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Calisa Rhose with Heather Kinnane and her Faery Dreamy novel #fantasy #MFRWauthor #interview
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, Heather Kinnane, who is sharing her book, A Faery Dream: Nerida’s Story with us!
Please show Heather some real Ranch love!
Before I get to the nosy part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
Hi everyone!
I’m an Australian writer of sweet and steamy romantic escapes. My books always have a happy ending, because there’s no guarantee of getting that in real life, and sometimes it’s just nice to know things are going to end well. I have three children, and a very supportive husband who is the only reason I’m able to find enough time to write books! He also provides the inspiration for my heroes. 😉
Author Bio: Heather Kinnane is the author of the romantic fantasy series, ‘A Faery Dream’, and the steamy menage series ‘Seeking Satisfaction’. She lives in Australia with her husband, children and pets, in a house in the bush. When she’s not writing she’s usually avoiding the housework by reading, gardening, or soaking up the natural world. Sometimes she’s lucky enough to be visited by echidnas, sugar gliders, or wedge-tailed eagles.
Okay, let’s begin.
My writing area at the moment is a corner of the couch in my living room. What does your writing space look like?
Ha – my writing space is often a corner of the couch, too! I am trying to be a little more organized this year though, so I’ve reclaimed the small upstairs office from my children (who discovered all the arty and crafty bits in the cupboards and took over), and am enjoying having a bit of space where I can spread out and know I (mostly) won’t be disturbed.
For a lot of writer’s 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?
Titles and names are so difficult for me! It’s very rare that they just fall into place, mostly I spend ages agonizing over them, and changing them a billion times before I settle on something. I’m envious of those who can find names and titles easily. Wish it were contagious!
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Keep writing. It’s a bit cliché but honestly – the only way to be published is to keep going. Perseverance is the key.
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 not sure I know how to answer that one! So tricky! Like you say – there’s a constant shift – always new things to try. And then you have to be careful that the trying new things doesn’t steal away precious writing time (with three kids any moment I can get to myself is precious – I’ve got to be careful how I spend it!). I guess this answer is a bit the same as above – just keep writing. If you’re writing good stories, the readers will find you (eventually).
Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
It would be great to meet Stephen King! I love his work – The Dark Tower in particular is one of my all-time favourite series.
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Cat
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Autumn
Favorite food? Chocolate
Well done! And for those who question her answer, CHOCOLATE IS A FOOD GROUP! 😉
Okay, Flash four. Ready? What are you working on now?
I wrote a novella during Nanowrimo last year, and I’m working my way through that at the moment… it’s a re-telling of the old Scottish Ballad of Tam Lin – awesome heroine saves her lover from the Fairy Realm. I’m pretty pleased with how it’s going, so far.
What are you sharing today?
My newest release is the third in my ‘A Faery Dream’ series – ‘Nerida’s Story’ – though this one is focusing on a different character, so it works as a stand-alone too.
Nerida’s whole life has been focused on preparing for one thing – to be Consort to the King of Faery. She’s kept herself distant, awaiting the day when the King would be found and she would take her place beside him.
But there is no King. Instead, Nyssa is now Queen, with Kellen, Nerida’s brother, as her Consort.
Nerida has never felt so lost in her life.
When Imradon appears, he brings out feelings Nerida thought she’d never experience. But fighting against a lifetime of conditioning is hard, and then there’s the big question: does she want a partner, or is she just looking for something—anything—to fill this terrible emptiness?
A Faery Dream 3: Nerida’s Story, can be read as stand-alone or part of the series.
Where can we find you and your books?
Nerida’s Story can be found here:
kindle: www.amazon.com/Neridas-Story-Faery-Dream-Book-ebook/dp/B079CBMJWN/
ePub: www.books2read.com/u/3nOA08
My website: www.heatherkinnane.com
My amazon page: www.amazon.com/Heather-Kinnane/e/B00ELDPLZ6/
Where will you be next?
