This blog is for those 18 and older.

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Author Interview with Annette Mardis about SHORE IS MAGICAL

Welcome to Contemporary Romance author Annette Mardis, author of the Gulf Shore series.

Lexi: What are you working on now?
Annette: Soon, I’m going to begin writing book one in a new contemporary romance series called Ruben’s Refuge, set at an animal sanctuary, pet adoption center and wildlife rescue located just outside my fictional west-central Florida beach town of Gulf Shore. I introduced Ruben’s Refuge in Scrumptious, a novel I recently finished and hope to have published later this year. Scrumptious is intended as a bridge between the new Ruben’s Refuge series and my four-book Gulf Shore series. Much of the action in the Gulf Shore series is set at the local aquarium/marine animal rescue.

Lexi: Where did you get the idea for this story?
Annette: I’m a big believer in the old saying “Write what you know,” so my leading lady in Scrumptious, Helen Holt, is a newspaper reporter. I spent more than 30 years as a newspaper writer and editor in the Tampa area, and I want to give readers a realistic portrayal of that profession. I introduced Helen in Shore to Please, Gulf Shore Book 3 and thought she deserved to have her own happily ever after.

Scrumptious opens with Helen participating in and reporting on the rescue of an imperiled manatee mother and her calf. It was inspired by a real-life experience I had as a volunteer member of a marine life rescue team based in Clearwater, Florida. The book also includes Helen’s visit to Ruben’s Refuge, where she falls in love with a one-eyed calico cat. I love animals, and rescues/rescuers of homeless pets and sick/injured wild creatures are near and dear to my heart. My husband and I adopted Woody, a corgi mix puppy, more than a year ago, and he’s introduced as a beloved resident of Ruben’s Refuge. Animals play a big role in all of my books, and I’ve immortalized other pets in my novels.

Lexi: I just love animals, too! What are your favorite traits of the two main characters?
Annette: All of my leading ladies are intelligent and talented, and Helen Holt is no exception. I love to write snappy, sometimes snarky dialogue, and Helen has a quick wit. (I love clever people.) She’s hard-working and dedicated to her profession. She’s also endearingly self-deprecating and self-conscious. Her love interest, chef and restauranteur Rico Pellegrini, has overcome a sad and difficult family situation through diligent work and force of will to achieve success. He’s a dedicated son who knows how to treat a woman, and once he sets his heart on Helen, he’s not easily deterred. But he’s also considerate of her wants and needs. Rico has a sense of humor, of course, and is romantic without being schmaltzy. During the course of the book, he demonstrates a brave and heroic side as well. 

Lexi: What has been the best piece of advice you ever received for your writing career?
Annette: When I was in high school, I worked on the campus newspaper and was the editor in my senior year. I attended a convention at which members of the local media were guest speakers. One of them was a features writer for my hometown St. Petersburg (Florida) Times. She impressed on us that if we pursued journalism as a career, we had to demonstrate the right work ethic. Writers facing deadlines don’t have the luxury of putting their articles aside when they don’t feel well or aren’t inspired to write that day, she said. Basically, they just have to do it. I procrastinate as well as the next person, but that advice has stayed with me all these years and provided motivation when I needed it.

Lexi: What do you think everyone should know about your husband?
Annette: I didn’t find the love of my life until I was in my late 20s, and Rick and I will celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary on May 27. His sense of humor attracted me from the beginning. Over the years, he encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. Thanks to him, I’ve enjoyed scuba diving, boating, golfing, RV camping, motorcycling and other hobbies. He has always supported my career and other aspirations, and I’ve never had to be less than myself to spare his ego. He’s always considered me an equal partner. 

Shore is Magical, Gulf Shore Book 4
After suffering losses that would’ve wrecked a lesser man, Kenshin Hamasaki has resigned himself to a life without true love. His perpetual grumpiness has damaged the few friendships he’s managed to forge, and his dalliances with women are superficial at best.
And then comes a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger named Marina, whose mere existence defies logic. She’s led what many would consider an idyllic life, but one that’s shrouded in secrecy. Marina longs to explore the limitless possibilities of Kenshin’s world. Yet, sharing the truth about herself could place her entire species in peril.
These two searching souls are drawn to each other by an animal attraction with the potential to change them in ways they never could’ve imagined. Lurking in the background, however, is a dark presence from Marina’s past, who threatens to end this unlikely pairing before she and Kenshin can fully explore whether they’re destined to be together. 

