, but love and attraction can happen between average Joes and beauties. Another thing is the age difference. Malone is 42 while Jamie is 31, but there's not really a problem with age when it comes to love, but in society today, it's a stigma to be dating someone younger than you or vice versa.

The mystery behind the shooter was thrilling and kept me guessing until the end.  
This book had everything! Steamy sex scenes balanced with a sweet romance, crime, mystery, and fantastic plot lines. Overall I give this book a......

4½ stars!

I have been told by the author that there is a sequel to this series and I'm super excited to read it. I can't wait to see what Mark Love has in store for readers. :D

If you want to buy a copy and read it yourself, click on the following links below:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

SmashWords

About the Author?

I am a Michigan native, who up until recently lived in the Metro Detroit area, where crime and corruption always seem to be at the top of everyone's news. So there's always the chance to find something that can trigger a story idea and enough interesting characters to jump start your imagination.

While I have worked in many industries and career paths over the years, one of my passions has always been writing. I was even able to parlay that passion for a while, working as a freelance reporter for a couple of newspapers in the Detroit area. Writing features and hard news helped me hone my talents. But while newspaper worked was interesting and paid a few bills, it was a far cry from the fiction writing that I enjoy the most.

I've always been drawn to mysteries and thrillers, the kind of stories that have a fast pace, that keep you moving and keep you guessing as to what's going to take place next. Mix those in with some elements of crime, perhaps a glimpse of the seedier side and you've got me. So it's always been one of my goals to write stories like that.

While taking a creative writing course in college, the instructor suggested I might have more success getting short stories published first. So I tried my hand at some short stories. And he was right. I was able to publish a number of these in small press magazines. Seeing my name and stories in print was definitely a kick. I realized my short stories looked like episodes from "The Twilight Zone" or "Tales from the Crypt", with a mix of humor and an unexpected twist at the end. Recently I packaged three of those together and published them on Amazon under the title "Three to Get Ready"

A few years ago I discovered a new online publisher looking for novels. I submitted one, a mystery/romance story for consideration. They jumped at it. Then I submitted "Fade Away" a thriller with a little sci/fi twist. They wanted that one too. Two more years and two more books were published. But sadly, they folded their operations. Fortunately, all the rights reverted to me. So I decided to put two of my novels, "Fade Away" and "Desperate Measures" on Amazon's Kindle Prime and see how things go.

Book Review: Finding Love Under a Rock by Allee Mae

NOTE: Allee Mae is another pseudonym of Davee Jones.

Kalista Bristow and Leandra Lehigh moved to Oklahoma not just to attend nursing school, but, to find some adventure. When Leandra reads about the sport of “noodling”, she is literally “hooked’, and reserves top-notch guides, Caleb Chandler and Owen Guthrie, to give them a true southern experience. 
Wading through the murky river, Kalista finds herself drawn to the handsome Caleb and his red-dirt good looks. He manages a few shy glances in her direction, intrigued by her tenacity. Could this cute city girl bring him out of his awkward insecurity when it comes to dating? However, thoughts of blossoming love move to the wayside as the girls find more than they bargained for under the surface of that shadowy river. They must rely on Caleb and Owen to keep them safe, all the while beginning to believe the mysterious legends the guys have been telling them are probably all true.

I gotta say, noodling looks cool but I sure as taxes wouldn't actually do it  in real life. The story starts off with two girls, Kalista and Leandra, who attend nursing school in Ada, OK. These besties have been through it all together and like birds of a feather, want to have some fun adventures together. After watching a reality TV show about noodling, Leandra decides to sign up for a noodling expedition, with Kalista reluctantly agreeing. The girls head to a cabin in the middle of nowhere that specializes in noodling expeditions and tours. Here Kalista meets their tour guides, Caleb and Owen. Caleb is nothing like the perpetual red neck persona, much to Kalista's surprise. As you could have guessed, Caleb and Kalista are attracted to each other and after the expedition, start texting back and forth. Their relationship begins to form more than tour guide and customer. They get to know each other through texts, phone calls and trips into the river looking for fish. 