I’m hanging out on Twitter at the moment www.twitter.com/HeatherKinnane
But you can also find me on Patreon (www.patreon.com/HeatherKinnane) – with lots of deleted scenes, and early glimpses of what I’m working on, and plenty of other things too. 😊
Thank you so much for playing along Heather! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Thank you so much for having me Calisa! I had so much fun – already looking forward to catching up again next time. 😊
Dodadagohvi~
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. 🙂
Why did Cinderella’s Evil Stepmother become Evil? by #KayeelleWheeler #MFRWorg #fairytale
The Price of Scorn – book iv: Cinderella’s Evil Stepmother (Cinderella Series)
Osiyo~
Thank you all for joining me on the Ranch today. I’m happy to present fellow Okie, and a terrific writer, Kae Elle Wheeler’s new release! Ever wonder why Cinderella’s stepmother was so mean and evil? Kae Elle has figured it out and wrote that story! Damn, what that woman must have gone through to become such a despicable person. 😆
Kathy L Wheeler writing as Kae Elle Wheeler
Genre: Fantasy / FairyTale
Date of Publication: August 27, 2015
###
Blurb:
Lady Hildegard Roche has nothing but resentment and scorn for the stepchild who culminates all that was stolen from her. Fourteen years after Prince Charming and Cinderella are crowned as Chalmers King and Queen, Cinderella, Pricilla and Esmeralda gather at their mother’s deathbed.
In a story of enlightenment and shock, the sisters learn how tragedy shaped their mother into the woman she became. The question is: Can the sisters forgive her?
Excerpt:
“Why are you telling me this now?” Papa roared so loudly the paintings on the wall seemed to tremble. But Hilda knew it was she who was trembling. On stealthy feet, she hugged the wall and crept closer. There was no other way to gain her freedom save leaping from her balcony.
Even Juliet had not jumped to her death in that particular fashion. That line of thought sent a chilled pricks over her skin. We are not lovers destined to death, she reassured herself.
All she need do was make it to the pond. Off Papa’s property. Then out of Alsace to the safety of Grenoble, all within the arms of Pierre. ’Twill be over soon…’twill be over soon…soon. If she kept repeating the words, they would come true. Wouldn’t they?
The duc must have departed. Papa would never dare speak to Maman so plainly with a guest in residence. Relief filled her along with a twinge of guilt. There was no choice in leaving Maman to her fate. She’d made her decision in no uncertain terms, her place was with Papa.
She shuddered. If Papa had any inkling Hilda had given her most precious commodity to Pierre Tasse, he would kill her lover without remorse, and beat her to a bloody pulp. She moved quietly along the carpeted hall.
She slipped by the clock—a monstrosity—though she rather loved the overbearing piece of wood at the moment.
“You,” Papa spat.
Hilda froze, squeezing her eyes shut.
###
Buy Links
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PzMQll
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1EY5ygB
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1JmPuJt
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1UetsLU
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1U7GLTP
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1033703193
Print: https://www.createspace.com/5602034
I’d like to thank Kae Elle for letting me participate in spreading word about this unique fantasy! I’ll post my review once I have read it.
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose presents ~ Book III in The Golden Key Legacy by AJ Nuest #MFRWAuthor #GKL #AJNuest
Osiyo~
Today’s post is special. Special because my dear friend, AJ Nuest, has Book Three in her Golden Key Legacy release TODAY!!!!!!!! And there’s gonna be a heck of a party. If you want to get advance peeks at any and all of AJ’s cover art, you should join her Street Team! She also shares private excerpts of all her work there too. I love being a member for those and so many other reasons. 🙂
Read on for all the details and a view of the spectacular cover.
***
The homecoming celebration held in honor of Princess Faedrah is fraught with
perilous frustration. Her nightmares have returned thricefold and, to her
horror, a horrendous blight has spread like a plague throughout the kingdom. Compounding
her worries, Rhys’ arrival in her world has been welcomed with the exact horror-filled
reaction she expected. Her beloved has been cast into the dungeons, and no amount
of arguing with the king and queen will prove he’s her fated love.
Magical powers were supposed to be a gift, or so Rhys McEleod had always believed. Too
bad the second he landed in Faedrah’s world the legacy he inherited slammed
into his body like a weight. He’s got zero control and his constant visions of
Faedrah fighting an evil entity aren’t helping. At least her parents made the
right decision and stuck him away someplace safe. Until he can figure out his
next move, prove himself an ally and uncover the clues to stopping Faedrah’s
nightmares, he’s got no choice but to wait…and learn exactly what he’s become.
It’s a $0.99 SALE!!!
