Cocktails and Books

Author Guest Post & Giveaway: That Cruise: All That Glitters - Jaye Frances

2012-06-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

Jay Frances is back with us today, talking about her latest release, The Cruise: All That Glitters. Help me in welcoming Jaye back to Cocktails and Books!

Thank you, Shannon, for hosting me today on Cocktails and Books. I really appreciate the opportunity to give your readers a little insight into my new romantic comedy,

The Cruise – All That Glitters.

Travel has always been one of my favorite activities. Sometimes I eagerly play the part of tourist, taking in new sights and sounds while learning the culture of another country. On other occasions, I transform into the persona of a local beachcomber, feeling the crunch of sand under my feel as I take a late afternoon stroll.

And while I definitely love to travel, unlike the old adage, I don’t always enjoy the journey. Long flights in cramped seats, weather delays, and lost luggage have become common vacation plagues that often leave me missing the sanctity and peace of my own backyard.

It’s an attitude shared by Dean, the main character in “The Cruise.” And yes, I’ll admit right up front that a lot of Dean’s travel experiences are reflections of my own personal disasters with certifiably insane seatmates, rabid children, and middle-aged married men who think two days away from their wives is an invitation to test their charm with the ladies.

In this excerpt, our thirty-something bachelor and all around good guy Dean, is flying to Florida to take his first cruise. Being the cocky sort that he is, it just seemed natural that he’d find a way to make his flight interesting, if not entertaining. When he finds himself in the last row of the plane next to a talkative corporate working stiff, he can’t hold himself back, and he lets his sarcastic imagination do its magic.

Here’s an excerpt:

I shuffled past the large, inviting, plush leather seats in first class and moved toward the rear of the plane. Row forty-one. The end of the line. One of only two rows on the whole goddamn plane that didn’t recline. Oh, yes, I was one lucky traveling son-of-a-bitch.

My seatmate—a middle-aged salesman type—was next to the window, rummaging through his briefcase, pulling out stacks of papers and sticking them into the seatback pocket. I tried not to stare at the inflamed pockmark in the very center of his forehead. His appearance reminded me of a three-eyed alien beastie from an old Twilight Zone episode.

He looked over and asked, “How you doing?”

“Okay,” I answered. “And you?”

“Fine, just fine,” he said. “At least I will be when I find that damn ChapStick. I know I packed it, saw it this morning when I . . . there it is.”

He held up the small tube long enough for me to see, then popped off the cap and twisted the end to push a quarter inch of the waxy stuff beyond the rim. Positioning the stick over his forehead, he pressed against the infected crater, forcing the wax to squish out in little streams, most of it falling on the armrest between us.

“Need some?” he asked.

“No thanks,” I said.

He capped the tube and dropped it into his shirt pocket. “I’m on my way to the company retreat. It’s an annual thing. We all go back to headquarters for training, motivational stuff. Of course, between you and me, I’m really looking forward to getting away from the ol’lady. How about you?”

“Oh yeah, me too,” I said, slouching down and spreading my legs as wide as possible. “I’ve really had it up to here with my bitch. I mean, take yesterday for example. I’m crawling out of my car, just getting home from work, and I see she’s got these two women with her. Never seen them before. Strangers, know what I mean? And really good-looking. Young too. No older than twenty, I’d guess. Anyway, she tells me they’re exotic dancers. My wife’s been taking lessons. Did I mention that? Well, anyway, they’re still in costume, standing outside with barely anything on. So I figured I better shoo the three of ’em inside the house before the neighbors called the cops. Now I’m thinking I got it under control. Maybe we’ll have a drink, the two girls will go home and that will be the end of it. But once we get inside, all hell breaks loose. I mean it’s one big jumble of arms and legs. I’m trying to get loose but they keep pulling me back in, telling me I’m not done yet, and I’d better keep it up if I know what’s good for me. My wife does this kind of shit two, three times a week—always bringing home some hot piece of ass. And I know I shouldn’t be bitching too much—she always shares with me—but yeah, I’m really ready for a little break.”

The suit slowly licked his lips as if he was going to say something, but he never got it out. Shifting in his seat, he leaned away from me, toward the window.

At the front of the plane, people were dragging their bulky carry-ons down the narrow aisle, trying to find an empty overhead compartment. One of them, a pleasant looking woman in her mid-thirties, didn’t appear to have any baggage, but was definitely pulling something behind her. As she moved closer, I saw she had a child in tow—a little girl who was grabbing everything she could get her hands on, leaving a tornado trail of coats, bags, and pillows in her wake.

There were plenty of seats left, so I wasn’t concerned.

But they kept coming.

Finally, with only a single row remaining between us, I held my breath, praying for fate to intervene. But in one motion, the woman turned, picked up her kid and sat down next to me, dropping a squirming load of hyper-daughter into her lap.

“Hi,” she said. “I’m Rhonda. And this is my daughter, Sheila. We’re going to meet my sister and her husband in Miami, and then we’re all going on a cruise. Are you going on a cruise too?”

I glanced down the aisle, desperate for another seat, away from surely-divorced Rhonda and her offspring. “Ah, no,” I said, lying. I glanced over at crater-head. “Me and my partner here are registered male nurses. We’re on our way to Miami to buy used medical equipment. Rectal probes.”

As a giveaway, we have one (1) kindle eBook version of The Cruise – All That Glitters. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below.

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Here’s a brief synopsis:

It’s love on the high seas for Dean, a thirty-something bachelor taking his first cruise, hoping for a shipboard romance. On the prowl for the elusive hard-body, he quickly becomes disillusioned, wondering if his expectation of a boatload of beautiful sea nymphs is something found only in travel brochures.

Until he meets Angel.

She is the girl of his dreams, brought to life as a bewitching goddess, ready to engage in every sensual delight. Quickly lured into submission by Angel’s seductive charms, Dean is ready to surrender his heart and soul to this provocative beauty.

Until he meets Marcie . . .

Author Bio:

Jaye Frances is the author of the paranormal-occult romance novel The Kure, the first book in The Kure series, and The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age story of high school romance. Her upcoming work is titled The Beach, a sci-fi fantasy about a man who is given the opportunity to receive his ultimate wish and lives to regret it, and is scheduled for a Summer 2012 release. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit Jaye’s website at www.jayefrances.com, or Jaye’s Blog at http://blog.jayefrances.com

Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5232105.Jaye_Frances

My Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesauthor

Link for The Cruise – All That Glitters on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Cruise-That-Glitters-ebook/dp/B0081IST8S/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1336568258&sr=1-3

The Cruise – All That Glitters is available now from Amazon for only 99 Cents!

And don’t forget, the kindle reading app is available for your cloud reader, computer, Smartphone, and tablet—FREE from Amazon. Here’s the link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sa_menu_karl3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

Blog Tour Book Spotlight: The Foresaken Series

2012-06-01T01:00:00.001-07:00

We have a book spotlight today for the first book in The Forsaken Series, Forsaken Heart, by Elise Whyles and Ciara Lake. Enjoy!

The Forsaken Series

By Elise Whyles and Ciara Lake

Series Overview:

Among us walk immortal beings – cursed to hide within the shadows they live along side us as they have for centuries. Using, feeding, living off the mortals so reviled for their weakness – yet there are some who will be awakened and immortality will be given.

