Author Interview ~ Lori Foster, author of No Limits

A surprise inheritance reunites a mixed martial arts fighter with the woman he's never forgotten in the first in a smoldering new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster...

Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He's also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams. These days, she's older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon.

Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather's legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette's scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town. As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he'll break all the rules to do it…

1. Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release, NO LIMITS?

This is Cannon’s story, a character that readers met in my last series, Love Undercover. From the second Cannon showed up on the page, I knew he’d get his own story. He’s that kind of guy, the guy who steps up and takes notice and gets a lot of notice in return. In NO LIMITS, Cannon reunites with Yvette, another character from the previous series. They parted under strained circumstances, with Cannon just heading into professional MMA and Yvette young and traumatized from a horrific threat. Cannon saved her then, but he was noble because of her age and what she’d been through. Now she’s older, more independent, and he’s ready to make up for lost time.

2. Can you also fill us in on the prequel to the series, HARD KNOCKS?

HARD KNOCKS gives readers a peek into the MMA world and the fighters who will have novels in the Ultimate series. You get to see the inside of Cannon’s gym, the set-up and what the guys do for the neighborhood, as well as the close relationships they share. It’s a short romance featuring Gage and Harper, two fun, strong people with a few romantic quirks to work out. It’s short and sexy and gives readers a taste for how the novels will be more about fighters in a romance than about fighters fighting in the cage.

3. How has your UFC obsession influenced the writing of NO LIMITS?

Well, I’ve gotten into the idea of picking silly fight names for the heroes. And from the fight names, I’ve come up with some “inspired” reasons for them. It also makes it easier to justify the guy being totally ripped – although not all fighters are. I’ve learned in actual fights the physical appearance can be deceiving. It’s more about heart and talent, training and speed, than how a guy looks. But naturally any hero I write about will be blessed with a six-pack and boulder shoulders.

4. What was it like getting inside the mind of a mixed martial arts fighter?

I’ve interviewed a few fighters over the years, chatted with others while getting promotional photos and during before and after “meet and greets” while at live events. Every single fighter I’ve met has been extremely nice, unassuming, dedicated to fans, and (though it sounds silly) very sweet. It took only a few questions to see how much they give to the sport they love, the discipline it takes to stay in training, and the confidence they gain from having extreme ability. Since I’ve never asked a fighter about his love life, that part of the story is pure imagination on my part. But then I only write good guys, and talented lovers.

5. What is your process for choosing names like Cannon Colter?

I’m a terrible cheat when it comes to names. More often than not I see a name on Facebook or Twitter that I like. I never, ever use a first and last name together, but I do pick and choose and mix and match. When I see a unique name, or a name that resonates with me, I grab it up. When I’m writing, I’m far less focused on names than I am on personality. Names for me are an afterthought, so stealing from my social media sites makes it easy.

6. What are Cannon and Yvette’s best physical traits?

Although Cannon is a fighter with a shredded bod, it’s more his smile and his eyes that get to Yvette. He has a very sincere smile, because he’s a very sincere guy. And when he looks at a person, it’s felt through and through.

For Yvette, she has long beautiful hair, but it’s more about the deceptive confidence she tries to exude that draws Cannon – that, and the way she looks at him like he’s a superhero. What guy could resist that?

7. What is the best scene (in your opinion) between Yvette and Cannon?

There’s a fun scene where Yvette is at the rec center (the gym) and the fighters start arguing. Cannon is irked, his buddies are irked, and Yvette thinks they might come to blows. She tries to put herself in the middle and sort of gets sandwiched between some pretty hot flesh. I smiled while writing it, so I hope readers smile when they read it.

The poor guys didn’t know what to think. They’re big, physical guys who don’t mind working out a few differences on the mat, but they’re also friends, and they’re fighters with a load of control often utilized in a fight. But with Yvette, they all want to be gentle – while struggling to figure her out.

8. What music did you listen to while writing NO LIMITS?

I have a long playlist of about 150 songs. Much of it is from KORN and Kid Rock and Marilyn Manson, but I’ve also really gotten into Disturbed, The Pretty Reckless, Papa Roach, Skillet and Puddle of Mud. Oh, and Cage the Elephant. I like loud, strong music that I can sing along with while I’m writing.

9. How is this series different from your previous works?

The Ultimate series is a different setting, different characters, different plots – and yet you still visit some of the characters from Love Undercover series since it remains in the same fictional city and state. In the last series the focus was on Rowdy’s bar and the police station. There are visits to the bar still, but much of the action takes place at Cannon’s rec center and in different houses owned by the characters.

The stories remain super-sexy, the guys remain alphas, the women remain smart and independent, and elements of suspense go throughout both series. But I hope each character has their own personality and for me, that’s where the differences should be most evident.

10. What character did you find yourself most drawn to, and why?

I love Armie Jacobson – and I’m pretty sure readers will too. He’s outrageous, too sexy, has effortless talent in the cage, and a wounded background that has influenced his life greatly. I love all the guys – Gage, Cannon, Denver, Stack... but Armie stands out.

11. Do you prefer writing about small town romance settings (like in NO LIMITS) or city settings?

I’m not sure I’ve ever written a large city setting. Smaller towns, always fictional, work best for me because I like the lack of anonymity in a small town. Everyone knows everyone, or has at least heard of everyone, and it can lead to some touching, and embarrassing, situations. I like the warmth of knowing your neighbors and caring about them. And I like the ease in creating the town.

12. Who would play Cannon and Yvette in a book-to-film adaptation?

Josh Duhamel, while a little too old, would make a fabulous Cannon! He’s big and gorgeous and built. I think he’d be perfect if NO LIMITS was ever made into a movie. For the heroine, Mila Kunis is beautiful and I can easily picture her as Yvette. They’d make a hot couple!

13. What are your five favorite verbs to use during a love scene?

Favorite verbs to use in a love scene... Only five, huh? Wow, that’s difficult. How about catch/caught, press, contract, nuzzle/nibble, lick/suck. I’m not sure I could write a full love scene without them.

