tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24655468660700282352024-02-19T09:58:47.600-06:00Naima Simone, AuthorUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-19319923588337652832014-11-03T19:20:00.002-06:002014-11-03T19:20:51.315-06:00Southern Magic Holiday Giveaway!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fictionbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-Banner.jpg"><img alt="Huge Giveaway" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-818" src="http://fictionbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014-Banner.jpg" height="830" title="Huge Giveaway" width="606" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Southern Magic brings a special holiday giveaway once more</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">21 awesome romance books,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">swag, and 2 gift cards by 15 of its talented authors</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Get ready for some of the best romance around</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From New Adult to Historical to Erotic</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There's a little bit for everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One lucky winner will be selected at random</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Get ready to swoon the month of December away</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Don't delay, enter now!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Or the bustle of the holidays will get in the way</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the wonderful prizes from the authors participating in this special giveaway</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Visit the websites below to learn more:</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bettybolte.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Betty Bolte</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("Emily's Vow" and "Amy's Choice" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.katherinebone.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Katherine Bone</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("The Rogue's Prize" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.nanceecain.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Nancee Cain</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">($25 Gift Card)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.louisacornell.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Louisa Cornell</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("Christmas Revels" eBook + $15 Gift Card)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.jamiefarrellbooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Jamie Farrell</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("The Husband Games" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.larynnford.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Larynn Ford</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("Dreams Do Come True" eBook)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.christinegloversite.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Christine Glover</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("The Maverick's Red Hot Reunion" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://calliejamesbooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Callie James</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("Innocent" and "Student Bodyguard for Hire" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.suzanne-johnson.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Suzanne Johnson</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("Royal Street" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.suzanne-johnson.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Susannah Sandlin</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("Redemption" and "Lovely, Dark, and Deep" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ingridseymour.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Ingrid Seymour</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("The Guys Are Props Club" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.naimasimone.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Naima Simone</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("Secrets and Sins: Raphael" and "Secrets and Sins: Chayot" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.carlaswafford.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Carla Swafford</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("Circle of Deception" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.peggywebb.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Peggy Webb</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("The Language of Silence" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a href="http://medawhite.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Meda White</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">("Winter Formal", "Fall Rush", "Spring Fling" and "Christmas Give" Paperback)</span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ef6d93c724/" id="rc-ef6d93c724" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-59173868781275053092014-09-10T09:17:00.000-05:002014-09-10T16:47:08.027-05:007x7x7 Challenge and a New Book on My EVAH Growing TBR Pile! Thanks, Christy Reece!!<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, I'm trying to blog more because I recently received some advice about conquering what you're scared of but want with a passion. So being more dedicated about blogging is one of those steps. Buuut, I ain't gonna lie. My posts probably won't be really long or deep but more just random stuff that pops into this slightly neurotic, a lot crazy head. Fair warning... :-) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">First up! Aliyah Burke<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"> tagged me for this WIP (Work in Progress) challenge of Facebook. I know. I should've posted this on FB, but I'm cheating. Sue me! So it's called the 7x7x7 challenge. I have to go to page 7 of my current WIP, then go to line 7, post 7 lines as is. </span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">These lines are from the book I'm neck-deep in now that's due at the end of the month and I have no title for yet. Scene takes place at a bachelor auction...since it's a Bachelor Auction novel. My heroine, Khloe, has arrived with her best friend to find--buy--Khloe a date so she can use him to get her man! Here goes!</span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="line-height: 200%;">Trouble
was, she didn’t have a great résumé where men were concerned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="line-height: 200%;">One
had stolen a project idea from her, received a promotion as a result of her
hard work then took off for a new European office, breaking up with her via a PM
on Facebook. </span></span></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The other? Well, the other had stolen her virginity and her heart...</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anyway, Bennett--with his genteel, warm manner, brilliance, and kindness--was her chance at a life filled with love, companionship, and stability. He wouldn't abandon her, leaving her confused and hurting. </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>And he definitely wouldn't break up with her on social media.</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">hat was eight lines...Hee-hee!</span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aaaand...There's a new book in the Last Chance Rescue series by Christy Reece! RUNNING ON EMPTY!! Aaaaarrrggghhh!! I can't contain myself! Can you tell? LOL!! </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's the blurb!</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZ_hNJQza1u3lKztetBGgeR76Nq3xUXJsopoX2oYXUnQSByBxPUED1c6GzwAawiQdc3DwWBy67F6NqwupWJomoKlkWYBCDv18oXoF62LCia7nUWWB_ZWI4TH8SMkHCEUFkvE6j9gnyPXf/s1600/Running+on+Empty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZ_hNJQza1u3lKztetBGgeR76Nq3xUXJsopoX2oYXUnQSByBxPUED1c6GzwAawiQdc3DwWBy67F6NqwupWJomoKlkWYBCDv18oXoF62LCia7nUWWB_ZWI4TH8SMkHCEUFkvE6j9gnyPXf/s1600/Running+on+Empty.jpg" height="400" width="261" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Danger has begun...</span>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Having survived a brutal childhood, Sabrina Fox believed she could handle anything. That was before she watched the love of her life die before her very eyes. Brokenhearted, her emotions on lockdown, she finds purpose and hope as an LCR Elite Operative rescuing victims from some of the most volatile places in the world. <br /><br />Covert ops agent Declan Steele is used to a life of danger and deceit, but when the one person he trusted and believed in above all others sets him up, he’ll stop at nothing to make her pay. Finally rescued from his hellish prison, Declan has one priority—hunt down Sabrina Fox and exact his revenge. <br /><br />Trusting no one is a lonely, perilous path. Sabrina swears she’s innocent and Declan must make a decision--trust his heart or his head. As memories of their life together returns, he realizes just how treacherous his torture had been and the target of his revenge shifts. But when Sabrina is taken, retribution is the last thing on his mind. With the assistance of Last Chance Rescue Elite, Declan races to rescue the only woman he has ever loved before it’s too late. </span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can't wait to get my greedy little paws on it!! You can buy </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Running-Empty-LCR-Elite-Novel-ebook/dp/B00NDVY95K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=christy+reece+running+on+empty" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">here!</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Y'all have a won-der-ful Hump Day!!</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-50187632256963082332014-08-31T22:54:00.000-05:002014-08-31T22:54:53.986-05:00Meet My Character Blog Tour! My Turn!
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m
delighted to be joining a group of wonderful writers in the “Meet My Character
Blog Tour”, where we tell readers about our super cool heroes and heroines. In
my humble opinion, that is. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Today, I’m going to
introduce my brooding, aloof and wounded hero, Chayot Grey from my most recent
release, SECRETS AND SINS: CHAYOT, book 4 in the Secrets and Sins series
available from Entangled Publishing on August 4th. A security specialist with a
dark past, equally dark secrets but a desperate need to be loved—even if he
doesn’t realize it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First
off, let me give a rousing and boisterous thank you to the faaaabulous Stacy
Reid for inviting me to join in on the fun! Have you read Stacy’s books? *gasp*
Why the &%$#@!% not? You have no idea what you’re missing. She’s my newest
must-buy-I-don’t-even-have-to-read-the-blurb author. Here’s her bio:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYx9VXAQbLWMssO81o8YqOPwWqo-BWFJ8dF9SxbVZ9V38gTZUpo5ZqQNHVq4s6LodKY1in6LkjZymucREU8C2Rg-BiuQQzHnLLWiVm5BIhoNDQcooePG-ow4LS3xnaZqSpDZXCzFIh-s_/s1600/The+Irresistible+Miss+Peppiwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYx9VXAQbLWMssO81o8YqOPwWqo-BWFJ8dF9SxbVZ9V38gTZUpo5ZqQNHVq4s6LodKY1in6LkjZymucREU8C2Rg-BiuQQzHnLLWiVm5BIhoNDQcooePG-ow4LS3xnaZqSpDZXCzFIh-s_/s1600/The+Irresistible+Miss+Peppiwell.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am an avid reader of novels with a deep passion for writing. I especially love
romance and adore writing about people falling in love. I live a lot in the
worlds I create and actively speak to my characters (out loud). I have a
warrior way, never give up on my dreams. When I am not writing, I spend a
copious amount of time drooling over Rick Grimes from Walking Dead, watching
Japanese anime and playing video games with my love, Dusean.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stacy’s
most recent release is THE IRRESISTABE MISS PEPPIWELL, Book 2 in her House of
Calydon series, a sizzling historical romance series, is now available from
Entangled Publishing. You can read an excerpt </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-irresistible-miss-peppiwell/"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0563c1;">here</span></span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may find out more about Stacy on her </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.stacyreid.com/"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #0563c1;">website</span></span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meet My Character…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-m4GlkGg1cJBiVBWI-k8GC-8sh0KqGqYJvEWUVm5jEedFZxl1wgjKtAA8D2yF-EF7qKerh6zsRuK6z5KGIuYEoCosRuF2H6ZT-hcnrSgPMV9dXq0lWRoCOlnzKZZot3J0sblZYvWojho/s1600/Chayot+Book+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-m4GlkGg1cJBiVBWI-k8GC-8sh0KqGqYJvEWUVm5jEedFZxl1wgjKtAA8D2yF-EF7qKerh6zsRuK6z5KGIuYEoCosRuF2H6ZT-hcnrSgPMV9dXq0lWRoCOlnzKZZot3J0sblZYvWojho/s1600/Chayot+Book+Cover.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chayot
Grey is co-owner of Liberty Security Services, a very successful Boston based
security firm. In the last few months, his life has been shaken, his valued
privacy rendered non-existent as his life and those of his three best
friends—men he considers brothers—have become fodder for the media. A secret
the four men had protected for twenty years was exposed months ago, and Chay is
silently reeling from the fall-out. His one joy has been witnessing Gabe, Mal,
and Rafe find the women who are their other halves, and fall in love with them.
It alleviates the guilt he suffers even as he acknowledges, the kind of
happiness his friends have experienced isn’t for him. His secrets are too dark,
his past too haunted—his soul too tainted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The backdrop for the
story:<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
story takes place in current day Boston, Massachusetts. Chay and Rafe’s office
is located in Beacon Hill, while he lives in the quiet, upscale suburb of
Canton. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What drives Chay?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After
the turmoil and pain of his childhood and the glaring, unrelenting exposure of
the last few months, he seeks peace, solitude, anonymity. To be left alone. One
of the fallouts of his secret and past coming to light is court-mandated
counseling sessions. These sessions are a special kind of torture for him, as
he has to relive what he’d rather forget—which he craves. Oblivion and forgetfulness.