Buy links for Shore is Magical, Gulf Shore Book 4:
Liquid Silver: http://bit.ly/2gmfrA2
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2gvDNKr
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2gMr5rb
Excerpt

Here’s a snippet from one of my favorite scenes in Shore is Magical, when Kenshin first encounters Marina in very enticing human form. This scene takes place in the marine animal hospital at Gulf Shore Aquarium, where Kenshin works. He thinks he’s helping to rehabilitate a rescued dolphin, but he gets the surprise of his life one night.

Looking up, Kenshin almost dropped his phone. He stared, eyes wide, mouth open, as a lithe form emerged from the pool, water cascading down her body. Where had she come from and, more importantly, why was she naked? Then he glanced behind her and received his second shock.
The rescued dolphin was—gone. Impossible. He gave his cheek a light smack to make sure he hadn’t succumbed to exhaustion and passed out. That was entirely possible, given he hadn’t slept more than two hours at a stretch since leaving Erica’s bed.
If this was a dream, it was incredibly realistic. Off the charts sexy, too.
The woman sauntering toward him was hotter than an egg yolk on Florida asphalt in August. A short cap of dark, wavy hair framed a pair of turquoise eyes that shimmered like the sea. Her rosebud nipples all but begged for his touch, and he imagined himself at home between her long, supple legs, which were as toned as the rest of her.
The corners of her lips tipped up as if she’d read his mind. Kenshin’s gaze darted around the rehab unit, looking for backup if he needed it. But Kelsey had gone home early for a change, Flipper probably was loading up on caffeine and carbs, and Sitara was in her office catching up on paperwork.
Kenshin’s carnal fantasies dissolved amid concerns about a massive security breach.
“Who are you, and why are you here?” he demanded.
“You know who I am.” The woman’s voice was as smooth as spiced rum sliding over ice cubes. “You just don’t want to admit it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your friends brought me here from the beach, jostling me around in that canvas thing. What do you call it?”
“Are you talking about the sling?”
“It felt like they dragged me across a rocky sea bottom. Very bad for the delicate skin.” She pouted and pointed to a chafe mark on her elbow. “Get something softer, for Poseidon’s sake.”
“This is...insane. Why aren’t you wearing clothes?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t bring any.” Cocking her head, she studied him for a moment before her expression turned playful. “Don’t you like me as I am? I thought the males of your species enjoyed seeing females without garments.”
What an odd way to say that guys lust after naked women. “You’re beautiful, and I think you know that, but it’s beside the point.”
“Is it?”
She’d come close enough for Kenshin to stroke a hand down all that lush, bare flesh, and he almost did so to make sure she was real. Common sense kicked in before he acted on the impulse. Besides being a stranger, she was, well, strange.
“Listen, lady, I don’t know what your game is but--”
“Game? There is no game. Your people rescued me, and now I’m your responsibility. Isn’t that how this works?”
Kenshin glanced around again, convinced that any minute Flipper or someone would leap out and scream, “Gotcha!” This had to be a prank. Stuff like this didn’t happen otherwise, at least not to him. But after that dolphin encounter at the reef, anything seemed possible.
Kenshin felt her warm breath on his face. It smelled...fishy? When he wrinkled his nose, she clapped her hand over her mouth. Now she was self-conscious? He looked into her eyes, an inviting shade matched only by a secluded tropical lagoon.
“What’s your name?”
“Marina.”
“Marina what?”
“Just Marina.”

Author bio

After years of ignoring people who said, “You should write a book,” she finally did. And then she wrote a few more.
When she’s not working, Annette usually is engrossed in someone else’s novel, rooting for her favorite sports teams and athletes, camping with her husband, or enjoying animal-related adventures with friends. She has two totally spoiled pets and volunteers at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home of diva dolphins Winter and Hope from the Dolphin Tale films.
Annette is the author of the woman’s fiction novella Getting Her Money’s Worth and the Gulf Shore series of contemporary romance novels: The Shore Thing, Shore Feels Right, Shore to Please and Shore is Magical

Connect with Annette
Twitter: @AnnetteMardis48   https://twitter.com/annettemardis48

Saturday, April 28, 2018

LIES AND SOLACE by Jana Richards FREE through April 29th!

