Goodreads Review: NINE AND A HALF WEEKS by Elizabeth McNeill

Find my review of this book on Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/132253691

Edge of Sight Winners

The winners of a copy of Edge of Sight are:

donnas

mrsshukra

Anita Yancey

Congratulations!  The winners have been notified by e-mail and have 2 days to respond.  Thank you to everyone who entered!

Have a great weekend!

Edge of Sight Blog Tour: Interview and Giveaway with Roxanne St. Claire

The killer she can't escape . . .

The heartbreak she can't forget . . .

The one man who can stop them both.

When Samantha Fairchild witnesses a murder in the wine cellar of the restaurant where she works, the Harvard-bound law student becomes the next target of a professional assassin. Desperate for protection the authorities won't provide, Sam seeks help from Vivi Angelino, an investigative reporter who recruits her brother, Zach, to protect Samantha. A Special Forces vet with the scars to prove he's equally fearless and flawed, Zach takes the job, despite the fact that he and Sam once shared a lusty interlude that ended when he left for war and disappeared from her life. Now, as they crack a conspiracy that leads to Boston's darkest corners, Sam and Zach must face their fears, desires, and doubts, before a hired killer gets a second shot...

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Please welcome Roxanne St. Claire to the blog.  Thank you for being with us today, Roxanne!

1. Please tell us a little about your new release Edge of Sight. Is this the beginning of a new series?

Thank you so much for inviting me, Diana! Yes, EDGE OF SIGHT is the launch of a new series called The Guardian Angelinos. Scarred inside and out, former Army Ranger Zach Angelino reluctantly accepts the first assignment for his sister’s fledgling security firm, protecting Harvard-bound law student Samantha Fairchild after she’s witnessed an assassination and is next on the hit man’s list. The problem? Sam and Zach are former lovers and he left her for a tour of duty in Iraq three years earlier, then never contacted her again. She’s not sure she can trust him. He’s not sure he can resist her. Now they are trying to crack a conspiracy that leads to Boston’s darkest corners of corruption and they must face their fears, desires and doubts before a professional killer takes his next shot.

The Guardian Angelinos are a group of renegade siblings and cousins that band together to form an ad hoc security and investigation team, headed up by Zach and his sister, Vivi Angelino. The series is chock full of larger than life characters who are part of a big Italian clan, and lots of sexy adventures and emotional love stories. I’m so excited to be writing this series, as I’m sure you can tell!

2. What type of research was needed to write this book?

I do research from day one to the end. Everything from setting and character occupation to delving in deep into crimes of all kinds. The setting wasn’t too hard in this one, since the series primarily takes place in Boston, Massachusetts, where I lived for eight years. I had great help with the life of an Army Ranger, as my nephew is a Captain and Ranger, and he spent 15 months in Iraq fighting the war. He and other soldiers helped enormously. The most intense research for this book had to do with the organizations that help exonerate wrongfully accused and imprisoned people. Ten years before the book opens, the heroine witnessed a murder in a convenience store and her testimony put the wrong man in jail. She’s worked tirelessly to get him out and help him build a life, so when she witnesses a second slaying, she doubts everything she’s seen. All of that required a great deal of research, but I learned quite a bit about The Innocence Project and have introduced my son to the organization. He’s only in high school, but wants to pursue a career in law and this group really appealed to him – so the research paid off in more ways than one.

3. Do you usually have a muse when writing a character like an actor or someone you know?

I like to have a title that I love and a picture of my hero – even though I know the title will probably change and so will the hero! Still, I have a hard time writing “Chapter One” without those two things lined up. I don’t really have a muse, but without a doubt, some writing days are easier than others. Some days, the story flows and the characters seem vivid and real…other days I can’t seem to throw down a decent scene. Truthfully, I really hate to write, but I love to rewrite, so the revision days are usually better than the first draft days!

