Laura Kaye, Author

New Website, So...This is my last post on this blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 05:05:00 +0000

Hi everyone! After almost four years, this will be my last post on this blog. But not because I'm going anywhere! Because I have a brand new website with the blog built in!

So reset your bookmarks and come on over and visit me at www.LauraKayeAuthor.com where I have a new blog, a brand new FAQ page, and fun extras!

Thanks!
Laura

It's Release Day for #HardAsYouCan!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 14:39:00 +0000

It's here it's here! Release day for HARD AS YOU CAN (Hard Ink #2)! I hope you all love Shane and Crystal as much as I do! Here's all the info on the book *and* lots of release week fun for you! Check it out!

About Hard As You Can:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he's shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister's sake, Crystal can't get too close. Until her job and Shane's mission intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed.

Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn't want him to uncover. Too bad. He's exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can--and never let go.

Read an Extended Excerpt of Book 1, Hard As It Gets

Buy Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Other Release Day/Week Events and Opportunities:

Pre-Order and Release Week Purchase Reward sponsored by HarperCollins North America (so, U.S./Canada only) - get an expanded Hard Ink Dossier as a thank you!

Facebook Party, TODAY, 12-9pm - tons of guest authors and prizes!

Review and Excerpt Tour Giveaway - Hard Ink tote bag with books and swag!

Release Day Blitz TODAY - blogs everywhere! 5 $10 gift cards

Check out all the fun stuff and have a blast! (And happy reading!)

Laura

Announcing the #HardAsYouCan Review & Excerpt Tour! #Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 15:09:00 +0000

Today begins release week for Hard As You Can, the second book in my Hard Ink series! I've got a couple of AWESOME release week events planned, including a review & excerpt tour and a mega-sized Facebook party, both of which will give you lots of opportunities to learn about the book and win! Check these out:

Win a BIG Hard Ink tote bag full of Hard Ink swag and books at these participating sites!!

February 23

Cocktails and Books -Excerpt & 5 Cocktails Review!
Just Booked Blog - Recommended Read Review!
Lustful Literature - Book Feature
Up All Night Book Blog - 4.5 STAR Review!

February 24

Unwrapping Romance - 5 STAR Review
Fab Fantasy Fiction - Review
Tabby’s Tantalizing Reviews - Excerpt
The Book Nympho - Excerpt

February 25

Book Lovin’ Mamas-Review
Bestsellers & Beststellars-Excerpt & Review
Insightful Minds-Review
Whirlwind Books-Review
Crazy Cajun Book Addicts-Review

February 26

About That Story-Review
Nose Stuck In A Book-Review
The Book CellarX-Excerpt & Review
Rumpled Sheets Blog-Review

February 27

Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews-Excerpt & Review
Ripe For Reader-Review
My Favorite Things-Review
Book Addict Mumma-Review

February 28

Ticket to Anywhere-Review
Madison Says-Review
My Daily Romance-Review
Reading Between the Wines-Excerpt

On release day, I've got two events for you! First, an awesome Facebook party with a dozen amazing guest authors and tons of prizes and virtual mayhem! Join here. Also on Tuesday, tons of fantastic blogging friends will be hosting me for a release day blitz which will feature reviews, excerpts, a Q&A, and a big prize pack of gift cards! So don't miss out on either!

Thanks for reading! I can't believe we're down to two days!
Laura

Who is YOUR Hard Ink Man? Take the Quiz...

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 14:00:00 +0000

So, I've got something super fun for you! If you're wondering which of the awesomely HOT Hard Ink men are right for you, I've got just the way for you to find out! Take this super fun quiz, find your man (your, ahem, hard man, as it were), and then come back and grab your graphic and tell everyone that man is YOURS!

If the graphic is too hard to read on your screen, click here to see it on its own page!

So, who did you get???

Thanks for reading!

Laura

Welcome Guest Author Christi Barth! #AMatchlessRomance #Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:52:00 +0000

Welcome Guest Author

Christi Barth

to the Blog!

I'm very excited to help my good friend and awesome critique partner Christi Barth celebrate her newest release, A Matchless Romance, which is the last book in her Aisle Bound series. Check out the blurb and excerpt below as well as the giveaway!

Tabitha Bell is the face of Chicago’s premiere matchmaking service. At least, she hopes it will be someday, once business really takes off. What she needs is more clients, so when she meets a sexy gamer in need of help, it’s the perfect opportunity.

His discomfort talking to women almost cost Drew Watson his job. He’d be happy holed up in his office, designing blockbuster video games, but his boss considers talking to investors a nonnegotiable requirement. Who better than a matchmaker to teach him how to be comfortable around the opposite sex? Trouble is, Drew wants to get more than comfortable with Tabitha, while she’s determined to keep their relationship all business.

Soon Tabitha learns that beneath the geek-chic hoodie lies six feet of sexy physique—and the more time she spends with Drew, the more she appreciates his brainy brand of charm. Will she succumb to his sweet-but-nerdy charm offensive or will it be game over before he can win her heart?

Excerpt:

He padded across the beige carpet in bare feet. Amazing how intimately naked a man could look in a polo shirt, jeans, and bare feet. Drew knelt by the side of the divan. Took her hand in his and dropped a soft kiss dead center between her wrist and oval opal ring on her middle finger.

“I’d rather tell you that you’re beautiful. Every time I look at you, it’s like a sucker punch straight to my dick. But I’ll also admit that your mind’s as stacked as your body. So yeah, you’re brilliant.”

Tabitha gaped. She knew it because she felt the air cut across her tongue as she dragged in a surprised breath. Sure, they’d kissed. And she’d gotten no sleep for two nights replaying the kiss. Trying to figure out what it meant and what to do next. But she hadn’t expected Drew to so boldly move things forward. Not the man who believed so strongly—and so wrongly—that he was invisible to women. Unless….he didn’t mean it. Unless the straight-A student wanted to be sure he took home a gold star for the night. She tossed her hair back and sat up a little straighter.

“That’s quite a compliment. But much like earlier, wholly unnecessary. I saw how well you loosened up. How well you interacted with Ashley and Tara and Kate. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

“Don’t I?” He rubbed a finger lightly across her palm. That barest of touches sent erotic lightning bolts through her body. “I think I do. First, I had to prove that I could handle your friends. Now, I’d like to prove how well I can handle you.”

Part of Tabitha wanted to strip off her clothes right then and there. Offer herself up to him on a silver platter. But the other part of her still couldn’t quite believe the transformation. Didn’t trust the validity of this new, alpha version of Drew. Even though it was the man she’d seen inside him all along.

“I thought you were only this sure of yourself on a track or behind a computer,” she tried to joke. Instead, it came out squeaky and breathy. Because he was still doing that stroking thing on her hand and it made Tabitha want to simply writhe.

“That’s all you’ve seen. Doesn’t mean that’s all there is. I’m sure of myself, most comfortable doing things I’m good at. And let me assure you, Tabitha, I excel at sex.”

His oddly blunt delivery might turn off other women. But for Tabitha, his cocky honesty was one heck of a turn-on. Just like every single little thing she discovered about Drew. “Prove it,” she said recklessly.

Next thing she knew, Drew was draped half on top of her. One hand cradled her scalp. The other pulled at her back, lifting her off the round cushion and into his body. And his mouth—well, it took hers. No sweet, gentle exploration. His tongue ravaged hers, delving into every nook and cranny with long, sweeping licks that brought every inch of her body to a state of need and want within moments.

Purchase at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Carina Press

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance. Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband. A Matchless Romance is book 4 in her award-winning Aisle Bound series.

Giveaway!

Three commenters who leave their email address will win their choice of the first (Planning for Love) or last (A Matchless Romance) book in this series! What to comment? Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt? Open to international. Ends 2/21 at midnight EST! Good luck!

Thanks for reading!
Laura

Happy Valentine's Day from the Hard Ink Team!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 18:23:00 +0000

With just 11 days until the release of Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2), I'm celebrating a Hard Ink Valentine's today! And I'd like to make your day happier, too - check out this giveaway of Valentine's and Hard Ink goodies over on my FB page! But, hurry, it ends at noon EST on 2/15! I hope you have the happiest day full of love!

About Hard As You Can:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Pre-Order Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Pre-Order a *signed* Hard As You Can from Fountain Bookstore

Thanks for reading!

