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Archive for March, 2022



Anna Hague: South Carolina, here we come! (Contest)
Friday, March 4th, 2022

UPDATE: The winner is…Debra Guyette!
*~*~*

I’m about to go on a vacation. Sounds weird. In the past two years my husband and I have canceled four vacations and rescheduled one (This One!). We’d just returned from Walt Disney World when the pandemic hit. Between Covid and a health issue, our travels came to a screeching halt.

I know several people who don’t take vacations. They have the means, but they just don’t go. My husband and I have been the complete opposite. In the three decades we’ve been married, we’ve always taken some sort of vacation. Some were short and close by when we had little money, and others involved taking advantage of a business trip to a very cool location. Some were planned and some were very spur of the moment. We always took a vacation.

Now for the past two years, “staycation” has been the norm. What I mean by staycation was sitting on the deck drinking wine and listening to Jimmy Buffett. The problem with that was it became the norm, and the thought of going anywhere wasn’t exciting or even “meh.” Each time we canceled a trip, we weren’t really bothered by it. Staying home re-watching Boston Legal, Justified, and now The Practice was not only perfectly acceptable but desired.

That’s a problem. The not caring if I left the house has become a real problem for me as an author. Now, I get out and still write because I’m a freelance sports reporter, and I’m out a couple times a week. But that’s different. Recapping an event involves facts, stats and few pretty words thrown in but not the creativity needed for producing a novel.

I released a novella in November of 2021, Boy and The Family Plan as part of a shared world project, but prior to that, May of 2020 was my last release. Thunderstruck was a direct result of a vacation we took to South Dakota. I was so in love and inspired by Spearfish Canyon and Deadwood, the story was the easiest one I’ve ever written.

By not going on a trip, any trip for two years, I realized I have a need to get away in order to fuel my writing. This vacation will be no big adventure. We’re going to South Carolina to visit friends. I suspect we’ll spend a day at the beach, maybe venture into Charleston, but for the most part, we’ll just be hanging out with good friends.

I’m hoping the unfamiliar location, strange bed and different food will shock my brain into some creativity. For two years, my brain has been on overload from Covid and cancer, functioning pretty much on auto pilot. Auto pilot doesn’t allow for creativity. The change of location will alter my routine for a week. Change what I do. Change what I eat. Change who I talk to. All of that change, even for a short time, will recharge a drained battery.

I’m a third of the way through the follow up to Thunderstruck and completely stalled. I know this trip will get me out of my rut and routine enough to finish this book, because I really do love the story. I can’t wait for people to read this story, but I have to write it first.

So many authors I know say they’re introverts and staying home day after day writing is what they do. In some ways, I admire that. I’m not really an introvert though. I’m fine with alone time and home time, sometimes, but what I learned is I need the outside stimulation to spark my inner thoughts.

South Carolina, here we come.

Contest

For a chance to win an e-book of Thunderstruck, comment with your favorite vacation spot.

Check out Anna’s books!
Boy and the Family Plan: https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Family-Plan-All-American-ebook/dp/B09GPNYQVF
Thunderstruck: https://www.amazon.com/Thunderstruck-Book-1-Storm-Canyon-ebook/dp/B087C9QTKG

Anna Hague’s Social Media links:
E-mail: annahague80@gmail.com
Website: www.annahague.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AnnaHagueAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010050496430
Amazon Books. http://bit.ly/3hEPjlYAnnaHague
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AnnaHagueAuthor/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/anna-hague
Wild Rose Press: https://wildcatalog.thewildrosepress.com/2382_anna-hague

Lainey Reese: The Inspiration Behind a New Series (Contest)
Thursday, March 3rd, 2022

Thanks so much to Delilah for having me on her blog today – squee! I’m Lainey Reese and I’m the USA Today Bestselling Author of the New York Series and other works. I’m thrilled to be here with you to share the story of how my brand new BDSM series came about – it’s called The Kimberly Chronicles and follows the story of a sassy, submissive hairstylist who barges her way into an FBI investigation. The first book in the series, Lace & Flames, released just two days ago with two more books to come soon. Here’s a quick summary!

When Kimberly trolls the local BDSM club after her friend goes missing, she finds herself ensnared in something a hell of a lot bigger and more sinister than she had bargained for. She also finds herself face to face with her sexy new therapist.

Dean Ackles is deep undercover with the FBI and from the moment his fiery new client entered the Lion’s Den, he should have known it would only be a matter of time until he gave in to the temptation to make her his own. With Kimberly suddenly in the hot seat smack dab in the middle of his case, it’s going to take both Dean along with his partner and best friend Sam to see her safely through it.

So, that’s the crazy, sexy story in a nutshell. But you could have read as much from the back of the book. It was suggested to me that I share with you how this story came to be, so that is what this blog will be about.

I went to my first ever KallypsoCon last November and it literally saved my life. I was in the grips of a deep depression while I was there and the women I met turned everything around for me. Everyone there from the amazing Kallypso Masters herself on through to each and every reader I encountered was incredible. Kally’s readers really know how to treat an author right!

There is one woman in particular who stood out from the crowd like she had a spotlight on her wherever she went. She was tall, lusciously curved and had the sort of beauty you see on billboards.

I found her irresistible.

At one point during the con, we toured a real life BDSM club and Kimberly floated from room-to-room regal as a queen in a high collared black number that hugged her rich curves. She’d had her gorgeous, honeyed locks piled high on her head with a flutter of lace showcasing her jawline and I knew I had to write her somehow.

It wasn’t until the two of us toured Universal Studios together and bonded over our love of Harry Potter that her story came to me. God bless her, she just uttered one sentence and the entire series fell into my lap.

Here’s how that went: We were in line for our lunch in The Leaky Cauldron and discussing mental health and my need for a therapist (of all things to be discussing in an amusement park!?). I explained to her that I knew I needed to see a therapist and that the problem wasn’t finding one, it was picking one. My insurance had sent me a list to choose from that was multiple pages long. I had been aghast and quite frankly overwhelmed at the plethora of choices, I told her.

“Hmm;” she huffs with her beautiful face scrunched, “I wonder how you could narrow it down. What if you tried looking up their reviews online?”

And that did it. Instantly I burst into laughter so loud the people around us turned to see what was so funny. I knew what she meant but my mind shot immediately to Fictional Kimberly picking out her therapist based on Yelp reviews. And The Kimberly Chronicles was born.

As soon as I got home I started writing. I have never written a book so fast in my life and I love it. I love the energy of the story and the spunk and sass of Kimberly. I love the way she keeps her FBI men on their sexy toes and the villain in this story is one I really love to hate.

Since being home, the depression has become manageable thanks almost entirely to Kimberly, both fictional and real. The woman behind the fantasy has become one of my most cherished friends and I consider myself damn lucky she loves Harry more than Mickey or none of this would be happening.

So, that is the story of how one hell of a real woman birthed one hell of a fictional one.

As for me and my depression? I’m doing great these days and spend most of my time buried in my computer and letting the words flow. I feel like the darkest days are finally behind me and there is more than sadness and grief ahead. For the first time in a very long time, there is hope on the horizon and I owe it all to the KallypsoCon and the amazing women I met there. They saved me that weekend and for that I will always be grateful.

Lace & Flames Blurb & Buy Links

The search for her missing friend will ignite dangerous desires…

Before her best friend went missing, the most stressful things in Kimberly Lace’s life were her demanding hairdressing clients and trying not to flirt with her gorgeous therapist. But with no
answers from the police, Kimberly decides to investigate her friend’s disappearance for herself.

Undercover FBI forensic psychologist Dean Ackles needs to keep his mind on the job. Five women are missing, but his distracting thoughts about his client Kimberly are almost as bad as the
guilt he feels about lying to her. When he and his partner Sam find Kimberly searching for answers at The Lion’s Den, things get heated.

For Kimberly, the flames of desire are ignited for not one, but two men. And while she might be happy to submit to them in the bedroom, there’s no way Kimberly is giving up for the search for
her friend, no matter how much they insist on keeping her safe.