4. Describe the perfect romantic suspense hero.

For one thing, he’s not perfect! How boring would that be? Zach Angelino is actually the most “imperfect” hero I’ve ever written – wounded in battle, darkly miserable, full of angst, and certain that he could never be good enough for the heroine. He and his sister, Vivi Angelino, were orphaned as children in Italy and shipped off to live in the Boston suburbs with their American cousins, the Rossi family. Because of this, Zach’s never felt like he belonged anywhere, which I hope makes his search for love even more poignant. In my opinion, a true romantic suspense hero is first and foremost fearless, he’s decisive, he’s a leader, he’s passionate, he’s intelligent, he’s funny, and he’s so sexy he makes your toes curl.

5. Besides writing, what are a few of your other passions in life?

My family, of course. I have two teenagers who gobble up my time every single day. I’m married to a wonderful man (the Italian who inspired the whole series!) and do my best to keep that love affair as passionate as possible. And I have a sweet little Aussie Terrier, who requires very little but somehow gets a lot. I also love to eat (my husband is an amazing chef), so that means I have to exercise a lot. Fortunately, we live in Florida, so I get to ride my bike to the beach and enjoy our usually incredible weather. But most of the time, I’m on the inside (writing!) looking at the sunshine outside.

In addition to today’s giveaway, I have a Free Read that will introduce readers to Zach and Sam by taking a short trip back in time to the weeks they spent together before he left for war. Called “Taken To The Edge,” this 30 page “freequel” is available on my website and downloadable to everyone. Visit the “free read” section on www.roxannestclaire.com and get to know the characters of the Guardian Angelinos and the hero and heroine of EDGE OF SIGHT!

Thank you, Roxanne!  I agree that the most perfect romance heroes are the imperfect ones!

Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Hachette Books, I have 3 copies of Edge of Sight to give away! To enter, please leave a comment to this post or ask Roxanne a question, and leave me a way to contact you. Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. No P.O. Boxes, please. Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if they win the same title in two or more contests, they will receive only one copy of the title (or one set in the case of grouped giveaways) in the mail. Contest is open until Wednesday, 10/27/2010, at 11:59 pm Central Time. Winners will receive their books directly from Hachette. Good luck!

Review: A LITTLE HARMLESS OBSESSION

By Melissa Schroeder

A Little Harmless Obsession is the story of a woman's sensual journey into the world of BDSM.  May Aiona is the manager of a popular restaurant in Hawaii, and while she is happy with her career, she feels something is lacking in her personal relationships.  The men she dates leave her unsatisfied.  They want her to take the lead in and out of the bedroom, and she wants the complete opposite - at least where sex is concerned.  May is a great character.  She's smart, independent, strong, and not the least bit afraid to acknowledge her submissive side.  When a friend arranges for her to join a bondage club she is thrilled, until she finds out the catch - she must submit to a club owner in a public session.  May hesitantly agrees to the terms, and she soon finds out that her Dom will be Evan Chambers, the club's silent partner and a man she has been secretly lusting after for years.

Evan Chambers is hiding years of childhood anguish and abuse behind his tough, dominate exterior.  He's the perfect tortured hero.  Evan has wanted May since he first laid eyes on her, but his past has left him damaged to the point where he feels unworthy of her.  Evan keeps his true feelings for her locked away until he sees her at his bondage club about to submit to his partner.  Despite his insecurities where May is concerned, he can not just stand by and watch while his friend takes what he knows should be his.  What was meant to be a one-time only event becomes the catalyst for their D/s relationship.  The situation becomes even more complicated when an anonymous stalker threatens May's life.

A Little Harmless Obsession was a sizzling story with some very sexy scenes.  Evan is an experienced Dom, but May is just beginning her journey into the world of BDSM.  He could have been tougher on her, though I'm sure he was holding back a bit because it was a new experience for her.  I enjoyed the stalker storyline mainly because it really brought out Evan's protective alpha nature.  It showed May that he may not be able to limit his dominate nature to just the bedroom.  I believe that May could handle just about anything if she's brave enough to let an audience watch her first scene at a bondage club.  Wow!!  Certainly Evan is exactly what she needs to fill the void in her life, and May is the woman Evan needs to free him from his painful past.  However, breaking down the protective barrier around their hearts will be the challenge.  This is the third book in Melissa Schroeder's Harmless series, though it can be read stand-alone.  Fans of lighter BDSM and erotic romances are sure to enjoy it.