Laura

Valentine's Week Is A Great Time to #BlogHop! #Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:20:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Week everyone and welcome to the Gift Hop! You can win a grand prize of a Kindle or book pack, and from me a tote bag signed by multiple authors at the London Author Event along with some fun Hard Ink Swag!

Today, we're talking about love, romance, and Valentine's Day, and I'm also sharing my new book with you!

What are your plans for this Valentine's?

Valentine's Day at my house is usually just a low-key celebration with me and my husband. This year, I'm looking forward to dinner and the movie Winter's Tale - have you seen the trailer for that? Looks so romantic! Hopefully there will be some chocolate-covered strawberries involved, too! *winks*

About Hard As You Can (releases 2/25!):

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Pre-Order Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Pre-Order a *signed* Hard As You Can at Fountain Bookstore

Some Other Goodies You Might Want to Check Out:

Virtual Signing and Chat: get a personalized, signed copy of Hard As You Can and exclusive swag when you order through the Booktalk Nation page only. Orders close at the end of my first-ever Booktalk Nation Chat on 2/20 at 7pm. See the link for more details!
HARD AS YOU CAN GOODREADS GIVEAWAY: This giveaway is being offered by my publisher so it's U.S.-only, but stay tuned for other international giveaways from me! Ends February 11

PRIZES!

Grand Prize ~ Comment on the participating blogs to enter:

Prize Here ~ 1 tote bag signed by all the authors at the London Author Event ~ Enter on the Rafflecopter below to enter:

Open to International!

**Click here to visit the other sites in the hop!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodreads Giveaway, Virtual Signing, and a Vote Request?

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 15:39:00 +0000

Just twenty days until the release of Hard As You Can and I'm so excited! I've got some fun stuff I want to share with you, so check this out!

~ HARD AS YOU CAN VIRTUAL SIGNING
Courtesy of my publisher, Avon, the great folks at Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA, and Booktalk Nation, I'll be doing my first virtual signing and a national video chat!

Virtual Signing: get a personalized, signed copy of Hard As You Can and exclusive swag when you order through the Booktalk Nation page only. Orders close at the end of the Booktalk Nation chat on 2/20

I will be making some option available for international readers to participate in the signing, so stay tuned. Still working with the store to see if they can include it. If not, I'll invoice interested readers via Paypal and ship the books myself.

Video Chat: free to participate in or listen to but you must register via the above link to receive the information on how to participate/listen. You do not have to purchase a book to participate. Ask me anything! LOL

~ HARD AS YOU CAN GOODREADS GIVEAWAY
This giveaway is being offered by my publisher so it's U.S.-only, but stay tuned for other international giveaways from me! Ends February 11

~ VOTE FOR MY COVERS IN THE JABBIC CONTEST
Now through February 9, three of my books are up in a super fun cover contest. Look at all the pretty covers and score them from 1 to 5. I would love your consideration for my covers! The general contest voting page is here, and click on the titles below to go to my books' direct voting pages. Thanks for considering!

HARD AS IT GETS

SOUTH OF SURRENDER

TAKEN BY THE VAMPIRE KING

So that's my fun news for today! Thanks for reading! And have a great day and stay warm with a hot book!

Laura

Join Me on BookTalk Nation & Get Signed Copies of #HardAsYouCan!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Highest Rating from RT Book Review Magazine!

So, this is really cool! Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, VA, is hosting a virtual signing of Hard As You Can! Place an order for a personalized copy of Hard As You Can and I'll sign it just for you and include special, exclusive swag, too!

AND, if that wasn't cool enough, you can sign up to participate in a live nationwide chat with me on BookTalk Nation on Thursday, February 20, at 7pm EST. I'll be interviewed by freelance writer Karen Holt, whose work has appeared in numerous national publications like O, the Oprah Magazine, Essence, The New Your Post, Publishers Weekly, and more. ASK ME ANYTHING! LOL!

You have to order your signed book by the end of my chat on the 20th, so don't miss your chance! :)

Click here to find out how to participate in our release week activities for Hard As You Can!

About Hard As You Can:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Pre-Order Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Pre-Order a *signed* Hard As You Can at Fountain Bookstore

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

About Hard As It Gets:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

Read an Extended Excerpt of Hard As It Gets

Buy at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
$1.99 for a limited time!

Thanks for reading!

Laura

Readers and Bloggers! Join My Release Day Events for #HardAsYouCan!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:17:00 +0000

Believe it or not, we are just six weeks from the release of HARD AS YOU CAN, the second book in my bestselling Hard Ink series! And I've got some fun things for you to consider joining!

HARD AS YOU CAN NEW RELEASE PARTY
Readers! Come one, come all, to my new release Facebook party! There will be tons of prizes and guest authors. This will be most of the day on February 25th. Go here to sign up.

HARD AS YOU CAN RELEASE DAY BLOG BLITZ PARTY
If you have a blog, consider hosting me for my release day blog blitz party and help me get the word out about the new book. Review copies are also available to be requested. Go here to sign up.

HARD AS YOU CAN BLOG TOUR #1
If you have a blog, consider hosting me for a week-long blog tour focused on getting reviews and excerpts out into the world. Review copies available. February 23-28. This tour will have an exclusive big giveaway. Go here to sign up.

And stay tuned for more ways to WIN and PARTICIPATE!

About Hard As You Can:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Pre-Order Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes| Kobo

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

About Hard As It Gets:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Read an Extended Excerpt of Hard As It Gets

Buy at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
$1.99 for a limited time!

Thanks for reading!

Laura

Celebrating a Sale with a HUGE Swag Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 15:27:00 +0000

I'm super excited to be celebrating the $1.99 sale on Hard As It Gets with my good friend Jennifer L. Armentrout, whose AWESOME book Wait for You is ALSO on sale! So we put our heads together and decided to host a totally fun huge swag giveaway just for you!

Wait for You is just 99 cents!

Buy on Amazon | Nook

Hard As It Gets is just $1.99!

Buy on Amazon | Nook

By following the Rafflecopter guidelines down below on my page, you could win a huge set of JLA/J Lynn swag:
WINNER: LAUREN GOFF

By following the Rafflecopter guideline's on Jen's page, you could win some awesome Hard Ink swag, including a camo scarf, temporary tattoos, a Hard As It Gets notebook, and more:
WINNER: NICOLE NEWMAN

So check out the books, spread the word, have some fun, and win some cool stuff!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy New Year! Let's make 2014 great!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Just a quick post to wish you the very happiest New Year with the hope that each of your wishes comes true!

Here's to a great 2014!

Midnight Smooches,
Laura

#HardAsItGets Sale and Fave Reads of 2013 Picks!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Click here for the Midnight Kiss Blog Hop Giveaway!

I'm excited to share two fun bits of news with you! First, I'm thrilled to share these Fave Reads of 2013 nods I've received this week!

Hard As It Gets

The Geekery Book Review - Top 10 Fave Read of 2013

A Bibliophile’s Thoughts on Books - Fave Book Boyfriends of 2013 (Nick Rixey)

Celestial Reviews - #2 Fave Read of 2013

Sweet Spot Book Blog - Top 5 Romantic Suspense Reads of 2013
Fangs, Wands, and Fairy Dust - A Fave Read of 2013

Caffeinated Book Reviews - Top 10 Adult Romance Reads of 2013
The Biblio Belles - Ava's Top 13 Favorite Reads of 2013
Unwrapping Romance - Favorite Reads of 2013

Second, I've got THREE books on short-term sales for you, including my newest book, Hard As It Gets. See down below for the buy links so you don't miss these awesome deals!

HARD AS IT GETS
Normal price $4.99 | Sale price $1.99
4.6 / 5 Rating on 201 reviews!

NOMINATED for Best Romantic Suspense of 2013 in the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards

"Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!" ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward

Buy on Amazon or B&N

Dont' have a Kindle or Nook? Click on these to download free Kindle or Nook apps for your PC, tablet, or smart phone!
Ends late January, so don't miss it!

HEARTS IN DARKNESS
Normal Price $2.99 | Sale Price $.99
4.5 / 5 Rating on 542 reviews!

Buy on Amazon or B&N
Ends January 4, so don't miss it!