I thought it was kind of a sweet story. I really liked how the story was structured. After a scene or two Allee Mae switches from the girls' POV to the guys POV. It's great because it brings in insights from different perspectives and it made Caleb more endearing as a character. :D On a second trip with the boys, the weird stuff starts happening. Kalista fins a big fish mangled and bloody. The group heads back to the cabin with the fish and try to figure out the mystery behind the mangled fish. Who would attack a poor fish? Let's just say it's the usual suspects. ;)

For an excerpt click here, to go to a blog post by Samantha Combs. Overall this book felt more like a mini novella than a novel, but it's certainly a good start to a mystery/romance themed series. I give this book a (drumroll).....

4 stars!

Release Day Euphoria! Volume 4, Issue 2

I've read some of Amanda Quick's, who also goes by the name Jayne Ann Krentz, work; Specifically, the Arcane Society novels. Today is the release of the second book in the Ladies of Lantern Street series.

Beatrice Lockwood, one of the intrepid ladies of Lantern Street, is in the middle of a case when her past comes back to haunt her.  Joshua North, a former spy for the Crown, has come out of a self-imposed retirement after a disastrous case that left him scarred and forced to use a cane.  He is hunting the villain who is blackmailing his sister.  

The trail leads him to Beatrice who is his chief suspect.  But when he realizes that she is not the blackmailer they set out to find the real extortionist.  Passion flares between them as they dodge a professional assassin.  Meanwhile a mysterious scientist intent on resurrecting his dead lover using an ancient Egyptian formula for preserving the bodies of the dead is also hunting Beatrice. He is keeping his dead love perfectly preserved in a special, crystal-topped sarcophagus filled with the special fluid.   But he needs Beatrice's paranormal talent to activate the reviving properties of the preservative in the coffin.  Time is running out for everyone involved. 

The two cases collide at a mysterious country-house filled with artifacts from ancient Egyptian tombs.  The drama concludes in the mad scientist's laboratory where Joshua discovers that the past he thought was dead is still very much alive -- sort of.

Get a copy today at Amazon or B&N

Book Review & Giveaway: The Forever Saga: Flash by Sean C. Sousa

I have to confess, I wasn't exactly eager to read this book. I tend to stay away from sci-fi based novels, which is odd because of my love for Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who, but I gotta say The Forever Saga: Flash was actually a well written and interesting book.

Long ago, the first reign of Grigori Geist nearly destroyed the Earth. Returned from exile, Geist is secretly rebuilding his kingdom beneath Antarctica, assembling his robotic Vaucan race to war against mankind. Only one obstacle remains: the war hero known as Brian Renney. Yet Brian is losing a battle against his fears. Scars of heart and mind linger from his days in Vietnam, fueling his failures as husband and father. This embitters his youngest son, Jason – a star athlete torn between pursuing the love of his life, and meeting the demands of a father who is far from the storied army captain he once was.And all the while, Geist is coming for them. In this dark hour, Brian and Jason encounter a war to end all others… and an unexpected ally who, once meant for evil, shall forever be a force for good.

This book was a bit overwhelming, but in a good way. It was quite a melting pot of different cultures, titles, customs, and lifestyles. Even though there were a lot of different pieces, Sean C. Sousa tied them all together beautifully. One of the main characters is Brian Renney, a survivor of the Vietnam war. He, like many others, still has strong memories and flashback of his time on the battlefield. His character is a little similar to the Walt Kowalski, of Gran Torino, but is more watered down. Brian is alienated from his sons, prideful, gruff billy goat personified, old-school, and retired, but he's not a bad guy. He does have moments of reproach where he does praise his son, despite otherwise. He also has bouts of PTSD that have increased since the accident. The things he's see and done during a period of blood and war still stays with him and causes a rift between him and his family. 

He knows he's sabotaging himself and his relationships, but it's like he has word vomit. The meanest things come out of his mouth, full of sarcasm, bitterness and anger, aimed at his family when he's projecting his self-hatred of himself. Despite this, his family refuses to give up on him and still love him, albeit from a distance. Brian has a love of skates, which one expects from Michiganians and was a hockey player back in the day. His youngest son, Jason, has picked up the mantel and is always under his father's constant scrutiny. Around Christmas time, everything changed for the Renney family. After an argument broke out during dinner, Brian is spirited away by Prince Ahya, later renamed Flash. From this point on, Brian is thrust into a journey that will ultimately lead to the battle of all battles.