Now, an ancient evil stirs – rising to threaten not only the Immortal Realms but the mortal world. A cursed vampire General stirs, plotting his revenge on those who have forsaken him…but he’s forgotten about the innocent, who like him have been punished.

There are those who are Forsaken.

It could be anyone among us…

Series Website Elise Whyles Facebook Ciara Lake Facebook

The first book, Forsaken Heart by Elise Whyles is set to release in April 2012. The second book Curse of a Dargon’s Claim by Ciara Lake will release shortly after.

Forsaken Heart

Punished for sins not her own, can a mortal claim her vampire mate?The world of immortals must unite to save both themselves and the mortals they co-exist with from an ancient evil.For Bede MacTaggert this means trusting in the warrior sent for her sister—a man of mystery, of power, and one who could easily sweep her into a world she's destined to be part of.An imperial guard to the king of vampires, Gawain has always tuned out the needs of the flesh. Dedicating himself to the service of the royals, he's lived on the fringes of his people for centuries. Now he's forced from the shadows and into the arms of a woman who will awaken his heart and body to a passion unequaled.Content Warning: sexy alpha vampire, explicit sex, violence

Excerpt

"Frails are not to be toyed with," Gawain ground out and grabbed the girl, spinning her away, his sword at the ready as the man heaved upward, a dagger clutched in his hand. Gawain's sword rested easy on his palm, ready, the surface slicked with blood as he faced the coward.

"She's mine to do with as I choose." He gurgled, collapsing to the ground, his weapon falling from pudgy fingers. "Paid ten pieces of gold for 'em both, and I aim to get a might of use out 'em."

"Now she's mine," Gawain declared. Raising his sword, he drove it through the man's chest, pinning his twitching frame to the ground. He stepped back, his gaze sweeping the clearing. Males such as this did not travel alone, his cohorts would be close. He'd need to find and kill them…

Searing pain lanced through him, splitting his chest. Gawain glanced down. The thin, sharp tip of a blade stuck from his chest. He touched the blade and snarled. The metal was warm, when it should have been cold. Shock slammed into him as the blade began to glow, turning a searing red before changing back to normal, or as normal as it could be with blood racing down the weapon.

Whirling, his hand already scrabbling for the dagger's hilt in his back, he grabbed his assailant by the throat and lifted. Grunting as he pulled the weapon free, his lips curled upward. "You'd do well, wench, to know your place."

"If you think I mean to let you do her harm…" Sputtering, her nails digging into his wrists, the girl's brown eyes stared into his. Fear lay within the depths but something else stirred. Something dark, dangerous, easily recognized if one knew what they were looking for.

His fingers moved, tightening, loosening as he pulled her against him. Inhaling, he caught the faint scent of blood, fear, sweat, fire, and something sultry, sweet, and light on his tongue. Drawing the scent deep, he wallowed in it, his body responding to the aroma he'd dreamed of but never found.

Gawain inhaled slowly, his muscles tightening, burning. Using the tip of her dagger, he pushed the material of her shift aside. The scrolling marks of a serpent flared before his eyes. It coiled and danced beneath the girl's flesh.

Blog Tour Release Blitz: Blood and Whiskey - Clark Hays & Kathleen McFall

2012-06-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

We're taking part in a one day blitz for Blood and Whiskey by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall. Enjoy!

Blood and Whiskey
A Cowboy and Vampire Thriller
by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall
Publication date: May 1, 2012
Fiction, Trade Paperback (362 pages) $14.95; e-book $4.99
ISBN: 978-0-9838200-1-7; Library of Congress Control Number: 2012902814

Wanted: Lizzie Vaughan, Dead or Alive

Relationships are always hard, but for a broke cowboy and a newly turned Vampire, true love may be lethal.

After barely surviving an undead apocalypse in The Cowboy and the Vampire, Tucker and Lizzie hightail it back to quirky LonePine, Wyoming (population 438), to start a family. But she’s got a growing thirst for blood and he’s realizing that mortality ain’t all it’s cracked up to be when your girlfriend may live forever. With a scheming Vampire nation hot on their boot heels and a price on her head, how far will Lizzie and Tucker go to protect their unlikely love?

Blending evolution, religion and an overly sensitive cow dog named Rex, Blood and Whiskey drags the Vampire myth into the modern west, delivering double-barreled action, heart-pounding passion and wicked humor.

Signed set of Book 1 and Book 2 for the Cowboy and Vampire series (Cowboy and Vampire, and Blood and Whiskey). 2 sets to giveaway.

AND

Entry into a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card for anyone that posts a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Powell's. Email authors at cowboyandvampire@gmail with link to review to be entered. It need not be a fancy review, just an indication of reading or wanting to read it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blood and Whiskey

The Cowboy and Vampire Thriller Series, Book Two

The worst things in life always begin with a phone call.

When a young homeless woman is snatched from the streets of Portland, Oregon, she has time to make one terrified call to her uncle Lenny in tiny LonePine, Wyoming. A way-off-the-grid survivalist and paranoid conspiracy theorist, Lenny turns to his best friend Tucker for help.

But Tucker’s got his own problems, including a vampire girlfriend.

A perpetually broke, down-on-his-luck cowboy, Tucker fell hard for Lizzie, a whip smart, big city girl and hotshot reporter. To everyone’s surprise in LonePine (all 438 of them), she fell hard for him too.

Their unlikely love is central to The Cowboy and the Vampire: A Darkly Romantic Mystery when Lizzie finds out the awful truth about her dark heritage. Tucker, with a little help from his Dad, Lenny and an overly-sensitive cow dog named Rex, take on Lizzie’s maniacal vampire father and his beautiful consort Elita. It’s a blood-spattered undead apocalypse of terror and tumbleweeds.

In Blood and Whiskey, the second book in The Cowboy and Vampire Thriller Series, Tucker, Lizzie and the rest of the gang are back with a vengeance. Lizzie is pregnant, with a growing, unquenchable thirst for human blood and trouble on the horizon. The most powerful vampires from the ruling clans are headed to LonePine to test her new powers. If they find her lacking, Lizzie, her growing baby, and all of LonePine will be destroyed — not that it would take very long.

It’s certainly an inconvenient time for Tucker to take a road trip, but sometimes friendship trumps common sense. With a duffle bag of improvised weapons, he sets out for Portland with Lenny to find the kidnapped girl. They end up in remote Plush, Oregon, where — smack dab in the middle of the sagebrush desert — they uncover a human blood farm run by a fearsome cowboy enemy resurrected from the Old West. His name is Henry Plummer and his sights are set on Lizzie.

As the truth about what they have uncovered dawns on Tucker and Lenny, they rush back to LonePine. The Vampire Illuminati have already arrived, including Rurik, a handsome Russian vampire angling to take Tucker’s place next to Lizzie.

How far will Lizzie and Tucker go to protect their unlikely love?

Blood and Whiskey is a story of love, loyalty and loss in the modern American West. With meditations on the nature of good and evil, a new cosmology for vampires — including a meta-consciousness where vampire minds reside between deaths — and a cast of gritty, quirky, realistic western characters, Blood and Whiskey tangles the vampire and cowboy myths into a groundbreaking new “modern gothic western” genre.

About the authors

Stuff Clark likes: sagebrush, the American West, clouds, whiskey and graphic novels. Stuff he hates: running quarterbacks, drivers who don’t use turn signals and the sound of flip-flops.