There’s a certain peace in numbness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What thwarts his plans?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
fiery, stubborn, uncensored and sexy neighbor of three months—Aslyn Jericho. He’s
been a fan of the dynamic concert pianist for years. So he is aware of the
attack made on her life by an obsessed fan months ago. She’s suffered and is
wounded herself, but her will, her spirit, her passion challenges him, hammers
at the shield of ice he’s erected around his heart. And when the terror she’s
survived seems to resurface with terrifying incident after incident, he cannot
keep his distance—or his heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 180%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>Here's where you meet the authors I hit up to keep this blog going... *crickets* See, what had happened was the people I asked were all like, I'd love to but... Sooo, I'm short my authors, but still hunting so check back here! Anyhoo, hoped you enjoyed meeting Chay! </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-11751747829498826272013-11-25T09:18:00.000-06:002013-11-27T10:10:59.141-06:00Southern Magic is Playing Santa! Giveaway!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJbhEXg8o_lL1CF96W0Km-SwF0rTgt00Tyf675J7IInyJctYk7pTPhqhNP_mH8wzh-1jrBwhfiwFXJgudSu_4bQaMQcaEs3JPhNHZavVfHFWqgLoDoyPaitAvh_mEzSKPm_FAVkDRQo8w/s1600/SM+Holiday+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJbhEXg8o_lL1CF96W0Km-SwF0rTgt00Tyf675J7IInyJctYk7pTPhqhNP_mH8wzh-1jrBwhfiwFXJgudSu_4bQaMQcaEs3JPhNHZavVfHFWqgLoDoyPaitAvh_mEzSKPm_FAVkDRQo8w/s400/SM+Holiday+Banner.jpg" width="365" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Southern Magic is playing Santa this year to one reader who has been nice--or very, very naughty! <b>*lascivious grin*</b> Many of the wonderfully talented authors of Southern Magic are giving away a huge 34 books to one winner! How about that in your Christmas stocking?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Romance novels by many of today's brightest and best authors that range from New Adult to historical to paranormal to erotic romance! Something to satisfy every reader's desire!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">From November 25th through December 16th, anyone can enter, and one reader on Santa's list will be randomly selected as a winner. Each author will mail her gifts separately so the winner will receive numerous packages--either by snail mail or electronically--throughout the Christmas season, but in time to cozy up with awesome books for the holiday! Books and maybe--just maybe--other goodies! Who knows what might turn up under your tree?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So go! Enter now through the Rafflecopter below!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here are the authors participating in this special Christmas Giveaway!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.bettybolte.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Bette Bolte</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.carlaswafford.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Carla Swafford</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.christyreece.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Christy Reece</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.debbiekaufman.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Debbie Kaufman</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ingridseymour.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Ingrid Seymour</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.jamiefarrellbooks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Jamie Farrell</span></a><br />
<a href="http://jillianchantal.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Jillian Chantal</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.juliejohnstoneauthor.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Julie Johnstone</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.katherinebone.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Katherine Bone</span></a><br />
<a href="http://kerryfreeman.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Kerry Freeman</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.naimasimone.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Naima Simone</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.paulagraves.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Paula Graves</span></a><br />
<a href="http://minakhan.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Rashda Khan</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.susancarlisle.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Susan Carlisle</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.suzanne-johnson.com/" target="_blank">Suzanne Johnson</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas!!</span><br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ef6d939/" id="rc-ef6d939" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-21779101960571400112013-10-10T10:01:00.001-05:002013-10-10T10:01:54.757-05:00Ignite October Cover Reveal!<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Check out these gaw-geous covers for the Ignite October releases!! You can join the Ignite Cover Reveal and have a chance to win a $15 Amazon or B&N Gift Card! Just share the covers on your Facebook page from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/naima.simone.3" target="_blank">my page</a>, and then enter the Rafflecopter below!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Soooo....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1. Ogle the covers below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Go to my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/naima.simone.3" target="_blank">Facebook page </a>and share my post about the covers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win the GIVEAWAY!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g-a1EjCkxmuVLB0C8vwGeF1-GVPaEyUOmZ1rZEV9DXxUTl5FMxJWrudITLPrWA7bohECwWCnZZDcEvHRTNT3gKY_Pp1jW1axvcsf5TFCPXaorZZqJtteIA2p-MHGnGpXKE3ayKB6uTeB/s1600/HerRockyMountainGuardian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6g-a1EjCkxmuVLB0C8vwGeF1-GVPaEyUOmZ1rZEV9DXxUTl5FMxJWrudITLPrWA7bohECwWCnZZDcEvHRTNT3gKY_Pp1jW1axvcsf5TFCPXaorZZqJtteIA2p-MHGnGpXKE3ayKB6uTeB/s400/HerRockyMountainGuardian.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXXQH1v2ZmR1YKqafJ0_75xiTn1vEjsgn_g8-FnuGH7YBXWEd4Rjw2yEuwirDC5SQ3MqZ0-LPspnyRmj5EkQxmNa8E8VRB2Xm32S_MufxQgefXQAkqGsVXZ2GEcp6Me-uy_mK90Z502My/s1600/InTheArmsOfAStranger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXXQH1v2ZmR1YKqafJ0_75xiTn1vEjsgn_g8-FnuGH7YBXWEd4Rjw2yEuwirDC5SQ3MqZ0-LPspnyRmj5EkQxmNa8E8VRB2Xm32S_MufxQgefXQAkqGsVXZ2GEcp6Me-uy_mK90Z502My/s400/InTheArmsOfAStranger.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgnDngHS_h4mBHrfW-dKtHDjX6xgWDSSLkMYJZYcoOaEk8rgbfnsu2NTESuybelbQiPADYp_rjw55-HeXDJFAtOzyGdurna6OywGC7yElxZuGTMEKcejbZrRHV5YyDvZOtYjaKT2wDPub/s1600/LeavingLasVegas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgnDngHS_h4mBHrfW-dKtHDjX6xgWDSSLkMYJZYcoOaEk8rgbfnsu2NTESuybelbQiPADYp_rjw55-HeXDJFAtOzyGdurna6OywGC7yElxZuGTMEKcejbZrRHV5YyDvZOtYjaKT2wDPub/s400/LeavingLasVegas.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnoLF5yld5HF9hjtfTIej9SL7fSlsHwPUmyq_r4YWELwQoJdHzgOJBhy-WcRaQo1_Sjwv5oto-UnNCM2J_Ng-24VfvHPsLCQPzTroNNyqd1OokXQNLTGWjFUogJc3BWcpsRemmjGE3CBh/s1600/ToLoveAndServe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnoLF5yld5HF9hjtfTIej9SL7fSlsHwPUmyq_r4YWELwQoJdHzgOJBhy-WcRaQo1_Sjwv5oto-UnNCM2J_Ng-24VfvHPsLCQPzTroNNyqd1OokXQNLTGWjFUogJc3BWcpsRemmjGE3CBh/s400/ToLoveAndServe.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ry66biMpDiBtBQPbcHIXQOk6uhKknjPISMVYXpZzmdkXh1MwO_OdpYcqZsmYHM50ZbW2Luw-xf98hDXCe9CUPdgfrAesSBxZdVla3cQiKiBqAvoJznGFZkL38mUzR5mTjsDfacxp12JY/s1600/TwoCanPlay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ry66biMpDiBtBQPbcHIXQOk6uhKknjPISMVYXpZzmdkXh1MwO_OdpYcqZsmYHM50ZbW2Luw-xf98hDXCe9CUPdgfrAesSBxZdVla3cQiKiBqAvoJznGFZkL38mUzR5mTjsDfacxp12JY/s400/TwoCanPlay.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_rc_1_1_1381413010748_10688" style="line-height: 1.22em;"><a href="http://amzn.to/15YQyxv" target="_blank">In the Arms of a Stranger</a> by Virginia Kelly</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/19xUNXe" target="_blank">To Love and Serve </a>by Caridad Pineiro </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1.22em;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/GK24Hd" target="_blank">Two Can Play </a>by Dawn Atkins </span></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1fgSfPe" target="_blank">Her Rocky Mountain Guardian </a>by Margery Scott </div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1a8ROzk" target="_blank">Leaving Las Vegas </a>by Aleah Barley </div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb554178/" id="rc-1cb554178" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-11386600231031004542013-10-04T07:00:00.000-05:002013-10-04T07:00:03.571-05:00Sexy & Out: Hot LGBT Athletes<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today I'm so psyched to have my fellow Southern Sister of of Steam, Kerry Freeman, visiting me! Yaay! *jazz kick and hands* She and three fab-u-lous authors, Shae Connor, Marguerite Labbe, and Kate McMurray have a HAWT new anthology out from Dreamspinner Press entitled, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Playing Ball.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Pun totally intended. Kerry's here to tell us about the anthology as well as have some fun! :-D Take it away, Kerry!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks so much to Naima Simone for having me on the blog today - you rock!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, more and more athletes are coming out, and more are openly supporting them as allies. For a bit of fun, I thought I’d highlight some sexy and out LGBT athletes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://aftersantana.altervista.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/belle-brockhoff.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-815d-6276-ef0e-efd2cb9f3c7d"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">belle-brockhoff.com</span>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-815d-6276-ef0e-efd2cb9f3c7d"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-815e-6a61-5d06-530438589bd6"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Olympic-bound Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff recently came out publicly in response to Russia’s awful anti-gay laws. She plans to compete in Sochi next year.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="263" src="https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000007543279/75ab39125c764f6510274e29fe292b50.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8160-3335-cc40-a2a9b0996431"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joshua Dixon/Twitter
<span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8161-a5a5-d5cb-b9b1677c3de4"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">US gymnast and Olympic hopeful Joshua Dixon came out in 2012. He made the finals for the US team that year, and he hopes to make the team in 2016.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="286" src="http://jessicaaguilar.com/images/gallery-img10.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8162-9dc2-c648-84f0b45ed7c4"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> jessicaaguilar.com
<span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8162-6469-63b2-3a9c029b166c"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Jessica Aguilar is ranked the #3 </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound-for-pound" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">pound-for-pound</span></a><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"> female MMA fighter in the world and is openly bisexual. Last year she was the Florida Female MMA Fighter of the Year.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Robbie_Rogers.jpg/397px-Robbie_Rogers.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="330" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8164-e4f4-1a10-78d2022c3c2d"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Noah Salzman/Wikipedia
<span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8164-9dee-2f32-cc4731651288"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Coming out while playing in Britain earlier this year, Robbie Rogers is the first openly gay man to play in a North American professional league as a winger for the Los Angeles Galaxy. He is currently recovering from a torn hamstring. </span></span>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8165-12f5-def5-82903ca9d118"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Megan Rapinoe helped the US women’s soccer team win gold in 2012. She is currently playing for the Seattle Reign FC.
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8167-78a2-f408-0117e014f11c"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to find out about more LGBT athletes, check out Wikipedia’s list </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBT_sportspeople" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">!</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8167-78a2-f408-0117e014f11c"><b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book info:</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Title:</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Playing Ball</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Authors:</b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Shae Connor, Kate McMurray, Kerry Freeman, and Marguerite Labbe</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8167-78a2-f408-0117e014f11c"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Cover:</b> Aaron Anderson</span></span></span></div>
<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Publisher:</b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Dreamspinner Press</span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8167-78a2-f408-0117e014f11c"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Length:</b> 270 pages</span></span></span><br />
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<b><span id="docs-internal-guid-446739f4-8167-78a2-f408-0117e014f11c"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blurb:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baseball—America's favorite pastime—provides a field wide open for romance. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Home Field Advantage</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> may not help when Toby must choose between the team he’s loved all his life and the man he could love for the rest of it. In 1927, Skip hides his sexuality to protect his career until he meets </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One Man to Remember</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Ruben and Alan fell victim to a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wild Pitch</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, leaving them struggling with heartache and guilt, and now they've met again. And on </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One Last Road Trip</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Jake retires and leaves baseball behind, hoping to reconnect with Mikko and get a second chance at love. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">The anthology contains the following novellas:</b>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">Home Field Advantage </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">by Shae Connor</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Toby MacMillan, grandson of Atlanta Braves owner Ray MacMillan, lives for baseball and loves his team. When he meets new team member Caleb Browning, an innocent welcome-to-the-big-leagues dinner leads to a not-so-innocent night together. Toby quickly calls things off, afraid of the ramifications of their tryst, but the two men develop a friendship that soon becomes more. After Caleb takes a fastball to the head, their budding romance hits the news—and Toby’s grandfather hits the roof. When Ray MacMillan demands Toby deny the relationship, Toby must choose between the team he’s loved all his life and the man he could love for the rest of it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">One Man to Remember </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">by Kate McMurray</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">It's 1927, and in New York City, Babe Ruth and the Yankees’ unstoppable batting lineup, Murderers' Row, is all anyone can talk about. Across town, the Giants' rookie infielder Skip Littlefield racks up hits, creating a streak to rival the Babe’s. Worried his secrets could get out, he avoids the spotlight, but he catches the attention of lauded sports reporter Walter Selby, a notorious dandy whose sexuality is an open secret. Skip reluctantly agrees to an interview, and mutual attraction is sparked. Skip can only hope the more charismatic stars will draw attention away from his romance with Walt. Otherwise, his career and everything he loves is at stake.