As you read the book, Sousa switches back and forth between the realm of Regnum Aeturnum (a metropolis built under the continent of Antarctica) to flashbacks of the Vietnam war (told in Brian's POV) and then to present day. The mini world that exists is intricately designed and has a Game of Thrones feel to it with all of the politics and warmongering. :D There were many scenes that made my top 5, but my all time favorite stars Brian and his wife, Mary, when they are briefly reunited. I just couldn't help it; I'm a romantic. :) This book also kind of reminded me of this old movie I saw when I was a kid. It was called the Iron Giant. I kind of felt like it was similar in the sense that during their time together, Brian was teaching Flash to be more human and Flash challenged Brian's own view of his self-worth. The flashbacks and the ending made me tear up a little. Being Vietnamese with parents who fled Vietnam during the war, I appreciated Brian's flashbacks and his attempts to make things better. I don't quite remember if there are stories about real life soldiers who not only fought the war against communism in Vietnam, but also for the people. Brian is a fractured soul. He was described as quick to act and cared for the lives of others. This section made me tear up the most, 

"

He cared about the Vietnamese more than many of his fellow soldiers did. It didn’t matter to him that some folks back home hated us for fighting that war. He only wanted to win for the Vietnamese people.” (

Sean C. Sousa. The Forever Saga: Flash (Kindle Locations 7205-7207).) 

Despite his flaws, he was committed to the underdog and it cost him most of his mental stability, but it made him into the kind of hero you want to root for. 

This book was filled with imagery, adventure, pain, redemption, conspiracy, mystery, family, love, and fantasy. I am so glad Sean contacted me to read this book. I hope I have the luck of reading the next book by this up and coming writer! I give this book a rating of....

4 ½ stars!!!!

Today only (4-23-13)! The Forever Saga: Flash Giveaway - Like The Forever Saga's Facebook Page and receive a free e-book copy of Flash!" 

The Forever Saga Giveaway

For more info about The Forever Saga, click here and for more info about the author click here. 

SEAN C. SOUSA never planned on writing a novel – that is, until the idea for The Forever Saga came along. He first conceived it as a video game design concept, then a screenplay, and finally a written work of fiction. His debut novel, The Forever Saga: Flash, marks the end of one six-year journey toward publication, and also the beginning of another: to bring his stories to a worldwide audience.

His dream is to see fiction inspire positive social change in the world, calling attention to issues of social justice and mobilizing his readership to meet the needs of those afflicted.

Mr. Sousa resides in Southern California with his wife, Shelley, and when he is not writing further adventures about the Renney family, he is usually up to socially acceptable mischief with his friends and family.

Copyright 2007-2013 Epical Media. All Rights Reserved

Cover Reveal Blitz: Gravity by Dannika Dark

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I am so happy to be a part of Dannika Dark's cover reveal for the 4th book in her Mageri series! I absolutely can't wait for this book to come out. For those of you who have yet to read the Mageri series, I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes a bit of witchcraft mixed in with steamy alphas. ;) (Drumroll) I am happy to present to you lovely readers the cover art of Gravity, book 4 in the Mageri series, along with a small blurb.

He twirled a lock of my dark hair between his fingers, bringing the soft tendril to his nose as he drew in a deep breath.

“Do I still smell like lemon cake?” I asked. My fingers wandered along the tight muscles on his arms, sliding underneath the sleeves of his light grey T-shirt.

He suddenly crouched low and ran his nose along the length of my body—close and inviting. God, I loved it when he did that.

Smelled me.

What a strange thing to love about a man. The gesture felt erotic and the tiny hairs on my arms would stand up. With each inhale, his soft purr rumbled and I pulled his face close to mine, planting a soft kiss on his warm cheek. He caged me with arms that had once climbed a thirty-foot tree with blinding speed to rescue me—his agile body leaping from branch to branch as he held me tightly to him.

“Put your mouth on mine, Little Raven. I’m ready for a taste of lemon cake,” he said in a deep and tumbling voice.

“Maybe I’m not so sweet,” I whispered, wetting my lower lip with a sweep of my tongue.