Stuff Kathleen likes: Russian literature, anarchy, martinis, lava and the ocean. Stuff she hates: intermissions, Halloween corn mazes and high-speed vehicular sandwiches. And the Muppets.

Learn more and stay in touch:

www.cowboyandvampire.com
www.facebook.com/cowboyandvampire
Twitter: @cowboyvamp
Buy it on amazon
Find us on Goodreads

Images:

Cover image for Blood and Whiskey

Author publicity photo: Hays and McFall

Cowboy and Vampire art by Aaron Perkins

Blog Tour Review: Satisfying the Curse - Kelly Gendron

2012-05-31T01:00:00.001-07:00

Satisfying the Curse by Kelly Gendron
Series:
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Red Sage Press
Source: Sizzling PR
Buy the book at:

Juliana Pratt is cursed. Her father's warned her many times she’s destined to be a wanton just like her adulteress mother. It’s why he’s kept her in all-girls schools, hidden away from his elite society. However, when her father's arrested for murder, he needs Juliana to come into the spotlight to portray the doting daughter. Juliana agrees to the interviews and talk shows, but before she goes on the two-week tour of lies about her father, and with him behind bars and unable to stop her, she must first take care of her starving curse.

And Juliana picks the perfect man to get the job done. She secures him to a bed, but fails terribly at finishing the task. Her thoroughly teased curse is left famished. Later, Juliana discovers that the man she’d chosen to fulfill her every fantasy is also the agent assigned to protect her for the next two weeks. Her curse becomes relentless and will stop at nothing until the delectable Agent T. Ryker has satisfied its hunger.

Agent T. Ryker prides himself on his discipline—that is, until his new assignment, Juliana Pratt, puts that renowned discipline to the ultimate test. Once he discovers that Juliana is the woman who drugged and handcuffed him to the bed in his hotel room, he also finds out her true identity. Ryker agrees to satisfy Juliana’s ravenous curse, but he has his own reasons for doing it, and it's not just to give Juliana’s body what it craves... for there is something else Agent T. Ryker wants from Juliana Pratt..

Reviewer's Thoughts:

Juliana Pratt is being protected by NESA while traveling for the next two weeks giving interviews related to her father's murder trial before she testifies. While there is no love loss between her and her father, she's agreed to be his alibi in exchange for money. She'll do whatever it takes to rid herself of her father, including feeding the curse he has drilled into her is pure evil. It's on the prowl to break her curse that she meet Agent T. Ryker. Except when they meet, she has him handcuffed to a bed, drugged and unaware that he's the next NESA agent assigned to protect her.

When I read the blurb on this, I was excited to see what kind of curse Juliana had on her that made her need sex. Imagine my disappointment that it wasn't a curse but plain old lust that afflicted our book smart, but socially naive heroine. Daddy dearest did a number on Ana and she figured feeding her "curse" would be ultimate payback to the man who like to remind her that if she fed it she'd be a whore like her mother. What was amazing is the fact that a college educated Physician's Assistant wouldn't have, at least in a bookish way, realized that what she felt for Agent Ryker wasn't a curse but good old fashion attraction, lust and eventually love. Seems while she was memorizing bones and muscles, she missed an important part of the anatomy lessons.

Ryker wasn't the easiest character to warm up to, as he alternated between being a complete ass and a tender lover. But, given what he endured during this childhood and the murder of his aunt one could almost understand his actions. He was hard, gritty and very, very closed off. He was good at keeping his protective shell around him most of the time, but it was nice to see it slip the few times that it did.

While I like the story, I wish there was more of an emotional connection to the characters for me. It would have established more of a bond for me and taken this from a good story to a great one.

Blog Tour Guest Post: Satisfying the Curse - Kelly Gendron

2012-05-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

Kelly Gendron is guest posting with us today as part of her blog tour for Satifsying the Curse. Help me in welcoming Kelly to Cocktails and Books.

PG-Erotic? by Kelly Gendron

When I first started writing, my intention was to be a Romance Writer. I planned to break many whimsical hearts with my passionate stories. I'd use sweet words that whispered of forever and soft kisses that left everlasting impressions. But my misbehaving men, those ever evolving all grown up bad boys in my books, had a plan all of their own! They were dominant and merciless and by the time I finished my first book, it was deemed an Erotic Romance.

It got me thinking about this category, Erotic Romance that includes BDSM, ménage, and all those naughty things that are kept quiet in polite society. I knew that I didn’t want to be a PG (prude girl) Erotic Writer. But when put up against some of the other authors in the genre, I still blush just a little like a PG writer. But I'm optimistic, and I'm exploring what else that PG could stand for besides Prude Girl. I've come up with a possible few different meanings for the abbreviation:

Power Game; two strong souls struggling for that ultimate control, dominance and submission (I write that).
Pulse Generator; sex that gets the blood flowing and the palms sweating; anticipation at it's very best (All right, maybe I write a bit of that too)
Page Gripper; hold on tight for a little bondage and discipline (Be bad and you will be spanked, I've written that too!)

Okay. So... I'm definitely an Erotic Writer, my books tell a story, they include love, and the sex— well, it can get a little hot. Finding my perfect PG rating that fits all of that, well I'm sure it'll be fun exploring. But for now, to me, the best PG rating for Erotic Romance is Persona Grata— the personally acceptable one— because when it comes right down to it whatever turns the reader on is all that really matters!

Check out my new PG Erotic Romantic Suspense, Satisfying The Curse. For years Juliana Pratt has ignored her fate, but after having just one nibble of the scrumptious Agent T. Ryker, her hungry "curse" will no longer go unnoticed— it's famished and it wants to be fed!  

Thank you, Kelly, for stopping by and taking over the blogging duties. I always enjoy finding authors from the Western New York (I grew up in the Rochester area).

About the book

Juliana Pratt is cursed. Her father's warned her many times she’s destined to be a wanton just like her adulteress mother. It’s why he’s kept her in all-girls schools, hidden away from his elite society. However, when her father's arrested for murder, he needs Juliana to come into the spotlight to portray the doting daughter. Juliana agrees to the interviews and talk shows, but before she goes on the two-week tour of lies about her father, and with him behind bars and unable to stop her, she must first take care of her starving curse.

And Juliana picks the perfect man to get the job done. She secures him to a bed, but fails terribly at finishing the task. Her thoroughly teased curse is left famished. Later, Juliana discovers that the man she’d chosen to fulfill her every fantasy is also the agent assigned to protect her for the next two weeks. Her curse becomes relentless and will stop at nothing until the delectable Agent T. Ryker has satisfied its hunger.

Agent T. Ryker prides himself on his discipline—that is, until his new assignment, Juliana Pratt, puts that renowned discipline to the ultimate test. Once he discovers that Juliana is the woman who drugged and handcuffed him to the bed in his hotel room, he also finds out her true identity. Ryker agrees to satisfy Juliana’s ravenous curse, but he has his own reasons for doing it, and it's not just to give Juliana’s body what it craves... for there is something else Agent T. Ryker wants from Juliana Pratt...

About the Author

Kelly resides in a quiet suburb somewhere between Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY. Her backyard is small but secluded. During the summer you'll find Kelly in her sunroom. The winter months, she sits in her writing room. Her two favorites places to go and write after she gets home from her other job- representing a group of nursing facilities in the WNY area. The weekends are when she really gets lost. She forgets about the dishes, laundry and the family tends to ask her the same question twice. You can usually find her peeking up from her laptop saying "what?" as she tries to pull herself away from her story and come back to the world going on around her. Her husband certainly doesn't mind the free time he has to go golfing and her teenage son, who colors her world with pride and happiness, he too is always on the run.