Review copy courtesy of the author.

650 Followers Halloween Giveaway Winners

The winners have been chosen!  First, thank you to everyone who entered the contest and let me know your costume ideas.  Some of them were very creative!  Without further delay, the winners are:

Paranormal Haven (Stephanie G.)

jacmom

JoAnna

The winners have been contacted by e-mail and have 2 days to respond.  Enjoy your prizes!  Happy Halloween!

Book Tour: BLOOD TRINITY

#1 New York Times bestselling authors Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love kick off a new paranormal romance series with this first in the Belador series—featuring a league of international warriors with extraordinary abilities who rise up to save mankind from supernatural terrorists.

Atlanta has become a battlefield between human and demon. All her life, Evalle has straddled the line between the two. Her origins unknown, she’s on a quest to learn more about her past and her future. Through the underground of an alternate Atlanta where nothing is as it seems, Evalle must prove her innocence or pay the ultimate price. But proving her innocence is the least of her problems if she doesn’t stop the coming apocalypse. The clock is ticking and it’s about to become a lot hotter

—and more dangerous.

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I received this book for review as part of the Blood Trinity blog tour, but because of a shipping delay my copy arrived yesterday - too late to read for today's tour date.  Hopefully I will have the review posted in the next few days.  I am looking forward to reading it.  The blurb sounds amazing!

A Season of Seduction Winners

Congratulations to:

 .Ambur. Robin K Tore You are the winners of a copy of:  A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymorecompliments of Hatchett Books! I will be e-mailing the winners shortly.  Please respond with your mailing information within 2 days.  Thank you to everyone who entered the contest! 

Review: A HALLOWEEN TO REMEMBER

There are two things Chrissy and Martin really love besides each other—sex and Halloween. They even bought a spooky old Victorian house with a graveyard in the back. Could they have a better place to throw a lavish Halloween party?Adena's not much for the crazy orgies that happen at Chrissy's parties but she can't say no to her best friend's Halloween-housewarming party either. So she dresses up, arrives late and stays away from most of the swinging people and wild activities at the party. At least until she encounters the man of her dreams at midnight. Dimitri is everything Adena has always dreamed of in a man: dark, handsome, smart…but there’s something a little off about him.When she discovers just what makes Dimitri different, Adena decides to find a way for them to be together. But will love and faith, along with Halloween magic, be enough to bring Adena's darkly handsome lover, Dimitri, back to her before it’s too late?

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Roxanne Rhoads has an amazing talent for making readers feel like they are sharing the experiences of her characters, and trust me, you'll want to be a part of this spicy short story.  The heroine Adena attends a very naughty Halloween party hosted by her unconventional friends Chrissy and Martin.  I loved that the story was set in a spooky Victorian house with it's own cemetary in the backyard.  At the party Adena meets the perfect man who treats her to a night of out of this world sex, but unfortunately he turns out to be "other-worldly" himself...Dimitri is a ghost!  It's up to Adena with a little help from her friends to find a way to bring Dimitri back to the world of the living before midnight on Halloween.  Even though this was a short story, I thought the characters were well developed - their personalities really popped of the pages.  A Halloween to Remember is an erotic romance, so be prepared for some very steamy scenes including F/F loving between Adena and Chrissy and a chilling graveyard tryst with Adena and Dimitri.  If you're a fan of sexy ghosts and naughty fun, don't miss this Halloween party!

You can find the eBook of A Halloween to Remember at Smashwords, All Romance eBooks and Amazon.

Review copy courtesy of the author.

