Osiyo~
I can’t express how thrilled I am to have my Lyrical sister and friend, Gemma Brocato on the ranch today to share her super new book cover with us! It’s for book two, so you know what that means. Yep, more to follow! If I’m lucky Gemma will agree to let me showcase all as they publish. 🙂 So, here ya go,
Category Archives: Kensington
Calisa Rhose presents ~ The Connection Between Urban Fantasy and Romance #MeganMorgan #mfrwauthor
I’m turning the Round Pen over to my special guest today. Please welcome author, Megan Morgan! She’s here to enlighten us on the post title.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN URBAN FANTASY AND ROMANCE
Hello everyone! I’m happy to be here today on the Ranch and want to first thank Calisa for having me.
I’m always eager to chat and make new friends! My name is Megan Morgan and I’m an urban fantasy and paranormal romance author—I also write a bit of contemporary erotic romance on the side. You could say that’s my ‘naughty’ side. I’m an author with Lyrical/Kensington and last year was the debut of my Siren Song urban fantasy series with them.
I’m here today to talk about the connection between urban fantasy and romance. Some people say urban fantasy is a subcategory of science fiction while others feel it’s a subcategory of romance. Sometimes urban fantasy is even relabeled as paranormal romance. Much urban fantasy out there today does involve a romantic subplot, even if the main focus is on something else.
In my series, my heroine June Coffin has a lot on her plate, but she also finds herself in a romantic triangle with two very different men. June is a siren living in a world where paranormal people exist, are acknowledged by the general population, and are scientifically studied—sometimes, to nefarious ends. June tries to keep her power low-key and stay away from all the politics and science, until her brother is taken hostage by a shady scientific institute in Chicago and she has to rescue him.
June must find some help to do this, however. She meets Micha Bellevue, a non-paranormal human who advocates for paranormal rights. Micha is a sweet, wholesome, handsome, good guy, who is fascinated with June and her slightly less wholesome, spunky, punkish ways. However, there’s one huge problem—Micha’s wife has just been murdered, but he has no memory of it, or of her, because June accidentally erased his memory with her power.
She also meets Sam Haain, the brash and outspoken leader of a paranormal group that believes humans and paranormals shouldn’t mix—and that scientists certainly shouldn’t be studying paranormal people. He’s the tall, dark, and handsome type with big ambitions and an even bigger mouth. He thinks June would be much better suited in his corner, fighting the good fight at his side.
At first June has misgivings about both of them, for many obvious and not-so-obvious reasons, and she’s much more focused on saving her brother and getting out of Chicago. However, as the series progresses, feelings blossom and she finds herself torn between them. Even in the upcoming third book, on the surface she appears to have made her choice, but deep down, she really hasn’t.
So, does this make my particular series a subcategory of romance? There’s certainly a lot of emotions involved as the story unfolds, and romance does bloom. However, the story doesn’t always focus on the relationships, so does that mean it’s not romance?
I think it’s up to the reader to decide. Fans of urban fantasy probably have a lot of opinions on the matter. As for myself, I like urban fantasy that has a romance subplot. Some say urban fantasy tends to be sexier and racier than typical romance, but again, I think this depends on reading tastes and the author.
How about you? Do you think urban fantasy fits in the romance category, or do you think it’s something else? I’d love to hear your opinions! Comment and you’ll be entered to win an e-copy of the first book in the Siren Song series, The Wicked City.
BLURB FOR THE WICKED CITY (Siren Song #1)
She’s got a voice to die for…
Whatever June Coffin says, goes—literally. And it’s not just because she’s a chain smoking rebel. As a Siren, June has the ability to force people to obey any command she voices. But in a world where those with supernatural powers quickly become lab rats for science, she’d rather look out for herself than fight on the front lines…until her similarly gifted twin brother, Jason, is captured by Chicago’s Institute of Supernatural Research.
To save Jason, June has no choice but to enter a hidden world of conspiracy, murder—and strange bedfellows—including a widowed paranormal advocate whose memory June accidentally erased, and a fiery paranormal separatist leader. Soon the lines between attraction and strategic alliance become blurred. But in a city exploding with paranormal crossfire, and her brother’s life at stake, June will have to face her inner demons and finally take a stand.
Read the first chapter.