Since the day of her birth, Princess Faedrah Austiere has been defined by her place
within the kingdom. As the single heir to the half-blood gypsy king and his
prophesied white queen, she is fiercely protected, shuttered inside an ivory
castle and well-trained in the art of war. Yet neither her obligations as
future queen nor the black infestation threatening her kingdom fail to hinder
the mysterious pull of the antique armoire hidden in her parents’ bedchamber. And
stealing the golden key for a leap through time is the only way to confront the
dark lord haunting her dreams.
One face. The image of one defiant, relentless woman has been stuck in Rhys
McEleod’s head ever since he was old enough paint her luscious curves on the
canvas. But the day she walks into his life off the street—sexier than hell and
itching for a fight—he’s not convinced she’s the same women he’s envisioned
since childhood. That is, not until he spots the golden key around her neck—an
object he’d never fully shown in any of his paintings.
Now if he could just persuade his lovely muse he’s not the enemy. Unless the
elusive Faedrah Austiere learns to trust him, he’ll never have her in his
bed—the one place he’s convinced she belongs.
The second Faedrah Austiere walked into his life off the canvas, everything in Rhys
McEleod’s world stopped making sense. Not only does her story sound like a
Grimm’s fairy tale, evidently he’s been cast as the villain. If that isn’t
enough, the mirror inside that old, beat up armoire at her uncle’s condo is
supposedly a doorway to another world. Ever since the pathway opened, something
inside him has seemed…off. If what his muse says is true, they are headed for
an epic showdown, but he isn’t about to let her go. Nothing is more important than
Faedrah’s protection, even if her parents refuse to accept him.
Though certain their fates are bound by more than the golden key Princess Faedrah
wears around her neck, it is paramount Rhys’ true identity be kept secret.
Should news of his bloodline ever reach her kingdom, their entire quest to save
her people could be lost. Their only hope to prove his loyalty is to steal the
map to the dark lord’s Crystal Crypt. Yet her a plan endangers her beloved more
than the accusations he faces in her kingdom and, to escape evil’s grasp, she
and Rhys must take a leap of faith beyond her wildest imagination.
Rhys had one job to do. One measly errand that shouldn’t have been a problem, given
the nature of his powers. But when an old enemy reappears, detailing the result
of his actions, Rhys is forced to make a choice between a future with Faedrah
or dying before his time. Frustrated and out of options, he agrees to her
suggestion they to leap forward in time to the future…even though a good chance
exists his powers will be nothing but a memory in his world. Flying blind on a
wing and a prayer, they prepare to fight for everything they love against a
wizard of insurmountable power.
Faedrah does her best to gather their closest allies. The sides are squared in a war to
control the future of both worlds. With the stakes so high, only one advantage
has been cast in their favor. The sigil of utmost protection inherent in Rhys’
signature. If not enough to thwart the evil awaiting at the Austiere gates, she
could find herself imprisoned in the future, while her kingdom and all those
she has sworn to protect are lost to the mists of time.
Calisa Rhose welcomes Cate Masters with Goddess Awakened #MFRWAuthor
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.
Hey Calisa! Oo, these seats are comfy, thanks. I’d love a lavender margarita. If you’ve never heard of recipes made with culinary lavender, you should visit my heroine’s Lavender Hill Inn, where it’s one of her specialties on the inn’s menu!
I’m thrilled to welcome my wonderfully talented guest today, Cate Masters, who is sharing her book, Goddess, Awakened with us! Lavender margaritas? Sounds positively yummy, Cate. Give me the recipe and I’ll have cook whip some up for all of us!
For now, please show Cate some real Ranch love!
Thank you, thank you very much. 🙂
Before I get to the nosy 5-3-4 part of this interview, tell us a bit about you.
I’m just a writer living the dream. My hubby of 36 years acts as chief cheerleader and enabler, my three wonderful grandboys keep me young (and exhausted!), and my dog Lily and cat Chairman Maiow are my furry babies who keep me company while I write.
We have five grandgirls. Oh for a boy! LOL 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 cozy recliner in a corner of the my living room. What does your writing space look like?