Writing, what other way is there to describe it- it's Kelly's conviction. After working in the human health field profession for nearly two decades, Kelly's aware of how deficient many people's daily lives are of true human connection. Through her writing she strives to reconnect readers with those all-too-rare feelings of unquenchable desire, heated passion and splendid euphoria.

Kelly has been faithfully writing for three years but did write her first book ten years ago. She put it down to raise her son as a single mom and then picked it back up when she finally found her "just right" guy. That's when she settled into her new life and started to seriously write again. She's dabbled with paranormal stories, but recently she's been on a Romantic Suspense kick. The recipe for the men in her stories: dark and mysterious, strong and confident and, of course, besides magnificent bodies, and shameless aptitudes, they must have a heart you want to rip out of the pages (or your e-Reader) and take to bed with you at night.

Web Site: http://www.kellygendron.com/

Book Spotlight: Hope's Betrayal - Grace Elliot

2012-05-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

One wild, winter's night two worlds collide.
Known for his ruthless efficiency, Captain George Huntley is sent to stamp out smuggling on the south coast of England. On a night raid, the Captain captures a lanky lad, but finds his troubles are just beginning when the lad turns out to be a lass, Hope Tyler.
With Hope as bait, the Captain sets a trap to catch the rest of the gang. But in a battle of wills, with his reputation at stake, George Huntley starts to respect feisty, independent Hope. Challenged by her sea-green eyes and stubborn loyalty Huntley now faces a new threat - his growing attraction to a sworn enemy. And a love where either Hope betrays her own kind, or Captain Huntley is court-marshalled, is not an easy destiny to follow.

Available from:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0084ND8ZY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0084ND8ZY

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0084ND8ZY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelthouse-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B0084ND8ZY

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/163804?ref=cw1985

*****

Excerpt

Injured on a smuggling run, Hope wakes to face the naval officer who captured her.

Hope kept her eyes closed as she became conscious of a man's heavy tread pacing the room. She waited until he was at the window and opened her eyelids a fraction. With the light behind him she saw an athletic man with wide shoulders, tall enough to have to stoop under the sloping eaves. Her stomach felt hollow with foreboding, for without doubt, this was the same man who'd pursued her over the dunes.

He must have sensed a change in her breathing, for suddenly he turned. He stared, with piercing blue eyes that penetrated her soul. Dressed in a naval uniform, the jacket cuffs ringed with gold braid, the man exuded authority. He continued to stare, his face unreadable; wilful, she decided, and yet uncommonly handsome. She blushed and reached for the covers, pulling them up to her chin.

"So, enough pretending. You are awake at last." His voice, deep and melodic, brooked no argument.

"Please, sir, where am I?"

"Under house arrest." He growled, obviously no friend. And yet, she touched her bandaged head, someone had taken care of her.

"You are in pain?" His consideration was surprising.

"Not so much now."

The answer pleased him. "Good, then you have some explaining to do."

"Please, sir, who are you?"

The man threw her a sideways glance and started to pace.

"Captain Huntley, RN. And you are?"

She decided against lying, her name alone couldn’t incriminate her family.

"Hope Tyler."

"Well Miss Tyler, have you the slightest idea how much trouble you're in?"

"Yes."

The Captain stared at the ceiling. "A man died because of your felony. A Revenue man. He leaves a wife and three children."

"I'm so sorry." She whispered in distress.

"His fellow officers are baying for blood."

Hope trembled, things were worse than she imagined.

"Someone must hang for his death."

Her throat closed over.

"Be it you…or the man who pulled the trigger….my men don’t care." Captain Huntley stepped closer, his presence dominating the room. She couldn’t breathe, he seemed made of granite, his eyes like flints, sparking with anger. "But I'm different." His expression softened imperceptibly. "I like to think of myself as a fair man."

Hope nodded, to encourage him.

"Any fool can see you are just a bit-player, a lackey. The men I want are the leaders, those who finance the contraband and organise the landings. Tell me who they are, and I shall intercede on your behalf with the authorities."

"What if I don’t know their names?"

His wide mouth twitched downward. "Then I cannot help you."

She would have shaken her head had it not been too painful. "The men you speak of aren't stupid. They will know I am taken, and know if I betray them. If I do… they will come for my family."

"Then put them behind bars."

"It's too risky. This way, it's only me."

He tried to hide it, but he looked surprised. She saw him drinking in the logic of her words and a shadow darkened his face. Clasping his hands behind his back, he turned to stare through the window.

"Tell me," he said benignly, "what does it feel like to be abandoned? Because that's what the smugglers did. Sailed away without a backward glance and left you to your fate."

*****

About the Author

Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and an author of historical romance by night. Grace is an avid reader and believes intelligent people need to read romance - as an antidote to the modern world. She works in a companion animal practice near London and is housekeeping staff to five demanding felines.

"Hope's Betrayal" is Grace's third historical romance novel - to find out more please visit: https://www.amazon.com/author/graceelliot

Blog: "Fall in Love With History" http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Grace_Elliot

Blog Tour Interview: Once Her Man, Always Her Man - Heather Long

2012-05-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

We're interviewing Captain Luke Dexter from Heather Long's release, Once Her Man, Always Her Man. Help me in welcoming Luke and Heather to Cocktails and Books!

Tell us about yourself.

Captain Luke Dexter, retired from active duty and current administrator for Mike’s Place in Allen, Texas.

What attracted you to Becca back in high school?

She was amazing. She was sexy, smart, funny and she said yes. She didn’t mind tutoring me, she never treated me like I was stupid and the air was always lighter when she was around. I asked her out the first time more as a desperate attempt to say that I could ask a girl out and then she said yes.

What were your first thoughts when you saw her again?

God. She’s still gorgeous.

You enlisted in the Marines after 9/11. How did serving change you?

Luke considers the question. “It made me a man. I was a kid and I knew I had to do something. But the Corps made me a man and a Marine. I’m a Marine, first and forever. I saw a lot of hell. I gained a lot of brothers and I served my country.”

Do you think your parents would be proud of what you’re doing now?

Yes. Without a doubt.

Where you do you see yourself and Becca in five years?

Three kids and two dogs. No cats. We’re still fighting about the cat.

A big thanks to Luke for being willing to talk to us.

About the book

Fulfilling a favor and executing a business plan, Luke Dexter arrived at Dallas’ Sybarite Club for a one-night stand. He never imagined that in the darkened club with bluesy strains of jazz playing he’d come face to face with the woman he left behind a decade earlier.Rebecca Rainier fell in love with Luke Dexter in high school and was crushed when he dumped her to join the Marines after 9/11. Now, waiting for a date her best friend and business partner set up, she’s unprepared when Luke walks in.Can Luke and Rebecca bridge the pain of a decade long abandonment in one cold Texas night?

To read our review, click here.

Excerpt:

Luke Dexter handed his keys over to the red corseted valet driver, gaze skimming the generous globes peeking up from the open buttons of her white shirt. The Sybarite Club offered the Dallas area generous access to every pleasure. He slipped a card out of his leather wallet and displayed it to the doorman. The doorman, a tall, lanky figure dressed in topcoat and tails exuded a sense of elegance that the club's exclusive clientele enjoyed.