WHERE TO BUY:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | All Romance Ebooks | iTunes | Google Play
BLURB FOR THE BLOODY CITY (Siren Song #2)
On the run…
It’s been four months since the head of the Institute of Supernatural Research was murdered. But that doesn’t mean June Coffin is out of hiding yet. In a world where being different can get you killed, it’s best to keep a low profile. Especially for a Siren who can control other people with the call of her voice. That goes double if your powers might be inexplicably growing…
On the hunt…
But June isn’t the only one trying to clear her name. There’s Sam, the charismatic paranormal rights leader, and Micha, the first human on record to go paranormal. All of them must bargain with a mysterious vampire named Occam Reed if they want to stay alive.
Out of time…
As tensions increase between humans and paranormals, June must decide who to trust. If only she could hear the song inside her heart…
Read the first chapter.
WHERE TO BUY:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play | All Romance Ebooks
BLURB FOR THE BURNING CITY (Siren Song #3)
When the smoke clears, who will be left standing?
Tattoo artist June Coffin has another, more hidden talent: she’s a Siren who can influence people with the sound of her voice. But in the wake of a murder and shake-up at the Institute of Supernatural Research, her own powers are starting to kill her. The only chance she has of saving herself—as well as her kidnapped brother and best friend—is to become a vampire. But joining the ranks of the vengeful vamp, Occam Reed, is the last thing June wants to do.
Occam isn’t the only danger June needs to worry about. Power hungry telepath Robbie Beecher will stop at nothing to gain control over Chicago. He’ll destroy anyone who gets in his way—and June’s lover, Sam, is high on the hit list since his bid for Mayor. With the city and June’s heart being pulled in different directions, it’s only a matter of time before the powder keg explodes…and time isn’t something June has much of left. With a city on fire, can she rise from its ashes?
Available July 5, 2016
WHERE TO PRE-ORDER:
Amazon | B&N | Google | iTunes | Kobo
***
AUTHOR BIO:
Megan Morgan is a multi-published award winning urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and erotica author from Cleveland, Ohio. RWA member, bartender by day, and purveyor of things that go bump in the night, she’s trying to turn writing into her day job so she can be on the other side of the bar for a change. Hailing from the often-wintry shores of Lake Erie, she lives with an attention-seeking cat and her adult son, both of which shed too much.
Website: http://www.meganmorganauthor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/morgan_romance
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megan.morgan.author
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/1/116773473236786103709/about
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mmorganauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8380732.Megan_Morgan
Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Morgan/e/B00LBHTUSE/
***
Well, these definitely sounds exciting, Megan, and those covers are to sing for! 😉 To make her visit even better, did you notice up there ^ that Megan is offering one ecopy of THE WICKED CITY (Siren Song #1) to a lucky commenter who leaves their email for her. Believe me, I wish I could qualify to win this one! 😆 *She will randomly draw the winner by nine p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) night, so get your email registered by commenting now! 😀
As usual, I want to thank Megan for dropping by and all of you who visit her. Please don’t forget to Like and share this post from any of the many buttons provided above. 🙂
*If no email is available for contact, and the winner doesn’t respond in the comments with one within 24 hours, Megan will draw another winner, so be sure to check back often to see if you’ve won. 🙂
Calisa Rhose welcomes Christa Maurice #mfrw #interview #TuesdayRoundup
Osiyo~
Welcome one and all! Grab a beverage of choice, something sweet and sinful. No-no, not the men. What’s the matter with you? You know the hands-on rules… The guest gets first pick! 😉 Take a comfy seat for another, or a first, spin in the Round Pen.
I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented guest today, Christa Maurice, who is sharing their book, Waiting For A Girl Like You with us!
Please show Christa some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy 5-3-4 part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
Okay, I’ll begin with five questions, then follow with three more, and end with four final ones.
My writing area at the moment is a corner of the couch in my living room. What does your writing space look like?
Last year I returned from four years living overseas where I was teaching kindergarten. I had a whole room with a lovely corner desk, but I usually ended up sitting on the couch in the living room. Since my return I have been staying with my mother while house hunting and sitting on her couch.
For a lot of writers it’s a life-altering event coming up with titles and character names. Others it comes as naturally as breathing. Which is it for you?