14. Can you tell us about the process behind the cover artwork?

Ooooh, I LOVE getting new covers, it’s so exciting. The way it works is that I give my editor an idea of what the characters look like. Usually this means emailing her my own character sheets – notes I keep on the characters to detail (and help me remember) height, eye and hair color, body type, etc... I usually include any and all info like the car he/she drives, job description, age and any other pertinent information that I might need to recall from book to book.

My editor also asks for a synopsis, but since they usually start working on covers long before I know what the story is about, it’s a guessing game on my end. I know there’ll be a hunk, a heroine, some suspense, hot sex, lots of emotion, and a happy ending. The how and why is often not clear to me at that point.

Then the publisher has a meeting with the art department and they brainstorm cover ideas and come up with a concept that I get to see.

The concept is just an idea. It’ll show a model, but not THE model. It’ll show a pose, but not THE pose. I see where the placement of my name and the title will appear, along with any quotes.

Once that’s approved, the art department does a photo shoot and from those images they choose the one they like best. I weigh in with pleas of chest hair. Chest hair is always my #1 requirement if they show the model with his shirt off. To be clear, this is for new novels, not novellas or re-issues. For those they generally use stock art. It’s all very fun and I can honestly say I’ve loved the artwork so far.

15. If you were stranded on a desert island with one of your many characters, who would you choose and why?

Since I’m an enormous wimp and not at all heroic, I’d love to have Trace with me, from Trace of Fever. He’s bossy and take-charge and lethal. He knows what he’s doing, how to protect and how to survive. Plus I think he was pretty sexy.

If it needs to be a character from my current Ultimate series, I’d say Denver – for many of the same reasons. He’s far more autocratic than Cannon or Armie or Stack. He’s big, brawny, and when necessary he can be lethal. I’d feel safer with a real bad ass if I had to be stranded.

16. What was the most difficult part of the process when writing NO LIMITS?

My heart broke for Yvette. She’s one of more damaged heroines I’ve ever written (although there have been a few) and she struggled so hard for her independence. More than anything she wants Cannon, but because he’s so brave and strong she doesn’t feel quite worthy, and the stigma of being seen as a victim really hit her hard. I image something like that would be very, very difficult to overcome.

17. Have you written an outline for the NO LIMITS series or do you make it up as you go?

I totally make it up as I go along. Or I should say my characters make it up. I never try to figure things out in advance because as sure as I do, the characters will have a different idea and they’ll rebel, making it difficult to write until I give them their way. Fighting it is futile. But since they’re seldom wrong, it works for us. (And yes, I’m nuts. I don’t fight that either.)

Usually the characters will give me enough clues along the way to keep the writing flow steady. For instance, while I was writing NO LIMITS, Denver stepped up and talked about Cherry and made it clear his book needed to be next. Now while I’m writing HARD KNOCKS (Denver’s story) Stack is giving me nudges, saying, “Me next, me next. And I’m going after Vanity... whether she or I know it yet or not.” So that’s how I know Stack’s story will be after Denver’s.

Armie has said he wants to wait, stew on things a while, come to grips with his future... so I’m letting him get used to the idea of what is to come.

18. What was your go-to snack while writing NO LIMITS?

Goldfish cheese crackers and pretzels. Occasionally I drink Mountain Dew when I need more caffeine but I usually snack with Lipton Citrus Green Tea as my drink.

I also love baby carrots. And far too often I cave to the call of the Pringles can.

19. What’s your favorite part of the book?

There’s a fight scene in the book. Not a sporting match, but an angry, defensive, you-dared-touch-what-is-mine kind of aggression filled with rage and loss of control and an awakening of strong emotion. Call me barbaric but I love writing scenes like that. I love getting down to the basics of how love can affect a person, whether it’s in sex or fighting off danger or just showing vulnerability awareness. It’s the real stuff people are made of.

20. What are you working on next?

I’m writing Denver’s story right now, titled HOLDING STRONG. It’s due out in spring 2015 and I’m loving Denver and Cherry together – and them as a couple with the rest of the fighters around. It’s a very fun dynamic.

After that I’ll do another benefit novella for June 2015. It’ll be part of the Buckhorn family and all proceeds from sales of the book will go to a charity. I’m not yet sure which of the Buckhorn clan will be featured, but I’m sure it’ll all come to me in plenty of time.

And then I’ll jump into Stack’s story. He should be ready by then – which means I’ll also be ready. Luckily the characters keep me writing. In fact, if there were more hours in the day, I’m not sure they’d ever let me stop!

Author Interview: Gwendolyn Heasley, author of A Long Way from You

Please join me in welcoming Gwendolyn Heasley, author of A LONG WAY FROM YOU, as she provides us with an author interview today.

What are some of your favorite or most loved things/moments about writing A LONG WAY FROM YOU?

As difficult as editing can be, I always loved reading my editor’s letter and seeing her thoughts about how to make the story even better. Editors don’t get enough credit! They work super hard and push authors to make a good book great. I love working with my editor. But my favorite moment is when the book is done and I can talk about writing it in past tense. I love this phase because the book is actually being read and I start to get to hear reader feedback.

Both WHERE I BELONG and A LONG WAY FROM YOU have NYC and Texas as part of the scenery, what draws you to these two very different locations?

My mom is from the Bronx, and my dad is from Long Island. New York City is in my blood, and it’s where I now live. I love writing about New York City. After four years, it’s starting to feel like home. I really enjoyed writing about New York from two vastly different perspectives: Corrinne, a New York native, and Kitsy, a first-time visitor.

I have a lot of Texan friends and have visited many times. I love Texan pride and culture, so I found it very fun to write about.

How do you go about researching for your novels?

I use the Internet to its fullest. I YouTube, I Google maps, I read dozens of Wikipedia entries looking for gems. For A LONG WAY FROM YOU, I also got to go to the places Kitsy visits, so I got to see as she would see rather than have to imagine.

What do you think makes a good story?