The doorman examined the card, scanned it with a small device in his palm. Luke admired the cageyness of the action. The pen scanner would be out of place with the old world atmosphere encouraged by the man's uniform. “Good evening, Mr. Dexter. Welcome to the Sybarite Club.”

Accepting his card back, he passed through the opening doublewide doors. The gothic style doors were dark cherry, aged like a fine wine and a decorated with wood cut carvings of a man and woman engaged in cunnilingus and fellatio. The joining was subtle, the each left crying out in pleasure when the door opened, only to be joined again when the doors closed.

Amused by the door carving, he smiled as he plunged into the velvet darkness of the club's jazz infused atmosphere. Every night featured a different style of music, but Fridays were reserved for jazz. Old world, cool smooth jazz with smoky voices, haunting guitars and lonely horns played to the soul. The doors barely closed behind him when his phone buzzed inside his breast pocket.

How did the woman know these things?

Pulling it out, he thumbed it on, a new message from Madame Evangeline of the 1Night Stand exclusive online dating service populating the screen. She's dressed in green silk and sitting at the bar. Life doesn't always offer a second chance…

Clicking the screen off, Luke walked down the four red-carpeted steps into the lounge proper. He'd only agreed to the dating service only to support the men in his unit putting themselves out there. The last thing he'd expected was the invitation to the Sybarite Club. His gaze roamed the room the room, coming to a halt as they fastened on a pair of to die for tan legs at the bar. The sweet length of them, one crossed over the other ended in black heels with crystals glittering around dainty feet.

A green skirt skimmed her knees. While he appreciated the legs, he studied the line of her back, curious about the rest of her. His gaze slid higher to the pile of unruly auburn hair fighting to escape a pair of matching crystal hair combs.

As though sensing his appraisal, the green cloaked mystery woman turned on the bar stool and his heart tripped.

About the Author

Heather Long lives in Texas with her family and their menagerie of animals. As a child, Heather skipped picture books and enjoyed the Harlequin romance novels by Penny Jordan and Nora Roberts that her grandmother read to her. Heather believes that laughter is as important to life as breathing and that the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are very real. In the meanwhile, she is hard at work on her next novel.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Blog Tour Post Update: Frey - Melissa Wright

2012-05-30T00:59:00.000-07:00

We have an update to our blog tour post for Frey by Melissa Wright.

The Author is also having a Grand Giveaway that will run throughout the tour. The Grand Giveaway will have two winners. One will win a Print copy of Frey and a signed Bookmark and the second winner will receive a $20 amazon Gift Card! To enter this Grand Giveaway, complete the Rafflecopter below.

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Review: Wait for the Wind - Brynna Curry

2012-05-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Wait for the Wind by Brynna Curry
Series: Elemental Magic #3
Release Date: January 17, 2011
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Source: Provided by publisher
Buy the book at:

Ryan and Kate must reunite to break the second of a three-part thousand-year-old spell.Kate O'Connell grew up loved by the Corrigan family, all the while suffering from the inescapable reality of her own alcoholic father. At a young age she gave her heart and innocence to Ryan Corrigan. For once happiness seemed within her reach, until in one horror-filled night, the monster she called 'Daddy' changed everything.Too many misunderstandings forced Kate and Ryan apart, but now Kate's come home to open her clinic and raise her daughter, Allaina, closer to his family. Will she be able to open Ryan's heart to his magic? Ryan is glad to be back on Irish soil, but the reason he left still haunts him. As he tries to build a new life and redeem his past, can he forgive Kate and reclaim his healing gift in time to save his sister and her twins?Steamy love scenes, adult language

Reviewer's Thoughts:

I will admit, when I selected this book to read, I didn't realize it was book #3. Given that fact, I was missing out on a whole lot of back story when I started this one.

Ryan Corrigan and Kate O'Connell were in love when tragedy and a huge misunderstanding send Ryan running off to the United States and unwilling to speak to Kate. Thirteen years later, he returns home to Ireland to discover that everything he thought was wrong and leaves him wanting to get back what he lost.

Ryan and Kate were an interesting couple. Ryan leaves all his past hurt and misconceptions at the door when he realizes (using his magic) that he was wrong about everything involving Kate. It's commendable to have a man so willing to say he's wrong and want to immediately make up for that mistake. But I found Kate a little to eager to forgive and forget. She went through something truly horrible and tragic and when she reached out to the man that she loves he slammed the door in her face. That said, it was nice to see that true love truly never dies because they were able to move forward.

Many things happened with the other secondary characters in the book, Jack and Liv have their baby, you can tell Skye and Rhian will start building their budding relationship and Devin is the wizard who is protecting his keep. (What was happening with all the secondary characters is where it would have been helpful reading the other two books).

An enjoyable read with a great love story.

Blog Tour Book Spotlight: Phantom - Laura DeLuca

2012-05-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

We've got a book spotlight, including excerpt, for Laura DeLuca's release, Phantom. Enjoy!

When her high school drama club decides to produce the musical phenomenon, “Phantom”,, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker.
Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva. She finds herself torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer, who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.
Almost immediately after casting, strange things happen both on and off the stage as people are hurt in true phantom style. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as opening night draws closer. To reveal the identity of the real-life Phantom, Rebecca must strip away his mask—and in doing so, risk her own life

About the Author

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Excerpt:

“Lord…Justyn?”

It sounded more like a question than an audition call. Miss King looked slightly baffled as she scanned her paperwork and read the last name on her list of male candidates. Once she was certain she had read the name correctly, she called it out once more with a little more confidence. When she received no immediate response, she seemed ready to dismiss the whole thing as a joke. But then a strange black clad figure seemed to materialize in the corner of the stage, and with practiced grace, he moved towards the center of the platform and the waiting microphone.

“That’s Justyn Patko,” Carmen informed Rebecca matter-of-factly. Luckily her best friend was the queen of gossip. “He just moved here this year. From Vegas, I think. He’s in my Calculus class.”

“He’s a little creepy if you ask me,” Debbie whispered.

Creepy he might have been to some, with his black clothes trimmed with silver chains, black hair, and black fingernails. He was obviously Gothic to the core, a fashion statement Rebecca had always thought was secretly a cry for attention. But for Justyn, there seemed no other possibility. She couldn’t imagine the darkly mysterious figure dressed in earth tones or preppy, button-down shirts. They would have clashed with his dark eyes and pale skin. She had seen him in the hallway a few times, but they didn’t share any classes together, so Rebecca had never really taken the time to study him before. Despite his odd style, there was something strangely appealing about Justyn. In his own way, he was just as handsome as Tom.

The orchestra tuned for its virtuoso, and Justyn stood ready. But no one else was ready for the magical performance he began. Beside her, Carmen was rambling on about something mundane. Rebecca elbowed her to silence so she could listen to the perfectly thrilling tenor. As she listened to the song unfold, the world around her started to slip away. Gone was the high school auditorium. Gone were the rowdy teenagers. The Gothic stranger on the stage had become the embodiment of Erik, and Rebecca watched him in all his dark glory, belting out his tormented love through the words of his song. And she was as breathless with wonder as Christine herself must have been when the masked stranger serenaded her in the candlelit labyrinth of the opera house. In that moment, Justyn wasn’t just portraying the phantom. Justyn was the phantom.