Names are easy. I have been known to walk around for days muttering about how that’s not his/her name, but once I have the name, I have the character. Titles are another issue. Most of the time they are the most difficult words to write in the entire book. For the Drawn To the Rhythm series, I opted to use song titles for each of the books. Satellite Of Love (Lou Reed) worked for book one as a 1972 Plymouth Satellite figured heavily in the plot. Heaven Beside You (Pearl Jam) for book two because it is set in West Virginia and heaven is West Virginia’s nickname, believe it or not. The original title of this book was Twenty Flight Rock (Eddie Cochran) because the elevator in Alex’s building is out of commission and she lives on the tenth floor. Kensington didn’t like that title so I hunted for another and came up with Waiting For a Girl Like You (Foreigner) which suited because Marc is the oldest member of the band so he’s been waiting for Alex. Plus, it’s an excellent earworm.
Earworm? What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Two things:
One) Write. You will suck. When you leaned to walk, did you not fall? The first time you rode a bike, was it perfect? When you started your first job, were you the best anyone had ever seen? Don’t expect this to be different.
Two) Find a critique partner. I learned as much about writing from seeing what other people were doing wrong and recognizing it in my own work as I did from having them point things out to me.
The constant shift of the industry makes me often scratch my head and ask ‘what next?’ So, what do you think it takes to be a successful author at the moment?
I’m pretty sure you have to be a tech savvy octopus with a marketing background who doesn’t need to sleep.
I’ve often thought the same! Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
I have no idea. My training as an English teacher taught me to not assume the author shared the character’s opinions so I tend to take a book as a complete entity. I’ve also sought out many of the people I found interesting. The only person I was never able to catch was Denny Neill when he was editing Batman. The two times I was in the DC offices, he was out.
Rats, Batman! Foiled again and again. lol
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal?
Leopard
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter?
Summer
Favorite food?
Chocolate
And whose isn’t, right? Well done! 🙂
Okay, Flash four. Ready?
What are you working on now?
Right now? A dystopian series and a sports romance.
Interesting switch from this one. What are you sharing today?
Waiting For a Girl Like You
They could make beautiful music together…
Hoping to dodge a scandal that could destroy her personal life and her career, Alex fled grad school for a summer job in tiny Potterville, West Virginia. She didn’t expect the town cupids to orchestrate a “chance” meeting with Marc—a sexy, brooding rock star who appreciates her love of poetry. But Alex doubts he’ll want anything more if he discovers the indiscretion she can’t forgive herself for…
Marc came to Potterville to get some space from his band and clear his head. But before he knows it, he’s intrigued with the waitress at the local diner. Alex is not only smart and beautiful, she’s inspiring his songwriting and taking it to the next level. Soon he’s falling for her—and then she runs away. For the first time, Marc is chasing after a woman—and giving both himself and Alex a chance to heal past hurts and take a chance on the future…
Excerpt:
The pneumatic hinge on the stairwell door was easing closed. He pushed through and heard Alex’s footsteps running up.
“Alex!” Marc leaned into the gap between the railings. Based on the white fingers wrapped around the railing, she appeared to be on the third floor. “Alex, hold on.”
Nothing. No footsteps coming down, no footsteps going up. Marc watched her fingers as he climbed. When he came around the fourth flight of stairs to the third floor landing, she was standing as if frozen with one foot two steps higher than the other and her hand with a death grip on the railing.
“Alex?”
She stood, staring down at him, poker faced. “What are you doing here?”
Marc put one foot on the bottom step. Somehow, the energy to climb up to her wasn’t there, like she was putting out some kind of force field that wouldn’t allow him any closer. “You left so suddenly. I was worried that something was wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong. I submitted my thesis, and if I can get it approved in time, I might be able to have a teaching post here this fall. Everything’s great.” Her voice lacked all the music it had always had before. Now it was off key and toneless. If she’d been a guitar, he would have thought she needed work on her bridge.
“And yet you sound so happy.” With effort, Marc hauled himself up a step. “Ida wasn’t pleased.”
“It was important that I get back here as soon as possible. Far more important than some waitressing job.” She pursed her lips and then licked them. Nowhere near as sexy as usual. “I’m getting back together with my old boyfriend, too.”
The deep dark baggage. “Oh?”
“When I came back to school, I saw him and we talked.”
“And again, you sound so happy.” Her entire body looked like it was carved from one piece of hard wood.
“It’s none of your business.”
Marc braced himself to attempt another step. This was like walking into a blizzard. He picked up two risers this time, bringing him to what should have been arm’s reach and level with her shoulder. Up close, her face looked even more shuttered than it had before. He’d been mistaken about the hard wood. She was carved out of marble.
“I think it is.”