Their powerful attraction will lead Kimberly into the heart of danger and tempt her to risk everything for passion, including her own life.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HT57vw
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3gNGzbC
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3JsMU8F
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3uUItzk

Giveaway

I’d love to give you the chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card! Just follow the link below and answer the question. I’ll choose one winner on March 5 and my assistant will send it out.
https://lainey-reese-giveaway.paperform.co

About the Author

Lainey – born in Tacoma, Washington – was raised mostly in Nevada and California. The youngest of five, Lainey dreamed of being an actress and starring in blockbuster movies she wrote herself. As she grew, the dreams of being on the big screen faded but the ones of writing those fantastic stories never did. At 17 Lainey read her first romance novel and knew she’d found her calling. Here were the stories like the ones in her own heart and mind, and like tumblers falling into position on a combination lock, everything just clicked into place and the world was open to her.

It took a long time before she could work up the courage and belief in herself to try but finally, in 2010 Lainey held her breath and took the leap. Her first novel A Table for Three debuted in February and she hasn’t looked back since. Nor has she given up hope that one day, she will be sitting in a theater, and it will be one of her stories on the big screen…

Along with her husband and two dogs, Lainey lives in Marysville, Washington and they have a daughter going to college in Bellingham.

Social Media Links
• Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorLaineyReese
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@authorlaineyreese.com
• Twitter: twitter.com/lainey_reese
• Instagram: instagram.com/lainey.reesd
• Website: laineyreese.com
• Newsletter: https://bit.ly/laineynewsletter
• Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/3431863.Lainey_Reese
• Patreon: patreon.com/laineyreese
• Amazon Author Central: amazon.com/Lainey-Reese/e/B00J8B37FM
• Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/lainey-reese

Cameron Allie: Character Spotlight — Lucifer (Contest & Excerpt)
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022

Dear reader,

The following is a character interview with Lucifer. He’s Quinn’s familiar, a snarky, know-it-all black cat.

  1. Is your family big or small? Who does it consist of? Do you have siblings?

Pretty small. No siblings. For a while it was just me and Quinn. That was after her grandmother passed, but now Ian’s around. He’s pretty cool, for a mortal, I guess. Just don’t tell him I said so.

  1. How well would you handle a long-distance relationship?

Quite well, I think, considering. I’m not admitting to anything, but I might see Rowan’s familiar from time to time. Okay, maybe more frequently than that.

  1. What exactly is a familiar?

A familiar is an animal who has bonded with a witch. The bond creates a unique, strong friendship. The familiar is in tune with the witch’s feelings and our lifespan is connected to the witch’s, meaning we have long lives, hundreds maybe even thousands of years. We, the familiars, also have nine lives, regardless of species, it’s not just a cat thing.

Any type of animal can become a familiar, but not all animals can become one, it’s something you’re born with. Basically, if an animal can talk it can bond with a witch, though generally it’s cats and birds and small rodents or reptiles.

We’re here to provide guidance to the witch, which maybe isn’t a good thing for poor Quinn, since she’s stuck with me.

  1. Can you lie easily?

Yes.

  1. Have you ever done something illegal?

Of course not. What kind of imbecile admits to something like that? It’s not as though I killed anyone. Spiking Quinn’s tea with a love potion isn’t really all that bad, and I had good intentions. Intentions count for something, right?

  1. Are you more likely to ask for permission or forgiveness?

Definitely forgiveness. If you ask permission, they’ll just say no. If I know I’m right, then I go for it. Even if they get a little angry about it, once it all works out for the best, they’ll see I was right.

  1. What’s your favourite book?

Everard and Daphne. It’s a star-crossed lover’s tale. But it’s not some sappy love story. Nope. It’s got tons of action and fighting and ruthlessness, and did I mention fighting. It’s way more than just a kissing book, though there’s plenty of that as well.

  1. How do you respond to a threat?

Eliminate it immediately. Getting out ahead of problems, threats and problematic people is the only way to survive in this world.

  1. What living person do you most despise?

Right now, Draven is pretty high up on the list. He’s the alpha of the local werewolf pack and seems to have it out for Quinn.

  1. Have you ever had your heart broken?

No. Well, yes. I suppose there’s more than one way a heart can break. So, yes. For example, watching Quinn mourn for her grandmother, feeling her pain as though it was my own, that was heart break. Romantically though, no. No one has ever broken my heart.

Love Spells, Full Moons, and Silver Bullets

What do you do when your ex’s werewolf boss wants to feast on the mortal you’ve sworn to protect?