After 18 years raising three kids in a cramped rancher (with one bathroom, ugh), we moved to a house in the country with A SPARE ROOM (and three bathrooms, yay)! I claimed the extra room as my writing room, painted it a pale blue and added my good-luck-writing totems – among them, a Hawaiian ukelele-playing Gumby, a Chinese dragon, a Sgt. Pepper’s music box and several owls in various sizes. I use the desktop as the business end of writing and playing with Photoshop. The laptop has no Internet, so that’s my writing computer, which on nice days I love to take outside to the deck.
Oo, that room sounds heavenly! I’m jealous. LOL 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?
Titles used to stump me but are getting easier. Character names, on the other hand, are the one thing that will hold up a story. If the name doesn’t fit the hero or heroine, it all feels wrong to me. Sometimes I insert [hero] as a placeholder until I figure out who the heck he is.
What advice would you offer aspiring and new writers?
Write, write, and then write some more. Experiment. Don’t try to copy anyone or write to trends. Follow your heart.
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?
Great question. I don’t believe there’s any one answer. What works for one author will not work for another. Sometimes a book goes viral because it resonates with readers who help spread the word. Yet I know some fantastic authors who seem to be in the Best Kept Secrets category.
What a wonderful answer, and very true. Who would you like to meet in the publishing industry- dead or alive- and why?
Ray Bradbury. I fell in love with his stories as a teen, and am still in awe of his writing. After I became serious about learning the craft of fiction, his enthusiasm for writing was a great inspiration.
It’s time for 3 in 1! I’ll ask the questions and you answer them in one word. 😆
Favorite animal? Dog
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter? Fall
Favorite food? Tiramisu
I’m a dog person too. Well done! 🙂
Okay, Flash four. Ready? What are you working on now?
I’m in revisions with the second Goddess Connection novel set in Egypt, where I’ve wanted to visit since forever. Luckily, as a writer I can go anywhere virtually, at least. This heroine (each book’s a standalone and features a different one) is a descendant of Bastet, the goddess of cats. Here’s the draft blurb: Ancient pyramid spells. Mummified warriors. Artifacts appearing from nowhere. And that’s just Sandy Whitaker’s day job. When spells become curses, and the dead return for vengeance, her dream job turns into a living nightmare. Once Sandy embraces her goddess heritage, can she fulfill her destiny?
The warrior Iker’s triumphed over pharaohs and returned from battles victorious, but dealing with Sandy Whitaker is his hardest task yet. A descendant of Bast, she’s headstrong, naïve and completely alluring. Can he convince her to perform the ritual spells to save the Queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s eternal soul? More importantly, can he help her realize she doesn’t need to be descended from a goddess to be one herself?
I love being able to travel through books and yours sound so interesting! What are you sharing today?
Goddess, Awakened – The Goddess Connection, Book 1
Fantasy/paranormal romance novel, about 89,700 words
Blurb:
In starting her life over, Joss had expected some resistance, even some trouble, but not this. The bedroom floor boards trembled beneath her golden-slippered feet. Tendrils of an unseen power curled upward from deep within the ground, tingling through her toes. She paused to steady herself, then continued to put the finishing touches on her costume. The tremors grew into rumbles and their hum seeped beneath her skin. When their tiny wisps twined through her mind, she clenched her hands. Enough. Go away.
Thick as starlight on a clear summer’s eve, sweet as the lavender blossoms she had yet to plant, energy whooshed up through the cracks of the worn wood and out into the October night.
She gripped the bureau until it passed, the vibrations rolling over her in lessening waves. Bubbly, effervescent waves. “Third time tonight, Taz.” Each departure took longer, and more of the essence remained.
When the dog whined, she stroked his fur. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you.”
Even if tonight the waves were palpable enough to make her hairs stand on end. Oh, no, please.
Nothing could ruin tonight. More than a party, this event would determine her future. And after three years of grief, she’d never allow anything to trap her in its clutches again.
Where can we find you and your books?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |All Romance eBooks| Kensington
Blog: http://catemasters.blogspot.com
Email: cate.masters@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts
Twitter: @CateMasters
Where will you be next?
This summer’s crazy busy. Along with a review tour and a release day bash (both with great giveaways), I’m going to be visiting so many places, it’s best to keep an eye on my blog so you can follow along: http://catemasters.blogspot.com
Do you have a favorite goddess?
Great question. I’ll wait to see what others say. 😆 Thank you so much for playing along Cate! Wishing you much luck with your book and writing. I hope you’ll come visit again one day.