“That’s because you’re a self-centered celebrity who thinks everything is about him. You—” She twitched and something awful surfaced under the marble.
“No, it’s mostly because five days ago we were in WVA playing board games, watching Airplane! and talking about going to Italy, and twelve hours later you had vanished and everybody blamed me.”
“I just woke up. There’s no way you and I could have a successful relationship. I’m intellectually superior to you.”
Marc blinked. It sounded like she’d just called him an idiot. Harsh. “Okay. You could have said good-bye, at least.”
“I assumed you would have figured that out when I left town, but if it helps, good-bye.”
She turned and walked up the steps. Marc stood listening to her footfalls all the way up, followed by the sound of the fire door at the top opening and closing.
Damn.
***
I LOVE that scene! Thanks for sharing it.
Where can we find you and your books?
Probably the easiest place to find me is www.christamaurice.com or swing by my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ChristaMauriceWriter?ref=hl where I put up ARC offers and words of wisdom or nonsense.
Where will you be next?
I have no idea.
I do have a quarterly mailing list with a regular contest, which will help figure out where I am and what I’m doing. I can really only plan life three months in advance. You can sign up for that here: http://eepurl.com/4VZuD. I love music so if anyone would like to chat with me about songs, bands or the latest antics of Kanye West, leave me a comment.
Thank you so much for playing along Christ! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose ~ There’s a Free book in the round pen! Myth and Magic by Mae Clair #mfrwauthor #freebook #Mae Clair
Free June 8 to June 10: ECLIPSE LAKE by Mae Clair #RomanticMystery
If you enjoy romance, mysteries, and suspense, I invite you to take advantage of my limited time offer for ECLIPSE LAKE. Grab your Kindle copy, June 8 to June 10 for FREE. This is a stand-alone full-length novel of old wounds, buried secrets, and sweet romance. It’s not part of a series, so you can enjoy the complete tale.
BLURB FOR ECLIPSE LAKE:
Small towns hold the darkest secrets.
Fifteen years after leaving his criminal past and estranged brother behind, widower Dane Carlisle returns to his hometown on the banks of sleepy Eclipse Lake. Now, a successful businessman, he has kept his troubled past a secret from most everyone, including his seventeen-year-old son.
But memories in small towns are bitter and long.
Ellie Sullivan, a nature photographer for a national magazine, has a habit of ping-ponging across the map. Her latest assignment leads her to Eclipse Lake where she becomes caught up in the enmity between Dane, his brother Jonah, and a vengeful town sheriff. When freshly-discovered skeletal remains are linked to an unsolved murder and Dane’s past, Ellie is left questioning her growing attraction for a man who harbors long-buried secrets.
Grab Your Free Copy from Amazon here
If you don’t have a Kindle, download a FREE Kindle Reading app for the device of your choice
I hope you enjoy ECLIPSE LAKE and ask only that when you’ve finished reading you’d leave an honest review on Amazon. Authors love hearing what readers enjoyed about our novels (even what didn’t work). It’s a favored reward J
I’d also like to ask for your support in the release of my brand new Halloween-themed romantic suspense novel, MYTH AND MAGIC. There’s nothing like a little October spookiness for weaving a touch of magic into your summer.
MYTH AND MAGIC:
Love and danger intertwine
AS CHILDREN THEY PLAYED GAMES OF MYTH AND MAGIC…
Veronica Kent fell in love with Caith Breckwood when they were children. As a teenager, she was certain he was the man she was destined to marry. But a traumatic event from Caith’s past led him to fear a future together. He left Veronica, hoping to save her from a terrible fate. Twelve years later, Caith, now a P.I., is hired to investigate bizarre incidents at the secluded retreat Veronica manages. Returning to his hometown, Caith is forced to face his nightmares—and his feelings for the woman he’s always loved.
THEN ONE DAY THE MONSTERS BECAME REAL.
After the callous way Caith broke her heart, Veronica isn’t thrilled to see him again. But strange occurrences have taken a dangerous toll on business at Stone Willow Lodge. Forced to work together, Veronica discovers it isn’t ghostly apparitions that frighten her, but her passion for a man she has never forgotten. Or forgiven. Can two people with a tarnished past unearth a magical future?