I like stories where the characters struggle, but by the end, there’s some resolution. I also like breaking the typical romance mold and having the focus be on the character’s growth rather than a romantic relationship. (But of course, there is still romance too!)

What message in A LONG WAY FROM YOU are you hoping the readers will grasp?

Explore your passion and the world but make sure you’re not just running away.

What are some other jobs/careers you had before becoming an author?

I’ve been a student for most my life! My most rewarding summer job was the two summers I spent as a camp counselor. One day, I’d love to write a camp book.

Immediately after college, I designed and sold greeting cards, which was a blast. I no longer sell them, but perhaps I’ll do a giveaway with them some time!

I went to graduate journalism school although I’ve never officially used that degree. (It has immensely influenced by my fiction writing though!) . I also briefly worked in the literary agency business, and I also teach college in the fall in New Jersey.

Which books are on your reading pile for the summer?

I’m in grad school right now. I’m in a low-res MFA program, so I have a lot of required reading. Recently, I’ve been reading dozens of picture books. I’ve also been reading craft books, which is new for me!
That said, I’ll be spending a lot of time this summer reading beach books, which are my ultimate favorite! If there’s a beach on the cover, I’ll be reading it.

Are there any other projects you’re working on? If so, can you share a little teaser?

My next book will be neither a city girl in the country or a country girl in the city, but it will have a similar tone to WHERE I BELONG and A LONG WAY FROM YOU.

Author Interview & #Giveaway: @DianeEscalera author of, Still Hot For You

Please join me in welcoming Diane Escalera, author of Still Hot For You, as she provides us with an author interview today.

Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, Diane Escalera makes her home in sunny South Florida. The sultry paradise is a steady source of inspiration for her hot love stories. Diane is married, has two children and a super cute dachshund she can’t get enough of. She writes contemporary romance, and is published with Kensington Publishing and Lyrical Press.

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What is a day in the life of Diane Escalera like when you're writing? And when you're not writing?

First, thank you so much for hosting me. I really appreciate this awesome opportunity!

As for my routine, I get going pretty early when things are still calm and quiet. This is when I plan out the day. It’s amazing how much gets done when there are no interruptions. I write a set number of pages each day. Once I meet my quota, I move on to other tasks such as research, promotions, networking, and all those other glamorous things an author must do.

When I’m not writing, I love to hang out with my family, play with our sweet little dachshund who keeps a permanent smile on my face. I’m also into fitness, scary movies, sexy books, and red wine. Oh, and chocolate!

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

They can come from anywhere — the news, something I read, an overheard (eavesdropping) conversation. I have a curious (nosy) mind and tune into details that most people don’t pay much attention to. The simplest thing could spur an idea, but then, I have a pretty wild imagination.

When you're not writing, who are you reading? What book are you reading now?

My go-to authors are Linda Howard, Lori Foster, and Jill Shalvis. I devour their books. I just finished reading Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis. Loved it!

What are some other jobs/careers you had before becoming an author?

Unlike most authors, I didn’t know I was destined to write. In fact, I worked in banking for several years, but deep down knew that it wasn’t my dream job. At the young age of thirty-five, my sister died of an illness. I realized the same thing could happen to me. There are no guarantees. I couldn’t waste another moment doing something I didn’t love. Writing was one of my greatest joys when I was growing up. I decided to enroll in an intensive course where I learned everything I could about the craft. It didn’t take long before I left the bank to pursue a writing career.

Are there any other projects you're working on? If so, can you share a little teaser?

The hero in Still Hot for You has a sinfully sexy brother and cousin. I couldn’t let Christian and Nico go without a happy ending. So… I’m working on two more novellas featuring these delicious men. Stay tuned for more Latin Heat!

Still Hot for You is available at Lyrical Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Digital Bookstores everywhere.

Please visit DianeEscalera.com to learn more about my sexy tales. I love to interact with readers! “Like” my fan page on Facebook.com/DianeEscaleraOfficial. Follow me on Twitter.com/DianeEscalera.

So today I have a copy of Still Hot for You to giveaway.

Want to get your man talking? Give him booty!

Desperate times call for desperate measures. And Shay LaCosta is pretty desperate. She's wrecked her blissful marriage of five years by demanding she and her husband Dylan have a baby. What the hell was she thinking? She knows she was wrong and she’s ready to set things right, if only Dylan will let her. Bet he can’t shun her Booty Camp offer: delicious, white-hot sex in exchange for what’s going on inside his brain.

Dylan may be macho and stubborn, but he really does miss his wife. A little of Shay's pushing gets him past their estrangement and into her web of seduction. She seems to have an erotic week mapped out to perfection, and who is he to complain? Their marriage is meant to be, so they'll fight with each other, and they'll fight for each other.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF STILL HOT FOR YOU?

{March 19 - March 30, 2012}

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• 1 Winner will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
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Please leave a comment stating your "dream job" and please include your email address

Author Interview & #Giveaway: Paranormal Blog Tour @StellaCam @CynthiaGarner

How much of your actual life gets written into your fictional stories?

SC: My emotions are echoed in my writing, and the things I really care about. I have often drawn on personal situations without realizing what I was doing until reading the material later. This can be humorous because I always have an "aha" moment!

Do you ever find that it's emotionally difficult to write some scenes or characters?

SC: Scenes where children may suffer are close to impossible for me. I've tossed few books (that I was reading) in my memory but two of them involved violence toward children and I couldn't deal with. Can't reproduce cruelty to animals, either.

I wrote a scene in which a young mother died shortly after giving birth and I could hardly see my screen for the tears.

What is a day in the life of Stella Cameron like when you're not writing?

SC: Um:) A bit aimless but I do tend to write for part of each day anyway. Up at 5 or 6, drink tea and more tea while I catch up on the bad news of the day. Clean (I love to clean) read, spend time in the garden . . . this is painful topic to examine because I don't do well when I'm not writing. I take a computer everywhere. Sometimes I tell myself I'll leave my computer behind when I take a trip but it never happens. I've done my best here so please forgive me.