Logan’s eyes followed every movement, and he licked his lips in response. “I want your mouth… on my mouth. Do it, or else I’ll have to find something else to kiss.”

(sigh) Logan! so swoon-worthy he is. :D Since this book is the 4th one in the series, I would be remiss in my duties as a book blogger to inform you about the previous books. :) Below are book covers and synopses of the previous 3 books.

BOOK #1 of the Mageri series: Sterling

Zoë Merrick lived a less than ordinary life, until late one night, she was brutally attacked and left for dead.

A man named Adam spotted her running down the road covered in blood, and took her under his wing. Zoë didn't just survive that night - she underwent a physical transformation and acquired strange new abilities. Severed from her old life, her frustration grows as she tries to comprehend what's happening to her.

Serendipity leads her to Justus. He's handsome, arrogant, and not entirely human. Zoë learns the truth about what she is, and just how dangerous their world is for a young Mage. The only way she will understand her power is by putting her trust in this man, and accepting the protection he offers.

When her immortal freedom is threatened by the one man who has a right to claim her, Zoë learns the price of freedom...and the value of loyalty. 

Goodreads          Amazon          Barnes & Noble

BOOK #2 of the Mageri series: Twist

Months after moving to the mysterious city of Cognito, Silver is developing her gifts as a Mage, and learning how to live under new laws. Forced to give up her old life, she must now live in secret among the humans. She finally has hope of leading an ordinary life . . . until Logan Cross walks into it.

Their chance meeting leads her close to discovering the identity of the nameless Mage who once stole her light and discovered the unique power she possesses. That knowledge poses an unimaginable threat to Silver, fueling her search to find out who he is, before he finds her first.

Lives are at stake. Truths are revealed. And an unexpected passion ignites.

Goodreads          Amazon          Barnes & Noble

BOOK #3 of the Mageri series: Impluse

Almost one year ago, a Mage attacked Silver and changed the course of her destiny.
Immortals exist, and now she is one of them.

Within the dark and supernatural city of Cognito, Silver is living under the watchful eye of her Ghuardian and dating her mortal enemy. Neither man can protect her from a dark secret, one buried within the contents of a box. As rival factions struggle to gain control, she finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old feud that threatens to drive a wedge between her and Logan Cross, the man who intends to seduce her.

In an explosive turn of events, one life is saved and another is forever altered. Can Silver trust those around her, or are they hiding a dark secret of their own?

Goodreads          Amazon          Barnes & Noble

About the Author: Dannika Dark

Down in Texas, there's a woman who drinks copious amounts of vitamin water placed precariously close to her laptop. Yeah, I know. I've got a drinking problem. Hi, I'm Danni.

When I'm not writing (which is all the time), I'm listening to obscure music, watching movies, reading, discovering new ways to humiliate myself bowling, and burning up my laptop battery on the internet. I live with a cat who thinks she is a dog, or a goat (she eats plastic, so I'm not sure which).

Some people count sheep when they have insomnia. Since I was little, I used to make up stories in my head in a futile attempt to bore myself to sleep. The problem was, I'd get so wrapped up in my "head stories" that I would continue them through the following nights, changing it up each time to make it more exciting. Eventually, I started writing my ideas down more and more, creating short stories which evolved into poetry.

Lots and lots of poetry. It's almost embarrassing that I have an entire box loaded with spiral notebooks filled with furious, heartfelt, and blushing words. Apparently, I had a lot to say.

Another one of my hobbies is digital art. I designed all my book covers. 

I am finally doing what I have always wanted to: giving my characters a pulse through publishing. I write adult urban fantasy romance, but I don't like labels. I let the story tell itself, and color outside the lines. I am not a YA author, but I think it’s pretty great that there are so many books available to teens in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal. These are the future readers!

The work that goes behind self publishing is hard work, I won't lie. On top of my regular day job: I write, edit, format, create cover art, and market.

But it's what I love to do, and someday, I'm going to be doing this full time.

Author Links

Website/Blog:  http://www.dannikadark.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannikaDark

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dannika-Dark-official/148451945238628?ref=ts&fref=ts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5181752.Dannika_Dark

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Dannika-Dark/e/B005LXWZWM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1351019685&sr=8-2-ent

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/dannika-dark

In the Spotlight w/ Beth Kery!