A Season of Seduction Blog Tour: Interview and Giveaway with Jennifer Haymore

Although the widowed Lady Rebecca has sworn off marriage, men are another matter. London's cold winter nights have her dreaming of warmer pursuits-like finding a lover to satisfy her hungry heart. Someone handsome, discreet, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is. Someone like Jack Fulton.

A known adventurer and playboy, Jack seems like the perfect choice. There's just one problem: Jack isn't interested in an affair. He needs the beautiful, mysterious Lady Rebecca to be his wife. And he doesn't have much time to persuade her. A secret from Jack's past is about to surface, and by Christmas Day he'll be either married to Rebecca or dead.

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Hello, Jennifer, and welcome to Book of Secrets!  I'm so excited you're here with us today.

1. What was the inspiration for your latest release, A Season of Seduction?

Thanks so much for having me—I’m excited to be here!

A Season of Seduction was inspired by the heroine, Lady Rebecca, who was a young, foolish, and fairly weak secondary character in my first two books (A Hint of Wicked and A Touch of Scandal). I brainstormed for days about the best way for her to earn her happily ever after. First and foremost, I knew she needed to grow up and change, and I knew I needed a powerful catalyst for her to do that. That catalyst came in the form of Jack Fulton, who is nothing of what Becky thinks he is at first but ends up being the perfect mate for her.

2. What draws you to the historical romance genre?

The easy answer is that I love history, I love romance, and I love happily ever afters!

3. Describe the perfect romantic hero.

I’ve read about so many different romantic heroes, and I’ve loved many of them. The most important element of the perfect romantic hero, I think, is that he’s absolutely head-over-heels for his heroine and perfect for that heroine in every way.

4. In your opinion, how has the historical romance genre changed over the past 30 years?

That’s a question I don’t really feel qualified to answer since I only started reading romances about ten years ago…before that I was a big reader of horror, historical fiction, and science fiction. But even in the past ten years, I think there have been shifts. More heat, more subgenres within romance, more character-driven stories…

5. What books have influenced your life the most?

I read my first “historical romance” when I was in fifth grade. It was “Constance” by Patricia Clapp--a children’s book, and I didn’t know it at the time but I really think it qualifies as a romance (incidentally, part of the plot was a love triangle, and a love triangle featured prominently in my first book, A Hint of Wicked). I’ve never forgotten that book, and it was my favorite story for many years…until I read “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon. That story has had an enormous impact on my life, my love of history, and my writing.

Thanks so much for having me!

Visit Jennifer's website at www.JenniferHaymore.com.  Find her on Twitter @JenniferHaymore.

Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Hachette Books, I have 3 copies of A Season of Seduction to give away!  To enter, please leave a comment for Jennifer along with a way to contact you.  Contest open to residents of the US and Canada.  No P.O. Boxes, please.  Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if they win the same title in two or more contests, they will receive only one copy of the title (or one set in the case of grouped giveaways) in the mail.  Contest is open until Sunday, 10/17/2010, at 11:59 pm Central Time.  Winners will receive their books directly from Hachette.  Good luck!

WoW: FATED

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by 

Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Fated

By: Rebecca Zanetti

Release Date: February 22, 2011

Publisher: Brava/Kensington

Marry Me or Else

Cara Paulsen does not give up easily. A scientist and a single mother, she’s used to fighting for what she wants, keeping a cool head, and doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter Janie. But “whatever it takes” has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous-looking stranger with an attitude problem…

Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he’s there to protect Cara and Janie. He also says that he’s a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he’s had that long to practice…

Find out more and read an excerpt at www.rebeccazanetti.com.



Review: UNHOLY NIGHT

By Candice Gilmer

Can love be found on the unholiest night of the year? There are some things Marissa Van Dyke won't do - celebrate Halloween is one of them. When she's guilted into attending a Halloween party, a flamboyant woman dressed as a gypsy claims Marissa will be saved three times before she's finally free. Foolish Halloween games, according to Marissa. Her life is fine; not perfect, but good enough, and nothing could save her anyway. All she wants is to leave the party until a man named Neil Drigan materializes at her side, making her forget everything but his hauntingly familiar green eyes. His animal magnetism is a dangerous temptation on a night she's always reserved for mourning. Can there be salvation under his powerful presence - even on such an unholy night?