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WHEN NIGHT FALLS
After her husband's tragic death, Leigh Kelly arrives on Whidbey Island determined to start over. Yet the tiny town of Chimney Rock is not as peaceful as it seems. Women have been disappearing, and Leigh can't shake the feeling that she's being watched . . . especially at night. Soon, she's experiencing visions she can't explain and fighting her attraction to a handsome stranger who seems to know her most intimate desires.

PASSION TRANSFORMS THEM

As the leader of the Team, a pack of werehounds forced to hide their very existence, former special ops soldier Niles Latimer is desperate to prove a man's heart beats beneath his predator's body. And Leigh-the mysterious beauty possessing powers she doesn't yet understand-may be the one woman who can help him. But Niles isn't the only one who recognizes Leigh's true identity. Something evil is waiting in the woods-and the hunt has begun . . .

Do you ever use real people as inspiration for your characters?

CG: No. Oh, I use actors/models, etc. for the physical inspiration, but I don’t use real people as the personalities of the characters. Though I have been tempted a couple of times to use real folks as villains. LOL I haven’t succumbed to that temptation yet, though.

Do you ever find that it’s emotionally difficult to write some scenes or characters?

CG: Not really. Maybe I’m just not that deep?

What is a day in the life of Cynthia Garner like when you’re not writing?

CG: I actually try to write a little bit every day. I have a full-time day job, so my writing time (which I also do full-time) is squeezed in in the evenings and weekends. I do enjoy a few TV shows (Castle, Being Human, Lost Girl, White Collar, Leverage, The Voice, The Sing-Off, and Face Off)… Okay, well, I guess that’s “several” instead of a “few”. LOL I’m trying to do better with exercise, too, but I am inherently lazy, so it’s a real struggle. Really, the life of Cynthia Garner is sadly rather boring.


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Warriors of the Rift

Once a generation, the rift between the paranormal world and the human world opens, allowing supernatural entities to cross. Vampire, demon, or shapeshifter, they can save the world—or send it spiraling into chaos.

Half-demon, half-human, Nix de la Fuente is accepted by neither and mistrusted by both. Determined to prove she's more human than not, she devotes herself to solving crimes between the world's mortals and its most unsavory undead. But her latest case brings her face to face with the one vampire she could never resist . . .

Called in to investigate a string of violent murders, special agent Tobias Caine isn't interested in rekindling his relationship with Nix. Yet one look and the vampire knows his need for her is as strong as ever. Once, their all-consuming passion nearly cost Nix her fragile hold on her humanity. Now, as their hunger for one another intensifies, exposing them to an unimaginable danger, it could cost them both their lives.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THESE BOOKS?

{March 5 -19, 2012}

• Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copies will be sent directly to winners from the publisher
• 3 Winners will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
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Author Interview & #Giveaway: Julianna Baggott, author of Pure

Please join me in welcoming critically acclaimed, bestselling author Julianna Baggott, author of Pure.

Julianna Baggott also writes under the pen names Bridget Asher and N.E. Bode. She has published seventeen books over the last ten years. Film rights for her forthcoming novel PURE have been acquired by Fox 2000.

To learn more about Julianna, please stop by her website to get the full story and other interesting fun stuff!


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Describe Pure in three words.

How about two? What endures.

What is a day in the life of Julianna Baggott like when you’re not writing?

If I'm not writing, I'm not at home or I'm sick in bed. Even if I'm on the road, I'm jotting notes and sometimes writing essays. Even if I'm sick, I'm being dreaming and the worlds of my books often still exist in my fevered head.

How much of your actual life gets written into your fictional stories? Do you ever use real people as inspiration for your characters?

A lot of my life goes into my books. My life is all I have, in the end. What I see, smell, hear ... what arises in my brain is from my experience. Sometimes this is somewhat explicit -- something my husband says in the morning can work its way into a chapter in the afternoon -- but mostly it's not explicit at all, and not even obvious to me.

Do you ever find that it’s emotionally difficult to write some scenes or characters?

Yes. Certain scenes are really hard for me. It's emotional work. And sometimes it requires a lot of visualization of things that only exist in your mind, which is exhausting. But there are also scenes that pop up and you're just trying to write fast enough to keep up.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I really don't have a favorite. There's an author who's novel I love is out of print and wasn't given sufficient love when it was published. MOTHER OF PEARL by the Irish writer MARY MORRISSY. A brilliant book. Let's get it back in PRINT!

Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?

Well, book II, FUSE, is due out this time next year. I'm deep into the editorial process now. So ... yes ... it's coming!

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

{February 13 - 27, 2012}

• Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copies will be sent directly to winners from the publisher
• 1 Winner will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
• Please check my Contest Policy before entering

To enter:
*Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing the prize!

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Author Interview: Robyn Carr, author of Hidden Summit

Please join me in welcoming New York Times Bestselling Author Robyn Carr, author of Hidden Summit.

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Do you ever find that it’s emotionally difficult to write some scenes or characters? What about the scene in Hidden Summit when Brie revists her painful past to explain her place in Virgin River to Conner?

Harder than Brie remembering her sexual assault was actually writing it in Whispering Rock, the third book in the series. All such deeply emotional scenes are hard and yes, they make me cry. In A Virgin River Christmas there are a couple of them—the heroine remembering her last hours with her disabled marine husband and saying goodbye to the only man after him she could ever love. In Hidden Summit, Conner’s grief and anger at losing everything that mattered and resolving to be alone forever to avoid the hurt of being abandoned. And in Redwood Bend, Dylan’s feeling that he had bad relationship DNA and was a risk, no matter how much love he felt. But wait—because in Sunrise Point, Nora Crane has had a hard life, but is determined to get back on her feet for the sake of her baby daughters. She tore my heart out—she is so determined, so sincere, and she’s made several deals with God—never to lie, never to trust another man, always to be an excellent mother even though she certainly didn’t get any training from her own mother. She’s a lesson that we can do whatever we have to do, no matter how hard, as long as it’s the right thing to do.