***
Release day for MYTH AND MAGIC is June 9, but you can pre-order prior to that. It’s available from all of these bookstores:
Purchase MYTH AND MAGIC and grab your copy of ECLIPSE LAKE for free. You get TWO full-length books of suspense, mystery and romance for under $4.00! Either way I hope you will enjoy the free book. Both stories plus their characters hold special places in my heart.
Thank you for your support and I’d love to hear from you! You can find me at any of the following haunts:
Kensington Books Author Page
Goodreads
About Mae Clair:
Mae Clair opened a Pandora’s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back. Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.
Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with mystery and romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail and cats.
Suggested tags for blog post:
Eclipse Lake, Myth and Magic, Free reads, Free Kindle Read, romantic suspense, romantic mystery, Mae Clair,
Calisa Rose presents ~ Blood Stitches by Erin Fanning #NApromo #paranormal #MFRWAuthor
Survival Knitting: How an earthquake inspired a book.
In 2009, an Italian woman, trapped underneath her bed after an earthquake, kept herself occupied by knitting. Author Erin Fanning read about the incident around the same time she was learning how to knit. She imagined firefighters digging through the rubble and finding the woman wrapped in a knitted afghan.
The story tumbled around in Erin’s brain, somehow intersecting with her interest in Mexican culture. From there, she discovered the Mayan twin myth and the battle with the demon Vucub Caquix. Bits and pieces of Mayan mythology adhered themselves to her imagination, morphing into a history of magic and needlework.
Soon characters formed, along with a question: what if you could not only knit your way to safety but also create a disaster through knitting? It wasn’t long afterward that Blood Stitches pushed its way through her fingertips.
Blood Stitches
By Erin Fanning
Coming May 12, 2015 from Lyrical Press
Love and danger intertwine…
Blurb:
It’s called El Toque de la Luna—The Touch of the Moon. At least that’s how nineteen-year-old Gabby’s older sister, Esperanza, refers to the magical powers she inherited from their Mayan ancestors. Esperanza says women with El Toque weave magic into their knitting, creating tapestries capable of saving—or devastating—the world. Gabby thinks Esperanza is more like touched in the head—until a man dressed like a candy corn arrives at their Seattle home on Halloween. But “Mr. C” is far from sweet…
Soon, Gabby and her almost-more-than-friend, Frank, find themselves spirited away to a demon ball, complete with shape shifters—and on a mission to destroy Esperanza’s tapestries before they cause an apocalyptic disaster… And before it’s too late to confess their true feelings for each other.
Excerpt:
A gust of wind scattered leaves across the University of Seattle campus. My hair tangled over my face. New contacts tortured my eyes, and books weighed down my backpack. It didn’t matter. A tornado could have snatched me up. As long as it carried me home and put an end to the anniversary of the worst day of my life.
“Watch out, Gabby.” My best friend Frank thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his pinstriped suit. “We’re being followed by a giant candy corn.”
“Giant candy corn? Yeah, right.” If I turned around, Frank would laugh and say, “Gotcha”, or some other dorky thing. The mind-numbing boredom of Calculus I, our last class of the day, always set Frank off, making him zanier than usual.
“I mean it. We’ve got a candy corn on our tail.” Frank whistled a Lester Ruben song as he sauntered ahead.
“Okay, okay. Let me see this Halloween wonder.” If I didn’t give in, Frank would never leave me alone. I whirled, ready to hear Frank’s laugh, and almost ran into a man. His face glowed orange, like someone who’d spent too much time in a tanning booth, and he wore a white cap pulled down to his ears. A yellow scarf hid his neck and chin. For once, Frank wasn’t kidding. The man resembled a giant candy corn.
Shredded paper and a postage stamp poked out of his scarf, and a moon decorated an edge of the knitting, like one of my older sister Esperanza’s creations. It didn’t seem possible, but no one else I knew added garbage and a signature moon to their knitting. A wool coat covered the rest of him, except his face and steel-tipped boots.
“Sorry.” I jumped back.
Frank’s chuckles mixed with squirrels chattering in a nearby tree. Drizzle moistened my forehead, and a cold dampness seeped into my bones. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, like watching Esperanza unravel her knitting one stitch at a time to fix a mistake.
***
About the author:
Erin Fanning spends her summers on a northern Michigan lake, where her imagination explores the water and dense forest for undiscovered creatures. In the winter, she migrates to central Idaho, exchanging mountain bikes and kayaks for skis and snowshoes. She’s the author of Mountain Biking Michigan, as well as numerous articles, essays, and short stories.