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Unholy Night is the first book in Candice Gilmer's Moonlight and Shadows series.  She introduces readers to a world where mythicals live secretly in society, and guardians known as the Knights Templar are always watching the paranormal beings and protecting humans from them if needed.  The story focuses on Marissa, a young woman still grieving the loss of her family after three years.  All this time she has been merely existing, not living.  One night after leaving a bar, Marissa has a bizarre encounter - she is attacked by a man with superhuman strength and ability, only to be saved by a wolf with vibrant green eyes.  A wolf?  Marissa doesn't know if the attack really happened or if it was a dream.

For weeks Neil Drigan has been dreaming of a woman with a floral scent mixed with death, which can only mean she is someone in grave danger.  As a werewolf, these recurring dreams also signify that she is his destined mate.  When he meets Marissa at a Halloween party, he realizes that she is the woman from his dreams - the one he already saved once.  With the help of the Knights Templar, Sir Liam and Sir Adrian, he must save her from her attacker again and also convince her of the unbelieveable: that he is a werewolf and the man who can help her know joy and pleasure once more instead of sorrow.

Unholy Night was a quick and enjoyable read though it didn't grab my attention as much as I'd hoped. The plot was interesting and moved quickly, but I felt like a lot of information was left out that would have added more depth to the story.  Who are the Knights Templar?  We're told that they are guardians who protect humans from mythicals, but otherwise they remain a mystery.  I am assuming that they're introduced now to build the foundation for future books.  My favorite part of the story was the relationship between Marissa and Neil.  Marissa brings some heavy emotional baggage with her, and Neil has to work to convince her she's worthy of love and joy in her life.  And, of course, he is faced with the challenge of revealing his true werewolf nature to her.  His greatest fear is that his mate will reject him because he is as a monster.  The next book in the series is A Darker Trinity followed by Broken Shine, and I'm looking foward to seeing where the author takes the story.

Simply Irresistible Winners

The three winners of a copy of Simply Irresistible are:

Linda Henderson

Historical Romance Junkie Rita

Simply Stacie

Congratulations!  I will send each winner an e-mail notification today.  Please respond within two days or alternates will be chosen.  Books are sent directly from Hachette.  Thank you to everyone who entered!

Trick or Treat: A 650 Followers Halloween Giveaway!

Halloween is my favorite holiday!  Weren't you just in awe of all the candy you got on Halloween night?  I was.  Somehow all that forbidden candy was even better than presents from Santa.  So to celebrate Halloween and for reaching 650 followers, I'm having a giveaway!  I will pick three winners, and each winner will receive a spooky vampire journal from Peter Pauper Press and a fabric Halloween book cover (fits mass market paperbacks).

Okay, so my question for you is this:

If you are dressing up for Halloween this year, what is your costume?  If you're not, what would your costume be?

I'll probably just throw on my witch hat and black dress, but someday I would REALLY love to dress up as Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter.  I would make my husband go as the minister.  Ha, ha!

Giveaway Details:

To enter, answer my costume question and leave me a way to contact you.

1. Three winners will be picked, and each winner will receive a journal and book cover.

2. This is a followers contest, so you must be a GFC follower.

3. Open to residents of the US and Canada.

4. Contest ends on Friday, 10/22/10, at 11:59 pm Central Time.

5. The 3 winners will be notified by e-mail.  They will have 2 days to respond before alternates are chosen.

6. Not responsible for prizes lost or damaged in transit.  Unfortunately, lost or damaged prizes can not be replaced.

Good Luck!