The answer is yes, they make me cry. It’s not always a comfortable feeling, but I welcome it just the same. I shouldn’t be trying to write books that make you feel if they don’t make me feel. I don’t write books that don’t keep me awake at night—not if I hope to keep you up late reading.

How much of your actual life gets written into your fictional stories? Do you ever use real people as inspiration for your characters?

As inspiration—yes. But as actual characters, no. Real people don’t usually come off well in fiction. I take traits and experiences and emotional reactions from people I’ve met or read about and blend them into composite characters. But experiences and bits of dialogue from my life sneak in—happily. In Virgin River Jack’s sisters are remembering when Jack and his best friend hung their dolls by the neck—mean big brother stuff. My son and his best friend did that to my daughter’s cabbage patch dolls. Don’t worry, they’re all fine…. Well, I’m not sure about the dolls, but my son, his best friend and my daughter have persevered.

What’s the most interesting comment you’ve ever gotten from a reader?

Oh, you can’t print it! My readers never get my titles right—they write and ask me if I’m going to write any more of those “Virginia River” books. Or they want to know where Virgin River really is—they plan to move there and get a big, studly marine. But the funniest one ever was probably a typo: “Are you going to write anymore of those ‘Vagina River’ books.” Typo or Freudian slip.

I did get an email from a reader who was furious about my bigotry against Cubans. I was stunned and confused—I’d never written about Cubans. I suggested she had me mixed up with someone else. She wrote back with the direct quote, complete with page numbers—something about Jack being unable to shower off the stench of stinky Cubans. It was cigars! Cuban cigars! I pointed that out to her, but she was absolutely determined I had been bigoted in my remarks.

On a more serious side, a man who lost a leg in the war wrote me that he was changed by Paradise Valley, the story in which Rick Sudder lost a leg in the war and came home a messed up kid. My reader said that he realized from the book that he was an ass, thought it was a miracle his wife stayed with him through it, and finally understood how badly he needed counseling, which he was going to accomplish. I wrote back and asked him how he came across the book and he said his sister gave it to him—and his sainted wife was most grateful! Bless his heart!!

Have you noticed your writer’s voice has changed over the years due to experience? If so, how?

Undoubtedly I’ve both matured and relaxed. I’ve gained experience both in life and writing and I’ve relaxed into telling stories my way, the way that is natural to me. Both things help.

Author Interview & #Giveaway: Catherine Mann, author of Hot Zone

USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann is a RITA Award winning novelist with over two million books in print, in more than twenty countries. She resides in Florida with her military flyboy husband and their four children. For more information, she can be found online at:

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Describe Hot Zone in three words.

Passionate. Heart-tugging. Action. (Can I keep the hyphenated word? :) )

What’s the most positive/memorable comment a reader has said about your books?

I received a letter from a fan who said my books make her feel safer. She wrote that since I’m a military wife, I gave her a realistic peek into the mind and life of those who serve in uniform. I gave the letter to my husband as he was packing his bag to deploy. He folded the letter and tucked it into his duffel.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I work at least five days a week and most weekends. I don’t have another “day job.” Writing is my full time career – and I love it! (Most of the time! LOL!)

What is a day in the life of Catherine Mann like when you’re not writing?

We have a large family, so I’m often on the road with my four kids for some event. My family and I also actively volunteer with our local Humane Society where I serve on the Board of Directors. Over the years, we have fostered more than 60 puppies and special needs dogs. (Not at one time, though! Never more than eight animals in the house at once.)

My coffee breaks often consist of taking my dogs and my foster puppies out for playtime in the back yard. Or I may transport shelter pups to the groomer. I’ve even driven a few long distance animal transports. My husband and I once spent our anniversary driving a yellow lab (that had lived in a shelter kennel run for 6 months) to his forever home in Texas. That was THE best anniversary date we’ve ever had.

You are on a lot of readers automatic buy list. Which authors are on your list?

I have a BIG list since I have eclectic tastes. Some of my favs – Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Lisa Gardner, Tana French, Teresa Medieros, Sarah Addison Allen, J.R. Ward, Suzanne Brockmann, Sherrilyn Kenyon/Dianna Love, Joanna Bourne. And I am chewing my nails down waiting for the sequel to Justin Cronin’s PASSAGE!

Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?

The follow up book to HOT ZONE is UNDER FIRE, scheduled for May 2012. I also have two other military themed books coming out this spring, PROTECTOR (March, Berkley) and HONORABLE INTENTIONS (April, Harlequin Desire.) If you would like to find out more about my “Elite Force” books and other works, I can be found online at:

Website: http://catherinemann.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatherineMannAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CatherineMann1

HOT ZONE BY CATHERINE MANN – IN STORES DECEMBER 2011

He’ll take any mission, the riskier the better…
The haunted eyes of pararescueman Hugh Franco should have been her first clue that deep pain roiled beneath the surface. But if Amelia couldn't see the damage, how could she be expected to know he'd break her heart?

She’ll prove to be his biggest risk yet…
Amelia Bailey's not the kind of girl who usually needs rescuing...but there are anything but usual circumstances.

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann delivers another hero from the Air Force's celebrated Pararescue Jumpers–"The PJs"– an ultra-elite force who put themselves at extreme risk in the most dangerous emergancies so that others may live. A sizzling thrill-rise of action and attraction, Hot Zone will leave your pulse pounding.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

{December 12 - 26, 2011}

• Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copies will be sent directly to winners from the publisher
• 2 Winners will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
• Please check my Contest Policy before entering

To enter:

1. Please leave a comment with your email address: How would you describe yourself in three words? Two lucky commenters will receive a copy of HOT ZONE (US & Canada addresses only)
*Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing the prize!

Author Interview, Review & #Giveaway: Jill Shalvis, author of Head Over Heels

Head Over Heels
Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor #3
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: December 1, 2011
Mass Market Paperback {p.328}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Contemporary
Chloe Traeger, Sawyer Thompson
Challenge: 100+
Buy the Book: Amazon

Breaking rules and breaking hearts

Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to-be married sisters, she isn't ready to settle into a quiet life running their family's newly renovated inn. But soon her love of trouble--and trouble with love-draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who'd like nothing better than to tame her wild ways.