Thanks so much for having me today! It’s been a real pleasure. I’d love to visit again!
Dodadagohvi~
Calisa Rhose presents ~ Uncover Monday ~ February
UnCover Mondays on The Ranch!!!
Hey-Ho cover oglers! Are you ready for Valentine’s Day? I am! Here’s February’s lovely cover art and the awesome authors, publishers and artists who made them possible for you to gaze at today. It would be great if you leave a comment letting everyone know what you like (or don’t like) about them and maybe even check out a few author links to meet those behind the books. Or just say hi.
UnCover Mondays on The Ranch!!! This feature is only to highlight authors–not to sell books (though if you see one you want to buy I’m sure the authors won’t mind 😆 ). Enjoy this weeks’ covers to ogle and explore. If there is one provided, you can follow the artist links by clicking on the name, or if there’s an artist link provided, to learn more about the amazing creators of these beautiful covers. I think they deserve fair mention since they helped create the book! As always, click the covers for author websites to find out more. I wish everyone a fabulous new year in 2014!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Title: Community Service
Author: Dakota Madison
Website: www.12novels12months.tumblr.com
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Short on Time Books
Cover Artist: Tony Bryson
Release date: November 20, 2013
As Maggie Mitchell enters her final semester of college, the last thing she wants is a guy in her life, let alone two of them.
Her new lab partner, Sawyer Reed, is still the overconfident and sexy jock that made fun of her in high school. The only thing that has changed is that he now uses a wheelchair, the result of a skiing accident.
Jude Marino is a hot actor who all the girls want and would do anything to get. He works at a local theater where Maggie has been assigned to complete community services hours after rear-ending a police car.
Both Sawyer and Jude want Maggie but only one of them will be able to capture her heart.
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Title: Dancing On Air
Author: Nicole Hurley-Moore
Website: www.nicolehurley-moore.com
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Escape Publishing (Harlequin)
Cover Artist: Harlequin
Release date: November 1, 2013
Cinderella meets Swan Lake in a cross-class, Victorian novel about a ballerina, an aristocrat, and the space in between them.
Lisette yearns for freedom, security and love, but none are offered on the run-down stage of The Imperial Theatre. Instead she has hard work, a tyrannical aunt, and the hope of one day becoming a prima ballerina. Dancing on the stage she catches the attention of two powerful men: Lord Gainswith and Lord De Vale.
Lord Evander Gainswith never expected to fall in love, let alone with a woman so wholly unacceptable to his family and his peers. The sinister Lord De Vale covets Lisette’s youth and strength, and is willing to pay well for it. Lisette may dance roles in fairy tales and fantasies, but the real world is about to intrude, bringing with it the harsh realities of life for a young girl with dreams of rising above the demimonde.
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Title: Dangerous Connections
Website: www.terryodell.com
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Terry Odell
Cover Artist: Dave Fymbo
Release date: October 21, 2013
The Blackthorne, Inc. covert ops team is back with another action-adventure. This time, it’s Computer Nerd meets Cartel Lord.
For Jinx, interacting with people is highly overrated. Computers are his life. On the job, he’s an intel gathering expert for Blackthorne, Inc. Off duty, he’s a shooter in computer role playing games. But what happens when he’s sent into the field to face real enemies with real guns?
Josiah Ignatius Nix—Jinx to all who know him—is the glue holding the Blackthorne, Inc. covert ops teams together when they’re on a mission. In the comfort of his basement office, with his favorite companions—his computers— a click of the mouse provides him with up-to-the-minute intel, which keeps the team alive.
Until the intel fails and a hostage rescue mission goes south. Both the hostage and team are captured, and the boss sends Jinx to the jungles of Mexico as an undercover field agent. The cartels have been kidnapping American engineers to build and maintain their private cell phone networks. Jinx’s skills make him a prime target for capture, a way to infiltrate the cartel and rescue not only the company’s client, but also the missing team of operatives.
Soon, he finds himself paired with Elle Sheridan, a cop whose missing sister is in the middle of a human trafficking ring. Will Elle be able to convince Jinx that Blackthorne’s mission needs to be expanded to include rescuing her sister? And if she does, will the two of them be able to stay ahead of rival cartel leaders and get out alive to make some private connections of their own?