Quinn was unaware of the love potion her meddling cat dumped into her tea, so when Ian Hannigan ends up injured on her property, she thinks she’s dealing with another mortal, not the man who can help mend her heart. Her life becomes a balancing act as she attempts to keep him safe, while hiding secrets better left buried with the dead.

In a realm filled with things that go bump in the night, Ian didn’t expect to find security and happiness in the arms of a green skinned witch, yet for the first time since his parents tragic car crash, he’s found some measure of peace. The rumors he hears in Clayridge aren’t pleasant, but Ian knows there’s more to Quinn than what people would have him believe. If he’s placed his trust in the wrong hands he’ll be paying with more than just his heart. He’ll pay with his life.

Get your copy of Love Spells, Full Moons, and Silver Bullets today by clicking here
Sign up for my newsletter and receive a FREE short story. Get Arrested Valentine now.

 

About Cameron Allie

Romance author Cameron Allie grew up in a small town north of Toronto. As a child she loved stories, and after reading her first romance novel at age fifteen, her dreams of writing became singularly focused on the love story. She is currently living in Ontario with her husband, their young daughters and with their cat, who is constantly trying to interrupt the writing process.

Connect with Cameron:
Follow Cameron on Facebook
Cameron’s Covey (FB Reader Group)
Instagram
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon
BookBub
TikTok

Contest

To celebrate the release of Love Spells, Full Moons, and Silver Bullets I will be giving away a moon pendant with chakra gemstones. To enter follow the Rafflecopter link. A winner will be drawn on March 18th 2022.

The necklace was handmade by author Sean Kerr of KerrCards.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt from Love Spells, Full Moons, and Silver Bullets…

Ian raced off as fast as he could, but she was faster. Of course, she was faster; she was a fucking vampire.

When she blocked off his retreat, he turned and started in another direction. Her laughter followed him. Like a cat with a mouse, she toyed with him. Mocking him, taunting him, and foiling each escape. He was under no false assumptions. She was playing with him.

“Little human, come with me,” she whispered. “I’d love to take you home for dinner.”

This time, when she spoke, no haze encircled him, just fear and dread. Her laugh was cut short when a wolf howled in the distance. Seeming on alert, her posture changed, and she lunged for him, all her teasing gone. He braced himself for her attack, sheltering his face as best he could, but her weight never hit him.

Mid-jump, something tackled her to the ground.

A beast, something definitely from a horror flick, rose up over her. It stood at least seven feet tall on its hind legs. Brown fur covered most of its body. It had a wide chest and wolf-like features but walked on two feet. Saliva fell from its mouth, dangling from its teeth like some rabid dog. Its attention turned to him but flickered back to the woman when she attacked it, kicking at its legs before launching nails-first toward the creature’s throat.

Movement behind him caused Ian to turn. More wolf-like creatures were barreling toward them, snapping tree limbs and leaving claw marks in the earth.

Abandoning the skirmish, Ian ran once more.

At one point, he’d been in fine shape, his body toned, his cardio excellent, but in the last year, he’d let physical exercise lapse, and now he felt the repercussions. His lungs burned, his legs ached. He wouldn’t be able to keep up this pace for long. He needed to find help or shelter. Somewhere to hide.

He didn’t bother to look back when he heard something, or more correctly, somethings, from the sound of it, in pursuit of him. He simply pushed on. Nightmare or not, it was his only chance. Praying he’d wake up, he tried running in a zig-zag pattern, but something threw him to the ground, and a second later, pain sliced across his back. Harsh, unforgiving, and deep, claws sunk into his skin.

He screamed in anguish, tears rushing to his eyes. Not a dream. So not a dream.

He was done for. This was the end.

Unexpectedly, the weight above him was removed. Ian pushed up a bit and watched as the vampire woman from before fought against the brown wolf creature.

Pushing to his knees, Ian felt blood dripping down his back. His shirt hung off his body, shredded by the wolf-man’s claws.

He staggered a bit, trying to get to his feet. That’s when he felt hot breath against his cheek. Twisting his head, he came face to face with another wolf-man. This one seemed bigger, its eyes black as night, as it stared at him, spittle hanging from its jowls.