Review: ETERNAL DESIRE

By Roxanne Rhoads

Paranormal researcher Liz Beth's dreams are haunted by a sensual vampire, who may or may not be real. She arrives in New Orleans the week of Halloween in search of her elusive dream lover, Quillon. She doesn't find him, but she does encounter a handsome stranger, Christien. They begin a passionate affair, but she is torn between her dream lover and her flesh and blood lover, both of whom are a mystery to her. She fights to regain her reason, trying desperately to find the truth about Quillon while Christien holds her under his own spell.

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As a paranormal researcher, Liz Beth is fearless, independent and smart, yet also lonely and longing to find the vampire who has haunted her dreams for years.  Quillon is that vampire, and he has been a guardian of sorts to her family for generations.  He has kept a close watch on Liz Beth her whole life, but Quillon has appeared to her through thoughts and dreams only.  While working in Paris, she receives a mental summons from Quillon to travel to his ancestral home of New Orleans.  Excited that she may finally meet her dream lover, Liz Beth hurries to the Big Easy.  Instead of finding Quillon, she falls under the spell of the beautiful and mysterious Christien.  She can not deny the erotic chemistry between them, and he shows her sensual delights like she's never known.  Liz Beth is torn between her elusive vampire and the flesh & blood man warming her bed.  Her life becomes very complicated when Quillon finally shows himself.  How will she choose between them?

If you're a lover of vampire erotica with a touch of romance, then Eternal Desire will certainly get your blood pumping.  The story is Liz Beth's first person account of her erotic experiences in New Orleans at Halloween.  The author's language is beautiful and flowing, and it keeps the reader hanging on for more:

He parted my thighs and tenderly explored the heated folds of soft flesh with his tongue, moaning as he tasted me, drinking me in like I was water, and he was a man lost in the desert.

The author described the city in such a way that I felt like I was strolling the streets with the characters.  From the Gothic homes, spooky cemeteries, the Halloween Balls and eccentric people, she captures the essence of New Orleans perfectly.  I could smell the coffee and beignets.  Yum.  I only wish the book had included more about Liz Beth's paranormal research and what she does when she's not being pleasured by incredibly sexy men!  There were no big surprises in the end, though I will say I was pleased that Liz Beth stayed true to her smart, level-headed self, despite the seductive vampire trying to persuade her otherwise.  Eternal Desire is the perfect steamy story for this spooky time of year.  I'm headed to New Orleans to find myself a lustful vampire.

Review copy courtesy of the author.

Simply Irresistible Blog Tour: Book Feature and Giveaway

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

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About the author: USA Today bestselling author JILL SHALVIS lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books are, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website at http://www.jillshalvis.com/ for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountain adventures.  Follow @JillShalvis on Twitter.

Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Hachette Books, I have 3 copies of Simply Irresistible to give away!  Contest open to residents of the US and Canada.  No P.O. Boxes, please.  Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if they win the same title in two or more contests, they will receive only one copy of the title (or one set in the case of grouped giveaways) in the mail.  To enter, please leave a comment to this post with a way to contact you.  Contest is open until Friday, 10/8/2010, at 11:59 pm Central Time.  Winners will receive their books directly from Hachette.  Good luck!

Winners! Are you one of them?

Happy Tuesday!  Here are the winners of my recent giveaways.The three winners of a copy of Two Lethal Lies by Annie Soloman are:

 

Kelsey (kopsahl48@...)
 
justpeachy36
 
Rae (In The Forest)

 

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The two winners of a copy of The Beast Within from Jennifer Lyon are:
 

throuthehaze
 
elaing8

 

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Congratulations to the winners!  I will be sending them an e-mail shortly.  Winners have 2 days to respond or alternates will be chosen.  Enjoy your books!  Thank you to everyone who entered.

Interview and Giveaway with Paranormal Romance Author Jennifer Lyon

I'm very excited to have Jennifer Lyon with us today!  Jennifer is the author of the Wing Slayer Hunter series full of powerful witches and sexy alpha men, and she also contributed a story to the recent The Beast Within anthology.

Welcome, Jennifer!

