This blog is for those 18 and older.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Gone by Lisa Gardner


A true masterpiece of suspense and a twist in the romance department.

Rainie Connor’s life is in peril in more ways than she first realized.  She has come to grips with the fact that her husband, Pierce Quincy, has left their house and marriage in a desperate attempt to help her overcome her alcoholism. Alone and fighting against herself, one rainy night in Oregon, she’s abducted.Product Details

When Quincy finds out his law enforcement wife, Rainie, is held for ransom vs. life, he could kick himself for leaving her to fight her demons on her own.  Quincy is a former FBI profiler, so he won’t let the police work without him.

The kidnapper, which comes as a surprise to everyone, throws a bunch of curve balls causing the law enforcement to channel their efforts in multiple directions.

Rainie swears if she comes out of this alive, she’ll do her best to quit drinking and will make sure Quincy is aware of her love for him.  Quincy swears that if Rainie comes out of this alive, he’ll do whatever he can to help her with her problem and never let her forget he loves her.

At least they both have the same goal. 

I found the story fast-paced and always switching gears.  It is one of those hard-to-put-down novels until the final page when your heart can quit racing along with the characters.

 

Happy reading,

Dawn  

Sunday, March 15, 2015

FREEING THE BEAST (Book One – Taming the Beast series) Erotic Paranormal by Tina Donahue  

Please support my Thunderclap campaign: http://thndr.it/1z2lkHH  

Buy Links: 
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Blurb: No more Mr. Nice Guy Magic is Becca Salt’s business, but it ain’t happening in her bedroom. The half-witch proprietress of From Crud to Stud performs miracle makeovers for paranormal creatures. Once she’s done with them, they’re out the door hunting for hot babes, not hanging around for a too-curvy, plain Jane like her. Her newest client is hot, hung, mouthwatering perfection. What could she possibly improve upon? Eric Diletto. Descendant of Cupid, bred for courtship, courtesy, and all that other gentlemanly junk. What has it gotten him? Dumped time and again for bad boys. He needs Becca’s help for an entirely different reason—regression therapy to release his inner beast. Grrrr. Two potions later, they’re crawling all over each other. Becca aches for a man who loves her as she is, not because he’s under the influence. But Eric isn’t as impaired as she thinks. And he intends to take Becca here, there, and everywhere—anything to convince her his desire isn’t just the potions talking.  

Product Warnings A witchdoctor’s nightmare. Contains potions with weird side effects, a sorceress with limited magical skills and a yearning heart, plus a minor god who wants to get down and dirty. Bad, bad boy!
  
Excerpt:

Heat and humidity poured inside, along with the racket from the street party. Drunken voices mingled with throaty laughter, pounding drums and trumpets reaching then holding their highest notes. Becca’s pulse thumped in her ears, drowning out the other sounds.
Damn.
The guy who’d come inside was something. At least six-three, he had the build of an athlete, lean and muscular with broad shoulders, narrow hips and powerful thighs. Without meaning to, Becca stepped closer, drinking him in. Classically handsome, he wore his hair preppy style, longer on the top, shorter on the sides. It was a warm chestnut brown streaked by the sun and slightly tousled, begging for a woman’s fingers to smooth it back.
Becca brought down her hand, suddenly realizing she’d lifted it.
His golden complexion spoke of days spent outdoors, possibly skinny-dipping in a pool, water streaming over his firm pecs and abs, being trapped in his nest of dark curls…his rock-hard cock jutting from it, inflexible as iron, sleek as a spear. Suppressing a shiver of delight, Becca took in his leather loafers, beige khakis and white shirt opened at the collar with the sleeves rolled up to mid-forearm.
Masculine yet civilized. Very nice.
Zoe, you did good. Aw, sweetie, more than good. She deserved part ownership in this place for having done such a fantastic job on him. This guy had been made over to the nth degree from…
Becca wasn’t certain what kind of demon he was, or his level in Hell, never having met him before the makeover. Maybe that’s why he’d taken so long to get here. He couldn’t pull himself away from the god he now saw in his mirror.
While Becca ogled him, he regarded the reception area’s feathery ferns and potted plants as though seeing them with different eyes. A mortal’s eyes. The room’s faux brick floor, coral walls and gas wall fixtures radiated warmth, an earthy, sensual feel in keeping with the area’s culture.
It was also decidedly romantic.
And the reason most of these guys signed up. They were having problems with babes and wanted a solution, even if it was painful.
Hissing noises came from behind a door on the right. On the left, a muffled groan sounded faintly sexual.
Could be that was why this guy was late. He’d already seduced a babe and had been reluctant to leave her.
Becca glanced at his fly, the thick ridge behind it. Some women had all the luck. She, on the other hand, had a business to run.
Reining in her desire, she joined him in the reception area. “Do you have any idea how late it is?”
He turned. His attention zipped from her flame-red hair, cut in a chin-length bob with bangs, to her dramatic makeup. Heavy black liner surrounded her blue eyes. Her maroon lipstick was just a shade lighter than black and quite a contrast to her pale skin.
He lifted his eyebrows slightly, then regarded the black silk top tied beneath her breasts, her silver navel jewelry, black harem pants, anklets, toe rings and high-heeled sandals.
Even at five-seven, and with the extra three inches the shoes gave her, Becca felt positively dainty next to him. Quite a feat considering she’d always been too tall and curvy. In school, they’d called her the f-word.
Well, fuck ’em, right? So she’d never be skinny or a beauty. Not like her mom. Unfortunately, Becca took after her dad. A great guy, but no hunk in the looks department.
“We can’t wait forever,” she said. “Let’s go.”
She headed down the hall. Hearing only her footfalls, Becca stopped and looked over.
He hadn’t taken one step in her direction. He was far too busy studying her ass. Intently. Appreciatively…if his crooked smile was any indication. How awesome was that?
Was it something Zoe had taught him?
“You coming?” Becca asked.
He actually blushed beneath his tan. What appeared to be carnal hunger blurred his expression as he regarded her. “Where?”
His voice was even deeper than the howlers that came here for treatment. Way huskier than Zoe’s when she got riled. Becca moved toward him again, drawn by his potent masculinity, until she forced herself to stop and pointed over her shoulder.
He approached with the grace of a well-behaved panther. Loose limbed and composed, not cocky or predatory. Shit. Zoe was a miracle worker.
“Sure,” he said.
Becca swallowed. His eyes were the color of honey with flecks of green. Given his laugh lines, he looked to be in his early thirties—if she was using mortal time—just a couple of years older than her.
Not that their ages mattered. Why should they? Once his photo shoot was over, he’d be gone. Back in bed with his babe.
“There.” She pointed to the side, trying not to drool over him.
He kept checking her out too and gave her another crooked grin. “There what?”
Damned if she knew. His adorable smile continued to tangle her thoughts. Becca lowered her head and took a deep breath. “Door on the right. Go in that room. Take off your clothes. I’ll get the photog—”
The rest of her words and all the spit in her mouth dried up as his fingers curled around her wrist, keeping her from moving away.
He murmured, “What?”
That voice. His touch. Her knees sagged. With great effort, Becca turned back to him.
He gave her a questioning look and waited.
Becca wanted to ruffle his long, dark lashes, kiss his silky eyebrows, then suck his lower lip into her mouth while she crawled all over him. “Briefs or boxers?”
He pulled back slightly, but didn’t let go of her wrist. “What?”
She cleared her throat. Her voice still jiggled and rasped. “What are you wearing? Briefs or boxers?”
He looked down as though to check. “Boxers.”
 “The stretchy kind or the baggy ones?”
He let go of her wrist. “They’re not that baggy.”
Hmm. She’d hurt his feelings. A nice human touch Zoe must have taught him. Like having him stare at a female’s ass, rather than simply grabbing it, to make her feel sexy and desired. “I’m sure they’re not. Still, we prefer the snug ones.”
The kind that would hug his fleshy balls and caress his rigid cock. On wobbly legs, Becca went to the hall closet and pulled out a navy pair.
“Here.” She flung them at him.
They landed on his deliciously broad shoulder.
Becca backed away. “Strip down, then put those on. We can’t screw around any longer.”
“Sure about that?”