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">Wild Pitch </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">by Marguerite Labbe</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">Ruben Martell fell in love with Alan Hartner during their years playing baseball. They stepped over the foul line once, but the encounter left them struggling with heartache and guilt, turning away from each other to focus on their families. Now retired from the majors, they run a batting cage together and coach rival Little League teams as they juggle fatherhood and being single again. Though Ruben has never given up hope that Alan might look at him as more than a friend, Alan seems determined to keep things the way they’ve always been. But long-buried feelings and desires have a way of resurfacing, and Ruben can't wait forever.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">One Last Road Trip </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">by Kerry Freeman</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;">With the last game of his Major League Baseball career behind him, Jake Wilson hits the road. Years have passed, but he never got over the romance he shared with Mikko Niemi back in college. Finally, he's ready to do something about it. He starts with some crucial visits to his ex-wife in New Mexico, his son in Oklahoma, and his daughter in Tennessee. But his true destination is Mikko's home in Georgia, where he's hoping to get a second chance at love.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4197" target="_blank">Dreamspinner </a>I <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-playingball-1304727-166.html" target="_blank">ARe</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Playing-Ball-ebook/dp/B00FF0X2BE/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.15;">Shae Connor lives in Atlanta, where she works for the government by day and reads and writes about people falling in love by night. </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.15;">Shae writes primarily gay contemporary romance and is published with Dreamspinner Press, MLR Press, and Wilde City Press. </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1;">Shae is active on Twitter @shaeconnor and posts snippets, updates, and thoughts on writing and editing at her web site, www.shaeconnorwrites.com. You can contact her at shaeconnorwrites@gmail.com.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-EAvt9gLVEYcjSqu9wBzWkXxF5_sDdeC-2nG6xlu-e29WXK9UUUArr9c-Ahlv_IPrS3oDn_pLI7VEV6njQDLVadz70DFlShhm7WM9eRGRyXMzfU0u8-uBJuKbAE3Jo2uaK7SemmLnOdU/s1600/KateMcMurray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-EAvt9gLVEYcjSqu9wBzWkXxF5_sDdeC-2nG6xlu-e29WXK9UUUArr9c-Ahlv_IPrS3oDn_pLI7VEV6njQDLVadz70DFlShhm7WM9eRGRyXMzfU0u8-uBJuKbAE3Jo2uaK7SemmLnOdU/s200/KateMcMurray.jpg" width="132" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid--d83d12e-8183-641b-63b4-4630f48e7562" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15;">Kate McMurray is an unabashed romance fan. Her first published novel, In Hot Pursuit, came out in February 2010, and she’s been writing feverishly ever since. She likes stories that are brainy, funny, and of course sexy, with regular guy characters and urban sensibilities. When she’s not writing, Kate works a nonfiction editor. </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline;">She’s currently serving as Vice President of Rainbow Romance Writers, the LGBT romance chapter of Romance Writers of America. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with a pesky cat. Visit her at </span><a href="http://www.katemcmurray.com/" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.katemcmurray.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kerry Freeman was born and raised in Alabama and she grew up swearing she was going to get the hell out of Dodge the instant she could. Turns out Dodge ain’t so bad, and she never left. Alabama’s version of a city girl, she married a country boy, and the couple lives in a small town with their two socially awkward dogs. </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">Kerry loves to write about love, and it turns out most of the voices in her head are men. She also loves to write about the South, so most of her stories end up there, one way or another. You can visit Kerry at </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://kerryfreeman.com/" style="line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;">http://kerryfreeman.com/</a></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6ELJB1wtnEkxa12X_CkefZekkJqaml4XNFGJ0dg5E2Eho3IfmQWM1pEjlxp5ozBrdMaKTphYgQ_fRGCLuR9GzwOZKFOc2S9YAcMiuHJ1b1SSaLRKQ0pQaSJX6oM6Hvb_G_7P60aVmO_i/s1600/Marguerite+Labbe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6ELJB1wtnEkxa12X_CkefZekkJqaml4XNFGJ0dg5E2Eho3IfmQWM1pEjlxp5ozBrdMaKTphYgQ_fRGCLuR9GzwOZKFOc2S9YAcMiuHJ1b1SSaLRKQ0pQaSJX6oM6Hvb_G_7P60aVmO_i/s200/Marguerite+Labbe.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-418a2411-818b-850a-57c4-8f11c73d89ba" style="line-height: 1.15;">Marguerite Labbe has been accused of being eccentric and a shade neurotic, both of which she freely admits to, but her muse has OCD tendencies, so who can blame her? </span><span style="line-height: 1.15;">Marguerite loves to spin tales of stubborn men with smart mouths, working toward a deep and lasting love, no matter what else she throws at them. </span><span style="line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline;">Visit Marguerite's web site at </span><a href="http://www.margueritelabbe.com/" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.margueritelabbe.com</span></a><span style="line-height: 1.15; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">To celebrate the release of PLAYING BALL, Shae, Marguerite, Kerry, and Kate are giving away two great prizes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">Grand prize: A print copy of PLAYING BALL signed by all four authors, a unisex BBQ apron featuring hot athletes from Originals by Lauren (https://www.etsy.com/shop/OriginalsbyLauren), and swag from all four authors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">Runner-up prize: An ebook copy of PLAYING BALL and swag from all four authors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">The giveaway will run from 12AM Central on September 21, 2013 to 12AM Central on October 11, 2013. To give an opportunity for the authors to get together to sign the book and gather swag, the winners will be picked and the prizes shipped after the end of GayRomLit 2013.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">Rules:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline;">You must be a resident of Earth, 18 years or older, who lives in a place where the viewing of adult material is legal. By entering the giveaway, you are indicating your agreement to the rules. Winners must provide a physical mailing address to receive their prizes. If a winner does not respond to the prize notification within 48 hours, the prize will be re-awarded.</span></span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76e2bf6/" id="rc-76e2bf6" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-16822859128386589612013-08-27T07:00:00.000-05:002013-08-27T07:00:03.758-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexA-5oFvVXyRMzH_B6bic47bhCaXTPj0_jIEAv07QjwtQb2Y-siF0Xs5uI5zjdhU9jRDgB5fhdXREnR2NCW7gg0J4pPDZHNPfpWtFjkHsgHQILDHJjwVfb-m6qjHjXTsuRNqvZ53wStg/s1600/Dark+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexA-5oFvVXyRMzH_B6bic47bhCaXTPj0_jIEAv07QjwtQb2Y-siF0Xs5uI5zjdhU9jRDgB5fhdXREnR2NCW7gg0J4pPDZHNPfpWtFjkHsgHQILDHJjwVfb-m6qjHjXTsuRNqvZ53wStg/s400/Dark+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Oh Jesus</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I had the sense God gave a
gnat, I wouldn’t be approaching this dark house in an isolated section of
Dublin, Ireland by myself…at night…armed with nothing but an Ipad and a
recorder. Not that a gun or sword—or hell, a freakin’ nuclear bomb—could
protect me from what waits on the other side of this door. Let’s face it. If
the creature I’m here to see is in a bad mood, I’m screwed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And soooo not in a good way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One more knock on the door.
Just one more, than story or no story, I’m outta here…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Day-aamn.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A petite, slim female with
long, dark hair stands motionless inside her open doorway. Eyes the color of
brilliant lightning stare at me, unblinking. Measuring. As if determining which
of my body parts she should cleave off first.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sinéad, the cruxim—the Black
Angel—who hunts in the territory of
Dublin for vampires, the cruxim’s mortal, or rather immortal, enemies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the person—using that
term <i>veeery</i> loosely—I’m here to
interview.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad: </b>(crossing her arms) Well
aren’t you brave?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me: </b>Umm…excuse me?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad:</b> Just showing up here…
And assuming I won’t kill you on sight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> Er, uh…wow. I think
that’s against the rules…isn’t it? I’m human. You protect me, not slice ‘n dice
me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad:</b> (shakes her head) You
chroniclers. You totally miss the meaning behind “secret race”. And for the
record, I don’t <i>protect</i> you. I hunt
and execute vampires who just happen to find you a tasty snack. Let’s face it,
if they decided to become vegetarians tomorrow, there would be a surplus in
crops and you’d be on your own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Niiiiice</i>. I
would respond, but as she shuts the door and turns around, the sight of the
scabbard strapped across her back with the hilt of a silver <i>gladius</i> jutting out steals my voice.
Nervously, I circle my throat with my hand and heave a silent sigh of relief. <i>Whew</i>. Still intact.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me: </b>(clearing my throat)
Duncan MacLeod has a watcher, you have me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad:</b> (snorts) Turn off
your fear, chronicler. The stink of it is offensive. I haven’t killed you…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“Yet”</i> hangs
in the room like a string of gaudy Christmas lights in mid-February. I
swallow—hard—and try to summon a smile and hide my fear. Snicker. Riiiight. I’d
forgotten the female is an empath as well as a fierce warr—</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> (gasp) <i>What the hell?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad:</b> (whirling around in a
crouch, her hand reaching behind her head) What? What?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> (horrified, pointing to
the table in the living room) Potato chips. Cereal? <i>What the hell?</i> You drink vampire blood not, not…<i>snacks</i>! And what’s that on television? <i>Television</i>? Since when did you start
watching—what is that? <i>Twilight?</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad:</b> (slowly straightening
and grumbling something totally unintelligible) Mimeumingow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> What did you just say?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad:</b> (whirling around with
a snarl) I <i>said</i>, I’m human now. All I
do is sit on the couch, eat and watch television. And cry at those damn
Hallmark commercials.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe my face says all the <i>WTF</i> racing through my head because she
huffs out a breath and shoves a hand over her head. Another shock. On any other
woman the gesture would be frustration, but cruxim don’t do frustration.
They’re emotionless. They don’t do…anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad:</b> Stop moving your
mouth up and down like a <i>fecking</i>
fish. <i>Shite</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fecking? Shite? Fu—Ohhh. The
Irish accent through me off for a bit… Then the import of all she’s confessed
rolls over me like that first wave of 4 am Black Friday shoppers at Walmart.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> Good. God. You’re, uh…I
mean, what happened?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad:</b> (sigh) A wounded
hippogryph male. Blood. The only kind act I’ve ever done in my life and now
I’m…this. Humans are right. No good deed goes unpunished. Now I’m a damn
walking meat suit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>God</i>. I feel
so sorry for her. So sorry I don’t even take offense at being called a “walking
meat suit”. I probably will be later, but not now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> You should be out hunting. But obviously…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad: </b>(viciously rubs the
heels of her palms over her eyes. I can’t help but wince) All I’ve known for
three hundred years is fighting, killing…blood. Now I’m in an unfamiliar body,
with out-of-control emotions and an appetite for flat, deep fried potatoes. I’m
so. Damn. Lost.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> (whispering) Are you
scared?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad:</b> (drops her arms and
stares at me) I’ve never been afraid. Never feared dying. I still don’t. But I
am terrified of every morning when the sun rises and it’s another day in this
skin. Another day when I can feel my soul screaming…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As she trails off an
uncomfortable silence fills the room. She’s probably horrified at the display
of emotion, and I… Well I just don’t know what to say. Hallmark doesn’t have a
card for “I’m sorry your life just went to hell in gasoline drawers. Thinking
of you!” Yeah. Words are pretty much inadequate. Really there’s only one thing
I can give her...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> Your secret’s safe with
me. I won’t tell anyone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad: </b>(her eyes narrowing)
A chronicler? Not telling a story?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> (shaking my head) Not
this one. It’s yours to tell.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s a slight softening on
her face that I would have never thought I’d see on one of these Black Angels.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sinéad: </b>(bows her head) Thank
you then.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> No problem. I’m going to,
uh, y’know, go. Leave you to your (I do a finger crinkle at her snack buffet
and television marathon) whatever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I turn around to leave, but
damn… I just have to ask. I <i>have</i> to!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Me:</b> One thing. (she arches an
eyebrow) Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? (My eyes widen as she slowly
reaches for the sword behind her back) Gotcha. Nunya, right? Nunya bizness.
Okay. See you, um, well. Yeah. See you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I rush out of the room and
the house as quick as my boots can slap the floor. Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I
need a drink.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Buy Bitten by Ecstasy <a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/bitten-by-ecstasy.html" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hy-Vb0kvGSHZKyUJNe2Sgcr2WZFx01aUZDRNu2UDVcEXEEDq8AI0ALq98tAt8673lOKa0ffemqkoinZfpQT_kojnOsbm_5szlwbjbI0YFbnh4XHp8BD8QsjsFgfzDRCDQkEDy4RrHXI/s1600/Bitten+by+Ecstasy+web+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hy-Vb0kvGSHZKyUJNe2Sgcr2WZFx01aUZDRNu2UDVcEXEEDq8AI0ALq98tAt8673lOKa0ffemqkoinZfpQT_kojnOsbm_5szlwbjbI0YFbnh4XHp8BD8QsjsFgfzDRCDQkEDy4RrHXI/s400/Bitten+by+Ecstasy+web+cover.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>Dark Judgment,
Book Two</b><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A brutal attack
left Bastien Sarris for dead. But a chance encounter with a mysterious female
drags him back from the brink of death—and transforms the hippogryph healer
into a monster he doesn’t recognize. Now a terrible hunger consumes him—one
that is becoming impossible to satisfy. Desperate for a cure, he hunts the
cruxim who cursed him to a hellish existence. But the petite warrior ignites a
fierce desire for her body that overwhelms the sweet call of blood. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b>For three hundred
years Sinéad lived and hunted as a cruxim—a winged vampire hunter. But one
sacrificial act stripped her immortality, leaving her human, vulnerable and
unprepared for the reappearance of Bastien in her life. The hippogryph is
harder and colder than she remembers…and he triggers an onslaught of need
within her that is as powerful as it is unfamiliar. She craves his kiss, his
touch. Yet even as she surrenders to this newfound passion, she faces a crucial
decision—betray the man she’s come to love and regain her immortality<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2465546866070028235" name="_GoBack"> or</a> save Bastien and condemn herself to a human life and
death.</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1North America38.548165423046584 -97.382812513.026130923046583 -138.6914065 64.070199923046587 -56.0742185tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-42605896601468150322013-08-07T08:37:00.000-05:002013-08-07T08:58:07.739-05:00The Mystery Men of Ignite...Gabriel Revealed!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sigh.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yeah, that’s what I do when I
think about the men of Ignite, Entangled’s suspense line. Hot. Explosive.
Dangerous but, whew boy, do they keep you warm…burning up…like feverish…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yeah...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Riiight. Focus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gabriel Devlin, the hero of
my Entangled Ignite book </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Secrets and
Sins: Gabriel</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, embodies those qualities…and then some! When the book opens,
Gabriel is volatile, combustible. He’s teeters on the edge because of the
tragic loss of his wife and son two years earlier. He vacillates between grief,
anger, and reluctant acceptance. And then throw in the growing, resented desire
he’s feeling for his best friend, Leah Bannon…yeah, it’s a situation firmly set
on 10…9…8…7…6…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While plotting </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gabriel</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and visualizing who my hero reminded
me of, one man immediately came to mind. You know that guy on—okay, you knew
it wasn't going to be that easy!</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here is my inspiration for
Gabriel:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqmcJO228bHXCHzaI2Q-36ikHdbamORp9IbUolATTG3lJw2Qd-GHDLHTwGXPvR7d5ho1oIRCUr7tgh3MqUuVGE7hfHdDYaxDzK6kRzF7i59pBPZo40JqQK5mEhSoxTQTWbhz_PRQi8R1p/s1600/Stephen+Amell+shirtless.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqmcJO228bHXCHzaI2Q-36ikHdbamORp9IbUolATTG3lJw2Qd-GHDLHTwGXPvR7d5ho1oIRCUr7tgh3MqUuVGE7hfHdDYaxDzK6kRzF7i59pBPZo40JqQK5mEhSoxTQTWbhz_PRQi8R1p/s400/Stephen+Amell+shirtless.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I can hear you now: </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His back.</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Then a whispered aside to the
person next to you: </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This chick is loose!
Is she serious?</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes! Look at his back. Now
get past the total hotness of the cut muscles. Notice the scars and the tattoo.
The mystery man who inspired Gabriel wears his scars on his skin, and my hero
wears his on his soul and heart. Both men have faced torture and survived to
tell the tale. And also, the tattoo? Aside from </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">its</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> total hotness, the tattoo states he’s not afraid of commitment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you know who he is yet?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Shh! Don't tell but one last cheating pic:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61fpV88eWdPbBCXSnIOky5RT_W6l0Dfs-ul-Mmg4oK6J2I14noQWEEInGbA4Br1bk17v_rEKJBnnenrfcc-S49TRQ6PMEarlmaTV7JMV4G9gqnLXo3Uq-dxrx_60DDLMYeFviL8qlnnGa/s1600/Stephen+Amell+pushup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61fpV88eWdPbBCXSnIOky5RT_W6l0Dfs-ul-Mmg4oK6J2I14noQWEEInGbA4Br1bk17v_rEKJBnnenrfcc-S49TRQ6PMEarlmaTV7JMV4G9gqnLXo3Uq-dxrx_60DDLMYeFviL8qlnnGa/s1600/Stephen+Amell+pushup.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Okay, no more! You’ll drag no
more info out of me! Not even if you threatened to pry my fingernails off. Or
bust my knee caps…or make me sit through a 24 hour marathon of Mariah Carey’s </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Glitter</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMAdFInekMU6px0ZvR7Vq1ce9N-i_Ds2emc_IwAd8Mt_BgXyMC6O6R9a8m_q_8-Uq40w4x2mN2qQ6vawASooT6piECaHHgV7nfoX7GqwDRO84BjZO5hzJdBj_Vsxpu-2oOYQdD7b4E8cy/s1600/ignite+mystery+man+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMAdFInekMU6px0ZvR7Vq1ce9N-i_Ds2emc_IwAd8Mt_BgXyMC6O6R9a8m_q_8-Uq40w4x2mN2qQ6vawASooT6piECaHHgV7nfoX7GqwDRO84BjZO5hzJdBj_Vsxpu-2oOYQdD7b4E8cy/s400/ignite+mystery+man+banner.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now all week from August 5</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to the 8</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Ignite authors Maya Blake, Kay David, Eve Devon, Stephanie Feagan, Joya Fields, Elle James, and Cathy Perkins will also be posting body part pics and dropping clues to the mystery men who inspired their heroes. More man flesh and dangerous, sexy heroes!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here’s the line-up:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Monday: </span><a href="ttp://kaydavid.com/blog" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Kay David</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.stephaniefeagan.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Stephanie Feagan</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tuesday: <a href="http://joyafieldswriting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Joya Fields</a> and <a href="ttp://mayabauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Maya Blake</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wednesday: <a href="http://cperkinswrites.com/sample-page-2/" target="_blank">Cathy Perkins</a> and <a href="http://www.naimasimoneauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Me</a>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thursday:<a href="http://www.ellejames.com/" target="_blank"> Elle James</a> and <a href="http://www.evedevon.com/blog.html" target="_blank">Eve Devon</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Come give us your answers or
best guesses at </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/201898639975801/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">The Mystery Men of Ignite…Revealed! Facebook event </a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on Thursday,
August 8</span><sup style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> from 7 to 9 pm! We're dropping more hints, having tons of
laughs and giving away prizes, including a special journal to record your own secrets and sins in from </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">moi </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and a $100 Amazon Gift Card!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Make sure you visit these awesome authors all four days to pick up clues to their mystery heroes to win more prizes! Don't forget to join us on Thursday! See you there!!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-79638036183847719572013-07-11T08:37:00.000-05:002013-07-11T08:39:31.992-05:00The Grave - Part 4<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfrYhZS5m75N13SN3x4P7OckzSaRRLrxC1jObYgx7NvCOT6kK849fmFHWQlWFHKqi3UQrVthX5q_JcpTb1ZI2r0sQ59rZw5y6mqx73MX58O14QyWElUX5YFcXQrhEZY_TSGpn_ZL94tUn/s1600/cemetery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfrYhZS5m75N13SN3x4P7OckzSaRRLrxC1jObYgx7NvCOT6kK849fmFHWQlWFHKqi3UQrVthX5q_JcpTb1ZI2r0sQ59rZw5y6mqx73MX58O14QyWElUX5YFcXQrhEZY_TSGpn_ZL94tUn/s320/cemetery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Desperate,
he escaped the room. He bolted through the back door and the cold, fresh air slapped
him in the face. He sucked in a deep breath, thankful for air free of tears and
pain, and dropped to the top step of the back porch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Tears
burned his eyes. Fear surged up in his chest and he blinked furiously. If he
started crying he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop. With a sigh, he
scrubbed his palms over his face, pressing them to his gritty, burning eyes. It
had been forty-eight hours since he’d last slept. But it had also been
forty-eight hours since the nightmares had plagued him. Forty-eight hours since
he’d jerked awake, a hoarse cry razing his throat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">If
only he hadn’t suggested they drive separate cars to the Christmas party. If
only he’d driven in front of Maura instead of following her and Ian. If only,
if only…so many damn “if only”s. Even now he could hear the squeal of rubber
tires. The screech of metal colliding with metal. Maura’s whispered pleas to
save Ian first…Ian’s terrible silence. The acrid scent of burning gasoline
invaded the cold, crisp breeze, and Gabriel sucked in several breaths, his
heart working double time to keep up. Gold dots appeared in his suddenly dim
vision and black streaks encroached on his vision, threatening to drag him
under …</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">The
gentle touch on his back was a length of rope he grasped and clung to with frantic
hands. The length of thigh pressed to his drew him back over the ledge. The
delicate, familiar vanilla and peppermint shoved back the dark. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Leah
rested her head against his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his back and
waist. She didn’t speak; she didn’t ask him how he was doing or offer
condolences for his loss. She just held him. Unlike Ana, Gabriel didn’t have
the urge to shove her away. As always, the woman with the bewitching green eyes,
quiet strength and gentleness slipped under his guard. Since she’d been a child
Leah had commandeered a piece of his heart, and where his best friends couldn’t
offer him the comfort of holding him, touching him, she could. The warmth of
her arms and body melted the chill encasing him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">How
long they sat there, he didn’t know. When the tears came, he had no idea. He
wasn’t aware of dragging Leah into his lap, clutching her to him, and sobbing
out his grief into her neck. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Through
it all Leah bore him up so he didn’t plummet into the abyss of insanity that
clawed at him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">She
was his…sanctuary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">*** </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">To read Part 3, click <a href="http://naimasimoneauthor.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-grave-part-3.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">To read Part 2, click <a href="http://naimasimoneauthor.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-grave-part-2.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">To read Part 1, click <a href="http://naimasimoneauthor.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-grave-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdR9CCUjNhymv47SZIH3zr1WdRg9fg08fLUpBO5hs_xEKhIXhGos8iwFj-UkG3pKm86cI2OqI6iyFCqhB_aY_RXzWPVZzlmH3UCPD_0HijCIptojp6BN3QJE6anKbnvbagBf3NdKK5JRzt/s1600/Gabriel+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdR9CCUjNhymv47SZIH3zr1WdRg9fg08fLUpBO5hs_xEKhIXhGos8iwFj-UkG3pKm86cI2OqI6iyFCqhB_aY_RXzWPVZzlmH3UCPD_0HijCIptojp6BN3QJE6anKbnvbagBf3NdKK5JRzt/s320/Gabriel+cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><strong>Twenty years ago, Leah Bannon’s beloved Uncle Richard vanished without a trace. Leah, now a private investigator, begins to suspect it was murder. When she reopens the cold case, Gabriel Devlin—-the man she loves but can never have—-inexplicably stands in her way.<br /> Only four people know the truth about Richard’s mysterious disappearance—-Gabriel and three childhood friends...who have all sworn to take that secret to the grave. But a hidden enemy wants those shocking secrets brought to light...even if he has to kill to make it happen.<br /> After experiencing an unimaginable loss two years ago, Gabriel refuses to put himself through the pain of loving someone who could be gone in an instant. But as he thwarts Leah’s investigation at every turn—-both to keep his friends’ pact, and to keep her safe from danger—-the sexy PI makes it impossible for him to protect his secrets. Or his heart...</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><strong>Purchase <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-and-Sins-Gabriel-ebook/dp/B00CQYAXK0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368667239&sr=1-1&keywords=naima%2Bsimone%2Bsecret%2Band%2Bsins" target="_blank">here</a>!</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-10192859648057715872013-07-08T09:54:00.000-05:002013-07-08T09:54:37.560-05:00The Grave - Part 3
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Hours
later Gabriel threaded through his in-laws’ living room packed with mourners
and well-wishers. He moved like a wraith, insubstantial, barely grounded to the
floor. He dimly heard the murmured condolences, hardly felt the consoling
touches. A dense, invisible wall had erected around him five days ago. A wall
that didn’t permit compassion or kindness. If he allowed even the tiniest bit
of emotion to filter through, than the grief—the horrible, clawing grief—would
rip pass his defenses and splinter his mind into so many
shards he wouldn’t be able to assemble them together again. </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“Would that be so bad?”</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">
a dark, seductive voice whispered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">How
many times in the past week had he pleaded with God to take him too? Let him go
into a sweet sleep and never wake from it? Then he would join Maura and Ian in
eternity; they would be a family once more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">But
each morning he woke, alone and hurting so much he couldn’t comprehend how he
continued to function. How a heart that didn’t exist could still pump blood to
his organs, forcing him to live. And each morning, he hated God a little more.
His very Catholic mother would gasp at that admission and perform the sign of
the cross for her son’s blasphemy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">But
it was true.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Gabe.” The hoarse cry echoed the depths of
pain buried beneath the layers and layers of ice in his chest. “She’s really
gone. My baby is gone.” Janie O’Keefe, Maura’s mother, lumbered forward, her
gait unsteady and reeling. Before he could guess her intention, she threw herself
against his chest. She enfolded him in her arms and wept, her body shaking with
jagged sobs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">On
reflex, Gabriel clutched her arms, prepared to wrench away. The shock of her
touch and overwhelming display of emotion threatened the protective barrier
around his own feelings. And perversely, a small part of him envied Janie her
freedom to surrender to the pain. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“Come
on, Mrs. O’Keefe.” Chay appeared out of nowhere, his quiet murmur both gentle
and firm. His friend wrapped an arm around her shuddering shoulders and
loosened her desperate hold. With low, soothing words, Chay guided the sobbing
woman toward the brightly lit kitchen. Gabriel remained frozen, aware of the
pitying glances cast between him and Janie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">It
proved too damn much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">***</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">To read Part 2 click <a href="http://naimasimoneauthor.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-grave-part-2.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">To read Part 1 click <a href="http://naimasimoneauthor.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-grave-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Part 4 of The Grave concluded on June 10th...</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-64443091652654286322013-07-03T09:31:00.000-05:002013-07-03T09:31:31.220-05:00The Grave - Part 2
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfXIjvp_kSUsV_fDoL7O6oJIngbVLMLDpaiYCT91RfqdXgnk95mmAANVp1irGAiHfUVcvCr0MMo7gqaTjTeqB9J-zHd-cFlaGq7xNaL7D3ExhrsGbDCFruzBk5UKpS1ZI485_kGFIsEmd/s1000/cemetery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfXIjvp_kSUsV_fDoL7O6oJIngbVLMLDpaiYCT91RfqdXgnk95mmAANVp1irGAiHfUVcvCr0MMo7gqaTjTeqB9J-zHd-cFlaGq7xNaL7D3ExhrsGbDCFruzBk5UKpS1ZI485_kGFIsEmd/s320/cemetery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Leah</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">His
best friend. His mother had worked as housekeeper in her family’s home for
years, and her father had been a father figure to him since his own had
disappeared long before Gabe was born. Leah and James Bannon were as much
family as the three men standing next to him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“Gabe.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">He
started, tore his gaze away from Leah and met blue eyes as familiar to him as
his face. Ana Devlin, his mother, squeezed his hand, grief heavy on her face. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“It’s
over, Gabe,” she whispered. “Are you ready to go?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Panicked,
he jerked his head back to the casket. Already employees of the funeral home
were removing the flowers, and people headed across the cemetery to their
waiting cars. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No,</i> his mind screamed.
Terror and agony shredded him, and he wondered why his blood didn’t seep into
the withered grass at his feet. Nothing should hurt this bad and not bleed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">He
must have released a bit of that animal-like howl because Chay shifted closer
and grasped his shoulder in a hard grip, as if bracing him. Or prevent him from
leaping in the earth with Maura and Ian.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“You
go ahead, Aunt Ana,” Malachim murmured. “We’ll stay with Gabe and bring him
with us.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“If
you’re sure,” his mother stammered. “I can wait, too.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“No,”
Rafe assured her, his voice low, soothing. “We have him.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Gabriel
couldn’t rip his eyes from the white, large box that a crane slowly lowered
into the ground with an eerie creak reminiscent of a raven’s caw. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">He
couldn’t leave, couldn’t force his feet to move from this place where his wife
and son would find eternal rest. God help him, he couldn’t leave them behind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
To read Part 1 of The Grave, click <a href="http://naimasimoneauthor.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-grave-part-1.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Part 3 of The Grave continued on July 8th...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-46227185982839681832013-07-01T09:10:00.000-05:002013-07-01T15:37:27.128-05:00The Grave - Part 1<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<em>When Gabriel Devlin's story begins in Secrets and Sins: Gabriel, two years have passed since the deaths of his wife and son. Below is the prequel to his story...where it really begins...</em></div>
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<strong>***</strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">The
grave gaped wide like a dark maw in the earth, eager to swallow up the casket
that perched above it. Bouquets of colorful flowers draped the closed lid,
seeming incongruous with the priest’s solemn prayer and the overcast, grey sky,
heavy with the promise of snow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Gabriel
Devlin stared at the white casket, large enough for the wife and son that
rested within its depths. Grief squeezed his heart in its icy grip. He shivered
and wondered if he would ever be warm again. His gaze returned to the scarred
earth and received his answer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">No,
he would never know the warmth of love again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">His
breath hitched and his throat burned with the tears he refused to shed. Though
his mother flanked one side of him and his best friends, Malachim Jerrod, Raphael
Marcel, and Chayot Grey positioned themselves on the other like tall, silent
sentinels, he was alone, separated from everyone and everything else but his
grief. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">The priest’s monotone offered up a prayer, commending Maura
and Ian’s spirits into God’s keeping. Rage clawed at his chest. God had
entrusted them into Gabriel’s hands, why had He chosen to take them from him?
Had he done such a horrible job? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">He
squeezed his eyes shut, guilt flaying the skin from his soul. When he reopened
them, he stared off into the distance, needing to look at anything but the
casket that contained his family’s remains. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">As
his gaze skimmed the crowds, only a few met his eyes, most skittering away as
if unable to stare into the face of sorrow. Hell, he knew what he looked like. A
gaunt, empty-eyed caricature of the man he’d been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">His
gaze settled on a tall, slim figure. As he stared the woman lifted her dark
head and eyes as green as the leaves on top of the casket met his. Unlike the
others, she didn’t avoid his stare, but held it. Sympathy, sorrow, and love
glistened, along with her tears. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><em>Leah</em>.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><strong>***</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Part 2 of The Grave continues on Wednesday, July 3rd...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"></span> </div>
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<a href="http://www.naimasimone.com/Books/Secrets_and_Sins_Gabriel.htm" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdR9CCUjNhymv47SZIH3zr1WdRg9fg08fLUpBO5hs_xEKhIXhGos8iwFj-UkG3pKm86cI2OqI6iyFCqhB_aY_RXzWPVZzlmH3UCPD_0HijCIptojp6BN3QJE6anKbnvbagBf3NdKK5JRzt/s400/Gabriel+cover.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><strong>Twenty years ago, Leah Bannon’s beloved Uncle Richard vanished without a trace. Leah, now a private investigator, begins to suspect it was murder. When she reopens the cold case, Gabriel Devlin—-the man she loves but can never have—-inexplicably stands in her way.<br /> Only four people know the truth about Richard’s mysterious disappearance—-Gabriel and three childhood friends...who have all sworn to take that secret to the grave. But a hidden enemy wants those shocking secrets brought to light...even if he has to kill to make it happen.<br /> After experiencing an unimaginable loss two years ago, Gabriel refuses to put himself through the pain of loving someone who could be gone in an instant. But as he thwarts Leah’s investigation at every turn—-both to keep his friends’ pact, and to keep her safe from danger—-the sexy PI makes it impossible for him to protect his secrets. Or his heart...</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-63822134801366167192013-06-27T09:46:00.000-05:002013-06-27T09:46:03.896-05:00Secrets and Sins: Gabriel Blog Tour and "Boston Strong" Swag Pack Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFhlbEIQ1b9A-eV_SjVQc9jLHPgH-WoHYtnLAgDQpogEv0OKGBZhVyrL6uJj20WBydNMgxjZxK_bI1KnPsuWQBEf5QYQidk9gGAsymHvsBFyEJBA6LIRpYziB9SdsAg-eBY-dZCwKkbld/s300/Gabriel+blog+tour+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFhlbEIQ1b9A-eV_SjVQc9jLHPgH-WoHYtnLAgDQpogEv0OKGBZhVyrL6uJj20WBydNMgxjZxK_bI1KnPsuWQBEf5QYQidk9gGAsymHvsBFyEJBA6LIRpYziB9SdsAg-eBY-dZCwKkbld/s320/Gabriel+blog+tour+banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The Secrets and Sins: Gabriel Blog Tour has officially started! The tour runs from June 24th through July 24th with various stops and blogs about secrets...sins...songs about stalkers... Hee-hee! <br />
<br />
Up for grabs at the end of the tour is an Amazon Gift Card and Gabriel's "Boston Strong" swag pack, which includes a Boston Strong tee and matching tote bag! Just enter through the Rafflecopter below! <br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb55473/" id="rc-1cb55473" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.naimasimone.com/" target="_blank">Here</a> are the dates and places of where I'll be for the next month! Come visit me at these sites through the tour. I'd love to see you there!<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Naima</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-58698991753817026272013-06-22T07:00:00.000-05:002013-06-23T19:37:06.269-05:00Flowers, George Washington and My Trusty Kindle!<div style="text-align: center;">
Stop #3 on my When-I-Go-To-Boston-I-Must-See-This Tour!</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZoeqoocrFJo-Am9FrnR6fYd8i4ZZ58iBEYar_2uAwke83-lE0kACZMrsYxekFrwH2ZPPu2iMMPphT9Vq3R2jYHOXBgx80CR4H9dIYc5u6QcL1y6FpnuvZkeRLTVztSNL2Fl-iFP3QuFo/s1600/Swan+boats+Boston+Public+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZoeqoocrFJo-Am9FrnR6fYd8i4ZZ58iBEYar_2uAwke83-lE0kACZMrsYxekFrwH2ZPPu2iMMPphT9Vq3R2jYHOXBgx80CR4H9dIYc5u6QcL1y6FpnuvZkeRLTVztSNL2Fl-iFP3QuFo/s320/Swan+boats+Boston+Public+Garden.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Boston Public Garden. While my husband abandons me to go and visit Fenway Park after I've dragged him to Sondra Celli's dress shop, The Freedom Trail and Charles Street for shopping, I would stop by one of Boston's famous parks, located right in the heart of downtown Boston. It's like an oasis of vibrant, colorful flowers and trees with a lake, beautiful bridge and swan boats. <br />
<br />
And the statues. <em>Sigh</em>. Did I mention the statues? The towering bronze figure of George Washington on his horse, the stately image of Massachusetts congressman, Charles Sumner, and the adorable bronze figures of a mother duck and her ducklings all in a row from the children's story, <em>Make Way for Ducklings</em> by Robert McCloskey. Just to name a few. <br />
<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:George_Washington_Statue,_Boston_Public_Garden,_Boston,_Massachusetts.JPG" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySKQWGEZNo21wzu9smX-v7Jz-NyC0geqY8iIX94hA-_EQ_0P9Bf5YZPJVMEqyUJZ8vCjiaA6WhmoZJbnS_X3IqZ5rBC_dHG68ejFL0HfycMIhPbZzZc7auVFK8MpotDI3HoDWMR-6Edit/s320/George+Washington+Statue+in+the+Boston+Public+Gardens.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
Oh yes. While the hubby basked in baseball heaven, I'd pick a bench, pull out a book--or a Kindle--then sit and enjoy one of Boston's beautiful landmarks--it's own slice of heaven. <br />
<br />
So there's Stop #3! Remember, the GIVEAWAY for the Amazon Gift Card and Advanced Readers Copy of <em>Secrets and Sins: Gabriel</em> is still going strong until Sunday, the 23rd! You can enter through the Rafflecopter below!<br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb55485/" id="rc-1cb55485" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-28519937271349418262013-06-19T07:00:00.000-05:002013-06-19T07:00:02.388-05:00Gypsy Wedding Dresses &Freee-duum! (As Cried by William Wallace)So Stop #1 on my trip to Boston:<br />
<br />
Sondra Celli's dress shop. One of my guilty pleasures is TLC's <em>My Big Fact American Gypsy Wedding</em>. I'm just telling <em>all</em> my secrets! Hee-hee! Well one of the reasons I tune in is to see what over-the-top, outrageous creation dressmaker, Sondra Celli, will create for the American traveller community. She is amazing! And walking through her Boston-based store and work space would be such fun! I'd love to see where the magic happens! <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_-yHHR4xq1XjD5o8QViMmLcDh53Csh1pEafM8Fs0GbEsmCB0grZK-Pr-wBIzzV0R6fqlvDf3aMpNXYmeOyizIKWGflfdhxe-EX_f2zqaVygWZ8a1Tv3EoOAGbbMI5EUEwogRLJ0-VJ3X/s1600/Gypsy+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_-yHHR4xq1XjD5o8QViMmLcDh53Csh1pEafM8Fs0GbEsmCB0grZK-Pr-wBIzzV0R6fqlvDf3aMpNXYmeOyizIKWGflfdhxe-EX_f2zqaVygWZ8a1Tv3EoOAGbbMI5EUEwogRLJ0-VJ3X/s320/Gypsy+dress.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Stop #2:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The famous Freedom Trail! I love history. When my husband and I go on vacation, it's almost always to cities rich in history--Savannah, Charleston, St. Augustine... Okay, <em>I</em> pick the cities but, anyway, he enjoys himself. I mean, that's what he tells me... Anyhoo, the Freedom Trail is a must-visit place for me. Walking in the footsteps of America's freedom fighters, seeing where this country's independence was hard fought for would be an incredible memory. Faneuil Hall, the Bunker Hill Monument, the site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere's home, the grave marker for Crispus Attucks. It would be like strolling through time. </div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boston_massacre_grave_20040930_105414_1.627x1068.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaqNNN9NydKxCA1aDe3DsUQCQ9uiudW95QkME0HHicbFKz9tfD7nDkMAWbvsnP13adz87iC_tDALbCmskcNCaCx9opPnRsHlE-Gz0tTdsK1wmQr5SbCR4fA7hIBkBIf-mVNHPch54ypq7/s400/Boston+massacre+grave+marker.jpg" width="233" /></a> </div>
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So those are two of my When-I-go-I-must-see stops in Boston!
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Remember, the GIVEAWAY for the Amazon Gift Card and Advanced Readers Copy of <em>Secrets and Sins: Gabriel</em> is still going strong until Friday, the 21st! You can enter through the Rafflecopter below!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-25324117393475694582013-06-17T07:00:00.000-05:002013-06-17T07:00:08.110-05:00Giveaway! "Boston Strong"...and New Kids on the Block!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Panoramic_Boston.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAY8zd18pSfe3UjPqVO0O1Z6aj8bdyU56VgLhNYCm62DuqMpaE8U9EO6duhyphenhypheni_fzR0lW4fpqQMp2uqOOSZUnwLnwAGmfcTunXplg7gi3kmXxRkczRoSyvFWDFMWYjeMfC5eujaosjb9p2/s640/Boston+skyline+nighttime.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Throughout my lifetime—which has
been admittedly short because I’m only, like, 25-ish—I’ve had obsessions. Some
have waned over the years, but others have persevered. Twinkies. Michael
Jackson. Corey Feldman. Coffee. Ireland. Vin Diesel. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">While Twinkies, Mike and
Corey have all fallen by the proverbial wayside—like in a deep, dark ditch
never to be resurrected again!—my love affairs with coffee, Ireland and Vin (sigh)
have survived the tests of time. Let’s face it. Coffee is God’s way of saying, “I
love you!” every morning…and afternoon…and evening. Ireland is “God’s Country”,
and Vin…Well, Vin is God’s Gift to womankind. Voice, muscles, bald head.
<strong>*Squiggy knuckle bite*<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But there’s been another
obsession that started waaay back in the day. Hold up. Wait. How old am I again?
Oh that’s right 24. So, y’know, it started a few years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">My love for the city of
Boston. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Are you from Boston, you ask.
Have you ever lived there, you wonder. Do you have family there, you inquire. No,
unh-unh, and not even a play cousin. So how did my passion for this great city begin? Umm...cue hemming and hawing...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">New Kids on the Block.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Fine! New Kids on the Block! There! I said it! <em>I'll Be Loving You Forever</em>. <em>Please Don't Go Girl</em>. Donnie Wahlburg--whom I still love, and if he showed up on my doorstep today, I'd tie him to my bed and show him I have The Right Stuff! Get it? Get it? The song <em>The Right Stuff</em>? <strong>*roll eyes*</strong> Yeah, you don't want to admit you get it, but you do! Anyhoo, I was a total NKOTB fanatic! I had the big buttons, t-shirts, bought the Teen Beat and Big Bop magazines to collect their pictures, <span style="font-size: xx-small;">dolls</span>... Ayiight! Yes! I had a doll! Sheesh. I thank you not to judge. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPoQkkdtyD8zoqzGuWOq-6elew0dczQXyjAv884qUV85GETU4-eN3MIXi1bWOgJQ14APL0gX7-ylkcNeY006-1gK2aZ9t2YpszV5Ls8Wi8G1t2F5T4oYx9XY1kLTmP-faqs_X3vIZYH_I/s1600/NKTOB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPoQkkdtyD8zoqzGuWOq-6elew0dczQXyjAv884qUV85GETU4-eN3MIXi1bWOgJQ14APL0gX7-ylkcNeY006-1gK2aZ9t2YpszV5Ls8Wi8G1t2F5T4oYx9XY1kLTmP-faqs_X3vIZYH_I/s1600/NKTOB.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But as I was saying, since I was in lu-uv with Donnie, I also fell in complete adulation with his hometown. I mean, it was where we'd move when we married. I'd spend hours writing love stories about us meeting (he was him and I was the lead guitarist in a rock band) and how he took one looong, hooded, sensual (yes, even at 12 I knew how a man in lust gazed at a woman!) look at me and couldn't do without me in his life. And of course my mad guitar skills just wowed the hell outta him! We'd date, fight, make-up, marry and move to Boston. So along with doctoring phoney birth certificates for our three children, I also researched the city of Boston, it's diverse neighborhoods and proud people. And though my obsession with the New Kids waned--a little--my love for Boston grew and lasted through the years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Many of us first learned about Boston in grade school with the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary War. It's one of the oldest cities in the United States, and is so rich with history. From Beacon Hill to South End, to Dorchester to Jamaica Plain, the people are as diverse as the neighborhoods. I can imagine travelling from one end of the massive city to the other would be like sampling a smorgasbord of cultures. Italy, Ireland, Vietnam, Asia, India, South America... The city is saturated with colleges and universities, theatres, museums, and let's not forget sports. Although I would like to forget. I mean Troy Polamalu doesn't play for any of their sports teams... But as someone who is unwillingly entangled in the Auburn-Alabama feud just because of geography, I can appreciate the fierce pride Bostonians have in their sports teams. Don't understand it, but appreciate it... But like I said, Troy doesn't play, sooo.... </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouzDXca9AVy0TSoXhKoT21uvjlnkhxVN8Cw7BVzblxIVq4hPZFSET7hVib8XcAJShXHIIqArr4txsoPBe760SQRuGDExcCXcujh7MlUbm0mA1UY_J__Kg8VvFJQenN2B0pRkwlmW0hpFG/s1600/Boston+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boston_Montage.jpg" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouzDXca9AVy0TSoXhKoT21uvjlnkhxVN8Cw7BVzblxIVq4hPZFSET7hVib8XcAJShXHIIqArr4txsoPBe760SQRuGDExcCXcujh7MlUbm0mA1UY_J__Kg8VvFJQenN2B0pRkwlmW0hpFG/s320/Boston+collage.jpg" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boston_Montage.jpg" width="280" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When the bombing at the Boston Marathon occurred on April 15, 2013, I was home, watching television and caught the first of the news footage only two hours after it happened. I was shocked and so saddened. First, because of the evil and complete disregard for human life that would allow someone to commit such a heinous act of terrorism. Second, because of the devastation, grief and loss that so many families would face in the aftermath. But as we all saw in the hours and days afterward, the people of this city rallied and demonstrated why they are "Boston Strong". The courage, tirelessness and strength displayed by Boston's people from law enforcement to every day citizens was not just phenomenal, but inspiring. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">My new release, <em>Secrets and Sins: Gabriel</em>, from Entangled Publishing's Entangled Suspense line is set in Boston. And while I love the city, after this horrifying event followed up by the power of the human spirit, I'm so proud of the setting for <em>Gabriel</em>, as well as the three other books in the series. There isn't a better, more beautiful, stronger city for a story of good triumphing over evil, hope, healing and love. </span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Next week, I hope you join me on my blog tour for the release of <em>Secrets and Sins: Gabriel</em> where you can win Gabriel's Boston Strong Swag Pack and an Amazon Gift Card! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For this week--June 17th through the 21st--I'm offering a $15 Amazon Gift Card and an ARC of Gabriel! Join me here through the week as I add the places I would love to visit in Boston! I think you might be surprised! Think history, gypsies, wedding gowns and shopping!</span></span></div>
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<strong>Twenty years ago, Leah Bannon’s beloved Uncle Richard vanished without a trace. Leah, now a private investigator, begins to suspect it was murder. When she reopens the cold case, Gabriel Devlin—-the man she loves but can never have—-inexplicably stands in her way.<br /> <br />Only four people know the truth about Richard’s mysterious disappearance—-Gabriel and three childhood friends...who have all sworn to take that secret to the grave. But a hidden enemy wants those shocking secrets brought to light...even if he has to kill to make it happen.<br /> <br />After experiencing an unimaginable loss two years ago, Gabriel refuses to put himself through the pain of loving someone who could be gone in an instant. But as he thwarts Leah’s investigation at every turn—-both to keep his friends’ pact, and to keep her safe from danger—-the sexy PI makes it impossible for him to protect his secrets. Or his heart...</strong></div>
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There are several ways to enter my Goodreads contest through the Rafflecopter below..but don't cheat yourself, my publicist is gaw-geous, has a whip and isn't afraid to use it! LOL! She's a stickler for the rules and won't even let me peek until the contest is over! :D I'd love to hear your comments on Boston, New Kids on the Block, or how much you are soooo looking forward to <em>Gabriel</em>! <br />
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Don't forget! It would be a sin not to join me for the offical Gabriel Blog Tour starting June 24th! Mah birthday! Yaay me! <strong>*Jazz hands and kick*</strong> I'll be giving away a <strong>Boston Strong</strong> T-shirt, <em>Secets and Sins: Gabriel</em> swag pack and an Amazon gift card!<br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1cb55485/" id="rc-1cb55485" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-54425023282702050512013-06-04T10:24:00.000-05:002013-06-04T10:24:57.117-05:00Headed to God's Country! Ooh! And My New Cover!Ireland, here I come!<br />
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Yes! I'm going back to Ireland! God's Country! Eire! <br />
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Sigh.<br />
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I love Ireland. The history. The beauty of the land. The people. I first travelled there in 2007, and have been so eager to return ever since. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHF_HOhAVfNKRZN8am5Grj5DV1EPz9O9R-3siOmWmuuxYdO2AdZ0Y_YFkBOCcM9qNfltLluXSqr8-joAE-3OkxvzhjtTez9Qssub7UbzCuPQlkd2EiB9Soxv15KpRJJA3OWB4jegbHBI0/s1600/Patricks+Bridge%252C+Cork%252C+Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHF_HOhAVfNKRZN8am5Grj5DV1EPz9O9R-3siOmWmuuxYdO2AdZ0Y_YFkBOCcM9qNfltLluXSqr8-joAE-3OkxvzhjtTez9Qssub7UbzCuPQlkd2EiB9Soxv15KpRJJA3OWB4jegbHBI0/s400/Patricks+Bridge%252C+Cork%252C+Ireland.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Patrick's Bridge</td></tr>
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<em>Why Ireland?</em> I've had a grand passion for this country for years, and the blame can be placed squarely on Nora Roberts' shoulders. I fell in love with God's Country from her <em>Born In</em> series. How she described the beautiful land and people, the myths and history... She made me believe I could find my own Rogan or Murphy in this land of tragic lyrics, haunting music and never-say-die warriors. Well, I ended up finding my hero in Alabama, but still... <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Finbarre's Cathedral</td></tr>
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I leave for Cork City this July, and one of the things I'm looking forward to is carrying my notebook around and jotting down notes about pubs, landmarks, people and stories. I want to capture my impressions of the historical structures to the sounds and accents on Winthrop Street. Because when I return home, all of it will be applied to a new book set in my favorite country! A brooding Irishman with dark hair and blue eyes. A sexy brogue. Green, patchwork fields and rolling hills. A large bed and roaring fire as rain falls and mists outside. Yeah... I have no idea what the plot or character arc will be but it will have my sexy hero with an accent and a big bed!<br />
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But before I bow out to go dream about my trip and new hero, guess who has a new cover and release? ME! That's right! The second book in the Dark Judgment series, <a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/bitten-by-ecstasy.html" target="_blank">Bitten by Ecstasy</a>, is coming out on June 21 2013! <br />
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<strong>Blurb:</strong><br />
<strong>A brutal attack left Bastien Sarris for dead. But a chance encounter with a
mysterious female drags him back from the brink of death—and transforms the
hippogryph healer into a monster he doesn’t recognize. Now a terrible hunger
consumes him—one that is becoming impossible to satisfy. Desperate for a cure,
he hunts the cruxim who cursed him to a hellish existence. But the petite
warrior ignites a fierce desire that overwhelms the sweet call of
blood.<br /><br />For three hundred years, Sinéad lived and hunted as a cruxim—a
winged vampire hunter. But one sacrificial act stripped her of immortality,
leaving her human, vulnerable and unprepared for the reappearance of Bastien in
her life. The hippogryph shifter is harder and colder than she remembers…and he
triggers an onslaught of need that’s as powerful as it is unfamiliar. She craves
his kiss, his touch. Yet even as she surrenders to this newfound passion, she
faces a crucial decision—betray the man she’s come to love and regain her
immortality—or save Bastien and condemn herself to a human life and
death.</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-8333317313183748142013-05-21T07:00:00.000-05:002013-05-21T07:00:14.399-05:00A Wonderful Birthday Gift!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can FINALLY reveal the cover for my upcoming romantic suspence release from <a href="http://www.entangledpublishing.com/" target="_blank">Entangled Publishing's</a> Entangled Suspense line! You have no idea how I've been dy-<em>ing</em> to show it! <br />
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<a href="http://www.naimasimone.com/Books/Secrets_and_Sins_Gabriel.htm" target="_blank">Secrets and Sins: Gabriel</a> is the first book in a four-book series from Entangled Suspense, and I have to admit...I am in love with this book. It's a "first" for me in a couple of ways. It's my first book that isn't erotic. It's sensual, definitely, but less, uh, explicit than my previous books. <br />
But the emotion, the tragic hero and strong, independent heroine and secondary characters I fell in love with maek up for the naughty words I had to dial back on. :D <br />
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Also, it's my first true, bona-fide romantic suspense. I've had books with suspense elements, but <em>Gabriel</em> has a strong suspense plot running alongside the beautiful, romance. I'm so excited about its release! And did I mention the release date is on my birthday? Yes! June 24th! What an awesome birthday gift! *hint! hint! nudge! nudge!*<br />
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<strong>Blurb</strong> <br />
<strong>Twenty years ago, Leah Bannon’s beloved Uncle Richard vanished without a trace. Leah, now a private investigator, begins to suspect it was murder. When she reopens the cold case, Gabriel Devlin—-the man she loves but can never have—-inexplicably stands in her way.<br /> <br />Only four people know the truth about Richard’s mysterious disappearance—-Gabriel and three childhood friends...who have all sworn to take that secret to the grave. But a hidden enemy wants those shocking secrets brought to light...even if he has to kill to make it happen.<br /> <br />After experiencing an unimaginable loss two years ago, Gabriel refuses to put himself through the pain of loving someone who could be gone in an instant. But as he thwarts Leah’s investigation at every turn—-both to keep his friends’ pact, and to keep her safe from danger—-the sexy PI makes it impossible for him to protect his secrets. Or his heart...</strong><br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong></strong><em>Secrets and Sins: Gabriel</em> is available for pre-order at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-and-Sins-Gabriel-ebook/dp/B00CQYAXK0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368667239&sr=1-1&keywords=naima%2Bsimone%2Bsecret%2Band%2Bsins" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-and-sins-naima-simone/1115290498?ean=9781622660834&isbn=9781622660834" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-63422136697809434622013-05-14T07:00:00.000-05:002013-05-14T07:00:00.581-05:00Undying Destiny Cover Reveal!! <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kenric St. James is out for revenge. Over 300 years ago, an ancient
female vampire turned him against his will and killed the woman he loved. He’s
spent more than a century building an Enclave of warrior vampires who have
sworn to defend humanity against his evil sire and her minions. But when Kenric
finds a woman he finally burns to claim as his own again, Kenric knows loving
her means giving his sire another target.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Emily Ross just wanted a fresh start. She’s a survivor, coming off the
tail end of an abusive relationship, and craves time alone to learn who she is
and to save the home that holds her heart. The last thing she needed was a
controlling, alpha male calling all the shots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Meeting Kenric might
just have changed her mind, though. He is wrong for her in all the right ways.