 Lies and Solace Love at Solace Lake Series (Book 1) 
By Jana Richards
Lies and Solace is FREE April 27, 2018 - April 29, 2018 ONLY 
Blurb for Lies and Solace: She can’t live with one more lie. He can’t tell the truth. Harper Lindquist is convinced she’s found the answer to her financial prayers. Unless she pours cash into crumbling Solace Lake Lodge, she’ll lose her family’s legacy. Her would-be savior arrives in the middle of a Minnesota blizzard and she’s determined to prove to her reluctant, and trapped, financier the lodge is a sound investment. But Harper isn’t completely honest with him. And she has no idea the lake is hiding secrets of its own. Ethan James is a liar, but his money is very real. He isn’t convinced a broken-down inn is a smart investment opportunity. But the more he understands Harper’s dreams and desires, the more he wants to be the man to make them come true. The trauma in both their pasts means neither can fully trust the other. They must find the courage to love, to trust, and to accept, or yesterday’s sorrows will keep them apart.
Genre: Contemporary Romance, small town romance Keywords: contemporary romance, small town romance, mystery, touch of paranormal, murder ISBN: Ebook ISBN 978-0-9952791-0-0 Length: Novel Heat Level: Spicy, fully described love scenes Release Date: March 14, 2018 Cover Artist: Angela Waters
Excerpt, Lies and Solace: As she stared into his dark eyes she realized how much she trusted him, and relied on him. That was something rare for her. The only people she trusted as much were her sisters. I’m in love with him. The thought blasted through her brain with the force of a tsunami. The tension of the last few weeks, the insecurity, the mistrust, the fear, slipped easily from her shoulders. For the first time, her mind was clear. She was in love with Ethan and she didn’t want to wait anymore. She wanted him. She wanted him to be her first, her last. Finding courage she didn’t know she possessed, Harper slid off the stool and walked around the island. She plucked the wine glass from his hand and set it on the counter, then placed his hand on her breast. “Make love with me, Ethan.” A fire lit in his eyes, telling her he wanted her, too. But there was a question there, a hesitation. “Are you sure?” She’d never been more sure of anything in her life. “Yes.” “Harper—” “Shhh. Let’s not talk anymore.” She placed one finger over his lips, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Ethan’s reaction was lightning swift. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her close, his mouth descending on hers in a wild, warm kiss. Their tongues tangled, slid over each other. She’d missed his touch, his taste. She moaned, and in the sound she heard thirty-two years of longing. For this. For him.
Other Books in the Series: 
Secrets and Solace
Book 2 
Truth and Solace
Book 3 
About Jana Richards: 
When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper, and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun, she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal. Her paranormal romantic suspense “Seeing Things” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist.
In her life away from writing, Jana is an accountant/admin assistant, a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf, yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and her husband live in Winnipeg, Canada with their Pug/Terrier cross Lou and several unnamed goldfish. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.janarichards.com
Social Media Links:
Newsletter Signup: http://janarichards.com/contact.html#newsletter

Friday, April 27, 2018

Cover Reveal of ON HIGHLAND TIME by Lexi Post

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover on my next release, On Highland Time, a time travel romance back to 1306 Scotland.

When a Disruptor changes history affecting present day, Diana Montgomery, the most experienced of the Time Weavers, Inc. agents, travels back to 1306 Scotland to change it back. Her mission, to find the Disruptor and ensure a minor clan chief dies in battle as he originally had. 

Diana is well prepared to infiltrate the small MacPherson clan. What she’s not prepared for is Torr MacPherson, the handsome Laird with a kind heart and a steadfast loyalty.
Having lost most of his family to war, Torr is fiercely protective of those he loves and determined not to love any others. When Diana arrives, he’s drawn to her uniqueness, but refuses to let his heart be engaged. 

As Diana draws closer to discovering the Disruptor, she also grows closer to Torr, falling deeply in love. How can she let the only man she’s ever loved die? How can she not?

This book will release May 28th, but preorders should be available next week! I can't wait for you to meet Torr. 😊

Always, Lexi