Suddenly Chloe can't take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe's colorful past keep her from a love that lasts . . . and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?

Oh how I loved Chloe and her asthma that keeps her slightly breathless and sexless!

Chloe and Sawyer have been dancing around one another for some time now. So I was super excited to see how it would play out. I wasn’t disappointed. The two of them had major chemistry in and out of the bedroom. They complemented each other so well. They had me constantly laughing at some of the antics; especially their time in the shower.

Of course her sisters and their beaus made appearances. At times I did get a little frustrated with Chloe’s sisters for constantly preaching “change” to her when I felt she was perfect as is. But not frustrated enough to dislike them because I knew it was coming from a good place.

With this installment it was more than just the budding relationship between Chloe and Sawyer, it was also the strengthening of the relationship between the sisters. This was just a great mix of everything– sweet, sexy, and fun! I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next Lucky Harbor novel!

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Describe Head Over Heels in three words.

Sexy hot fun

You are on a lot of readers automatic buy list. Which authors are on your list?

I’m a book ‘ho so this is a tough question as it’s constantly evolving. I read everything, from mystery to romance to the cereal box in front of me in the morning. But some of my faves are Robyn Carr, Susan Anderson, Rachel Gibson, Janet Evanovich, JD Robb …

Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?

I’m finishing up another Lucky Harbor trilogy for next summer; June, July and August. Look for At Last, Lucky In Love, and Forever And A Day!

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

{December 9 - 23, 2011}

• Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copies will be sent directly to winners from the publisher
• 3 Winners will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
• Please check my Contest Policy before entering

To enter:

1. Please fill out the form below and leave a comment
*Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing the prize!

Author Interview: Robyn Kaye, author of Wild Thing

Please join me in welcoming Robin Kaye, author of Wild Thing.

Robin Kaye was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge next door to her Sicilian grandparents.

To learn more about Robin, please stop by her website to get the full story and other interesting fun stuff!



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Thanks so much for inviting me to Book Obsessed! I’m thrilled to be here.

Describe Wild Thing in three words.

Wild, hot, fun.

What’s the most positive/memorable comment a reader has said about your books?

My most memorable comment was from one of the nurses at my Doctor’s office. When I was writing Romeo, Romeo, I needed a pulmonologist. Being really bad with names, I used my doctor’s first name, Mike, thinking he’d be a throwaway character. My mistake. As soon as Dr. Mike had a conversation with my hero, Nick, I fell in love, and my second book, Too Hot to Handle featured Dr. Mike Flynn as my hot, hunky hero. Granted, the fictional Mike and the real one have different last names, body types, personalities, and ethnicity—there is nothing the same about them other than their occupation.

So there I was, sick as a dog, sitting on the exam table at my doctor’s office when the nurse walked in and hit me with the rubber-covered cord of her stethoscope, repeatedly. Let me tell you, that hurts and the darn stethoscope beating left marks! She told me she read Too Hot To Handle and pictured the real Dr. Mike throughout the entire book—even the love scenes—talk about huge ick factor. I adore my doctor, but I’d never confuse him with Dr. Mike Flynn, my hot, Irish hero. I can’t believe his nurse did. They look nothing alike—after all, the real Dr. Mike is Italian, has silver hair, and although his wife might think so, physically, he’s so not my idea1 romance hero.

Generally my reader’s comments are less violent (thank God). They usually tell me my characters are like people they know or would like to know and be friends with. The other thing I hear often is that they feel as if they’re right there in each scene, experiencing the action along with the characters. They say it’s as if they can feel, see, touch, and taste everything. Since that’s what I’m trying for, comments like that make all the work worthwhile. I frequently write about food, and because I get so many emails requesting the recipes, I’ve included most of them on my website: http://RobinKayeWrites.com.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I don’t think so. I read the galleys not too long ago and really enjoyed it. I love/hate when I forget I wrote the book and the next thing I know three chapters have gone by and I realize I was supposed to be checking galleys and not losing myself in the story. Then I have to go back and re-read to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

Well, the plan is to do business work, blogging, facebooking, tweeting, contracts and such on Mondays and Fridays. Those are also the days I’m expected home to see my family, cook, and be present for dinner. Tuesday through Thursday I’m free to do nothing but write. I write better in what my husband calls sprints—blocks of time when I focus on nothing but my book. During my sprints I’ve been known to write from nine in the morning until three the next morning. I head to Starbucks before my three teenagers get home from school and stay there until closing, only returning home about the time everyone has gone to bed. I sit back down, give my dog some love, and then work until I drop. The next morning I get up and do it all over again. On Saturday or Sunday I have critique group, which leaves me one day off.

It sounds great, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, with a family of five one must be flexible. My youngest has had strep throat for the last two and a half weeks. I’ve had two meetings at the school, four doctor appointments, and two dentist appointments. In the mean time I’m beginning a blog tour and I’m supposed to write 10,000 words a week. Needless to say, very little work got done, but the infectious one lived to tell about it, so it’s all good—well, except for my blog tour and word count. Now I’m working on my day off and have a strong feeling I’ll be blogging during my writing time. I’ll survive and will surely be sprinting for two weeks straight before the due date of my work-in-progress.

How do you come up with titles?

I’m terrible at titling my books. Romeo, Romeo pretty much titled itself, which worked for me. For the rest of my books, I turn to my critique partners and agent and pick the one suggestion that makes me gag the least. I dislike flowery, syrupy, or purple titles. Too Hot to Handle was at one time titled Déjà Vu, but the publisher changed it. The publisher also picked out titles for all the rest of the books, some of which have been changed mid-stream. I’m happy to have them do that and work with it unless I really hate the title—one suggestion was Afternoon Delight and I asked them to please not do that to my readers. It was bad enough I had to walk around all day with that song stuck in my head. I refused to do that to my readers. *grin* See, I really do love my readers.