“Let the music touch your soul.

Let the darkness make you whole.

Do not fear what is unknown.

Your true path has now been shown.

Listen to the words I sing.

Embrace the peace that night will bring.”

As he continued to sing in his deep but somehow angelic voice, Rebecca found that she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. With every line, her heart began to beat faster. She truly felt the arms of night wrapping her in a warm embrace. She could almost feel the hands of the phantom glide along her body as the words poured forth. The music caressed her. It possessed her—mind, body and soul. Each word left her longing, yearning for more.

She was gawking so obviously, it was hardly surprising when Justyn felt her eyes on him and steadily met her gaze. She realized her mouth was hanging open in stunned awe, and she quickly snapped it shut. His lips moved into just a small hint of a smile. He never took his eyes off her while he sang the final verse, making her cheeks flush to the point that she felt almost feverish. But it wasn’t embarrassment but excitement, arousal even, which was sending her mind spinning in so many directions.

When the song was over, and Rebecca had recovered just a hint of her composure, she couldn’t help but burst into a healthy round of applause. A few scattered people joined in, including Debbie and Carmen after she nudged them in the ribs. But only Miss King seemed to truly appreciate the brilliance of his talent as much as Rebecca did.

“That was amazing, Justyn!” the teacher gushed.

“Lord Justyn,” he corrected as he stepped down from the stage.

A few others complimented him as well, but he took in all in stride. In fact, his serious expression never faltered as he stepped down from the stage. He seemed almost bored, like it was all he could do to hold back a yawn, despite the smiles and words of encouragement.

But not everyone in the crowd was pleased as Justyn glided down the aisle, so ethereal in his dark garments that he still resonated the spirit of the Opera Ghost. Miss King might have been excited about the newest male addition to her cast after being limited for many years, but Tom and his group of boisterous companions glared at him as he passed them by. Jay sneered and tossed a balled up piece of paper in Justyn’s direction, but the Goth was quick, and caught it in his hand without missing a beat.

“I think you dropped something,” he said.

His speaking voice was no less melodic than his singing voice, but something about his tone made Rebecca shiver. He tossed the paper back at Jay, who was nowhere near as coordinated as Justyn. He practically fell off his seat in his efforts to catch it.

“Hey vampire,” Tom called when Justyn went to walk away. “Are you sure you can handle the competition?”

Justyn smiled, a cool, sarcastic half-smile, and crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you?”

Miss King didn’t notice the short confrontation, and Justyn vanished from the auditorium as quickly and mysteriously as he had appeared. Only Rebecca had noticed the very real tension between the two boys. She wondered if it was a bad omen for them to start off the production with hard feelings and envy. That could only lead to trouble. The kind of trouble that could end with someone getting hurt. The kind of trouble that Rebecca would do whatever it took to avoid.

Guest Review: Phantom - Laura DeLuca

2012-05-29T00:30:00.000-07:00

Phantom by Laura DeLuca
Series:
Release Date: March 30, 2012
Publisher: Pagan Writer's Press
Source: Sizzling PR
Buy the book at:

The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.
Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.
Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed.

Reviewer's Thoughts:

I remember briefly studying Phantom of the Opera in highschool. The magic behind the music and story was enticing. Phantom is a novel that shares the same undying love and magic.

The highschool drama club has decided to take on a huge task and perform the magical Phantom of the Opera. Rebecca has known this play since she was young so she finds herself trying out for the part of Christine. Her long time crush is trying out for a leading role as well. When along comes mysterious Justyn, who steals the heart of Rebecca as soon as he begins to sing. Rebecca is drawn to the mystic ways of Lord Justyn and how he is just like the Phantom. After roles are casted the excitement begins. Rebecca finds herself drawn between two men. The Phantom of the Opera is starting to take on a life of its own. People start getting hurt, then dead. Rebecca starts believing that Justyn is as dangerous as the original Phantom. She doesn't know how to believe it but Justyn is a killer in her friends eyes. Becca starts to question everything she thought she knew.

Rebecca is your average teenage highschool girl. She struggles with peer pressure, friendships, and relationships. She decides one day to break out of her mold and try something different, try out for the highschool play. Never did she expect to get a landing role. Rebecca soon finds herself living the scary life of Christine, the person she portrays. Rebecca is in a love triangle between the good and the bad, or so she thinks.

Tom is a handsome athletic highschooler. He leads the typical jock life, hanging out with friends, being popular and being cute. His personality revolves around his friends and he tends to sometimes give in quickly. But is loved by most.

Justyn is an outcast. He wears dark clothing, makeup, and jewerly. Deacribed by other students as a vampire. He pratices the Pagan culture and is a dark mystrious male.

The end of the book is shocking and very terrifying. You find yourself wrapped up into the emotions of the characters. You learn about true love and how someone can turn from it. The "phantom" is revealed and it catches you offguard. I loved the twist in the story.

You wont be dissapointed in this page turner. From start to finish you want more. Just when you think you got it figured out you don't. My only complaint is I disliked the cover of the book. I felt it did not properly identify with the lead characters in the book.

This gets 5 out of 5

Guest Reviewed by:

Blog Tour Promo Spot & Giveaway: Lucky in Love - Jill Shalvis

2012-05-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

We're featuring Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis today. It's an awesome edition to the Lucky Harbor series. To read our review, click here.

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone...

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't -- including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

We're giving away a paperback copy of Lucky in Love as part of our feature today. To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below. The winner will be chosen, at random, on June 2, 2012.

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Due to restrictions by the publisher, this giveaway is open to US resident only. No PO Boxes please.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. You can find out more about Jill by visiting her on Facebook, Twitter, or at jillshalvis.com

Summer Days Q & A with Susan Mallery

2012-05-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Susan Mallery Q&A on SUMMER DAYS (Fool’s Gold Book 7)

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Publisher’s Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” Visit Susan online at www.susanmallery.com.

Tell us about SUMMER DAYS.

SUMMER DAYS is the perfect beach read. It’s funny, romantic, sexy, and it’s light both in tone and in actual weight – you can toss the paperback into your beach bag and go. (It’s also available wherever ebooks are sold.)

Heidi Simpson had a vagabond childhood with her grandfather. The one thing she wanted most in the world was a home of her own. Now, in her late 20s, she finally has one, but her ranch is put on the line by a scam her grandfather pulled in order to pay for a friend’s surgery. Rafe Stryker is the son of the woman whose money was stolen, and the first of the Stryker brothers to move to Fool’s Gold. He’s on a tear when he arrives, determined to protect his mother’s interests at all costs.

Since possession is nine-tenths of the law, neither is willing to leave the ranch until a judge can decide the matter. Sparks fly right from page one between Heidi and Rafe! The people of Fool’s Gold take sides in a pretty hysterical way.

You can find SUMMER DAYS wherever books are sold – bookstores, online, even the grocery store check-out line. You can read a free excerpt on my website, www.susanmallery.com or in the free app for iPhone and Android (www.mobileroadie.com/apps/susanmallery).

Who are these Fool’s Gold cheerleaders I keep hearing about?

Oh, the cheerleaders are beyond fabulous! This year’s squad is made up of 60 Fool’s Gold super fans who are earning prizes all summer for telling other readers about Fool’s Gold. They’re driving around with Fool’s Gold car magnets, wearing Fool’s Gold T-shirts, handing out bookmarks like candy to everyone they meet.