Today we have a special guest with us. She's the author of Because You Are Mine and the spin-off series When I'm With You, Beth Kery!!!! We'll start this off with some Q & A and at the end of the post there's a giveaway for a copy of Because You Are Mine. :D Isn't that awesome?!?!? So let's get to it!

1) As a seasoned erotic romance writer, do you find the stigma of erotica or “mommy porn” hurtful to your career? Do you lose any sleep over it?

I can’t say I endorse or identify with the term ‘mommy porn’ and find it condescending to the millions of women who enjoy erotica and erotic romance. (Yes, I know some readers like the title, which is perfectly fine. I’m just speaking from my perspective as a writer and the dislike of the stereotype). Is my writing explicitly sexual, yes. It’s also extremely romantic. I don’t consider it to be pornography or stroke fiction at all. That doesn’t mean it isn’t exciting or titillating at times, but it’s a love story with the bedroom doors and the minds of the hero and heroine left wide open. As for the term ‘mommy’? I’m mentally shrugging. I have readers from every adult age group and walk of life. It’s a catchy phrase, and I realize the media has glommed onto it. As to whether or not I lose sleep over writing love stories that appeal to a woman’s sexual nature, the answer is an absolute ‘no.’ I may lose sleep about things occasionally, but not over that.

2) Which character of the When I’m With You do you relate to the most?

I relate to Elise, the heroine from When I’m With You. Not because I’m like her, necessarily, but because I know what it’s like to be trapped a bit by your past and how hard it is to escape old habits and expectations that have been taught to us from the cradle. I wrote a post recently called The Tortured Heroine and talked about Elise a lot. She’s not what most people would call a likely candidate for “tortured’ having come from one of the wealthiest families in Europe and being an heiress to a massive fortune. But I know that people can suffer in any walk of life. I had a lot of respect for Elise for wanting to make a life on her own terms. She’s a hard worker, and she doubts herself at times, but it’s her determination to hold her head up and be proud of her accomplishments and herself that makes up the true essence of her—previous wild child heiress or not. I respect her for that. She doesn’t choose the easy path, but the one that will force her to grow. I’ve been known to do that a time or two in my life.

 3) I love the covers for the When I’m With You and Because You Are Mine. Where did they come from?

Thank you, they are lovely, aren’t they? I owe them totally to the Berkley art department. I love how their elegance matches the sort of cosmopolitan sophistication of the series so well, but also hints at the sexiness of the books. Plus, ever since Wicked Burn, I kind of think of pearls as my characteristic book gem. Elegant, and yet also very sexy.

4) Did you encounter any challenges while writing When I’m With You?

Yes. I struggled with finding the core personalities of these two complicated characters. As often happens, as I write and toil, their characters magically emerge. I knew that both Lucien and Elise came from privilege and wealth, and that they weren’t necessarily ‘like’ me or many of my readers. The challenge was to make them believable and to evoke compassion for them, despite their secrets and their gilded background. It was worth the struggle, though, because by the time I’d finished, I truly felt that I’d plumbed the depths of these two wonderful, loving and complex people. Neither of them was a pat, predictable character. I didn’t want to shrink them down to fit a pre-formed stereotype.

5) Last year you wrote Because You Are Mine and release it as eight parts and then compiled the parts into a single volume. And you’re doing it again with When I’m With You. Why is that?

The serial concept was the publisher’s idea. There is currently a strong demand for ebooks in the market as people lead more mobile lives and grow used to and rely on myriad forms of technology—everything from readers to their phones to their tablets. The serial was very popular once, and I think that it’s returning for several reasons—the popularity of fan fiction and the episodic release of the story, the similarity to popular weekly television shows, and the ability for readers to share the experience via the Internet and social media. The serial book controls for the element of time, encouraging readers to consume the novel at the same pace, and making it more likely for them to share and communicate about the experience. This was how people read and shared books back in the day of Dickens and Stowe, reading it and then incorporating it into their social relationships as a topical, shared focus. It’s happening again today, but interestingly, through the medium of technology and social media.