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Title: Dark Vengeance, Black Creek Series-Book 3
Author: R.T. Wolfe
Website: www.rtwolfe.com
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: ePublishing Works
Cover Artist: U/K
Release date: August 27, 2013
Detective Nickie Savage is pursuing a paroled arsonist who’s at it again. Worse, she’s plagued by the most recent victim’s nephew, Duncan Reed, the person she distrusts the most.
Duncan won’t stop until the deadly arsonist targeting his Aunt is back behind bars. But the smart and sassy Nickie Savage is in his way and getting far too close to a 30-year-old secret he’s fought to protect.
When the arsonist strikes again with perfectly timed twin explosions, Duncan and Nickie must re-think everything they once believed about the arsonist and each other.
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Title: The Lawman’s Agreement
Author(s): Nancy Fraser & Patti Shenberger
Weblink(s): www.facebook.com/ nancyfraserauthor www.facebook.com/ authorpattishenberger
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Cover Artist: Heidi Stryker
Release date: November 11, 2013
Post-Civil War Mississippi
U.S. Marshal, Zack McCade takes pride in protecting the good folks of Greenville—especially the beautiful Dr. Suzanne Martindale. He doesn’t always understand her need for independence, but he sure does like getting under her skin. It’s not like he’s looking to settle down—his job is too dangerous to risk taking a wife and family.
In an era when women aren’t readily accepted in the male dominated world of medicine, Suzanne doesn’t have time for courting—especially a charming Cajun rogue like Zack. When he proposes a fake betrothal to keep the matchmaking town out of their hair, she’s sure it’s a bad idea, but can’t deny her longing for a respite from the over-zealous bachelors in town.
Their ruse starts a fire in their hearts that neither expected, but will the re-emergence of Suzanne’s real fiancé douse the flames?
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Title: The Silk Romance
Author: Helena Fairfax
Website: www.helenafairfax.com
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing
Cover Artist: Charlotte Volnek
Release date: May 24, 2013
Sophie Challoner is sensible, hard-working, and a devoted carer of her father. One night her grandmother throws a ball for her in Paris…and Sophie does something reckless that she can never forget.
Jean-Luc Olivier is not a man to treat lightly. And so when fate takes a hand years after the ball and reunites him with Sophie in Lyon, he is determined not to let her go a second time.
But it seems the fates are conspiring against their happiness. Jean-Luc has secrets of his own. And when disaster strikes at home in London, Sophie is faced with a choice—stay in this glamorous world with the man she loves, or return to her family to keep a sacred promise she made her mother.
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Title: The Zoastra Affair
Author: Victoria Pinder
Website: www.victoriapinder.com
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Release date: December 30, 2013
A hundred years from now, Earth has trading partners with alien beings, mostly humanoid. However, going into space brought forth an unknown enemy who attacks Earth at will.
The Zoastra is part of the Earthseekers, an organization originally designed to go into space. Its new mission is to find Earth’s enemies.
Ariel is stuck on a Victorian planet and steals Grace’s body and life to get off the planet. Grace must get her body back before Ariel bonds with Grace’s husband, Peter. Then there is Cross, the man on a mission to find those who killed his family. Ariel is attracted to Cross, but she’s stolen someone’s life.
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Title: Time for Love
Website: www.emma-kaye.com
Genre: Time Travel Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor
Release Date: November 25, 2013
WW Release Date: March 7, 2014
Alexandra Turner will do anything to save her twin sister. Even when she’s transported back in time to Regency England. Rescuing her sister and finding her way back to her own time will take all her concentration. Falling in love is not an option.
With the death of his brother, Nicholas Somerville became the ninth Marquess of Oakleigh and must return to England to take his place in society. Part of his responsibility will be to find a wife. It never occurs to him he might actually discover a woman he could love—until he meets Alex on his voyage home.
Can Alex and Nicholas find a way to bridge the gap of time and circumstance? Can they overcome their fears to realize that true love transcends time? Or will a dark secret from Alex’s past rear up to separate them forever?
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Title: Waking Dream
Author: J.J. DiBenedetto
Website: www.writingdreams.net
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Suspense
Publisher: J.J. DiBenedetto
Artist – Ami Low
Release date: August 22, 2013
“Oh, God! We can hurt each other. Whatever we do to each other in the dream, we’ll do it to ourselves for real…”
When her own dreams are visited by a mysterious woman in a red dress, Sara realizes she has something she never expected: a counterpart, someone outside her family who shares her talent to see other people’s dreams.