But in order to keep her heart from breaking, he first has to keep the hoards
of evil vamps from stealing her very breath. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Title: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Undying Destiny </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Author: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jessica Lee </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Genre: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Paranormal
Romance </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Release Date: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">June 2013 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Imprint: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Edge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Purchase
from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Undying-Destiny-Enclave-Entangled-ebook/dp/B00CK55RJ2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=36TOXN5A9DZUF&coliid=I1T3598Q45ETJ6" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Purchase from <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/undying-destiny-jessica-lee/1115290509?ean=9781622660988" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> </span></b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Author
Information<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Almost every author's bio states
they've been writing since they learned how to read. It's what they've always
wanted to do. Well, my journey wasn't so straight and narrow. I was a nurse for
over twenty years and hold a bachelor's degree in science with a major in
biology. So as you can see, my career path had originally gone in the opposite
direction. I didn't discover my passion for the craft until after I'd had my
son and decided to work part-time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I've always loved to read but had
never read a paranormal romance. Then one night at work on break, I began
reading Karen Marie Moning's <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spell
of the Highlander</i>. I couldn't believe what I'd been missing, and I
immediately fell in love with the genre.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">I wanted to write like that. I
wanted to create worlds where others could find the same escape and fascination
I did when I read my first sensual paranormal romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And I hope that's what I've
accomplished in my work. Please dive in, hold on tight, and enjoy the
adventure. Just be careful in the dark—you might find more than you expected
waiting for you there. *wink*<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jessica Lee lives in the
southeastern United States with her husband and son. She loves writing and
can't wait for that quiet time each day when her son is in school, and she can
get lost in another place and world with the fantastical, sexy creatures in her
head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She's a member of Romance Writers of
America, Carolina Romance Writers.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.jessicaleenovels.com/index.html" target="_blank">Author Website</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jessicaleenovels" target="_blank">Facebook</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/jessleenovels" target="_blank">Twitter</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3013591.Jessica_Lee" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-75579330594498039012013-05-07T18:44:00.001-05:002013-05-07T18:45:12.460-05:00Ideas, Ideas. Wherefore Art Thou, Ideas?<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've been busy plotting away today...okay plotting, yes. But "away"? Umm, not so much. It's slow going. To stir my creative pot, so to speak, I called one of my critique partners, </span><a href="http://www.jessicaleenovels.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jessica Lee</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">, and we started talking about story ideas and where they come from. For instance, the idea for the third book in her Ariel Estates series--which she just sold to her editor at </span><a href="http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Resplendence Publishing</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">!!--came to her while she was eating a taco at Moe's. Apparently that "Welcome to Moe's!" really got those ideas in her head cooking--pun totally intended. The idea for </span><a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/slave-to-fashion.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Slave to Fashion</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> by </span><a href="http://www.debraglass.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Debra Glass</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">, my other critique partner, came to her while watching the fashion makeover show "What Not to Wear". </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I've read where several authors have notebooks and notebooks full of ideas for future books. Can I just get one of those pages? Because my ideas are like my kids in school--smiley faces one day, straight faces the next. Totally unpredictable. And unfortunately, I can't bitch 'n complain to my imagination about "doing right". Stories come from the most unlikeliest places and at the oddest times. Like tonight, while trying to plot a romantic suspense, I had this really cool idea for a contemporary romance while watching The Voice. I started picturing this Jude/Tommy/night-and-day romance like on "Instant Star". Hey. Don't judge! It was a great show! Anyway, my heart started racing with excitement. And all because I saw Usher waltz with this contestant as he taught her to sing to the melody by dancing with her. I thought it was beautiful! And it had my love-o-meter chiming! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't think I can really beat out the Moe's restaurant for oddest times and places, but one of the weirdest places--or most inappropriate, depending which side of the fence you're on-- an idea came to me was during bible study. My pastor was teaching about the kinsman redeemer out of the book of Ruth. And suddenly...ding! If I'd been in a comic strip, I would've had a light bulb blinking over my head! What if Ruth was this Boudica-type heroine that followed Naomi back to her homeland and caught the eye of the king? That one's still in my "Story Idea" file waiting to be fleshed out but I thought it was so cool! Who knows when or if I'll write the story one day but I loved the idea... I did end up telling my pastor about it, and he wants me to make sure I spell his name right in the Acknowledgments... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My complete, undying adoration for Donnie Wahlburg inspired my second book, <em>Love and Protect</em>. One day I was going through my daughter's closet searching for a shoe that she "Couldn't find annyywheeere!" and found an old folder with all these pictures and articles I'd clipped out and saved from those old teen magazines. You remember them! Tiger Beat and Bop! God, I'm old... Anyway, I found this story I'd written when I was fourteen about him and me, how we met and fell in love. How he chose me over all those other groupies, I mean, girls. <em>Sigh</em>. It was awesome. And the idea for the rock star hero just formed...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Speaking of <em>Love and Protect</em>... *Cue <em>Dolemite</em> music here* It is available in print today at </span><a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ellora's Cave</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">! Whoo-hoo! </span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ex-DEA agent Erin Montgomery is reluctantly back on the job,
posing as the sex-kitten groupie girlfriend of rock star Sean Ledger. She’ll be
joining his band’s tour to try to catch an obsessed, dangerous fan. Tormented by
nightmares of her failed last assignment, Erin’s not exactly eager to be drawn
back into the fray. But once she meets Sean, all rocker, all man and dripping
with raw sex appeal, she knows she’s right where she belongs.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sean is reluctant to have someone investigating his crew, but
when he meets Erin, his objections fly out the window. The beautiful,
hard-bitten agent turns him on like no other woman ever has. Sean’s caught
glimpses of the fiery passion lurking under Erin’s cool front and he’s
determined to break through her hard exterior and make her his.</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span class="style3"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">But Sean’s stalker is still at large and she’s made it
clear that she’s willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to get him. </span></span></strong><br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong></strong><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Check it out </span><a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/love-and-protect-1.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">!</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-60763759749747791182013-04-24T11:13:00.000-05:002013-04-24T11:13:18.885-05:00My Next Big Thing!Okay, see, what had happened was... Hee-hee! Anything that starts off like that is guar-oon-teed to be an excuse about sumthin'!! I was tagged by the hysterical <a href="http://jenniferechols.livejournal.com/173257.html" target="_blank">Jennifer Echols</a> in this Blog Hop thing where writers answer questions about themselves and then tag others to reveal all...hopefully something really embarrassing and blackmail worthy, but really who gets that lucky these days? Sigh. Well, here's the dirt on my next book, the first in a romantic suspense series with Entangled Publishing...expected to be released in June of this year... *Cough! <strong>Buy it!</strong> Cough!* That was subliminal in case you didn't catch it...<br />
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<strong>By the way, I don't have a cover so here's a menage--I mean, collage, COLLAGE!--of my recent covers! Hee-hee! My bad...</strong><br />
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1). What is the working title of your next book?</div>
<em>Secrets and Sins: Gabriel</em>. The next one in the series? That's <em>Malachim</em>. Why the angel names, you ask? Well, June's a-coming! Why, yes, yes. I am a promo whore...<br />
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2). Where did the idea come from for the book?<br />
From some serious brainstorming sessions with my critique partners, Jessica Lee and Debra Glass. <br />
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3). What genre does your book fall under?<br />
It is romantic suspense. A deviation from the erotic genre my books usually fall under. And lemme tell you, it was a huuuge change! <br />
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4). What actors would you choose to play the parts of your characters in a movie rendition?<br />
Oooh. I Paul Walker as Gabriel. And for Leah? Aishwarya Rai!<br />
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5). What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?<br />
A private detective's investigation into a twenty-year old disappearance threatens her relationship with the man she's been in love with since childhood and ensnares her in the diabolical game of a madman bent on revenge. Dang! That was a super long sentence!<br />
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6). Who is publishing your book?<br />
<a href="http://www.entangledpublishing.com/" target="_blank">Entangled Publishing</a>, more specifically the Entangled Suspense line.<br />
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7). How long did it take you to write the first draft of the synopsis?<br />
Which first draft? I originally wrote this book during NaNoWriMo. But then did two complete overhauls. Soooo MONTHS!<br />
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8). What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?<br />
I don't know! Uum... If a reader likes Cynthia Eden and Katie Reus' romantic suspense books, I think they'd give mine a whirl. <br />
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9). Who or what inspired you to write this book?<br />
The alarmingly dwindling deadline. Hee-hee! Okay, seriously. <em>Stand By Me</em> and my favorite friends-to-lovers trope. I just can't get enough of that!!<br />
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10). What else about the book might pique the readers' interest?<br />
The book has secrets galore, a tortured hero and a bromance between four friends....so does that make it a menage a quatre bromance? Hmm... <br />
<br />
So here're my author peeps I'm tagging: <br />
<br />
The brilliant <a href="http://www.debraglass.com/" target="_blank">Debra Glass</a>, author of erotic historical romances!<br />
<br />
The wonderfully talented <a href="http://kerryfreeman.com/" target="_blank">Kerry Freeman</a>, author of sexy m/m erotic romances!<br />
<br />
The fantabulous <a href="http://www.jessicaleenovels.com/" target="_blank">Jessica Lee</a>, author of beautiful paranormal romances!<br />
<br />
The marvelous <a href="http://paisley-smith.com/" target="_blank">Paisley Smith</a>, author of hot girl-on-girl erotic romances!<br />
<br />
Check back with them to find out what they have going on! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-37337455156681690102013-03-26T07:00:00.000-05:002013-03-26T07:00:13.635-05:00A Beast of a Book!<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Coming at ya on April 5th! The second book in the <em>Breathlessly Ever After</em> series, <em><a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/bargain-with-the-beast.html" target="_blank">Bargain with the Beast</a></em>! </span><a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ellora's Cave</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> is re-releasing my fairy tale book based on the timeless classic, <em>Beauty and the Beast</em>. A scarred man. The woman who wantshim and hopes to heal him with her love. Le sigh. </span><br />
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<div class="ChapterSubtitle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“What will you have, Beauty?” said her father.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<em>“Since you have the goodness to think of me,” answered
she, “be so kind to bring me a rose, for as none grows hereabouts, they are a
kind of rarity.”—Beauty and the Beast</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p><em> </em></o:p><em>“Show me someone who says they don’t want anything
from you and I’ll show you some real estate in the land of Wake the Fuck
Up.”—Xavier St. James</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vD_C9luLmzhAUR2wvda1Thdx4-4W40zhaMFSy5dORwD8xYemxK1Uo1bwPEp8aD_Lr2TVPqjJ7iww76xLHviLtiGjErkrg1y4ZdO3aZm3rP-isbB5-rnVB4eu5xeb8He0DkaukDf2TCE/s1600/Bargain+with+the+Beast+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vD_C9luLmzhAUR2wvda1Thdx4-4W40zhaMFSy5dORwD8xYemxK1Uo1bwPEp8aD_Lr2TVPqjJ7iww76xLHviLtiGjErkrg1y4ZdO3aZm3rP-isbB5-rnVB4eu5xeb8He0DkaukDf2TCE/s320/Bargain+with+the+Beast+cover.jpg" width="194" /></span></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In
a last-ditch attempt to save her beloved community center, Gwendolyn Sinclair
corners childhood friend Xavier St. James, brother of her dead fiancé…and the
man who secretly owns her heart. Surely his wealth and contacts can save the
run-down building from ruin. The arrangement he proposes confirms what she’s
long suspected. He’s become a beast, and he offers a beast’s bargain, one that
offends her pride even as it stirs her every desire and titillating
fantasy—submit her body to his whim for seven days and the community center
remains open.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Losing both
his father and brother has left Xavier scarred in more ways than one, but
forbidden lust overrules conscience when Gwendolyn appears, asking for help.