Links
Website: www.erinfanning.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Stitches-Erin-Fanning-ebook/dp/B00ONTR8I6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23450191-blood-stitches
Calisa Rhose Welcomes Cait O’Sullivan to Tuesday Round Up #MFRW.Org #TamingtheTangoChampion
Osiyo~
I’m turning the round pen over to a friend, ex crit partner and a downright darling lady today. Cait O’Sullivan joined me at Lyrical Press, Inc. shortly before their sale to Kensington Publication Corp. and I was honored to help edit this delicious story I’d already read some of as her CP. Then in the midst of edits, the sale happened, and she had take it to a friend of mine who made the move to the new publisher as editor (which I did not do–so if you see anywhere that I work as editor for Lyrical Press, please let me know so I can correct it!), to make Cait’s book the masterpiece it is now. I still claim this book as one of my favorite works by an incredible new author!
Hot, romantic alpha male meets strong, determined traveler woman… What more could you want when sexy dance is introduced to reunite these two hot bloods? I’ll let Cait tell you all about her book.
Taming the Tango Champion by Cait O’Sullivan
On travelling…
I have to admit to being addicted to traveling, that feeling of looking out of the plane window and saying goodbye to a country well known and knowing that the next time you see land so close, it’s going to be somewhere (if you’re lucky) new and exciting.
It’s the pleasure of the unknown, I think. The known and the reliable are pretty lovable too, don’t get me wrong, rather like a wonderful teddy that’s been part of your life for some time. But the brand new and shiny unknown? Glittering away at you, enticing you closer? Pretty damn seductive, in my opinion.
When I traveled around the world, like Ava, I had a very special time. Unlike her though, I finished off my twelve months hiking the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, one of my dreams and it was fabulous to fullfil. BUT! I am a bit envious of Ava, horse trekking through the Andes with such an incredible Alpha male and after writing about it, would love to live that dream (do you think that could work? Maybe by the very act of writing something, you could make it reality. That’d be fun, wouldn’t it?. Matthias took her through the Andes, a bit of skinny dipping involved, bit of fireside lovin’ going on and it was all rather fabulous.
One thing again that we didn’t have in common, Ava and I, was that I was very careful of my heart. The last thing I wanted to do was to lose it to some gorgeous man who lived halfway around the world from my family and friends. That way, in my opinion, lay heartbreak.
Ava, on the other hand, just couldn’t resist Matthias and took the bull by the horns (!). But after that lovely night, doubts crept in and to save the remaining vestiges of her heart, she fled. Too late!
When she found out she was pregnant, she returned, her romantic nature whispering to her that they could make it work. Only to discover that he had become engaged to another, a hot-blooded and beautiful Argentine.
Once more, she fled, back to London and a life as a single Mum. Here the commonality starts to creep back in again. I’m a divorced mum of two beautiful girls and it was quite cathartic writing about how difficult it can be, being solely responsible for the lives of two small people. Don’t get me wrong, there are also some very beautiful times that make up for it all, the way parenthood so often is and I hope I conveyed both the ups and the downs of being a single mum.
Also, and possibly more importantly for the sake of the book, I love love LOVE dancing. You know that Irish saying ‘sing like no-one is listening, dance like no-one is watching, live every day as though it’s your last’? I had that laminated and it hung off my backpack when I travelled and I do dance like no-one is watching (easier to do when you’re at home on your own J ). That feeling of freedom, of allowing the music to direct your body so your mind can disconnect and quieten down for a while is addictive. Writing about it was an enormous pleasure, and Ava falling in love, not just with with Matthias, but with dancing and the sheer joy of moving your body in ways you never would normally.
I feel a dance coming on….
Find Cait and her books: www.caitosullivan.blogspot.co.uk
Buy from: Kensington Press Amazon.com Amazon UK
Also, should you want to read those initial chapters (unedited) where Ava and Matthias actually meet, check them out here!!
Yes check those chapters out! 🙂
Thanks for visiting and entertaining, Cait!
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose presents ~ Hearts in Harmony by Gemma Brocato #coverreveal #preorder
Calisa Rhose announces ~ Risk Factors is back! #rerelease #amazon #kensington-lyricaldigital
Great news for fans. As you may have heard (I was pretty vocal 🙂 ) in January my small epublisher, Lyrical Press, Inc., sold to Kensington Publishing as the new digital imprint. Some of my LPI sisters’ books have been released for weeks, while some, like myself, have taken a little longer. There has been a few months of new contracts and re-releases. I’ve been waiting somewhat impatiently for Risk Factors to come back to life. Well…
Today is the day! Actually, yesterday was, but I found it today–and I’m super excited! I’ll be putting together a re-release mini blog tour this month and I hope to see you there.