When the woman in red keeps showing up in other dreams as well, leaving ruined lives in her wake, Sara knows she has something she never imagined: a nemesis.
Now, Sara must track the woman in red down in the waking world, before she’s forced to fight for her life in her dreams…
“Waking Dream” is the exciting fifth novel in the “Dreams” series.
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Title: Taken By Storm
Website: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Kissmet Publishing
Cover artist’s name: Steven Novak
Release date: May 5, 2013
Taken by Storm begins as the darkly bitter Grand Vizier, Lord Boltar, is about to claim what he believes belongs to him, the rule of Avistad. The King of Avistad’s son, Prince Tahj, has just returned from a trip and senses the unrest even before his best friend and captain, Radeem, warns him. Radeem heard rumors and suspects the King’s advisor is planning to overthrow the crown. Just as Tahj discovers a “gift” from Lord Boltar, a young girl bound and gagged on the prince’s bedroom floor, fighting erupts. Tahj, Radeem, and the captive girl, Bashea, escape the castle in a hail of arrows.
Born from the fire of a coup, Tahj and Bashea’s relationship burns with a passion that neither of them quite understands. The pair is drawn closer together as they face various perils, Boltar’s soldiers, a screaming panther, even the scathing winds of a desert storm. But after what she went through at the hands of Boltar’s men, Bashea is afraid to trust. Yet it is her fiery nature that both appeals to Tahj, and drives him crazy. In fact, when Bashea’s brother, Bagrat, informs Tahj that Bashea means “lips of the gods,” he retorts, “Are you sure you don’t mean tongue of the devil?” It takes a long separation to bring them back to each other, but when Tahj does return, it is once again during a battle with Lord Boltar. But now the overlord, who has been forced beyond reason by Tahj’s success in retaking the throne, is an even more dangerous threat than before. Reunited, will Tahj and Bashea be strong enough to defeat their twisted and powerful enemy?
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I want to thank all the authors who submit and make this a special place to share their work!
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To see YOUR cover here visit my UnCover Monday page for detailed instructions:
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Calisa Rhose presents ~ Caedmon’s Curse by AJ Nuest
WOOOOOHOOOOOO! I’m super ecited to turn the round pen over to AJ Nuest today. A wonderful author and my friend, AJ comes to visit from the buried Indiana to share her first-ever fantasy series!!! I’ve read some of these stories pre-submission stage and I. LOVE. THEM. I’m guessing you will too once you experience Caedmon. 😉 Let’s turn this gig over to the lovely AJ.
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I’M THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE JANUARY 9TH
MARKS THE RELEASE OF BOOK III
IN THE GOLDEN KEY CHRONICLES…
CAEDMON’S CURSE
The two years Prince Caedmon suffered in the dungeons of Seviere’s keep left him with more than just lash marks lacing his back. He now retains the secret behind the key, and is the only one who understands it’s grim connection to his beloved Rowena. Torn between telling her the truth and risking their future, he agrees to join her perilous quest. But their enemies to the north are not the only menace determined to see them fail and, to prove his love, he must conquer the demons of his past.
Join Caedmon and Rowena as they rediscover a love bound by fate, and struggle to unravel the significance behind Caedmon’s Curse, Book III in The Golden Key Chronicles.
The Golden Key Chronicles Release Schedule:
Rowena’s Key, November 7, 2013
Candra’s Freedom, December 12, 2013
Caedmon’s Curse, January 9, 2014
Braedric’s Bane, February 13, 2014
Find your copy at: Amazon / AmazonUK
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Rowena sprang to her feet.
Someone was coming. And based upon the thundering hoof beats and thrashing
branches tearing through the forest behind her, whoever it was cared little for
masking their approach.
Dammit. All night and late into the next evening she’d ridden as if the devil himself had pursued her. She’d purposely stayed off the roads, traveling the old tracks instead, and even stopped several times to set false trails. Not until Helios approached the western horizon and she’d discovered this small clearing inside a copse of thick evergreens had she happily made camp. Her body ached with exhaustion, but her fatigue was a small price in return for the confidence that she’d finally put enough distance between her and the realm of Austiere. Surrounded on all sides by dense trees, the hidden location ensured the smoke from her fire would remain concealed. No one would be able to get close without providing plenty of warning.