Ian swallowed.

The creature opened its mouth and released a horrific roar.

Spit hit Ian’s face. The power behind that fierce sound moved Ian’s entire body, pushing him backward, like a fat pig blown from its straw house by the big bad wolf.

The creature stalked toward him, and once more, Ian’s legs propelled him forward. A few hundred yards, and he dove behind a pile of brush. He cowered there, knowing it was only a matter of time before they nabbed him.

With one hand, he reached back to assess the damage. The wound was deep. Three, maybe even four slashes across his skin. He’d need stitches or staples, and if he didn’t get help soon, likely a blood transfusion.

A low growl drew his attention. He peeked around the pile of twigs and leaves and spotted the two wolves pacing along what seemed to be an invisible line on the ground. Standing against a tree trunk further back was a woman.

“Why aren’t they attacking?” He wondered out loud as he used his sleeve to wipe sweat from his brow.

“Because they aren’t allowed to hunt on my territory.”

Ian’s gaze swung to the newest voice. This new being was just as shocking as the rest, with a purple and black dress that draped from her body, cut high in the front, revealing shapely thighs covered in torn stockings. Brown hair hung in ringlets around her shoulders, tumbling out from beneath a wide-brimmed pointed black hat. One hand was propped on her hip, and the other was wrapped around a corn broom handle. A heavy metal talisman hung around her neck. The green hue of her skin made her look as though she’d walked off the pages of a comic book and left absolutely zero question as to what she was.

A witch. Now there’s was a witch.

The vampire had been breathtaking, in a drugging sort of way, but this woman was stunning. Her beauty was raw and real. Or maybe that was just his loopy brain trying to make sense of this crazy world he’d stumbled into.

“Your territory?”

“Yes.” Her gaze dropped to him, and her mouth turned upward in a kind smile. “This is my land, and you are safe here.”

“You can’t keep him there forever, Quinn,” a deep voice spoke from behind the pile of forest rubble.

Ian took another look around the brush. Two men, both naked, one with raven hair and the other with sandy brown, paced that invisible line. “He won’t be leaving tonight, Draven. Go home.”

A snarl came from the brown-haired man. “I’ve tasted his blood, his flesh. Give him to me.”

The vampire, presently fixing her wild hair, sighed. “I’m going to find a new quarry. Enjoy your mortal, Quinn. You know where to find me if you want rid of him.”

Ian watched the exchange with interest. In fact, he was quite invested, as it seemed his life was being negotiated.

Faster than he could see, the vampire disappeared between the trees, but the men remained.

“I want him, Quinn. Give him back.”

“You’re wasting your breath, Draven. Leave now, or I will turn away all business that comes from your pack.”

Draven, the man who had taken a pound of flesh from Ian’s back, growled. “This isn’t over.” Then as Ian watched, he transformed back into a wolf creature and fled, leaving the raven-haired man behind.

He exhaled rather loudly. “I hope you aren’t making a mistake, Quinn.”

Ian glanced to the witch, whose eyes narrowed. “Think carefully about what side you’re on, Alec, and about what your conscience can live with.”

“The pack comes first. Always.”

“And you don’t ever let me forget it,” the witch—Quinn—said.

The raven-haired man looked as though he wanted to say more, but he merely shook his head, turned, and shifted into wolf form before following in the direction Draven had taken.

Blinking, Ian tried to make sense of any part of what had happened. One minute he was fighting with Priscilla, and now he was face-to-face with a witch.

He glanced up at her, wondering if he should start running again, but when he tried to move, his body gave up, collapsing in pain.

The broom dropped to the ground as Quinn came closer, tsking softly. “And just what sort of mess have you gotten yourself into?”

Ukraine Solidarity (Puzzle-Contest)
Tuesday, March 1st, 2022

UPDATE: The winner is…Jolene!
*~*~*

If you’re like me, it’s hard not to run the news channels 24/7. The news out of Europe is at once proud, devastating, hopeful, horrific…  All the best and the worst humans have to offer. So, today’s post is a puzzle. One with a pretty picture that I hope gives you a moment’s peace.

Solve the puzzle and then let me know what you’re thinking. Doesn’t matter what you say, you’ll entered to win a $5 Amazon gift card.