FOREVER FREED
Normal price $3.99 | Sale price $.99
4.5 / 5 Rating on 86 reviews!

Buy on Amazon or B&N
Ends January 4, so don't miss it!

Thanks for reading! And Happy New Year's Eve!

Laura

Hot Kisses (and Prizes) for YOU in the #MidnightKiss BlogHop!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I'm excited to be participating in the Midnight Kiss Blog Hop, because what's hotter than a kiss at midnight on New Year's Eve? Except maybe prizes, and we've got those here, too!

More about the prizes down below, but first I'm sharing a hot first kiss from my new book, Hard As It Gets. Have you read it yet? Grab your copy today so you're ready for the second book which releases February 25!

Hard As It Gets first kiss excerpt:

When Nick spoke, the words were even, straightforward, factual. “Someone ransacked your house. Picked the back door lock again. Went through just about every room.”

The brick walls bent and warped around her, but she shook off the dizziness and forced herself to focus on Nick’s face. His presence was the only thing grounding her. “Why would they do that? Could you tell if anything was missing?”

He shook his head. “The why of it I intend to figure out. I promise you. But the place was too much of a mess to—”

“Take me.” Becca pushed past him and hit the handle on the door.

Arms wrapped around her from behind. “Becca, we—”

“No!” She threw off the hold and scrambled away, her back coming up hard against the wall.

Nick’s expression was a roiling sea of emotion. Surprise. Fear. Anger. Concern. “I’m sorry. What just—”

“That was how he grabbed me.” She swallowed hard and shuddered at the remembered press of her would-be kidnapper’s flesh against hers. “I’m sorry,” she rasped, embarrassment heating her face, despair and exhaustion sucking the fight out of her.

He came forward slowly. “Don’t apologize,” he said, his voice cranked tight. “And don’t cry.” His thumb swiped under her eye, once, twice, and then his knuckles caressed her cheekbone. The little touches were comforting, sweet, and she thought maybe he needed to give them as much as she needed to feel them. He tucked the loose strands of her destroyed ponytail behind her ear.

“I’m not crying,” she said despite the wetness plain on her face. She shook her aching head, then pressed her cheek into his hand. “I’m not.”

“I know.”

Peering up at him, her breath caught. The moment their gazes connected, his expression shifted from sympathetic concern to uncontrollable desire. His mouth fell open. His chest rose and fell against hers. His fingers burrowed into her hair.

Becca went hot all over, like the sun had hung itself in the stairwell above them.

He leaned closer, closer, his free arm bracing on the wall above her shoulder. The warm puff of his breath caressed her lips as his gaze bore into hers. She couldn’t move, couldn’t blink, couldn’t breathe.

He kissed her on a groan so needful it made her dizzy and wet. His mouth devoured hers, his big hand cupped the back of her head, his body completely surrounded and trapped hers against the bricks. It was a full-body onslaught, with every part of him engaged in the act of claiming and seducing.

Becca clutched at his coat, his shoulders, his back, his hair. Anything to bring him closer, deeper. His lips pulled and tugged, his tongue stroked and twisted. He smelled of leather and mint and tasted like sin.

The harder he came at her, the more her conscious mind let go. Her aches, the stitches, her house, even Charlie—for a few minutes, just a few precious minutes, Becca let it all go.

The surrender was euphoric. It rushed through her blood and sent her flying.

“That was so close, Becca. Too close,” he rasped, kissing her jaw, her ear, her neck, and sending her heart flying. His fingers stroked down over her breasts and found the hem of her shirt. And then those warm, calloused hands snaked up her stomach, pulled down the cups of her bra, and caressed her breasts skin to skin. He massaged her, teased her with roughened fingertips, and tormented her until she was panting.

She gripped the collar of his coat, half afraid her knees would go soft and give out. Nick pulled his body away just enough to tear the coat off his arms and throw it to the floor. Geez, the gun holster was sexy hugging tight over his shirt, but he slipped out of it, too, and eased it to the floor with a thunk. Then his hands were back on her breasts and his tongue was back in her mouth, stealing her breath and convincing her she could live without it.

God, this kiss. It was the kind she’d remember forever, that would invade her dreams and haunt her in quiet moments. The kind her older self could look back on and know, once, she’d really lived. The kind that, no matter what, she could never, ever regret. And it made a part of herself bloom with affection for the man who’d made her feel that way.

She snaked her hands under his shirt, moaning when her palm smoothed over the hard planes and muscled ridges of his abdomen, his sides, his chest. Her fingers swirled through the light covering of hair on his chest and swiped light, teasing brushes over his nipples. The low growls he released into the kiss as they explored each other thrilled her, made her yearn for the opportunity to bring a man as powerful and deadly as him to his knees in ecstasy.

“Closer,” he ground out. With one arm, he ripped the cotton over his head, revealing a body that was no doubt capable of inflicting pleasure and pain in equal measure. Desire roared off his skin and his hands were everywhere, massaging her breasts, kneading at the swell of her ass, pulling them harder together.

The heat of his demanding touches ripped through her and settled a pressing ache low in her abdomen. She squeezed her thighs together in response, emphasizing her arousal against her panties.

“I want you, Becca. I’m not gonna lie.” He spoke in low tones against her cheek, but pulled back to meet her gaze. “But I think—”

She placed three fingers over his mouth. “Don’t think.”

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

About Hard As It Gets:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Read an Extended Excerpt of Hard As It Gets

Buy at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Prizes!
Grand Prize: $25 Liquid Silver Book Voucher
To enter: Comment on this and other participating blogs and be sure to include your email address

Prize Here: 2 $10 Amazon or B&N gift cards
To enter: Fill out the Rafflecopter below. Open to international

Good luck!

Thanks for hopping by! Now, visit the other participating blogs, linked below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome Guest Author Joya Fields! #SidelinedAfterlife

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome Guest Author

Joya Fields

To the Blog

My good friend Joya has a new book to share with us today, a contemporary romance with a ghostly twist. Read on and see below for her giveaway!

Psychic and medium Veronica Matthews hates being able to communicate with the dead and the nearly departed. What good is it if she can’t lead the police to the victims of violent crimes before they die? But when her neighbor comes to her for help, she’s torn—until she understands that the ghost haunting him is more dangerous than any she’s encountered….

After losing his wife in a tragic accident, ER doctor Hunter Anderson’s only solace is his work and a ghost is jeopardizing that. Turning to his neighbor seems like his only choice, but spending time with the passionate woman, and her sassy attitude, might do more than save his life…

She can’t risk her heart. He’s afraid to love and lose again. Can a ghost help these two souls to live again?

Excerpt:

“I am an idiot. The biggest idiot ever. If you want me to pierce something for you, to prove I’m an idiot, I have some sterilized instruments upstairs in my apartment.”

Her tongue poked against her cheek, signaling a laugh that wanted to erupt. Suddenly, he really wanted to be the one who could make her laugh. “Maybe I could do your lower lip?”

Her short laugh erupted. A sweet, melodic sound that filled the small apartment.

His gaze stayed on that full mouth and he lifted his fingers closer, compelled to touch her. She stared at him with wide eyes as he traced the corner of her mouth lightly with his finger.

“I’m a liar. I could never tarnish something as beautiful as this.” Christ. What a line. Where had those words come from? But he meant it.

Her breath was hot against his finger as he traced the line of her lower lip. Her gaze held his. His stomach growled again, breaking the spell, and she blinked and leaned against the sofa.

“You know what? We never had dessert,” she said.

He had room for dessert. But not the food kind. He swallowed to quell his appetite for her. “Uh…how about I make an ice cream run? Then we’ll get to work.” Enough of this temptation. He needed to get away from her, from this pull she had on his body and emotions.

Purchase links for SIDELINED AFTERLIFE:

About Joya:

Joya Fields has had over 100 stories and articles published in local and national magazines. Her debut novel, a romantic suspense, was a NJRW GOLDEN LEAF WINNER FOR BEST FIRST BOOK OF 2012 and was nominated for RT Book Reviews 2012 Indie Press/Self-Published Contemporary Romance award. Since then, she’s published four more books with even more on the way.

Connect with Joya

www.joyafields.com

Twitter: @joyafields

Facebook Author Page

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

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Merry Christmas to all!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Just a quick post to say I wish you all every happiness and every wish come true on this Christmas! I hope yours is the merriest of all!