I have to tell ya’ll, not having my baby up there, not knowing when I’d see it’s beautiful ‘face’ again somewhere other than on the background of my laptop was a bit discomboobalating for me. I was a published author without a book. LOL But now… It’s a relief to know when you google my name or book it’s there again. 🙂
Please go check it out if you haven’t. Oh- and great news for you, it’s at a new, lower price at just $2.99! Here’s a refresher of Risk Factors:
Title: Risk Factors
Publisher: Kensington-Lyrical Press Digital Imprint
Editor: Piper Denna
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat Level: Steamy sensual
Pages: 149
Length: 56,056
Publication: March 4, 2013 (re-release) 2014
Cover artist: Valerie Tibbs
Blurb:
Love, like life, is not without risk.
Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales, Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps.
Now Connor, a patient’s owner, is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for. Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their daughter.
He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having her feel the hurt of being left…again. Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv–and himself–enough to play the possibilities?
Highlight:
Viv’s smile and throaty laughter burrowed deeper by the second, mutating into hot want that seemed to draw him to her at every opportunity. But her invitation shook him back to level ground. Dinner. With her. Vivian Dane, the woman who seemed to freely access his dreams lately, was asking him out. Her voice fell to a low smoky grade that slid like satin over him, tightening around his chest, making it hard to breathe. He wanted to kiss her. Period. There was something about her in the lab coat he couldn’t put his finger on. She appeared so fragile and delicate in pink that matched her lips…china doll perfect. Kissable. He opened his mouth to refuse. He couldn’t afford to get close to anyone, wouldn’t risk Janna. He knew his daughter already liked the vet, had said so. If he got involved and it all nosedived south, he couldn’t stand to have Janna hurt. Even if she didn’t know it, Viv was their veterinarian now and he’d have to see her, Jelly Bean would notice the tension– “Connor?” “I’d like that.”
***
Right now RF is only available on Amazon, but as soon as it’s back up on other venues I’ll post those links on the Bookshelf page (accessible by clicking on the cover here). Until then, feel free to use the direct link below for the available NOW copy.
Amazon
Calisa Rhose welcomes Jessi Gage to the Round Pen
Feb 18
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Osiyo~ I’m turning the round pen over to my friend to share her spankin’ new cover and her fist self published book. There’s more to it than that, so I’ll let her tell you all about it. 🙂 Let’s welcome Jessi Gage! Thanks for hosting me, Calisa! I always love my trips to The Ranch. […]
Calisa Rhose is Cooking Up Love with Gemma Brocato
Osiyo~
Welcome my first guest of the new year! Gemma Brocato is a sister Lyrical-turned-Kensington author here to share her debut book. I can’t wait to read it. 🙂
Take it away, Gemma!
Hi Calisa!
Thanks for having me over today and introducing me to your readers.
Here’s a little fact about myself… I love to travel. I live to discover new and exciting places. Frequently, my discovery of new places occurs because I want to explorie old places. Like the castles and keeps I dragged my husband to in England. I was on a quest to spend weekends visiting all the Tudor castles while we lived there. Mr. Gemma finally had to put his foot down and insist he wasn’t going to another heap of smelly stones. One year, I dragged my husband and children to Vermont, in search of Larry, Darrell and Darrell. We never found them, but I developed a love of the Northeast and the Eastern Seaboard while I was there.
The setting for Cooking Up Love came from a trip I took to Boston with my high school choir. That city was fascinating to my impressionable young self. The historical sites and beautiful architecture, the exceptional restaurants, the old churches, even the feel of community I sensed there.
When I started to write my story, I wanted a place that reflected Boston’s history, but still embodied the small town camaraderie I’d known growing up in the Midwest. So I created Granite Pointe, a tourist hamlet my heroine, Jemima George, decides to move to after inheriting a café located there. Building the world of the town, and its citizens included drawing a mental map of the harbor, the main street, and throwing in a high school. I further developed the town while writing Hearts In Harmony, book 2 in the series, to include a farmer’s market and a Christmas Tree Farm. Book 3, which I’m working on now, has a lovely new park and a seaside museum.