What is a day in the life of Robin Kaye like?

Varied and exciting—well, if you consider me falling on my arse exciting. Just picture me sitting at my desk, on my exercise ball (I use it for a chair) with my leg crossed while holding a big dictionary on my lap because my desktop is too cluttered to actually set said dictionary down and have any place to write with pen and paper. I then forget I have my leg crossed, which invariably leads to my bouncing, losing my balance, and almost breaking my neck.

Barring that, I’m usually up by seven, I pour my coffee and go through the emails that seemingly multiply like bunnies over night. Then I do my best to visit my group blogs and comment without getting sucked into the Internet black hole. When I need a break, I take my dog out and then give myself a pep talk about getting a lot of work done as I walk from my back yard to my office.

Depending upon what day it is, I either try to think up something new and interesting to blog about or something fun to add to my book. I’m a coffee-aholic and only get up from my desk to refill my cup or use the restroom. By the time I raise my head again it’s about 1:00 and I try to scrounge up something to eat. Invariably I realize I’m still walking around in my pajamas so I also jump in the shower and make sure I’m dressed before the kids come home from school. I wouldn’t want them to think their mom is a slug.

If it’s a writing day, I pack up my MacBook Air and go to Starbucks to work until closing. After the baristas tell me to leave, I go home, tell the husband and kids to go to bed, and then write some more. For some reason, I can work all day, but I get most of my writing done between ten at night and two in the morning. I crash between two and three and get up and do it all over again the next day.

I try to schedule most of my appointments for Mondays and Fridays and work in between running around. I try to stop working when the kids get home from school, check the homework situation, prepare dinner, and make sure we sit down as a family at least four days a week—more if my writing is going well and I can get home and take a dinner break.

In between, I deal with three teenagers and all the angst that comes along with them, I field phone calls, pick up kids from school, run them to friends houses, and get them to do their chores. Told you it was varied and exciting! *covers up a yawn*

You are on a lot of readers automatic buy list. Which authors are on your list?

Jenny Cruise, SEP, Susan Donovan, Donna Kauffman, Nora Roberts, Marliss Melton, Maureen Child, Lori Wild, Christie Craig/CC Hunter, Gemma Halliday, Diane Kelly, Kyra Davis, Angie Fox, Amanda Brice, Marilyn Brant, Hope Ramsay, Roxanne St. Clair, Victoria Alexander, Marie Force, Amy Atwell, Leslie Langtry, Jana DeLeon, Kathleen Bacus and Rachel Gibson… I know there are more but that’s just off the top of my head. Most of the people on my list are friends I see at conferences and I hate going to a conference knowing I’ll see someone and not be able to say “I just read your new release and I loved it!” It’s a good thing all my friends are excellent writers…

Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?

Right now I’m really excited about starting a new series for NAL – The Bad Boys of Red Hook. It’s a three book series about foster brothers that takes place in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. I also have two more books coming out in the Domestic Gods Gone Wild series for Sourcebooks, Casablanca—Fisher Kincaid’s book, Call Me Wild, will be released in August or September. After I finish the first book of the Bad Boys of Red Hook series, I’ll start Something Wild, Trapper Kincaid’s book. I’m excited to be writing about Brooklyn again, and being able to jump back to Idaho and finish off the Domestic Gods Gone Wild series is a nice change of pace. It’s great to write about two of my three favorite places on the planet. Now all I have to do is figure out a way to write a series that takes place in Florence, Italy. Sigh…

Whitewater-rafting guide Hunter Kincaid lands his dream job–guiding sportswear models through Idaho's rugged wilderness for a photo shoot. When he meets Toni Russo, the goth New York manager of Action Models, there are enough sparks to set the forest ablaze.

When Hunter finds Toni's book on how to marry the man of your choice, he studies it as a joke. Before long Hunter realizes he's never cared enough for a woman to bother working this hard to get her. But the last man in the world this city girl wants is a Survivor Man wannabe...

Author Interview & Giveaway: Marjorie M. Liu, author of Within the Flames

Please join me in welcoming Marjorie M. Liu, author of Within the Flames, as she provides us with an author interview today.

A pyrokinetic and former car thief, Eddie cannot refuse an assignment to cross the continent in order to rescue an extraordinary woman in peril…even though he fears losing control of the destructive power of flame at his fingertips. The last of her shape-shifting kind, Lyssa hides in the abandoned tunnels beneath Manhattan. Like Eddie, fire is her weapon, her destiny…and her curse. For beneath Lyssa’s extraordinary beauty are dangerous secrets…and even darker, nearly irresistible urges...

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Every writer has a different process or schedule they follow when writing. What is your process like?

There’s no real process, actually. I always have an idea, a nagging image in my mind, some desire to speak to something that’s in my heart. That’s where the stories begin. I sit down and do my best to write them.

Is there any specific place you like to go to write, or can you write anywhere? Do you have any rituals or foods/drinks that you simply must have in order to write?

I can write anywhere, for the most part – though that also depends on how I’m feeling on any particular day. Sometimes, nothing is better than a coffee shop. Other days, I drag my computer to bed. No rituals, either. I need to be physically comfortable, but that’s not much of a surprise. When you have a job that requires hours sitting in one spot, comfort matters!

Out of all the books you've published, which two characters are your favorite and would consider revisiting in the future?

Hard choice. If we remain just within the Dirk & Steele series, then I can honestly say that I already did revisit my favorite couple: Lannes and Lethe, from The Wild Road. Those two – a gargoyle and his human wife – reappear in Within the Flames in a rather meaty role.

Can you give us a peek into the life of author Marjorie M. Liu? When you are not writing a book what does your typical day look like?

When am I not writing, that’s the question! Typically, a normal day involves a couple hours of work in the morning, a break for lunch, more work – and then an evening spent reading, watching television, or just daydreaming.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Be true to yourself. You’ll receive a lot of messages, good and bad, about what it takes to succeed as a writer. At the end of the day, however, the key is simply to write and tell the story of your heart.