As for if Berkley (the publisher) is releasing When I’m With You in a complete format, if you have that information, I don’t. :) They did so for Because You Are Mine because the ebook/serial was so successful. Of course, I pray that happens for When I’m With You, but I have no confirmation of that.

6) Do you have any plans to continue the Lucien-Elise-Ian-Francesca universe?

Yes, the Because You Are Mine series will continue, with Ian and Francesca moving back again into center stage in Because We Belong, a novel being released next November. Readers can also anticipate a fourth novel, as of yet untitled, that will be set in the Because you Are Mine world, this one based on characters readers will have become familiar with by the time it releases.

Lightening Round Questions

•        Favorite food? 

Orange chicken…or a really good, classic spaghetti Bolognese…or—okay, that’s enough. :) 

•        Favorite drink? (alcoholic or etc.) 

Diet Pepsi with lime, Fresca, or a very full-bodied, peppery red wine.

•        Favorite guilty pleasure? 

Reeses holiday candies, like the Reeses peanut butter eggs or heart-shaped peanut butter chocolate treats, garlic hummus (guilty because it makes me wreak) and…Harry Potter books/movies (because…hey, aren’t I too old for this?)

•        Favorite kind of music?

Hard rock with heart, classic rock, the blues (I’m a true Chicago girl), jazz, certain orchestral pieces. The Brandenburg symphonies (Bach) send me into an emotional trance. I’ll stop whatever I’m doing when I hear Bach’s Brandenburg concerto number 2. They were right to send it into space on Hubble as a representation of human music. Sublime.

•         Favorite fictional boyfriend?

Classic: Cash Boudreaux from Sandra Brown’s Slow Heat in Heaven. I’m a big fan of Sandra’s classic romances, and Cash just dripped testosterone in this book. It had a big impact on me and my writing. My own heroes: Christian Lasher from Gateway to Heaven is a favorite, although…most of them are.

•         Celeb you’d like to meet? (male, female, or both)

I always wished I could have met Marilyn Monroe. I’m so fascinated by the enigma of her. Chris Cornell from Soundgarden.

•         Did you ever have a fan girl moment? (Y/N)

No, but I wanted to have one last year at the Romantic Times convention in Chicago. I’m a huge Anne Rice fan, especially of the Mayfair Witches. I really, really wanted to meet her last year at the convention, where we both were signing. But thanks to a killer, high-fever flu, I barely was able to sign for my own readers, let alone stand in her serpentine, mile-long line. :)

•         Yoga or jogging?

Yoga and walking for me. My knees have a bit of a problem with jogging nowadays.

•         Ice cream or gelato? 

Well, if I’m in Italy, gelato hands down. In fact, if it’s good gelato, always gelato. Nothing beats it for fresh, creamy perfection.

•         Cats or dogs?

I love animals in general, but if forced to choose, I’d probably say I’m more of a dog person.

Thank you so much for the interview! It was fun. -Beth Kery

Yay!! Give a round of applause for Beth Kery. As a special bonus, here's sneak peek at the cover of the next Ian and Francesca novel, Because We Belong.

And remember peeps, parts 7 of When I'm With You comes out on the 16th of April and the final part comes out on April 23rd. And if you haven't read any of Beth Kery's books, you should start with these two:

Because You Are Mine (Ian & Francesca Novel #1)

Francesca Arno has been commissioned to create a grand centerpiece painting for the lobby of Ian Noble’s new skyscraper. It’s at a cocktail party in her honor that she first meets him—and the attraction is immediate for Francesca. It’s also bewildering. She’s not used to such a wholesale sexual response to a stranger. Enigmatic, darkly intense, with a commanding presence, Ian completely unnerves her. And she likes it.
For Ian, she’s the kind of woman he can’t resist—one that comes all too rarely: a true innocent. But he can sense in her a desire to open up, to experiment, to give herself to the fantasies of a man in control. The first kiss, the first caress, the first challenge for a woman who craves what she’s never had—a man who gets what he wants.

When I'm With You (Lucien & Elise Part #1)

Restaurateur and self-exiled heir Lucien Lenault’s first look at the breathtaking young chef trainee for his trendy Chicago restaurant is a shock. She’s Elise Martin, daughter of a wealthy French fashion designer. 

She’s also the holder of a secret that could explode his carefully laid plans.
Notorious for her flagrant exhibitionism, and for flouting the respectable façade of her aristocratic background, the coquin’s wild streak shocked most people. Not Lucien. He was tempted by it. It was a deliriously punishable offense as far as Lucien was concerned. But taking on Elise is more than a game. She’s a catastrophe waiting to happen, an inferno that’s burned many a lover. Lucien isn’t most men, however, and he won’t allow her to manipulate him. In order to control the defiant beauty—in order to see her submit—he’s going to have to willingly walk in the flames…

****Giveaway Rules****

The rules of my blog clearly states that I do not do international contests, but Beth Kery has convinced me to bend the rules this once. This giveaway is open to everyone and starts on April 16th and end on May 16th. If you are picked as winner you get a paperback copy of Because You Are Mine.

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About the Author: Beth Kery!

Beth Kery is the USA Today and New York Times best selling author of Because You Are Mine and Exposed to You. She holds a doctorate in the behavioral sciences and loves observing people in all their wonderful complexity. She writes both erotic romance and contemporary romance. Learn more about Beth and her books at www.BethKery.comor join her on facebook.com/beth.kery or twitter.com/bethkery.

Release Day Blitz: Queen of Jastain by Kary Rader

The Light brought her to him, but does he have the faith to make her his queen?For twenty years, Avant plotted revenge against the dark king, but when a mysterious woman suddenly appears, everything changes. Although his prophetic Gift reveals she's the Seed of Light chosen to restore the Crown, his overwhelming attraction to the women threatens his long-held plan for revenge and two decades of fidelity.
 Abby Randall is inexplicably transported from Dallas to the medieval land of Jastain. There she meets Avant, who claims she's the foretold champion of his people. While the hot guy has her hormones pumping, his crazy talk of defeating an evil king leaves questions to his sanity. Through his supernatural Gift, Avant transplants his memories into her, but neither are prepared for how their hearts intertwine.
 Together they embark on their quest, but when Abby and Avant come face to face with destiny, will they sacrifice what matters most to provide a happily-ever-after for the people of Jastain?

Yay! Release Day Blitz blog tour time! I would like to thank Viviana, Enchantress of Books for the chance to get a sneak peak of this interesting book. Below is an excerpt provided by the author, so read and enjoy. There is also a giveaway for a  $10 Gift Card and a Charm necklace, pictures below.

Excerpt

When Avant climbed back to the cave, his hair was wet. He'd slicked it back from his face and tied it into a little ponytail with a leather string. The sexy shadow of a light beard softened his angular jaw, and the thick waves of his hair shined with chestnut highlights in the morning sun. It was a good look for him, but then again, what wasn’t? Abby ran her fingers through her own tangled tresses and pulled her hair back. What she wouldn't give for a hairclip.

“Would you like a thong for your hair?”

She giggled at the word thong, certain that what she pictured was not what he referenced. “Do you have an extra one? I’d like to get it out of my face, and I don’t have anything.” Actually she had her own thong, but she sure as hell wasn't putting it in her hair.

He immediately unlaced the tie at the neck of his shirt and handed it to her.

She gasped and put a hand to her face to hide the heat in her cheeks as his shirt fell open below his breast bone. “You don’t have to do that.”

Her blood coursed wildly at the sight of the smooth muscles of his chest. A soft sprinkling of dark hair beckoned her fingers. She swallowed hard.

 “It’s all right. Please use it. It will be a hard day’s journey with hair in your face.” His words rang in her mind so sincerely she forgot her embarrassment, but her eyes kept flitting to his heavenly chest.

“Thank you, Avant, and not only for the lace but for everything you're doing to help me.”

Holding her gaze, he nodded once, and her heart fluttered. Was it getting warm in the cave? She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

 “It is time to be off if we are to make it to the next shelter before nightfall.” He picked up his pack and walked to the mouth of the cave. She grabbed her bag and followed.