For those of my followers who have never read a Fool’s Gold book, tell us about the small town known as the Land of Happy Endings.

SUMMER DAYS is the seventh book in my series set in fictional Fool’s Gold, California. Fool’s Gold is a small town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It’s a quaint place where people truly support each other – mostly with casseroles. And margaritas. Women rule in Fool’s Gold. For many years, there was a man shortage, which is just now beginning to level out, thanks to the town’s efforts to bring in some pretty spectacular men.

Fool’s Gold is the most popular series I’ve ever written. In fact, last year, one of the Fool’s Gold books hit #3 on the New York Times and #8 on the USA Today bestsellers lists. Those were personal bests for me and very thrilling.

Each book is written as a standalone, which means that you can jump in and start with SUMMER DAYS, and you won’t feel lost or confused. While previous characters make an appearance, you don’t need to know their stories to understand this one.

Why did you decide to write about three cowboy brothers?

With each year’s Fool’s Gold books, I try to create heroes who represent iconic male archetypes. The men of Fool’s Gold have been athletes, businessmen, pilots, surgeons. Each is a leader, powerful in his own way. His strength goes deeper than the physical. He does what’s right even when it’s not easy. When he falls, he falls hard… and he loves forever.

This summer, three cowboy brothers will ride into Fool’s Gold on horseback in SUMMER DAYS, SUMMER NIGHTS, and ALL SUMMER LONG. The Stryker men represent everything I love about a cowboy hero. They are protective, honest, tall and strong. And wow, do they do nice things to a pair of blue jeans!

Since this is Fool’s Gold, these cowboys come with a special twist – humor. Rafe is undone by Heidi the Goat Girl. Shane has to teach the local librarian how to do the ancient Dance of the Happy Virgin – while riding a horse. And Clay, the youngest, made his fortune as a Hollywood butt double.

What’s next for Fool’s Gold?

In SUMMER NIGHTS (July), Shane Stryker will meet Annabelle who, oh my WORD, do I love! Annabelle is my gift to all the librarians who have supported me so wonderfully over the years, putting my books into readers’ hands with a fervent, “You’re going to love this!” Annabelle is a librarian who defies the stereotypes – she’s fashionable, modern… a dangerous, pint-sized sexpot, as far as Shane is concerned. He’s completely undone by her the first time they meet, so much so that he can’t even remember his own name.

Then comes Charlie, to be paired with Clay in ALL SUMMER LONG (August). Oh, Charlie. She’s so tough and oh, so wounded. She’s got that hard-as-nails firefighter exterior, but when it comes to matters of the heart, she is as vulnerable as they come. Something happened in Charlie’s past that has made her afraid of intimacy with a man. She’s the kind of person who tackles her problems head-on, much to Clay Stryker’s delight. She’s determined to learn how to be with a man, and she’s decided to ask Clay to teach her.

Thank, Susan, for stopping by and chatting about Summer Days and the Fool's Gold series.

Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway: Night Walker - Lisa Kessler

2012-05-27T01:01:00.000-07:00

We have Lisa Kessler stopping by to chat with us today about being a vampire fan. Help me in welcoming Lisa to Cocktails and Books!

Hi Everyone –

I’m excited to be on the Cocktails and Books Blog today!

I’m a vampire fan. I have been since the night I met Lestat in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. As a reader, I love the sex appeal of the ultimate bad boy. Here’s a man who could kill you, but instead, he’ll kill to keep you safe.

And as a writer, I love the depth of tortured hero you can achieve from lifetimes of heartbreak and lonliness. These men need more than sex, they need someone to remind them what it feels like to be alive, to smile, laugh, and love.

My novel, Night Walker, opens on Dia de los Muertos. Calisto has been waiting over 200 years for his one love to live again. Their paths finally cross as Calisto is leaving his offering of flowers in memory of his lost love. Here’s an excerpt from the book… Hope you enjoy!

According to her friends, Dia de los Muertos was the perfect night for ghost hunting. Lori and Edie always enjoyed ghost stories when they were kids, and their fondness grew until they considered themselves amateur paranormal investigators. What better place to find them than in the oldest building in San Diego on the one night a year reserved for the dead?

Kate didn’t share their zeal for spirits, but she had no problem waiting for them to have their fun. She was happy to have a few minutes to herself anyway.

The candlelight glimmered around her, the flickering flames left to burn out sometime before morning. The warm glow made for eerie light, casting long shadows of the weeping crosses over the garden. It

was exquisite and melancholy in the same moment.

She caught a sudden chill. The longer she lingered, the more her sadness mutated into unease. The back of her neck prickled. Kate crossed her arms and walked toward the sanctuary doors. She suddenly felt exposed and alone.

Before she reached the doors, Lori and Edie came up the path at the other end of the courtyard, snapping pictures as they walked, until Lori disappeared from view.

When Edie saw Kate approach, she grinned. “Oh, you should see some of the great shots we got tonight. We had lots of orbs in a couple of pictures of the bell tower. There might be even more when we can look at them on a larger screen.”

“You’ll have to show me once you get them on the computer.” Kate glanced around the courtyard. “Where’d Lori go?”

Edie turned around. “She was right behind... ”

“Edie... Kate.” Lori’s voice, a loud and insistent whisper, emanated from the shadows.

Kate flinched when she heard her name. She had no idea why she was so jumpy tonight. They tracked down Lori and found her kneeling by one of the crosses. She beckoned them closer.

Edie rushed over with an eager grin, camera at the ready. “Wow. Look at this.” She squatted beside Lori. The cross was smaller than most of the others, weather-beaten and canted. There was a single letter in the center, a T, and a single candle burned beside a bundle of large white blossoms.

“Who do you think left those?” Lori whispered.

Kate shrugged. None of the other crosses had fresh offerings. “Probably the priests, right?”

“I don’t know.” Lori glanced at the other crosses. “Maybe this person’s relatives still visit every year.”

“Can you imagine?” Edie whispered. “Being remembered like that? I hope someone’s still bringing me flowers after I’ve been dead

a couple hundred years.”

Kate thought about correcting them, telling them these crosses were memorials to the Native Americans. But she didn’t. Something about the cross held her rapt. The conversation around her faded away as Kate moved in closer to the fragrant blossoms.

She’d never seen flowers like these with huge, beautiful blooms of white, silky petals and a center like pure sunshine. And the scent. It was the primrose-like perfume that made her reach out to touch them, entranced by their spell.

Had she seen these flowers before?

“Kate? Are you okay?”

Kate looked up at Lori, her brow furrowed and mouth pinched in concern. “I’m fine,” she said, yanking her hand away from the flowers. “Just a little tired, I guess.”

“We’re almost done. We need a couple more pictures around the front by the steps,” Edie said.

“All right.” Kate straightened, still unable to pull her attention away from the cross and its bouquet. “I’ll wait for you here, okay?”

Lori continued to frown, but Edie said, “No problem. We’ll be right back.”

Kate watched them wander off before kneeling closer to the cross. Unable to stop herself, she traced her finger along the T in the center.

Behind her, someone cleared his throat. Kate jerked her hand away and shot to her feet. When she turned around she found a tall, dark-haired man staring at her.

Her cheeks flushed with heat. She hoped he hadn’t witnessed her touching the relic. She waited for some kind of admonishment, but he didn’t say anything.