I think the best part of Granite Pointe is its residents. The people Jem George meets while settling into her new surrounding made the town a home she comes to love. I tell my children home is wherever your family is and I made the citizens of Granite Pointe Jem’s family. My imagination continues to build a solid, warm community that welcomes guests and new residents. I think I could easily move to Granite Pointe.
Book Title: Cooking Up Love
Author: Gemma Brocato
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Lyrical Press
ISBN-10: 1616504277
ISBN-13: 978-16165-4272
Blurb
Mix a chef and her contractor, stir in a mystery, and cook up a romance.
Jemima George leads a charmed life as a personal chef and assistant to reality television’s latest darling. But that changes in a New York minute when her Aunt Caro dies under odd circumstances, bequeathing her a small restaurant. Jem plans to sell the café and continue her life in NYC, until a dramatic phone call from her cheating boyfriend convinces her to experiment with the ingredients for happiness and accept her Aunt’s legacy. Throwing herself into remodeling the restaurant with the help of the town’s delicious contractor, Jem revamps the menu and renews her faith in herself.
Jack Kerrigan considered Caro a surrogate mother and hates the idea that the café could be sold. He doesn’t need the remodeling project, but if it means Caro’s beautiful, fascinating niece will stay to run the restaurant, he’s all in. He wouldn’t mind being savory to Jem’s sweet.
Jack’s brassy ex-wife is cooking up a scheme of her own, where Jack tosses Jem like a salad and comes back to her. Fold in a creepy attorney hiding secrets of environmental mayhem, add Jem’s claustrophobia, half-pint niece and nephew twins, one mysterious lockbox, and bring to a boil–a recipe for romance.
Excerpt
His sexy baritone voice breezed up her spine and her breath stuttered as his warm hand wrapped around hers.
Oh, no. She was in trouble. Standing this close to him, he even smelled like a hot guy, fresh, outdoorsy, a hint of distinctive male. He had great hands. Narrow wrists, long, elegant fingers, calloused enough, making her imagine how they’d rasp as they trailed along her flesh. She had always been a sucker for a long-fingered man.
Time to put the brakes on those ideas. His gaze roved over her body, not hiding the fact that he was checking her out. Heat bloomed in her cheeks and she mentally shook her head to clear the fireworks going off in her imagination when she caught sight of deep dimples bracketing either side of his full, smiling lips and even white teeth. Oh good
Lord, why’d he have to have dimples?
When his gaze made the journey back to hers, she looked pointedly at her hand, still clasped in his. His look was almost apologetic as he released his grip.
***
Author Bio
About Gemma Brocato
Gemma’s favorite desk accessories for many years were a circular wooden token, better known as a ’round tuit,’ and a fortune from a fortune cookie that said she was a lover of words; some day she’d write a book. All it took was a transfer to the United Kingdom, the lovely English springtime, and a huge dose of homesickness to write her first novel. Once it was completed and sent off with a kiss even the rejections, addressed to ‘Dear Author’, were gratifying.
After returning to America, she spent a number of years as a copywriter, dedicating her skills to making insurance and the agents who sell them sound sexy. Eventually, her full-time job as a writer interfered with her desire to be a writer full-time and she left the world of financial products behind to pursue an avocation as a romance author.
Her gamble paid off when she was a 2012 Finalist in the prestigious Golden Pen contest for Romantic Suspense and she received contracts for her first and second book.
Gemma loves to connect with readers. This is where you can find her:
Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gemma.brocato
Twitter, @gemmabrocato or on the web at www.Gemmabrocato.com
Buy Links
Due to the recent acquisition of Lyrical Press by Kensington books, my debut novel, Cooking Up Love is temporarily off the market. But not to worry – it will be back soon. In the meantime, I have some print copies of the book I’d love to give away (A US winner only, please). Leave a comment below to enter a drawing for a signed copy.
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Up-Love-Gemma-Brocato-ebook/dp/B00G36CD0K/
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/cooking-up-love-3
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cooking-up-love-gemma-brocato/1117213296
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/cooking-up-love/id688219548?mt=11
Before she goes, Gemma has a question.
If you could call any place in the world home, where would it be?
It’s been wonderful having you and your awesome book on the Ranch, Gemma. Thank you for visiting!
Dodadagohvi~
I write contemporary and paranormal romance, with sensuality as the key ingredient and spice for kick.
Pen of The Dreamer 