What can fans expect next from you? Any teasers?

I’m very excited that I was finally able to tell Eddie’s story in Within the Flames. He’s a character who has been around from the very beginning of the Dirk & Steele series, and in some ways is its heart. He’s young, earnest, brave -- wary of his ability to control fire -- and the kind of hero who won’t win the heroine’s heart with grandiose gestures, but instead his thoughtfulness and kindness.

Another upcoming release is the next Hunter Kiss novel, The Mortal Bone, which finds Maxine in a fight for her life when Zee and the boys – those demons who live as tattoos on her body – are forcibly stripped away from her skin, leaving her defenseless and alone for the first time in her life. I can safely promise that Maxine’s life changes forever after this book.

As a bonus, an original, brand-new Hunter Kiss short story will be released online in December, bundled with the e-version of a formerly published Hunter Kiss novella, “Armor of Roses.” The short story is called “The Silver Voice” and is told from Grant’s point of view.

So today I have a copy of In the Dark of Dreams to giveaway.

She could never forget the boy with the ice blue eyes . . .

She was only twelve when she saw the silver boy on the beach, but Jenny has never stopped dreaming about him. Now she is grown, a marine biologist charting her own course in the family business—a corporation that covertly crosses the boundaries of science into realms of the unknown . . . and the incredible.

And now he has found her again, her boy grown into a man: Perrin, powerful and masculine, and so much more than human, leaving Jenny weak with desire and aching for his touch.

But with their reunion comes danger. For Perrin and Jenny—and all living creatures—their only hope for preventing the unthinkable lies in a mysterious empire far beneath the sea . . . and in the power of their dreams.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF IN THE DARK OF DREAMS?

{November 29- December 13, 2011}

• Only residents of the U.S. are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copies will be sent directly to winners from the publisher
• 1 Winner will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
• Please check my Contest Policy before entering

To enter:

 1. Please leave a comment on this post that includes your email address

Turning Up the Heat Blog Tour: Author Interview & Giveaway with Cara Elliott and Lilli Feisty

Describe Too Wicked To Wed in three words.
CE: Sexy, Seductive. Sophisticated.

Describe Deliciously Sinful in three words.
LF: Sexy, sensual and romantic.

When and why did you begin writing?
CE: I penning my first book at the age of five—it was a Western, with lots of crayon drawings of n horses and cowboys. Clearly I must have a thing for Men in Boots, for I then moved on to Regency historicals. Even as a child, I always loved telling stories, and though writing got put on the back burner for a while, I always had ideas percolating in my head. Now I get to write them down again!

LF: I started writing back in elementary school. Like a lot of writers, I always loved books. I read anything and everything that I could get my hands on. In college, I took Creative Writing classes, but I didn’t actually pursue writing as a career until years later. In the back of my mind, I always knew I would be a writer and one day I just decided to make it happen. Six months later I sold my first novella, and soon after that I sold my first novel to Grand Central. I’ve been writing ever since!

How much time do you take to finish a book?
CE: Each book is very different, and some require more research than others. So it really varies.

LF: It depends on so much. I have a busy life and a lot of projects and I’m a part-time single mom. So life’s circumstances often dictate how long it takes me to complete a novel. Generally, I try and write two books a year.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
CE: Oh, that an impossible question! You can’t ask me to name just one. I love language, and so I really respond to writing that creates color and texture with words. It’s all about evoking emotion. Pacing, description, imagery—they are all important elements. I’m a big fan of Loretta Chase and Eloisa James for the way they incorporate humor into their stories. And for darker, deeper style I love Mary Jo Putney and Joanna Bourne.

LF: I have always been a huge fan of Jane Austen. I’m sure that’s not very surprising, she was the original romance author. I love her stories, her characters, her wit and the romantic elements in her books. Mr. Darcy is one of my favorite romance heroes of all time. When people ask me why I write romance, I often quote her: “Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery.”

What are some other jobs/careers you had before becoming an author?
CE: I have a Master’s degree in Graphic Design and have worked as an art director for a magazine.

LF: Well, let’s see. I’ve been a make-up artist, a teacher, an art broker, a fundraiser and a secretary. Not necessarily in that order.
Thank you so much for having me!

Things are cooking in the kitchen...and the bedroom.

Restaurant owner Phoebe Mayle thought she had it all under control. Sure, her new chef has a bad-boy reputation - and a chiseled body to match - but she's positive she can whip him into shape.

But from the moment Nick Avalon roars into town in his Hummer, he makes her whole world sizzle. Now Phoebe has lost control of her kitchen, and Nick has taken over her mind and her body. His insatiable appetite for pleasure leaves her breathless with carnal cravings only he can satisfy. Yet can their hunger for each other be a recipe for a love that lasts?

Outspoken and independent, Lady Alexa Bingham enjoys the heady freedom of making all her own decisions, even though the challenges of overseeing her family's country estate are daunting. But when a chance encounter with London's most notorious rake awakens a secret longing for adventure, she accepts her aunt's invitation for a Season in Town . . . only to find that breaking the rules of the ton has serious consequences.

The Earl of Killingworth uses his rakehell reputation to hide the fact that poverty has forced him to work for a living. As the owner of a gambling den and brothel, Connor has no time for glittering ballrooms or innocent young ladies. But after a reckless wager leaves him with a new business partner, he is forced to take a risky gamble . . . Will the cards fall in their favor? Alexa and Connor begin to play a dangerous game of intrigue and deception as they seek to outwit a cunning adversary who wants to put them permanently out of business. But if they are not careful, it is the flames of their own fiery attraction that may destroy them.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THESE BOOKS?

{November 16-30, 2011}

• Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible to win
• No P.O. Boxes please
• Giveaway copies will be sent directly to winners from the publisher
• 1 copy of each book will be available depending on entries
• 3 Winners will be randomly selected using random.org and contacted via email
• Please check my Contest Policy before entering

*Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing the prize!