He’s craved her for years. At last he’ll discover if the passion in her eyes
blazes just as hot between the sheets. Her fiery surrender leaves him hungering
for more, but their bargain is only for seven days and, ultimately, she could
never truly love a beast.</span></strong><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A
Romantica® <strong>contemporary erotic romance</strong> from Ellora’s
Cave</span></em></span></div>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Publisher’s
Note: This story was previously published elsewhere in 2011 under the title</em>
Loving the Beast</span><em>.</em></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-82446557842942308382013-03-12T07:00:00.000-05:002013-03-12T09:31:40.525-05:00Nope. Not in My Book!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyz3HrY8CgT-IUw7LYCP8wN8DZTXbL7Rv-6hPL02lEkJe2HLhQJbpRw_aQ_9byFvS6lA6TqZvx098OCtUZ99iGWFaoiEUjlXopgnbNKpGo3uuahemnkSPhDNnsbACNHqm4c5Kopgc1xw/s1600/Beauty+and+the+beast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyz3HrY8CgT-IUw7LYCP8wN8DZTXbL7Rv-6hPL02lEkJe2HLhQJbpRw_aQ_9byFvS6lA6TqZvx098OCtUZ99iGWFaoiEUjlXopgnbNKpGo3uuahemnkSPhDNnsbACNHqm4c5Kopgc1xw/s320/Beauty+and+the+beast.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
The release of my second fairy tale-based book in my <em>Breathlessly Ever After</em> series is eminent so that means I have to start thinking about the next one. What story do I tackle? What spin do I place on it? What genre? I've been kicking around ideas for the last couple of weeks and yeah, still stumped. The ideas are brewing but nothing's solidified into that perfect blend of characters, motivation, conflict and love. Y'know, like a good cup of coffee. Yet something did come out of my weeks-long ruminations. I know what I definitely DO NOT want in my book. Basing my books on classic, much loved tales, there are certain elements I have to include. Like in <em>Bargain with the Beast</em>, the hero had to be wounded both inside and out. And the heroine had to be able to look beneath his beastly appearance to the beautiful soul of the man. In <em>Stroke of Midnight</em>, though the "evil" stepsister was the heroine, she was rejected by her family and for one night found magic in the arms of her prince. But...there are some things I refuse to incorporate. Why? Because they're just plain jacked up!<br />
<br />
For instance...<br />
<br />
Little Red Riding Hood - Besides the hood because it's just a tad bit too cliche-ish for me, there won't be any splitting of wolves' guts and people spilling out. Don't get it twisted, I don't mind a good disembowelment in a book but the only time my heroine is gonna be eaten is...well, you get the picture! In my story Red would kick ass and take names, not be taken down and saved by a passing woodsman. Unless she was <em>taken down</em> by the woodsman...<br />
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The Little Mermaid - Anyone within the sound of my voice or has 20/20 vision of their screen, please understand this...I detest Hans Christian Andersen's version. Like loathe. She gave up everything for the prince--her voice, her long lifespan, her heart and eventually, her life. Not to mention endured excruciating pain just to dance for that ingrate. And he was so blind to who stood right in front of him--the very woman he was holding out for!--that he broke her heart and married another woman. There won't be a stupid, short-sighted hero (with no redeemable qualities), a self-effacing heroine or a sacrificial suicide in my book. Damn, I wanted to punch that mermaid's face in... There's meek and then there's mealy-mouth... Grrr! Don't get me started!<br />
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Sleeping Beauty - None of that waking with a kiss stuff. I'm sorry. Halitosis, people! Nothing romantic about it! That's all I'm saying. After one night I've been known to have one helluva case of dragon breath! Now one hundred years?? Forget that--a week! Naw. If someone wakes from a coma, there will be breath mints running through their IV instead of saline. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45htioA1QcjMlCuKvoWHkwkRdPdE0YOSZXStpz_MlTTbDMO01OjIxEl90narmvualAKeu9QYGs6FjdDAgVWRSVOCtGw21lRy1goBwbilytm6lFRj_aK04WU-yryZ3l4Dq9WKEh8XvKZGn/s1600/Bargain+with+the+Beast+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45htioA1QcjMlCuKvoWHkwkRdPdE0YOSZXStpz_MlTTbDMO01OjIxEl90narmvualAKeu9QYGs6FjdDAgVWRSVOCtGw21lRy1goBwbilytm6lFRj_aK04WU-yryZ3l4Dq9WKEh8XvKZGn/s320/Bargain+with+the+Beast+cover.jpg" width="194" /></a><br />
Snow White - First, a huntsman almost takes her heart. Then a peddler woman laces her stay so tight she almost dies because her breath is cut off. After escaping that harrowing experience, another merchant woman comes by and pops a poisoned comb in her head, almost killing her...again. She's saved. <em>Then</em> <em>another</em> old woman comes by and offers her an apple. Which she bites and falls into a cryogenic state. Soooo which murder attempt should've been the tip off that an old woman was out to kill her? I mean, after the laces, I would've have 'ol girl's IQ tested. Therefore, no TSTL heroines in my book!<br />
<br />
So two weeks later, I haven't come up with what my new book will be about. But I DEFINITELY know what it won't be about! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-45453551791905639532013-02-26T15:37:00.001-06:002013-02-26T15:37:21.497-06:00Laughing Hysterically...Or it Could be the Lack of Sleep...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So right now I'm in Deadline Hell. And it's a hell of my own making, I'll freely admit that. But it still doesn't negate my manic mindset or the guilt that overwhelms me when I'm eating--or sleeping--without writing in between. So I figured blogging and searching for something to blog about wouldn't mire me down in shame. And what better subject than....ta-dah-dah! Writing! And funny things about writing too! <br />
<br />
I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. -- Douglas Adams<br />
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A blank piece of paper is God’s way of telling us how hard it is to be God. -- Sidney Sheldon<br />
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<br />
Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life. --Lawrence Kasdan<br />
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If you can't annoy somebody, there's little point in writing. -- Kingsley Amis<br />
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Let's face it, writing is hell. -- William Styron<br />
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The best time to plan a book is while you're doing the dishes. -- Agatha Christie<br />
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The first draft of anything is shit. -- Ernest Hemingway<br />
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Always avoid alliteration. -- Author Unknown<br />
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Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead. -- Gene Fowler<br />
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Proofread carefully to see if you any words out. -- Author Unknown<br />
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When male authors write love stories, the heroine tends to end up dead.” -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips<br />
<br />
Many people hear voices when no one is there. Some of them are called mad and are shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day. Others are called writers and they do pretty much the same thing. -- Margaret Chittenden<br />
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Writing and travel broaden your ass if not your mind and I like to write standing up. -- Ernest Hemingway<br />
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I am a drinker with writing problems -- Brendan Behan<br />
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Okay! Back to writing! And I'm damn sure in a better mood!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465546866070028235.post-54185466011412602712013-01-22T07:00:00.000-06:002013-01-22T07:00:07.615-06:00Forecast: Rain and Flying Pigs!Anyone who meets me for the first time will probably find out three things about me within the first ten minutes of conversation: my father is a pastor, I have a grand *cough! obsessive* passion for Vin Diesel and I abhor spiders. I'm very, very proud of my father and value his wisdom and guidance. That's not going to change. My love for Vin has endured for ten years...Hey, if I still adored him after <em>Babylon, A.D.,</em> I'm gonna always be down for him! And my hatred and fear of spiders? Well, that's been around for the last three decades and still holding strong! Not. Gonna. Change. <br />
<br />
So when I come across something that makes me <em>not question</em> one of these three tenets but presses my "The Hell You Say!" Button, I'm shocked. You know what "The Hell You Say!" Button is... The Maury Show is nominated for an Emmy. The hell you say! They're recalling NyQuil for too much alcohol. The hell you say! They're making a remake of <em>Dirty Dancing</em>. The hell--See? I threw you a curve ball on that one. That's the "No, the Hell They Didn't!" Button. Subtle difference but different all the same... But you get my point, right?<br />
<br />
Well, this weekend, an author pushed my "The Hell You Say!" Button. While cruising the free books on Amazon (hubby has placed me on a "No Book" moratorium for a few days) I came across a book entitled <em>A Hint of Frost</em> by Hailey Edwards. I enjoy reading new authors and Ms. Edwards is new for me. And when I read the blurb it sounded really interesting! I'm like, cool. Probably about gods and ice (y'know, <em>frost</em>) and some awesome new mythology. So I downloaded it. Aaaand about five minutes into the book I realized, this ain't about gods...the characters are based on freakin' SPIDERS!! <br />
<br />
Honestly, I did close the book. Shut off the Kindle. But then, a short while later, I had to open it again. The writing, the heroine's voice, the author's description of this world drew me into the story like...well like a spider would lure it's dinner into its web! Now I know what you're thinking! <em>Get a grip! It's a book! It's not like they're are pictures!</em> But see, that's where you would be wrong. Hailey Edwards' writing is so vivid and strong that she creates images with her words! The characters don't shift into spiders but their natures are like the arachnids they represent. I couldn't put it down! I even had my husband google the different clan names to see if Ms. Edwards had really based them on the abominations that haunt my dreams...and they are. He found it totally fascinating, by the way... The author accomplished what Tolkien and E.B. White were unable to: Make me read anything having to do with spiders! I bow down to you, Ms. Edwards! Because if anyone had told me as late as last week that I would read anything regarding those eight-leg freaks I would've said--all together now!--The Hell You Say!<br />
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<strong>When the head of the Araneidae clan is found poisoned in her nest, her eldest
daughter, Lourdes, becomes their clan’s new maven. If her clan is to survive,
she has but one choice: she must marry before her nest is seized. All she needs
is a warrior fierce enough to protect her city and safeguard her clansmen. Such
a male is Rhys the Cold. </strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<strong>Born the youngest son of an impoverished maven, the only things Rhys has to
his name are his sword and his mercenary reputation. His clan is starving, but
their fondness for the flesh of fellow Araneaeans makes them unwelcome dinner
guests. Torn between loyalty to his clan and fascination with his future bride,
Rhys’s first taste of Lourdes threatens to melt the cold encasing his heart.
</strong><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<strong>Amid the chaos of battle, Lourdes’s sister disappears and is feared captured.
Lourdes and Rhys pursue their enemies into the southlands, where they discover
an odd plague ravaging southern clans as it travels north, to Erania. Determined
to survive, Lourdes will discover whether she’s worth her silk or if she’s spun
the thread by which her clan will hang. </strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
In hindsight, this blurb takes on a whoooole different meaning...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0