*** CONTEST ALERT ***
__________
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About Tina:
(You know you want to know!): I’m an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, Booktrope, and Kensington. Yay! Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised my work, and trust me, I’m forever grateful for that. I’ve had my books reach finals in the EPIC competition, one title was named Book of the Year at a review site, and others have won awards in RWA-sponsored contests. I’m actually featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Talk about feeling like a freaking star. Before my writing career, I was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company. Outside of being an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, I’ve flown a single-engine plane (scary stuff), rewired an old house using an electricity for dummies book, and have been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally whenever I’m eating anything Mexican or Italian. Yeah, I like to eat (burp). You can check me out here – yes, I am everywhere!
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Email: tina@tinadonahue.com  
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Teaser!!
Freeing the Beast - Teaser 1

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Cover Art


        
If you read this blog often, you know that I’m in the process of re-releasing my first novel, Angel in the Moonlight. I am enjoying the process though it’s much different than the first time around (the first time I had a publisher….this time, I’m on my own…sorta). So far, I’ve read through the novel itself and found that I still loved the story and was amazed and pleased that I actually committed those words to paper and could cry again at the end (yes, like the sap that I am for a happily ever after). 
          I’m at the stage now where I’m trying to choose a cover. Back in 2008, when Angel in the Moonlight first came out, I submitted what I’d like to see on the cover to the publisher and the cover artist could either take my idea and run with it or she/he could choose to do something entirely different (I was lucky….the cover artist took my words and created a beautiful cover).
          Now? It’s all me and I admit to being a little overwhelmed. Who would have thought choosing pictures for a novel cover would be so….difficult? And scary. And exciting! And so much fun! The websites are fabulous and the options! Oh my! So many possibilities. Angel in the Moonlight is a historical western romance….do I want subtle and elegant for the cover? Simple but striking? Horses? A lawman? Or a lone woman with the moon as her background? What is it that I want? What is it that a reader would like to see? So many questions and so many choices!
          My guardian angel is working overtime (why yes, she is holding her head in her hands in frustration…how did you know?) and I am again so fortunate. I have Carol Webb with Bella Media Management helping me with this (I’ve seen other covers she’s done and they are excellent!). Working with her has been a pure pleasure…..she is, in a word, fabulous! And so very talented (not to mention, patient)!
          So, be on the lookout for the cover reveal for Angel in the Moonlight coming soon and see what direction I chose to go in (with much, much help).
          As always, happy reading!
          Marie

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Interview with Jamie Salisbury and Giveaway!


Alexis: Today we have contemporary romance author Jamie Salisbury who is giving away the winner’s choice of one of Jamie's print books!  Welcome Jamie. 
 
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Jamie: In high school. I took a creative writing class and the teacher encouraged me to pursue my writing. She was a huge influence on the choices I made in writing and journalism.

Alexis: A good teacher can make all the difference, can’t she? What made you chose your title?

Jamie: Choice Affairs is part of a trilogy (Southern Heat). Choice is the main characters last name, so it just worked!

Alexis: Oh perfect. Which authors inspire(d) you?

Jamie: Isabel Allende, Anne Rice, Stephen King, Sylvia Day are a few of many who have inspired me over the years. That is just a tip of the iceburg.

Alexis: Everyone has their own writing process…how they come up with ideas, how they name their characters, how they choose the setting. Can you describe your writing process?