1. Please tell us a little about yourself.

Thanks so much for having me! I suppose that I am a frustrated witch. I was obsessed with BEWITCHED when I was a kid, but eventually had to accept that I was not going to wake up one day with magical powers! Then I discovered books, and they have a magic all their own. For a woman who wanted so desperately to be a witch, I live a very traditional life. I met my husband at the dog pound (that story cracks up my kids); we fell in love, married and have three terrific sons. When my kids were young, my husband went back to school to get his master’s degree, I began to wonder when I was going to pursue my own dream. And so I did, writing several books that never sold while learning the craft of writing and the business of publishing. Eventually, I sold the Samantha Shaw Mystery Series under my real name of Jennifer Apodaca. Jennifer Lyon is a pen name I use for my paranormal books.

2. Tell us a little about your Wing Slayer Hunter series. How many books are planned in the series?

I’m happy to tell you! This series was born out of my love for witches, except that in my world, I wanted men who were every bit as powerful in their own right as the witches. And I wanted these men to respect their mates, support their power, and not be threatened by it. A truly strong hero is never threatened by the strength of his woman. I try to live by that motto when I write.

From my website about the Wing Slayer Hunters:

Once they were immortal guardians; hunters of demon witches and protectors of innocent earth witches. For centuries, the hunters and witches worked together to safeguard earth from demons, in particular, Asmodeus.

And then a dark curse destroyed the bond, turning the ancient allies into enemies. For the blood and sex curse cast by demon witches caused witch hunters to crave the power contained in witch blood. If they give in and kill a witch to harvest her blood, they go rogue and forfeit their eternal souls.

The witches that once banished demons and assisted mortals, now have lost their familiars and high magic.

They must hide from the powerful men who once protected them, but now hunt them for their blood.

No one is left to stand between mortals and demons.

Until one group of witch hunters rises to become the guardians once more. With these words:

“I vow my allegiance to Wing Slayer, god of the witch hunters. I take the ancient oath of protection for the innocent and justice for the damned. And I swear to fight the curse to my death.”

They become…Wing Slayer Hunters

The only way to break the curse is for each hunter to find the witch who is his soul mirror. Each book is about the journey of the hunter and witch overcoming huge physical and emotional obstacles to fall in love while fighting against rogues, evil witches and the demon, Asmodeus.

Right now, I have eight books in my head for the series, but that’s very fluid and depends on the publisher. Four books have been written, two published in 2009, and two more are coming out next year. NIGHT MAGIC is Phoenix Torq’s story and will be out April 2011. SINFUL MAGIC is Key DeMicca’s story and should be out June 2011.

          

3. On your blog, you have regular posts featuring sexy photos of men who are "Wing Slayer Worthy". I love those posts! This is a two part question: First, what makes a man Wing Slayer worthy, and second, who is the most Wing Slayer worthy man out there now?

Thank you—we have a blast with the Wing Slayer Worthy segment on the blog! I think what makes it so much fun is that it’s all fantasy. We get enough of real life every single day, don’t we? So on the blog, we delve into the fantasy of these hot, sizzling, very alpha men!

For me, the pictures are fun, but true worthiness comes down to character. A man who supports his mate’s strengths, protects her, encourages her, loves her, and who will confront his own dark, desperate fears to win her love…those are the real qualities of Wing Slayer Worthy.

But going back to fantasy…hmm, the most Wing Slayer Worthy man out there? I’d have to say that Hugh Jackman as Wolverine because NO ONE can beat him on the blog!

4. You have a short story in the new anthology The Beast Within called "Redeeming the Wizard". What is the story about?

I had so much fun writing this story! Gage Remington was once a powerful wizard; now he's a recluse who keeps the world at bay. But when Mira Tate arrives at Gage's door demanding that he find her missing grandmother, she stirs in him an attraction he can't deny. Soon, Gage will risk everything to keep Mira close - even the secret that may be his ruin...

Gage finds true redemption in Mira—an average woman with no magic. But Mira does have a loving heart and an incredibly strong will. She will move heaven and earth—and blackmail a wizard--to find her grandmother.