Climbing down proved to be more difficult than going up. The muscles required to lower herself from one level to the next worked her thighs and butt like no gym equipment she'd ever experienced. It was like doing hours of squats. She trudged down the mountain with the previous day's tumult weighting her down like the “freshman ten.” Avant helped her along on the steeper steps, but, for the most part, she made them on her own, clippity-clopping in those damned Docinis all the way.

When he reached the bottom, he disappeared around an outcropping. Abby took the last little step to the base and hurried after him. As she turned the corner, Avant grabbed her arm and spun her around. Driving her back against the rock, he pressed the length of his rigid body against her. His face, barely three inches from hers, clenched in thin lines of stress. Her heart raced…with fear.

She was pretty sure it was fear.

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Kary Rader is a part-time Twitter sage, stay-at-home mother of three, and slave to the characters and worlds inside her head. Always creative, she's drawn to stories with fantastical worlds and creatures. With a little bit of magic and divine guidance, there isn't anything that can't be accomplished with words. It's the power of words that creates and destroys. Vanquishing evil and injustice while finding eternal love in the process is all in a day's work. With the help of her critique partners and master cartographer imaginary places come to life.

You can find her at: 

Website/Blog:  www.karyrader.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaryRader

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/KaryRaderauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6998567.Kary_Rader

Buy link for Amazon: 
http://www.amazon.com/Queen-of-Jastain-ebook/dp/B00CC3HKTC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365881553&sr=8-1&keywords=Queen+of+Jastain

Book Review: Blue Horizon by J.L. Hammer

Back in March, I was so excited for several things: my birthday, spring break, and the SoCal RWA! Unfortunately for me I got only 2 out of the 3, but thanks to my trusty best friend, DG, he brought the SoCal RWA to me. :D Loves you, DG! 

Part of a secret government project, Elena Davidson's life is in serious jeopardy when she is kidnapped by terrorists. Safeguarding 'Blue Horizon' isn't just a mission to Elena. She knows that if its purpose is revealed and if it falls into the wrong hands, it could be dangerous for the entire world.

Beckham Connors has a simple mission: the retrieval of Elena Davidson, no matter what the cost. He has orders to rescue Elena from her captors and to send her home to America, or if necessary--kill her. Whatever happens, she cannot be left alive on Iranian soil.

Forced into a whirlwind adventure, she can depend on no one. Elena must decide if she can trust the ruggedly handsome Beckham--or if he poses a greater danger than the terrorists.

This book was part Jason Bourne, Mission Impossible with a bit of romance, along with a teeny tiny bit of torture and we're not talking about the good kind. J.L. Hammers, descriptions are vivid and emotionally driven. I felt like I could relate to Elena, who I might add, has the same names as 2 of my favorite heroines from 2 other series. Can you guess? :)

The hero of this story is Beckham Connors, who is for lack of a better word, a retriever. Someone who gets into a hostile territory undetected and retrieves the person or peoples being held hostage. Should he fail to retrieve them from the territory, his instructions are to kill them. As cold and heartless as that is, it's how Beckham sees his job. His current assignment is to retrieve Dr. Nigel Berry and Elena Davidson from Iranian soil. From Beckham, we switch over to Elena's POV. She recounts how the kidnapping happened and her subsequent experiences while being held hostage. I gotta be honest, I cringed and felt physically ill. The words were vivid enough to paint a pretty detailed picture; it was like I was watching it unfold like a movie in my head. Elena finds solace from her hellish situation in her memories of her mom, dad, and brother. I will admit that I was tearing up a little.

Beckham reaches Elena and sneaks her out of the kidnapper's hideout. This is just the start of their dramatic courtship and fight for survival. What I liked most about Elena's character is her strength. After her awful experience at the hands of her kidnappers, she still finds enough strength to survive the trek home, though there were instances when I thought she would break down and cry. Look at me! I'm talking like she's a real person! I could not stop reading this book, despite the fact that I had a paper due and a test first thing Monday morning. I highly recommend anyone who's looking for a good read. I give this book a rating of.....(drumroll)....

4 stars!!!!

J.L. Hammer is the author of the romantic suspense novels Blue Horizon and Outmaneuvered. Currently she is working on book one of a series. J.L. is a member of the International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. A native Californian, she enjoys small-town life with her husband and two children. Visit her website at www.JL-Hammer.com.