With love,

Laura

Hearts in Darkness & Forever Freed are #99cents for the Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 23:55:00 +0000

As a thank you for all the wonderful support in 2013, I'm offering Hearts in Darkness (contemporary romance) and Forever Freed (vampire romance) for .99 through the morning of December 26! So stuff some stockings, send a gift to a friend, and treat yourself to two bestselling, award-winning stories for the holidays!

About the books:

Hearts in Darkness

Two strangers...Makenna James thinks her day can't get any worse, until she finds herself stranded in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call, the pin-striped accountant catches only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights go out.

Four hours...Caden Grayson is amused when a harried redhead dashes into his elevator fumbling her bags and cell phone. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he's terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he's trapped in his own worst nightmare.

One pitch-black elevator...

To fight fear, they must reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?

Buy at Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Forever Freed

A heart can break, even one that no longer beats.

I stalk my new neighbors, a single mother and her child, drawn by the irresistible scent of their joy and love. I crave their blood, starved for some healing respite from my ancient guilt and grief. Now to lure them into my grasp.

But they surprise me. Little Olivia accepts me without fear--talking, smiling, offering innocent affection that tugs at my long-lost humanity. Her mother, Samantha, seeks me out when she should stay away, offering sweet friendship, and tempting the forgotten man within me. They lure me instead.

Ah, Dio, Lucien, run and spare them while you can...

Buy at Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

Thanks for reading! And happy holidays!

:) Laura

Response to "Self-Publishing: The Myth and the Reality"

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 19:08:00 +0000

On Monday, Kensington Publishing Corp. CEO Steven Zacharius blogged over at Huffington Post about "Self-Publishing: The Myth and the Reality." Zacharius's post raised so many issues for me, I feel the need to respond. You may also like to read Bob Mayer's response on his blog here.

First, about me and self-publishing: I did not start out as a self-published author, which makes my need to respond all the more interesting. I shouldn't have a pony in this race, but, dude, when certain things happen in your industry, you have to speak out whether it's about you specifically or not. Despite the rather widespread belief that my book Hearts in Darkness was indie from the beginning, it was not. It was originally published by the small romance e-publisher, The Wild Rose Press. I have twelve books currently published - some with a NY publisher, some with a NY publisher's digital-first line, some with an up-and-coming boutique publisher, and one with an e-publisher. Since I received the rights back on my two Wild Rose Press titles, Hearts in Darkness and Forever Freed, I self-published both books earlier in 2013. This range of publishing experience makes me a "hybrid author," meaning I use a variety of publishing formats and distributors at the same time to reach readers.

About me and traditional publishing: I agree with a lot of the benefits and advantages that Zacharius attributed to working with publishers. My covers have been amazing, my editors have been wonderful to work with, I've had marketing support (to varying degrees), and have seen a few of my books in brick-and-mortars stores, in one case extensively. I've also had three titles hit the USA Today list and one the NY Times (none self-published). I am thrilled and fortunate to be working with my publishers.

My response to Mr. Zacharius:

1) Starting out with a discussion of vanity publishing in a discussion of self-publishing automatically colors the conversation in a negative light. Most of the self-published authors that I know - and it's not a small number - are businesswomen selling good to great numbers of books. To compare all self-publishing to vanity publishing reveals a lot about what Zacharius thinks of self-publishing. I find this to be a shame since hybrid authors like myself are more and more common, and are also working with New York, so why the need to denigrate such authors right out of the box?

2) Zacharius says, "Today, self-publishing has become a billion-dollar juggernaut. But don't quit your day job. Yet." Most self-published authors I know do not assume they will be wealthy enough from their work to quit their day jobs, so the condescension in this comment is kinda stunning. However, I do in fact know more than a few self-published authors who make a comfortable living from self-publishing alone. Whether authors do so or self-publish on the side of another job, this comment paints self-published authors as pie-in-the-sky dreamers rather than the business people I know most of them to be.

3) FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY, CAN PEOPLE STOP SAYING THAT E.L. JAMES SELF-PUBLISHED???? The Writers' Coffee Shop, a small e-publisher, was the publisher of the Fifty Shades books before they sold to Random House. Why those in the media and apparently in the industry too can't get this basic fact straight - one which James points out on her own website - I'll never understand.

4) Zacharius's statement that there have been a "handful of success stories" is misleading. Are the super success stories common? No. Are they as rare as he characterizes? No. He managed to come up with four people: E.L. James (NOT SELF-PUBLISHED, as we've already established), Amanda Hocking, Joe Konrath, and Bella Andre. Um. Marie Force, Barbara Freethy, Courtney Milan, Hugh Howie, Eliza Knight, Rebecca York, Carrie Ann Ryan, Ann Mayburn, Tammara Webber, Jamie McGuire, Jay Crownover, J. Lynn, Abbi Glines, Colleen Hoover, Samantha Towle, Monica Murphy, Molly McAdams, Cora Carmack, Mimi Jean Pamfiloff, Lara Adrian, Laura Wright, Alexandra Ivy, Cynthia Eden, Jodi Ellen Malpas, Michelle Valentine, Kristen Ashley, Katie Ashley, Amy Bartol, Nicole Williams, M. Leighton, Georgia Cates, Gail McHugh, C.J. Roberts, Skye Warren, J.A. Redmerski, Jessica Sorensen, Madeline Sheehan, R.K. Lilley, Raine Miller, Kitty French, K. Bromberg, S.C. Stephens, Alethea Romig, Samantha Young, K.A. Linde, J.C. Reed, Kristen Proby. Anyone else getting tired of this laundry list of names? Actually, I'm not. I think it's more than a little awesome. [edited to add: see a great deal many more listed in the comments, some of whom are sharing sales and income figures]

These authors are mostly in the romance/erotic romance/New Adult/erotica genres. True. Many of these authors were discovered in part through the use of the .99 price point. True. But just as true: many of them have the titles New York Times or USA Today bestselling author in front of their name, and many of them - not a handful - were picked up by New York publishers. In these cases, the use of the .99 price point to achieve discoverability - by readers and agents/editors - can make business sense for authors.

5) Hitting the lists as an indie is nowhere near as rare as Zacharius makes it sound. As I write, 18 of Amazon's Top 100 Bestselling ebooks are self-published - not a majority, but not a "handful" of success, either. Let's also look at the number of self-published books hitting the USA Today list (these numbers don't count previously self-published authors who have now been picked up by New York and have books hitting lists):

12/12/13 - 2/150 (2/114 fiction titles; 36/150 were non-fiction)

12/5/13 - 8/150 (8/112 fiction titles; 38 were non-fiction)

11/28/13 - 11/150 (11/110 fiction titles; 40 were non-fiction)

11/21/13 - 9/150 (9/116 fiction titles; 34 were non-fiction)

11/14/13 - 11/150 (11/122 fiction titles; 28 were non-fiction)

11/7/13 - 9/150 (9/124 fiction titles; 26 were non-fiction)

10/31/13 - 13/150 (13/117 fiction titles; 33 were non-fiction)

10/24/13 - 9/150 (9/122 fiction titles; 28 were non-fiction)

It may not be a large percentage, but it's more than a handful and it's consistent. And, I expect if we go back into 2012 before a lot of the indie authors got picked up by Atria and Grand Central and Simon and Schuster, etc., the number week-to-week would be even higher.

6) Zacharius says, "Authors spend $1000 or more on these services (editing, design, and marketing). You can also just elect to put your title up on Kindle, iBooks, and Nook." Then he goes on to say some gobbledygook about how some self-published books are good but others aren't. (Just like, you know, some traditionally published books are good and some aren't. I found two copyediting mistakes in the first two pages of one of my favorite author's NY-published books.) Anyway. Most of the self-published authors pursuing publication of their books as a business are paying for professional editing, formatting, and cover art. So, yes, they're laying out money up front. But remember that those "low" royalty rates he cites are only true on ebooks priced below 2.99 (where you get 35% of cover on Amazon; 40% of cover on B&N).

Many authors are also pricing books in the sweet spot (as identified by Smashwords's Mark Coker) between 2.99 and 5.99 (see also Dear Author's useful analysis of price points). And you know what they get then? 70% of cover on Amazon and 65% of cover on B&N. Dude. That means I'm making $2.09 on every copy of Hearts in Darkness ($2.99) I sell, for example. When the book was with TWRP, at 35% of net - still higher than what New York publishers pay (typically, 25% of net), I made about 76 cents a book. So, yes, self-published authors must lay out costs up front that a publisher would pay, but the trade-off is higher royalties. And that's just considering the financial, not the control of cover, format, release date, promotions, etc.

For each book or series, authors need to run a cost-benefit analysis, decide what their goals are for the books, and choose the best publishing route for them. Sometimes that might be working with a traditional publisher, sometimes that might be working with a digital publisher, and sometimes that might be self-publishing. All are valid and play a useful role in today's market.

Traditional, e-, and self-publishing can and do compliment one another on an author's list. There are readers who will always want print, and readers who will always prefer digital, and some willing to read both. So the most savvy authors and publishers will cater to the totality of available readership. It doesn't have to be an adversarial relationship, not from the author's point of view, anyway. And, fortunately, not from the point of view of the publishers I'm most regularly working with right now.

7) On the side of the advantages of being with a publisher, Zacharius says, "Once the book is ready to go, the publisher gets behind it with marketing and publicity efforts, and has already given the book the best cover and cover copy that money can buy." There's definite truth in this. But he says it as if it's totally unproblematic. The truth is, of course, that publishers don't do this evenly for all authors. Some books and some authors are marketed more enthusiastically than others. And some covers receive every special treatment there is, and some get font slapped on a stockphoto image (and can still be good, but they're not the best money can buy, for sure). All of this is just business, and I get it. But not all authors get the top-shelf treatment Zacharius lays out as "reality", no matter how much the ideal might be otherwise. Self-published authors know going in that marketing is all their job, so they're not disappointed when their publisher doesn't do it for them. And traditionally published authors still do a ton of their own marketing and promotion. More than that, NY publishers expect it.

8) Then there's his whole publishers can't compete paragraph - the 7th - that starts with, "As a publisher, my biggest concern is the clutter of the books being put out by the major publishing houses along with those that are just put up directly by authors," and ends with, "Free or reduced price books is not a viable business model for publishers." These it's not fair! concerns lead him to the stunning suggestion that, "In a perfect world (okay, in my perfect world) there would be a separate section on Amazon or B&N.com for self-published e-books, maybe even separate websites." DUDE. He thinks this will help readers distinguish the "good" books from the "clutter," but if readers are showing some preference for lower-priced books now, what does he think would happen if all the lower-priced books were on one website, and all the higher-priced books on another? I suspect the answer to that question is not one New York really wants. Because, Zacharius is right, "Readers don't purchase books based on who the publisher is and don't necessarily care." They just want a good story, and if that comes at a lower price point, all the better.

Also, it's worth noting that NY could lower prices somewhat (and they are), even if they went nowhere near that 99-cent price point. The end of agency pricing opens up opportunities, and a recent blog/article argued that the more competitive NY publishers can become on price in the coming year or two, the more pressure it will put on self-published authors [thanks for that link, Eliza Knight]. So the landscape is shifting, changing, ever in motion - that is the challenge of the past few years, and the lesson is adaptability in the face of that change. Those who can adapt - traditional and self-publishers alike - will succeed. Those who can't, won't. Or it'll be harder at the very least.

9) Then there's this bit of half-truth analysis: "several self-pubbed authors have been snatched up by the big houses. It remains to be seen how they perform, when the publisher then has to pay out a six-figure advance and raise the price of the book. So far those that have made the leap to traditional publishing have not proven to be very profitable ventures." I've already dispensed with the "several" assertion, so I won't address that again. As to the latter assertions, there's more at work here than just the author's viability - which seems to Zacharius to be the determining factor to the success of those books. It's all the author's fault, natch. How about a situation where a publisher buys a bestselling ebook after 100K copies have sold, and then they raise the price and hope it will still do well. Or the case where a publisher prints the paperback of a bestselling self-published ebook six months after it was digitally released and after 300K people have read the ebook - what are the chances that paperback will see a resurgence? Those would be challenging situations for any author to be successful in. And the reality is, a lot of those self-published bestsellers that NY is offering six-figure advances to bring in-house? Yeah, they'd been rejected by NY publishers again and again. Had they been more open to those books in the first place, they'd have gotten them a lot cheaper to begin with. I can think of more than one case where this scenario is true. All the more power to the author for taking the risk herself and being successful.

10) Zacharius's repeated use of "six-figure advances" and "million-dollar contracts" creates a limited definition of success. Most of us can make a comfortable living on less than those amounts. If you can, congratulations, you're successful. Most traditionally published authors are not making those kinds of advances or that level of annual income. Define monetary success by what works for you and your career and your family.

And, finally, because I'm so riled up this turned into a long-ass post and I've got bronchitis and damnit I wanted to veg on the couch and read Shelly Thacker's self-published backlist title Forever His that I bought today (along with the other two books in the series) rather than sit here and be riled up and research all these, you know, bothersome facts, on which to base my arguments. I digress.

So, 11) finally, Zacharius ends with this: "Aspiring authors just need a dose of reality." Hey, I'm all for knowing the realities of the business in which you're engaged. That's just common sense and business savvy. But make sure the dose of reality you're choking down is based on a variety of perspectives and actual hard data. I'm afraid that wasn't what I saw from Mr. Zacharius at all. Instead, he lays out a landscape of either/ors and us/thems. Which is a shame because we're all in the same business of providing great content to readers, right? Why don't we see how we can work together to expand readership and get more books into readers' hands?

Did you make it to the end with me? LOL I'll be impressed if you did. *winks* What do you think???

Thanks for reading,

Laura

WIN GC, #HardInk Swag & Ornaments in the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to my post for the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop! As you can see from the graphic, I'm not only offering a giveaway here, I'm one of the sponsors of the hop who contributed toward the grand prize gift card and ebooks!

I'm celebrating the hop with a short excerpt from my new release, Hard As It Gets. Here's what it's about and where you can find it!

Excerpt from Hard As It Gets:

In his room, Nick came to the bottom corner of his big bed and tossed Becca to the mattress in the darkness. She screamed and laughed as she bounced against the messy covers, still rumpled from how they’d left them this morning.

Damnit all to hell, but that felt like a million years ago. He removed the gun from the back of his jeans and settled it on the nightstand as he turned on the lamp. Her eyes found him immediately, and she smiled. God, she was so damn pretty. And the way she looked at him sent him soaring.

Sometimes you plodded through life with nothing changing from one month to the next no matter how much you yearned for a revolution to erupt beneath your feet. And sometimes your whole world imploded and rebuilt itself in a matter of seconds. In the past, those instantaneous changes had almost always ignited with pain and loss.

Not this time.

This time, a woman had performed the simple act of walking through his front door. She’d sent his life spinning off on a whole new trajectory of rebuilding. Reclaiming. Maybe, even love.

Returning to the foot of the bed, Nick found that Becca’s gaze was equal parts humor and heat. Hands behind her calves, he hauled her toward the edge of the bed, undid the fly of her jeans, and tugged them over her hips. She lifted her legs, helping him remove them, and a twinge of pain shot through his back again as he yanked them off.

Rixey didn’t mind the discomfort. It was a drop in the bucket compared to the soul-deep pleasure he felt, and, anyway, he was used to it. But it reminded him that she’d been injured, stabbed. “Shit, Becca. Did I hurt your side when I threw you?” He leaned his upper body between her thighs until he hovered over her, reminding him of the fast frenzy of this morning.

She stroked his cheek with soft fingertips. “No. It’s not too bad. But thank you for thinking to ask.”

Relief flowed through him, drawing him to taste her. He leaned into her slowly and kissed her. And, damn, he could still taste himself in her mouth. It was a fucking rush, knowing she’d pleasured him so freely, so selflessly.

His hand skimmed up her belly, tugging at the cotton and caressing her breasts. She arched into his touch, allowing him to pull her shirt to her throat. “Lift,” he whispered, and then he removed it altogether. A flick of his hand behind her back bared her completely to his gaze.

Jesus, she was beautiful, soft perfection. Natural and real. With lots of curves and peaks and valleys and hidden places for him to explore. Her hands fisted in his shirt and dragged it up his stomach. With one hand, he reached over his shoulder and hauled it over his head.

And then he was on her. Kissing her mouth in urgent, aggressive twists of lips and tongue. Sucking and nipping down her neck and collarbones to her breasts. Teasing and tormenting her nipples. Becca writhed under him, her fingers plowing into his hair and trying to grip the short length. He’d actually worn it longer in Afghanistan to blend in with the locals, so he wasn’t opposed to growing it out again just so she could really pull it. The biting tugs against his scalp fucking turned him on because each one reflected her pleasure, her desire, her slow slide into abandon.

Easing onto his knees, he kissed her stomach, her hip bones, the inside of one soft thigh. “Put some pillows under your head, sunshine, because I want to watch your face.”

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

About Hard As It Gets:

*A USA Today Bestseller!

*Nominee for Best Romantic Suspense of 2013 in the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards!

*A B&N Romance Pick for December!

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Read an Extended Excerpt of Hard As It Gets

Add to Goodreads

Prizes Here:

1 $10 Amazon or B&N Gift Card - Jess Para Winner!
1 Large Hard Ink Swag Pack - Jessica Mobbs - Winner!
10 Hard Ink Ornaments and Holiday Cards - Winners: Tina, Jen B., Jamie, Angela, Jan, Ashley, Deborah, Danny, Lori, Justine

Thanks for hopping!

Laura

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Announcing the #HardAsItGets Blog Tour Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Guys guys! I feel like Santa around here because I've got WINNERS! Seven lucky people won prizes in the Hard As It Gets blog tour, and they are:

Kindle Paperwhite 3G Grand Prize Winners:

Rita Luken

Maria Theresa Santos

Signed Hard As It Gets Paperback Winners:

Chris Gross

Candi Wright

Tabitha Hoyt

Denise (esined615@)

Shawndra Dias

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!” ~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

Read an Extended Excerpt of Hard As It Gets

Buy at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | BAM

Amazon UK | Amazon.ca

Thanks for reading!
Laura

Welcome Guest Author Afton Locke! #UnderHollysStockings #Erotic

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome Guest Author

Afton Locke

to the blog!

I'm very excited to welcome fellow Maryland Romance Writer Afton Locke to the blog today. She's celebrating a new holiday erotic romance with a fun post, an excerpt, and a giveaway! Read on...

Thank you for hosting me today. I’m excited to talk about the Simon game, a special holiday gift I once received, and my latest release, Under Holly’s Stockings, a holiday erotic romance.

The Gift That Never Was

When I was in high school, my parents disagreed one Christmas about which gift to give me. My mother wanted to get me the Simon game I asked for. It tested memory by lighting up colored quadrants in various patterns that the player had to duplicate. It started slow and got faster with skill. My father, on the other hand, wanted to get me a pair of ice skates. During the winter, the creek by our house froze over. It was a little bumpy in spots, but we used to slide over it in our boots and play hockey with makeshift pucks and sticks with the dog.

They couldn’t afford to get me both. My mother won, but my father’s prediction that I’d soon get tired of Simon came true. Years later, I ended up buying my own ice skates, and a boyfriend taught me how to ice skate. Looking back, I can’t help wondering: what if I’d gotten the skates instead? Would I have injured myself? Or would I have been inspired to try out for the Olympics? Even now, I’m so busy with writing and work I haven’t had time to ice skate yet. Maybe I should make the time.

In my story, Holly and Michael have agreed to spend Christmas Day together, but what about the future? If it ends, Michael might feel more comfortable about not getting hurt again, but won’t he always wonder what if?

Have you ever almost received a gift but didn’t? Do you wish someone would give it to you now, or did you buy it yourself?

About Under Holly’s Stockings

Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing

Release Date: 11 December 2013

eBook ISBN #: 978-14199-49340

Buy eBook

Stay tuned for reviews and more

After being stood up at the altar last Christmas, Michael dreads the holiday. When a woman wearing sexy red stockings on the subway propositions him with a day of sex, seems there’s no time like the present to get back into the spirit of the season!

Having just lost her mother, Holly will do anything to avoid being alone on Christmas. But when Michael arrives, nothing goes as planned. Despite the joy of exploring each other’s bodies with all the holiday trimmings, her emotions get in the way.

When Michael realizes the way to get under Holly’s stockings is through her heart, he’ll have to put the ghosts of his Christmas past to rest.

Excerpt (explicit)

When a westbound metro train on the orange line came to a screeching stop in Rosslyn, Virginia, Michael Tyler hurried inside and grabbed a seat near the window. Thank God there’s no music in here, he thought as he placed his briefcase by his feet on the orange carpet. If he heard one more tired Christmas song, he swore he’d be ill.

Everywhere around him people rattled shopping bags. Women chattered about the gifts they’d bought for their kids, or what they planned to cook for Christmas dinner. Year after year, it was the same old thing. Wasn’t anyone else tired of it by now?

Michael loosened his tie with relief when the doors closed and the train glided into motion. The sooner he got home, the sooner he could get this rotten holiday over with.

At the next stop, he blinked with surprise when a tall girl fell into the seat next to him. It was a miracle she didn’t drop all of her bags in the process. Who in their right mind did all their shopping on Christmas Eve? If he had decided to celebrate this holiday, he would have shopped online at least a month early.

“Hi! Merry Christmas!” she announced with sickening cheer.

Disgust rolled through his stomach. Why hadn’t he put his briefcase on the seat? Without looking at her, he returned the greeting in a tone of voice that warned her to mind her own business.

He noticed she had long, black hair and kissable lips coated with shiny, red lipstick. Her short, wool coat fit snugly, hinting at high, perky breasts.

Look away, damn it! But no, he had to torture himself with the reminder he hadn’t been with a woman in over a year. Her plaid skirt was so short he could hardly see it. What he did see were a pair of long, shapely legs encased in bright-red stockings. Lust, long dormant, kindled to life in his groin.

Maybe this was his Christmas gift. He could jack off in his condo tonight while he fantasized about those legs. After all, she was a complete stranger and looked nothing like Marcie…

He stared out the window, counting the lights passing by in the dark tunnel as the train pulled into the next stop, revealing an arched, honeycomb ceiling. The woman fussed with her bags, rattling them until Michael thought his head would explode.

A small, glittery Christmas ball rolled out of one of her bags, making a soft thunking sound on the carpeted floor.

“Whoops!”

The innocence of her voice aroused him more than a hand on his cock. He reminded himself she probably had a husband and five kids waiting at home. Doing his gentlemanly duty, he bent to pick up the ball for her.

At the moment, the train lurched into motion, causing him to fall across those warm, scarlet legs.

His nose filled with subtle feminine musk. Was it the soap she might have rubbed on her long legs this morning while she shaved them? Or was it the sweet aroma of her cunt, tucked inside that short skirt—a gift for him to open?

Hard and throbbing, his cock surged inside his trousers while he scrambled off her. He longed to spread those long legs and unroll the red stockings, inch by inch, down her legs. Instead, he allowed his palm to brush the back of one shapely calf.

With sweat coating his brow, he slumped against his seat. He definitely needed to jack off tonight. Repeatedly.

“Sorry,” he muttered. “Uh, did you manage to grab the ball?”

Her brown eyes glinted with mischief at his words and then saddened. “It rolled away.”

Her face, on the verge of crumpling, reminded him of a child who had just learned there was no Santa. Probably the same way his face had looked last year during the worst Christmas ever.

As if the lust weren’t enough to deal with, his chest swelled with something else. Protectiveness. For some reason, he experienced the sudden urge to turn the train car upside down to find her Christmas ball.

His stop wasn’t far away. He’d never see her again. Instead of the relief he expected, he felt regret.

“Looks like you have big holiday plans,” he found himself saying.

A brave smile battled with the sadness on her face as she nodded. “I’m going all out this year. It’s probably silly because I’ll be alone.”

He blinked with surprise. “You? Alone? I mean, that’s not so bad. I’ll be alone too…working.”

It was a half truth. He didn’t have to work tomorrow, but he’d brought home plenty of paperwork to get him through the day.

She glanced out the window as the train stopped again. “Oh! My stop is next. I have a proposition for you.”

Great. She must be a call girl. He might be horny right now but he wasn’t that horny.

With a trembling hand, she brushed back a long, silky lock of hair. “I don’t want to spend Christmas alone. Will you come to my apartment and celebrate the day with me?”

Indecision seized Michael’s throat. “I-I don’t even know you.”

She clasped his forearm. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

Coming Soon

Entrance to Ecstasy, my paranormal print anthology, will release from Ellora’s Cave on 24 December 2013.

~~~

Stripper With Spice is coming soon from Ellora’s Cave.

Getting back on her feet after unemployment, Janice Sullivan, a financial analyst, treats herself to an erotic romance convention. Winning a two-hour fantasy date with Carlos Aguilar, a young Mexican-American stripper, she decides to have a one-time fantasy fling.

When Carlos entices her back to the bedroom—and a few public places—for more sizzling sex, he unleashes her passions, including a secret desire to be a chef. Janice learns there’s more to this heartthrob than a hot body, but job security comes first.

To convince her he’s more than a fantasy, he teaches her trust with his body. But when that trust is finally tested to the limit, will she cling to safety or take a chance on a whole new life?

~~~

I’m excited to be part of the Tall, Dark& Alpha boxed set that will release in March 2014.

He makes your heart pound and melts your resistance away. He promises you a world of passion and you find it impossible to resist his dark charm. When he catches your eye across the room, you know he means business. He could be an executive, cop, shape shifter, or a bad boy looking for a little fun. Once he has you in his sights, you can't get away—and after one sizzling night in his arms, you won't want to. He’s Tall, Dark & Alpha. The alpha male is the ultimate indulgence…the richest dark chocolate…and we’re offering him to you in abundance.

Delve into the sensual worlds of award-winning authors: Randi Alexander, Koko Brown, Sam Cheever, Delaney Diamond, Eve Langlais, Afton Locke, Dawn Montgomery, Farrah Rochon, Paige Tyler, and Eve Vaughn. Immerse yourself in the alpha male experience.

Where readers can find Afton?

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter | Goodreads

Contest

This post is part of the Under Holly’s Stockings Blog Tour.
The grand prize for the tour is a surprise pack of holiday stocking stuffers (U.S. shipping address only).
To be eligible, COMMENT on this post. The comment should include a memory about a holiday gift you gave or received -- preferably related to the gift described in this post.
The tour winner will be announced on Afton's website on December 16th.
What’s in YOUR stocking?

Thanks for reading!

Laura

A Welsh Wolf in Wellington Blog Tour #AHandfulofWolf

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome Guest Author

Sofia Grey

to the blog!

I'm very happy to have Sofia Grey here today talking about her new book, A Handful of Wolf. She's got a fun story on the setting today, a great excerpt, and a video trailer. Read on...

Wellington City

Since most of Sasha’s story takes place in Wellington, the compact and thriving capital city of New Zealand. I though it would be fun to feature a different part of the city – especially those mentioned in the book – on each tour ‘stop’. Come and join me on a truly unique virtual tour of Wellington J

According to the people that know what they’re talking about, wild wolves are found worldwide, except for New Zealand, Madagascar and some other islands. The only wolves you’d expect to see here, would be the American Football team (Wellington City Wolves).

That’s certainly what the shifters would have you believe. Ultra-secretive, keeping their animal selves hidden is a way of life for them. As packs grow and spread, so the risk of exposure is greater.

You should try Googling the following search phrase:

Does anyone know any wolves in New Zealand? It has an… interesting… result.

Connor, the Alpha of the Wellington Wolf Pack, is described by Jake Bledri as being “a naturally suspicious bastard,” but he maintains control over his pack and protects them. It astounds Sasha that Jake has trusted him to start diplomatic talks with Connor. It’s not a responsibility he wants.

Excerpt

For once in his life, Sasha was trying to be responsible. His wolf was frustrated at not being allowed to run free and he’d thought longingly of taking off into the hills for the weekend, but instead he was taking care of Pack business. His cousin and Pack Alpha, Jake, spoke encouragingly down the phone line to him.

“Just play nicely, Sash. I’m trusting you to be an ambassador here, to start networking with the New Zealand wolves. You’re representing the Snowdonia Pack. Don’t fuck it up.”

“Such trust,” he grumbled. If nothing else, it was a waste of a beautiful summer evening. He’d have to sit and make small talk with a group of native wolf shifters and be on his best behavior. Jake would normally take care of business like this, but he was thousands of miles away in their home territory. Sasha’s mind flashed to the mountains and forests he called home. It was winter now in Wales. It felt odd to be hanging around in hot sunshine, while Jake had snowdrifts. By the time Sasha finished his contract here, it would be spring. He’d never missed a winter in all his twenty-four years.

“I’ve got to go, Sash. Good luck tonight, and email to let me know how it goes. Okay?”

Something tugged at Sasha’s senses and his wolf lifted his head, intent and focused. A scent he recognized. He opened his mouth slightly and inhaled, the wolf very much in control. Caramel and spice. The girl with the scarf.

“Yeah, will do.” He finished the call, shoved his phone into a pocket and turned around. There she was. The brunette stood a short distance away on the edge of a car park and he feasted his eyes on her. Business clothes had been replaced with a short stretchy black skirt that hugged her curves and a shiny, gleaming top that begged to be touched. Dark hair tumbled down her back, a few strands falling onto her face and she brushed them back with one elegant hand. Her scent called to him and his wolf whined, needing to get closer.

He took a step toward her. He’d apologize for taking advantage earlier, offer to buy her a drink. Maybe try another kiss later when she’d forgiven him. He still had plenty of time for the Pack business, and a little fun first would satisfy his wolf. Confident, he took another step, but then stopped.

She was with someone. A guy. Sasha’s wolf growled when the guy held out his hand to her, and then quieted again when she refused. This was stupid. He didn’t even know her. One kiss was all they shared. Yeah, and what a kiss. She was a gorgeous, hard-assed girl and it stood to reason she’d have a boyfriend. All the same, for whatever reason, she didn’t want to hold the guy’s hand and that was enough of an excuse for Sasha to look out for her. When the couple walked into a waterfront restaurant, he followed.

Sasha's not a looking-to-the-future kind of guy, but he's made an exception with his plans to travel and meet lots of pretty girls. Too bad his Pack Alpha, fate, and reality have other ideas about his trip abroad. He's pretty sure he didn't sign on to be a diplomat for the Snowdonia Wolf Pack. Or to find a Mate. Especially not a human Mate.

Megan knows better than to let a sweet-talking charmer get under her skin, but Sasha's sexy playfulness is making her forget all her rules. Except one: she's not willing to risk her heart by falling in love. The gorgeous boy from Wales can only be a fling, especially since her over-protective brothers hate him on sight.

In the midst of a wolf uprising, a hesitant Mate, and Megan’s complicated family ties, Sasha learns that sometimes impulsiveness is dangerous and even lethal. Can he show Megan why they belong together before it all comes crashing down around him and he loses his Mate forever?

Available at Amazon | AllRomance eBooks

Video trailer

Giveaway
I’m giving away 3 copies of A Handful of Wolf, to 3 lucky commenters across the tour. Just leave a comment at whichever site you visit, and you’ll go into the draw. The more comments you leave, the more chances you get to win!

Connect with Sofia Around the Web:

Blog Tour details

25-November – www.GeminiGirls.com

27-November – Silken Sheets & Seduction

27-November – Facebook Party!

28-November – Rosanna Leo

29-November – Barbara Elsborg

30-November – Love, Lust & Laptops

1-December – CoverReveals

2-December – Daisy Banks Advent Calendar

3-December – Sotia Lazu

4-December – Lissa Matthews

5-December – Kimber Vale

6-December – Tina Carreiro

8-December – Layne Macadam

10-December – Laura Kaye

About Author

Romance author Sofia Grey spends her days managing projects in the corporate world and her nights hanging out with wolf shifters and alpha males. She devours pretty much anything in the fiction line, but she prefers her romances to be hot, and her heroes to have hidden depths. When writing, she enjoys peeling back the layers to expose her characters’ flaws and always makes them work hard for their happy endings.

Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt? Thanks for reading!