5. What attracts you to the paranormal romance genre - writing about witches and wizards in particular?

Wow, I’ve never really thought about this. For me, the romance in paranormal is very powerful. The stakes are higher, the risks more dangerous and the characters have to fight so much harder for their mates. Additionally, I love men and women who either understand, or learn in the story, that with power comes responsibility and when faced with touch choices, they make the right one. The paranormal genre gives us so many ways to test the hero and heroine and reveal their true character.

6. In your opinion, what does the future hold for the paranormal romance genre?

If I were a witch, I’d know the answer! But my best guess is that it will continue to evolve and change with readers’ tastes. I don’t know if it can hold the popularity it has today. Right now, authors are still finding fresh, surprising and very emotional twists. Tomorrow? I just don’t know.

7. What are your writing quirks?

Coffee! And it’s a constant battle for my attention between email/Internet and work. The truth is that I don’t have too many quirks; it’s just a matter of staying focused and trying to find the story. Writing is hard, much harder than I imagined when I was unpublished and dreaming of a career as an author. I’m pretty sure that the agony, worry and sleepless nights are part of my absolute passion to tell the story, but it’s consuming and exhausting. Yet, I think all the anxiety makes finishing a book that much sweeter! And when readers tell me that they really connected with the characters and loved the story, I am absolutely thrilled.

Writing, particularly the Wing Slayer Hunter series, is like ripping out a piece of my soul, yet I love it more than anything else I could possibly do.

8. Besides writing, what are some of your other passions in life?

My family is my biggest passion. Reading, of course. Hanging out with friends either online or meeting for coffee. I always swear I’m going to find an interesting hobby so I have something to talk about—but I end up spending too much time writing books!

Oh! Wait I have another passion! I want a dog. My husband is a little less enthusiastic about the idea. This has turned into a hilarious battle. I refuse to get a dog until he wants one too—the family is involved, my friends, and people on my blog…and my husband puts up with all this “persuasion” with tremendous good humor. It’s one of the many reasons I love him, he truly has a great sense of humor. And I will get a dog eventually :-)

9. Where can reader find you on the web?

They can find me at my website http://jenniferlyonbooks.com/ including my blog http://jenniferlyonbooks.com/blog/ I’m also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Lyon/1492371836 and I send out updates to Twitter http://twitter.com/Jenniferlyon

10. What are your plans for Halloween this year? Do you have any traditions?

Well…do you think my witch –powers might show up? I keep waiting and Halloween seems like an excellent time for that to happen!

Thank you so much for being with us today, Jennifer!

Giveaway Details:

Jennifer has offered to give two commenters a copy of the anthology The Beast Within (signed by Jennifer)!  The contest is open to residents of the US and Canada.  To enter, leave a comment or question for Jennifer along with a way to contact you if you are one of the winners.  The contest is open until Monday, 10/4/2010, at 11:59 pm Central Time.  Good luck!

October Paranormal Romance Giveaway

Trick or Treat!

October is here, and Halloween is right around the corner!  To celebrate, Hachette Books has put together a sizzling collection of paranormal romances to warm your chilly autumn nights, and I have the opportunity to give away three sets!  Included are:

 

Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione

Sins of the Flesh by Caridad Pineiro

My Wicked Enemy by Carolyn Jewel

Marked By Passion by Kate Perry

How to Enter:

Please leave a comment to this post with a way to contact you.  Just for fun, in your comment tell me what your favorite Halloween candy or costume is!!

Contest Rules:

1. You must be a Google Friend Connect follower.  18+ only.

2. Open to residents of the U.S. or Canada.

3. No P.O. Boxes, please.

4. Winners will be subject to the one set per household rule, which means that if they win this set in two or more contests, they will receive only one set in the mail.

5. The prizes will be sent directly from Hachette Books.

6. The contest ends at 11:59 pm Central Time on Halloween night (10/31/2010).

7.  The three winners will be chosen by Random.org and notified by e-mail.  Good luck!