The dull pummel of incoming hooves increased and she gritted her teeth, kicked some dirt over her small well-made fire and rushed for the nearest fir. A flick of her hand and Dart took wing, disappearing into the forest just above where she’d used a small wire wicket to tether Belial. Whoever was coming had better have their affairs in order. They were about to be on a first-name basis with the nine.
The bark prickled and dug into her palms as she swung hands to feet up the branches, ascending to mid-tree height before she crouched on a sturdy branch on the balls of her feet.
Exhibiting all the grace of an enraged bull, a hooded rider crashed into her camp. The horse’s dancing halt disrupted her bedroll, flinging dirt all over her plated dinner. Jerk. The intruder had to be male, what with this presumed sense of entitlement, thinking nothing of ruining her perfectly arranged camp, soiling her property. She eased two silver blades from the sides of her leather pants and fisted the slender handles in her grip.
Hello, stranger.
Care to dance?
In a fluid movement which contradicted his initial appearance, the rider leapt off his horse and knelt before her sputtering fire. The sides of his cloak billowed past his shoulders. Thick muscle pulled his leather pants taut around his thighs. And those arms…the black vambraces…the leather cords encircling his biceps.
She slumped. Well, for the sweet of Helios. Exactly how far did she have to travel to get away from the man?
Prince Caedmon pinched a bit of ash between his thumb and first two fingers, rubbed them together and lifted them to his nose. Rowena squinted past the branches as he rounded the fire and approached her saddlebags. He squatted to rifle the contents, his back facing her, his hood hiding his profile from view. She scowled. Most likely, his intent was to drag her kicking and screaming back to the castle. But she wasn’t about to sit idly by while he got his grubby mitts all over her supplies.
She sheathed her blades and swung silently to the ground. Motions steady and even, carefully shifting her weight, she reclaimed her knives as she side-stepped twigs and piles of dusty leaves. For all her caution, her concerns were unwarranted. The bog ox was so preoccupied with searching her belongings, she could’ve easily stomped all over the place without distracting him.
A soundless bounce on the tips of her boots and she pounced, knees straddling his wide back, crossed blades pressed along the thin skin under his jaw. “I’m officially pissed off,” she hissed in his ear. “And if you plan to see tomorrow, you’ll do exactly as I say.”
The next instant she was flying backward through the air. Her teeth clattered on impact and her blades scattered as she landed on her rump in the dirt. She shook her head to regain her bearings.
How in the hell had he dislodged her so quickly? And which hurt worse? Her bruised ass or her pride? She quickly scrambled to her feet.
Tendons flexed and every muscle in his arms bulged as Prince Caedmon tore the cloak off his shoulders and chucked the garment aside. A silver chime hummed through the air as he unsheathed his sword the fro the scabbard at his back and fisted the hilt in his hand. Anger smoldered in the depths of his chocolate-brown eyes, but if that fierce glare was meant to make her shriek and scamper into the woods, the man and his stubborn male pride had another think coming.
She notched up her chin and met him scowl for scowl. Not for one second would she let him intimidate her. No constructs governed the ways of the forest. Out here, survival was the only decree, and if risking injury was the price for her freedom, she was happy to end this test of will come what may.
“It’s time you learned a thing or two, my love.”
Ha! Could he be any more condescending? On a click and whirr, her wrist blades snapped home and she hugged her chest, widening her legs into her warrior’s stance. “Too bad Denmar’s not here to save your ass. It’s high time we settle our differences once and for all.”
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AJ is a multi-published, award-winning author who lives in the middle of a cornfield in NW Indiana. Her loving husband, two beautiful children and a bevy of spoiled pets have agreed to stay and, in exchange for three rations per day and laundry service, tolerate her lunacy. While she spends most days happily ensconced in crafting romance across a multitude of genres, an underground coup has been percolating. The dogs just informed her the cat is secretly vying for dictatorship.
Website: http://ajnuest.com
Blog: http://ajbooks.blogspot.com
Email: ajnuest@yahoo.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/amyjo.nuest
I write contemporary and paranormal romance, with sensuality as the key ingredient and spice for kick.
Pen of The Dreamer 