Laura

#HardAsItGets is a December B&N Romance Pick!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 14:45:00 +0000

You guys! This week has been an amazing one for Hard As It Gets! As if hitting the USA Today Bestseller List for release week wasn't cool enough (squee!), I just found that Hard As It Gets is a Barnes & Noble Romance Pick for December!!! Jules Herbert is B&N's romance expert/buyer, and this month he's selected just nine books to highlight, including mine! How cool is that???

Have you had a chance to read Hard As It Gets yet? Here's what it's about:

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!” ~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome--pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

Read an Extended Excerpt of Hard As It Gets

Buy at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | BAM

Amazon UK | Amazon.ca

Thanks for reading!
Laura

Welcome Guest Author Christi Barth #TinselMyHeart #Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome Guest Author

Christi Barth

to the blog!

I love holiday stories, so I'm doubly pleased to share my good friend Christi Barth's newest release, Tinsel My Heart. She's here today with a great excerpt - check it out!

Becca Huntley’s produced the Lyndale Park Player’s over-the-top Christmas pageant for ten years. The beloved Minneapolis tradition is the theatre’s main fundraiser. But this year’s production is almost canceled when their director disappears into rehab at the last minute. Good thing his directing partner steps in to save the day. Except for the minor fact that he hates everything about Christmas.

Jack Whittaker wiped the Twin Cities off his shoe with his graduation tassel and never looked back. But duty compels him to fulfill Tyler’s promise to direct the show. Even though it means working side-by-side with Becca, the girl he always wanted, lost to Ty, but never forgot.

It’ll take more than a few handfuls of tinsel to soften Jack’s heart toward Becca’s favorite holiday. Steamy kisses that melt the snow right off his boots are a step in the right direction. They’ll both discover that Christmas is about making each other's dreams come true. But will doing so destroy their chance at a happily-ever-after together?

Purchase at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Carina Press

Excerpt:

She picked up the end of her braid and tickled his cheek. “Told ya.”

The silken hair set off a chain reaction in his body. Blood pounded south in great, galloping leaps and bounds to pool in his crotch. Jack hadn’t experienced an insta-hard-on like that in years. He quickly shifted the black script binder across his lap.

“You’ve changed, Becca.”

“Since high school? I would hope so.” Then her lips pursed. “Okay, you’ve piqued my curiosity. Exactly how have I changed?”

“You’ve grown from a pretty girl into a beautiful woman.”

“Oh.” Her pale cheeks turned the color of ripe strawberries. It made Jack wonder if her nipples were the same color. Or would turn that color after he used his lips on them. “Um, thank you. And let me just say that adding a few pounds of pure muscle didn’t hurt you any, either.”

Interesting. Might as well push a little harder, see what developed. “Here I thought you were going to comment on my righteously masculine goatee.”

As if lifted by marionette strings, her hand rose, scraped along the end-of-day stubble on his cheeks to trace the outline of the goatee. “It, ah, makes you look devilish.”

“Want to dance with the devil?”

“What?” Her gaze flew up to meet his as her hands dropped to her lap. “You want to dance?”

Super literal people made flirting much more difficult. Jack sighed. “Metaphorically.” When she still looked bewildered, he continued. “Forget it. Do you want to have dinner with me?”

She blinked, rapidly. Looked down at her hands twisting together. “That depends.”

It wasn’t a complicated question. Jack didn’t want her take on the crisis in Syria. Why would a simple dinner invite come with conditions? “On what?”

Becca looked over both shoulders, as if to check they were still alone. Or as alone as you could get in a three hundred-seat theatre full of people milling about from the lobby to the dressing rooms. “Are you just lonely, Jack? Because of Ty?”

“I’m a grown-ass man. I can eat by myself,” he growled.

“I know. I guess my real question is, do you want to have dinner with just anyone? Or do you want to have dinner with me?” She fluttered her hands up to cover her heart.

Now he got it. Well, he didn’t get why she had the crazy female insecurity, but at least he knew what she was driving at. “I want to have dinner with you. Only you. Not because we used to be good friends. Not even because we’ve slid pretty well back into those roles. And not just dinner.” Jack grasped her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You’re a beautiful woman who heats me up every time you slide those cool lake eyes over me. With enough talent and know-how and passion for my business to make for interesting conversation. So what I want from you, Becca, is a date.”

To his utter surprise, she didn’t blush again. Or look away. Or for that matter, look flustered at all. Instead, she mimicked his pose, putting her hand to his mouth. Rubbed her soft thumb in a slow glide across his lower lip. Her eyes darkened from the clear blue of Lake Harriet in the summer to the darkness of a winter’s night.

“Well, why didn’t you say so? Of course I’ll go out with you.”

No matter how many he tried on for size, women never failed to confound him. Jack didn’t know what he’d said to peel off her timidity. Didn’t care, either. Just looked forward to an evening filled with more surprises from the woman he was discovering he liked even more than the girl he used to adore.

About Christi: Christi Barth earned a Master’s degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance. She is the award-winning author of the Aisle Bound series. Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt?

Thanks for reading!
Laura

Spotlight on Stephanie Dray's Series Finale, #DaughtersoftheNile!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura Kaye) — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I'm super excited to be celebrating my good friend Stephanie Dray's new release, Daughters of the Nile, today! This is the third book in Stephanie's amazing series, so you should read this post then go check out all three books! Read on for more...

From critically acclaimed historical fantasy author, Stephanie Dray comes the long-awaited new tale based on the true story of Cleopatra's daughter.

After years of abuse as the emperor’s captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty. With her husband, King Juba II and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both. But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind. Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family, and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line?

Read the Reviews

"A stirring story of a proud, beautiful, intelligent woman whom a 21st century reader can empathize with. Dray's crisp, lush prose brings Selene and her world to life." ~RT Book Reviews

"The boldest, and most brilliant story arc Dray has penned..." ~Modge Podge Reviews

"If you love historical fiction and magical realism, these books are for you." ~A Bookish Affair

Read an Excerpt

Below me, six black Egyptian cobras dance on their tails, swaying. I watch their scaled hoods spread wide like the uraeus on the crown of Egypt. Even from this height, I'm paralyzed by the sight of the asps, their forked tongues flickering out between deadly fangs. I don't notice that I'm gripping the balustrade until my knuckles have gone white, all my effort concentrated upon not swooning and falling to my death.

And I would swoon if I were not so filled with rage. Someone has arranged for this. Someone who knows what haunts me. Someone who wants to send me a message and make this occasion a moment of dread. My husband, the king must know it, for he calls down, "That's enough. We've seen enough of the snake charmer!"

There is commotion below, some upset at having displeased us. Then Chryssa hisses, "Who could think it a good idea to honor the daughter of Cleopatra by coaxing asps from baskets of figs?"

The story the world tells of my mother's suicide is that she cheated the emperor of his conquest by plunging her hand into a basket where a venomous serpent lay in wait. A legend only, some say, for the serpent was never found. But I was there. I brought her that basket. She was the one bitten but the poison lingers in my blood to this day. I can still remember the scent of figs in my nostrils, lush and sweet. The dark god Anubis was embroidered into the woven reeds of the basket, the weight of death heavy in my arms. I can still see my mother reach her hand into that basket, surrendering her life so that her children might go on without her. And I have gone on without her.

I have survived too much to be terrorized by the emperor's agents or whoever else is responsible for this.

If it is a message, a warning from my enemies, I have already allowed them too much of a victory by showing any reaction at all. So I adopt as serene a mask as possible. My daughter blinks her big blue eyes, seeing past my facade. "Are you frightened, Mother? They cannot bite us from there. The snakes are very far away."

I get my legs under me, bitterness on my tongue. "Oh, but they're never far enough away."

###

Available now in print and e-book!

Available now in print and e-book!

STEPHANIE DRAY is a bestselling, multi-published, award-winning author of historical women’s fiction and fantasy set in the ancient world. Her critically acclaimed historical series about Cleopatra’s daughter has been translated into more than six different languages, was nominated for a RITA Award and won the Golden Leaf. Her focus on Ptolemaic Egypt and Augustan Age Rome has given her a unique perspective on the consequences of Egypt's ancient clash with Rome, both in terms of the still-extant tensions between East and West as well as the worldwide decline of female-oriented religion. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has-to the consternation of her devoted husband-collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

Did you have a favorite line from the excerpt?

Thanks for reading!
Laura