Not with words.

Something in his dark eyes captured her. His gaze wandered over her face like a tender caress, and strangely, instead of screaming for Lori and Edie, she caught herself imagining his touch on her skin.

“I hope I did not frighten you,” he said.

His deep voice resonated through the empty courtyard, and the intimate tone weakened her knees. The hint of a Spanish accent didn’t hurt, either. Nervous laughter escaped her before she could contain it.

Her face warmed all over again. “Just a little startled. I didn’t see anyone else out here.”

He stepped closer without encroaching on her personal space, his eyes locked with hers from beneath thick lashes. “Forgive me.”

She swallowed hard and prayed she wasn’t blushing. “No problem.” She looked away before she embarrassed herself even further, focusing on the cross. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?”

“Si.” He nodded slowly. “Yes, it is.” His barely there smile made her think he wasn’t referring to the flowers or the cross. “I am Calisto. Calisto Terana.”

Expectation hung as heavy as the scent of eucalyptus, as if he waited to hear something more than just her name.

“I’m Kate.” Instead of offering to shake his hand, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The honor is mine, Kate... ” His accent colored the vowel in her name. It had never sounded more beautiful. She reminded herself to breathe.

When he hesitated for a moment waiting for her to speak, she realized she hadn’t shared her last name as he had. She flipped through a rapid pro and con mental checklist, and decided it couldn’t hurt. Maybe they would meet again.

“Bradley,” she said.

A sexy smile curved at the corners of his lips. “I hope this will not be our last meeting.”

She glanced around the shadowed courtyard, feeling vulnerable, and almost gave in to her first instinct—to run. But she remembered her promise to herself. Be strong. Take action. She lifted her chin and

said, “I guess you never know.”

With a smile that said he had every intention of seeing her again, he tipped his head. “Buenos noches, Kate Bradley.”

Her heart raced and her palms sweated when she realized he meant to leave. No man made her palms sweat. Ever.

His gaze held hers for a moment, full of unspoken promises she didn’t understand. Without another word, he walked away.

I hope the excerpt intrigued you… Calisto is a very tortured hero, but it makes the Happily Ever After at the end even sweeter, right?

So what about you? Do you love to read about immortals?

Lisa is hosting a tour-wide giveaway of: a signed paperback of Night Walker, a signed Night Walker poster and a $25 Amazon giftcard. To enter the giveaway, complete the Rafflecopter below.

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About the Book

He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her...
Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.
She's haunted by dreams of her own death...
After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.
They've waited in the shadows for centuries...
Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he's ever loved again.

Night Walker review quotes...

"Hot romance and cool characters make Night Walker an all-night read." - Kelley Armstrong, #1 NYT Best-Selling Author

A stellar first novel with heart-stopping suspense and a hero to die for. -- Angie Fox, New York Times bestselling author THE LAST OF THE DEMON SLAYERS

“Lisa Kessler pens the kind of lyrical romance we all want to experience!”
~ Linda Wisdom, national bestselling author of A DEMON DOES IT BETTER

“Night Walker is a wonderful tale about the power and magic of a love that transcends time.”~ Linda Thomas-Sundstrom, author of the Vampire Moons series

“A soulful, timeless love story and an engrossing new take on immortal mythology—if you’re looking for a touching paranormal romance, Kessler’s got one for you!”~ Christine Cody, author of the Bloodlands series

The characters were very relateable and I found myself investing in them as the story went. The plot and pace kept me glued to the book. With twist and turns, Ups and downs, I couldn't stop. My Rating 5 stars!! - - Were Vamp Romance Reviews

"Haunting and beautiful." - Fresh Fiction Reviews

Top Pick - Lisa Kessler has now officially been added to my authors-to-watch list. After reading this captivating tale of love, lies, betrayal, and redemption, I am hard pressed to find things I didn't like. - Night Owl Book Reviews

Night Walkers, rogue monks in a secret Brotherhood, a megalomaniac monk and a love that spans centuries make for a great sensual paranormal romance in this first of Kessler's new The Night series. - Bitten By Paranormal Romance

3 star RT Rating

In the first of her Night series, Kessler tackles a love that has waited 200 years. While the tale is tender and poignant, readers will sigh both in dreamy acceptance of a love that never dies as well as exasperation for the secrets the characters keep from each other. ~ Reviewed By: Sabrina Cooper http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/night-walker-0

Blog Tour Review: Night Walker - Lisa Kessler

2012-05-27T01:00:00.001-07:00

Night Walker by Lisa Kessler
Series: The Night Series #1
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Buy the book at:

He gave up his soul for a second chance to love her...

Two and a half centuries ago, Calisto Terana lost everything when a zealous priest murdered the woman he loved. Now, desperate for another chance to love her, he wants redemption for the mistake that cost her life.

She's haunted by dreams of her own death...

After catching her fiance with another woman, Kate Bradley returns to San Diego to clear her head. The last thing she needs is romance, but after meeting Calisto she's drawn to him in ways she doesn't understand.

They've waited in the shadows for centuries...

Calisto has no doubt Kate is the reincarnation of his lost love, but the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo has a new watcher with dark ambitions of his own. As old enemies reemerge and a new threat arises, the betrayal that enslaved Calisto to the night might destroy the only woman he's ever loved again.

Reviewer's Thoughts:

I always love when an author comes up with a new twist on an "old" character. In the case of Night Walker, it's putting a Native American spin on the vampire tale.

Calisto Terana is a Night Walker. He was given his powers by the Old One who vowed Calisto would live to see his love live in another life and be reunited with her. He willingly gave up the sun and accepted immortality for the hope that he would see is Tala again. He's lived hundreds of years waiting for that moment and not much else.

Kate Bradley ran from San Diego and to be a teacher in Reno. After she catches her fiance, Tom, in the arms of a student. Desperate to get away from Tom and determined to stop running from the pain of her parents death she returns to San Diego. Once back home, she's meet Calisto. A man who calls to her very soul. She's skeptical at first, but she can't fight the draw to Calisto.

I like the idea that Calisto (or Gregorio since that was who is was as a human) would give up his humanity in the hope that he would eventually be reunited with his one true love. That is a testament to the phrase "I'll love you forever". Then there is Kate, who in her soul, knew that Calisto was the man she was meant to be with upon first sight. Did she question her sanity and why she was so drawn this this virtual stranger? Yes, she didn't fight it. Almost like she knew, at an elemental level, he was hers.

What good is a romance if there isn't some sort of evil to try and thwart it. In this story, it was the Fraternidad Del Fuego Santo and their fight to stop Calisto from creating another Night Walker in Kate. Funny how those that deem themselves to be the righteous and right manage to look out instead of in when trying to ward of those they feel are evil. In the case of the Fraternidad, if they had looked in, they would have found a brother in their midst who was not on the same page as their agenda. Because they chose to point the finger of evil-doer at Calisto, the caused the very thing they were hoping to stop.

Night Walker is a story that will tug at your emotions for both what Kate and Calisto must endure in the name of God and the steps they must make to finally commit to one another.

Cocktails and Books

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Thank, Susan, for stopping by and chatting about Summer Days and the Fool's Gold series.

Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway: Night Walker - Lisa Kessler

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Blog Tour Review: Night Walker - Lisa Kessler

Reviewer's Thoughts:

The Forsaken Series

By Elise Whyles and Ciara Lake