Jamie: My writing process is pretty simple. I usually keep a notebook with character names and characteristics. I write down ideas for plot, etc. Some I go with, some I don't. It all depends on how the story is progressing. With Choice Affairs, since it was the second book of the series, I already had the location/setting. I decided that with this book, the business billionaire wasn't going to cut it for me. Apolo already had  one characteristic that set him apart, but this book needed more. So he became a U.S. Senator, appointed, but a senator none the less. He's filling the spot of a recently deceased senator and now the question arises, will he run for reelection or not.  Names of characters usually just pop into my head, or I google names.

Alexis: What are you working on now?

Jamie: Right now I am working on the third book of the Southern Heat series, I've titled Choice Desires. It's going to be a page turner.

Alexis: Speaking for myself, I love a series. I bet your readers will devour book three :-) Thank you so much for visiting on Happily Ever After Thoughts.

Check out the blurb on Choice Affairs.

Delicious Apolo Choice...the handsome and sexy newly appointed United States Senator embraces his new career with the same vigor he does everything in life, including his new bride. 

Caitlyn Choice shares Apolo's enthusiasm, looking to help her husband make his mark both in the bedroom and on Capitol Hill. 
Apolo is determined to keep his new wife safe in spite of all of the outside forces working to bring their world crashing down. 

Add to the mix meddling family members who crave the spotlight created by the handsome new senator's appointment. Sprinkle in the underbelly of Washington politics who dislike the billionaire. 

Plus a young reporter with his eyes on a Pulitzer who is out to embarrass the senator by exposing Apolo and his bride's unusual lifestyle. 

Leaving behind a staff in Atlanta, that think while the cat’s away the mice can play. How can Apolo and Caitlin focus on the job in Washington, when others at Choice Enterprises are taking advantage of an absent and preoccupied owner?

Buy Links:

About Jamie:
I've always been a creative individual. Writing is just a facet of that creativity...

My careers in public relations in and around the entertainment industry, photography, editing,  artist management, modeling and special event planning all elevated my passion for writing, not to mention gave me a treasure trove for story lines.

I write women's fiction; contemporary and historical romance which is ever evolving. I am fortunate enough that writing (and marketing of said product(s)) is my full-time job, although I always have one or two other projects going at the same time. I sincerely hope my writing will entertain, enlighten, and inspire others to pick up the pen and pursue their own dreams. I love to be contacted by readers, writers, and history buffs.

Twitter: @JamieRSalisbury

Alexis: Don’t forget for a chance to win your choice of one of Jamie's print books, leave a comment below :-)

Friday, March 6, 2015

Friday Friends Giveaway!

I’ve decided that since Friday is such an exciting day as it marks the start of the weekend, and since spending time with Friends is a great way to enjoy the weekend, I would celebrate friendship on Friday with a special giveaway.
Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win an ecopy of my erotic paranormal romance Passion’s Poison and another copy for a friend! How cool is that?

Here’s the blurb of Passion’s Poison:
Beatrice Rappaccini is tired of the one-night stands that keep her alive. Tired of the illness she causes when she releases her sexual poisons into her partners. But when she meets Zach Woodman, everything changes. Desperate for what she can’t have, she puts her heart and life on the line, ignoring the anonymous letters warning her to stay away.

Zach Woodman, logger turned chainsaw artist, has the perfect life, but no one to share it with after the deaths of the women he loved. Fascinated by the sexually experienced yet naïve Bea, he promises himself he will end their hot relationship before fate takes another beautiful woman from the world. 

But he discovers Bea has no idea how to have a relationship, and he is perplexed by her strange behavior, hippie mother, six fathers and her request to give him every man’s sex fantasy. It is only when he might lose her that he realizes he must make a decision that will break his heart either way.

If you’d like to win a copy of this ebook and one for a friend, enter the Rafflcopter. Winner will be drawn next Friday. It’s that easy!

Always, Lexi
 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway