Book of Secrets

Fitness Friday {Week of 2/3 - 2/9}

2012-02-10T07:00:00.004-06:00

A weekly progress report on my

attempt at becoming fitter and healthier in 2012!

There will not be a Fitness Friday report today. I was sick with a cold all week, so not a lot of fitness was going on. :-( However, I did get a fantastic core workout from all of the sneezing and coughing. :-)

Waiting On Wednesday: SAVAGE BOND by Anne Marsh

2012-02-08T06:00:00.026-06:00

The Fallen, Book Three (eNovella)

Release Date: 5/1/2012

Book Blurb:

As a former Dominion warrior and Fallen angel, Vkhin knows how to fight. How to track his prey. And when to deal out death with brutal efficiency. Redemption isn’t part of his plans—until he finds himself chasing Fallyn Lee through a wasteland. Now, he’s hunting for the woman who could restore both his lost wings—and his soul.

Ria Morgan was just doing her job, shooting recon photos of a secret Fallen prison. When her chopper goes down, however, she figures her days are numbered. Until the dark angel hunting her offers her a temptingly seductive deal: bond with him and he’ll keep her safe. Safety’s tempting—but Vkhin is even more so. Now, Rhea must choose between long-held loyalties and the wickedly sensual pleasure of Vkhin’s touch.

Author's Website: http://annemarsh.wordpress.com/

Hosted By: Breaking the Spine

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-02-06T10:41:00.000-06:00

Hosted By: Sheila @ Book Journey

Books Read Last Week:

Firelight by Kristen Callihan (4.5/5)

Buried in a Book by Lucy Arlington (5/5)

Reading Now:

Secrets of an
Accidental Duchess

By Jennifer Haymore

With her pale hair and slim figure, Olivia Donovan looks as fragile as fine china, and has been treated as such by her sisters ever since a childhood bout with malaria. But beneath her delicate facade, Olivia guards a bold, independent spirit and the kind of passionate desires proper young ladies must never confess...

It was a reckless wager, and one Max couldn't resist: seduce the alluring Olivia or forfeit part of his fortune. Yet the wild, soon-to-be Duke never imagined he'd fall in love with this innocent beauty. Nor could he have guessed that a dangerously unpredictable rival would set out to destroy them both. Now, Max must beat a madman at his own twisted game-or forever lose the only woman to have ever won his heart.

Reading Next:

Game Misconduct by Bianca Sommerland

In My {Mailbox} Monday

2012-02-05T08:00:00.005-06:00

The February host of Mailbox Monday is Metroreader.

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

A snap shot of my book goodies!

My reviews will be posted at Novel Reflections. What books did you get this week?

@NovelReflection - Forever's Paranormal Blog Tour #BookGiveaway

2012-02-04T07:58:00.000-06:00

Just a note to let you know my FOREVER'S PARANORMAL BLOG TOUR post was moved to Novel Reflections. We're giving away a copy of FIRELIGHT by Kristen Callihan and MIDNIGHT RECKONING by Kendra Leigh Castle to one lucky commenter! Open to US residents; ends 2/6/2012.

Click HERE to go to the giveaway post!

Fitness Friday {Week of 1/27 - 2/2}

2012-02-03T06:00:00.025-06:00

A weekly progress report on my

attempt at becoming fitter and healthier in 2012!

Total "Exercise" Miles Walked in January: 88 miles!

Activities of the Week:

Fri: 3 mile walk aerobics

Sat: 3 mile walk aerobics

Sun: 4 mile walk aerobics

Mon: 3 mile walk aerobics

Tues: 3 mile walk aerobics

Wed: 3 mile walk aerobics

Thur: 5 mile walk aerobics

Weight Change of the Week: - 2.2 pounds (Yay!)

Splurge of the Week: I'm surprised I lost 2 pounds because I splurged a lot this week. (Dinner out twice; lots of snacking.) I guess it was the exercise!

Goal: Lose the final 10-15 pounds...before May 1st?

Waiting On Wednesday: MOONGLOW by Kristen Callihan

2012-02-01T06:55:00.001-06:00

Forever; Aug 2012

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

oOoOoOo

The story of the unusual Ellis Sisters will continue...

I'm almost finished with book one in this series, FIRELIGHT. It's really good! I'm excited to see that Daisy's story will be next. She's an feisty handful. ;-)

Hosted By: Breaking the Spine

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

2012-01-30T16:31:00.000-06:00

Hosted By: Sheila @ Book Journey

Books I Read Last Week:
Slave by Sherri Hayes (4/5)

Dead Until Dark (re-read) by Charlaine Harris (5/5)

Reluctant Muse by Victoria Blisse (2.5/5)

What I'm Reading Now:

Firelight

By Kristen Callihan

London, 1881

Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

What I'm Reading Next:

Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore

Fitness Friday {Week of 1/20 - 1/26}

2012-01-27T09:52:00.001-06:00

A weekly progress report on my

attempt at becoming fitter and healthier in 2012!

Activities of the Week:

Fri: 3 mile walk aerobics

Sat: 2 mile walk aerobics

Sun: 3 mile walk aerobics

Mon: 3 mile walk aerobics

Tues: 4 mile walk aerobics

Wed: 3 mile walk aerobics

Thur: 2 mile walk aerobics

Weight Change of the Week: - 0.5 pounds

Splurge(s): My sister sent us a ginormous bag of conversational hearts, and well, I ate about 75% of them. They are soooo good and sugary!!

Thoughts: I got my new digital scale on Wednesday. It's reading my weight about a pound heavier than my old dial scale. (Of course. Why can't it be the other way? LOL. At least it's being consistent.) Regardless, I did manage to lose half a pound this week. There was too much emotional eating going on this week, so hopefully next Friday will be better.

Workout of the Week:

Walk Away Your Hips & Thighs with Fit Cuff

I love this DVD. It's a 2 mile brisk walk, plus about 20 minutes of lower body toning using Leslie Sansone's Fit Cuff. I need to do more toning, but you know, strength training is my least favorite thing. :-(

Immortals After Dark Reading Challenge

2012-01-22T17:50:00.000-06:00

Hosted By: Darlene's Book Nook

I have wanted to complete this series for a very long time. A few of the books will be re-reads for me. The Immortals After Dark series:

The Warlord Wants Forever (1/22)
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night
Dark Needs at Night's Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
Kiss of a Demon King
Deep Kiss of Winter
Pleasure of a Dark Prince
Demon from the Dark
Dreams of a Dark Warrior
Lothaire

Fitness Friday {Week of 1/13 - 1/19}

2012-01-20T06:00:00.072-06:00

A weekly progress report on my

attempt at becoming fitter and healthier in 2012!

Activities of the Week:

Fri: 3 mile walk aerobics
Sat: 2 mile walk aerobics
Sun: 2 mile walk aerobics
Mon: 4 mile walk aerobics
Tues: 3 mile walk aerobics
Wed: 3 mile walk aerobics
Thur: 5 mile walk aerobics

Weight Change of the Week: No change

Splurge(s): A can of Coke (Not much of a splurge, huh?)

Thoughts: I have great sadness that I didn't lose any pounds this week. :( My clothes are looser, but alas, the scale says no.

I think part of the problem is that the scale I have seems wonky. I step on it and weigh one thing, step off, step on again, and wow! I've gained 3 pounds in 5 seconds. LOL. It's an inexpensive "dial" version.

So, I used a Target gift card to order a new Health-O-Meter digital scale. It's not fancy by any means, but it got great reviews about being accurate. I also bought a new yoga mat. I couldn't resist the dragonflies.

Sookie Stackhouse Read-A-Long Hosted By Book Chick City

2012-01-17T08:51:00.000-06:00

Book Chick City is hosting a Sookie Stackhouse Read-A-Long this year, and I've decided to participate. There will be one book from the series discussed each month. Here is the schedule:

30th Jan - Dead Until Dark

27th Feb - Living Dead in Dallas

26th March - Club Dead

30th April - Dead to the World

28th May - Dead as a Doornail

25th June - Definitely Dead

30th July - All Together Dead

27th Aug - From Dead to Worse

24th Sept - Dead and Gone

29th Oct - Dead in the Family

26th Nov - Dead Reckoning

31st Dec - Deadlocked

I've read a few of these book already, but I'm thinking a re-read is in order to refresh my memory.  For more details, check out the announcement post @ Book Chick City HERE! 

Weekend Project: Felt Fashions

2012-01-16T06:00:00.043-06:00

Over the weekend, my daughter and I decorated American Girl tee shirts using the Felt Fashions kit she got for Christmas. The kit comes with a how-to book with lots of photos, stencils to make your own felt creations, and two tee shirts. We had to buy our own felt, embellishments, and glue.

It was a lot of fun, and the tee shirts turned out so cute! Now, I'm on the lookout for inexpensive plain doll shirts to make more...

Here is a look at our finished projects:

For more information on the kit, go to the American Girl website HERE.

Fitness Friday {Week of 1/6 - 1/12}

2012-01-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

A weekly progress report on my

attempt at becoming fitter and healthier in 2012!

Activities of the Week:

Fri: 45 min aerobics
Sat: 45 min aerobics plus toning
Sun: None
Mon: 45 min aerobics; yoga
Tues: None
Wed: 75 min aerobics
Thur: 75 min aerobics plus toning

Weight Change of the Week: - 1 pound

Favorite Workout of the Week:

Leslie Sansone's Walk Slim - 5 Really Big Miles

I'm pretty sure that Leslie Sansone is the only person on the planet to make me exercise. I love her workout DVDs. Walk Slim - 5 Really Big Miles is one of her newer ones. It runs just over an hour and 15 minutes if you do the whole workout, though it's broken down into 5 separate miles, plus a warm up and cool down.

What I love: New, fun music. New moves that are still super easy to do. Uses the Stretchie Band for toning in two of the miles. More intense workout than some of her previous DVDs.

What I didn't like: The DVD is not programmable, as in you can't "create" your own workout combinations to play automatically. Also, there's no "countdown clock" featured on each mile to let you know how much time is left. (I like that on some of her other DVDs.)

Splurge(s) of the Week: Lunch out @ Chili's on Sunday; too much snacking between 3:00pm and dinner.

Ultimate Goal: Well, the ultimate goal is to be fitter and healthier, but besides that I want to fit comfortably in these jeans:

Yes, I've had these jeans for years, and they're probably not in style anymore, but I don't care! I want to wear these jeans again. :-)

At Novel Reflections: Forever's PS ~ I Love You Tour and 2-Book Giveaway!

2012-01-10T06:40:00.000-06:00

Jump over to Novel Reflections today where we're hosting Forever's PS I Love You Tour! Comment for a chance to win a set of their featured Contemporary Romances:

ALL I WANT IS YOU by Sherrill Bodine

SANCTUARY COVE by Rochelle Alers

The contest runs through 1/13/2012, and it is open to US residents. Hope to see you there!

In My {Mailbox} Monday

2012-01-08T04:00:00.028-06:00

The January host of Mailbox Monday is At Home With Books. In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren.

Here are the books I've received for review over the past several weeks. My reviews will be posted at either Novel Reflections or The Forbidden Bookshelf (adults only!).

Paper Books:

Sanctuary Cover by Rochelle Alers
All I Want Is You by Sherrill Bodine
Firelight by Kristen Callihan
Midnight Reckoning by Kendra Leigh Castle
Keeper of the King's Secrets by Michelle Diener
The Gilder by Kathryn Kay
The Dark Rose by Erin Kelly
Crash Into You by Roni Loren
His Dark Bond by Anne Marsh

Digital Books:

Dreamscape by Rose Anderson
Tool Belt Defender by Carla Cassidy
The Reason Is You by Sharla Lovelace
The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose

Have a wonderful week!

Fitness Friday {Week of 12/30 - 1/5}

2012-01-06T07:04:00.001-06:00

Activities of the Week:

Fri: None
Sat: None
Sun: None
Mon: 30 min walk aerobics & pilates; yoga
Tues: 45 min walk aerobics
Wed: 45 min walk aerobics & pilates
Thur: 45 min walk aerobics; yoga

Weight Change of the Week: -3 pounds

Favorite Workout of the Week:

Element: Yoga for Stress Relief & Flexibility

I love this DVD because it features one of my favorite poses:

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana – Pigeon Pose

Splurge of the Week:

I ate half of a Big Mac Extra Value Meal this week. I haven't had a Big Mac in about 20 years. It was still as yummy as I remember. :-) And, since I only had half, it wasn't *that* bad. Right?

Next Week's Goal: Do more yoga.

New Beginnings in 2012

2011-12-31T14:00:00.000-06:00

Just a note to say "Happy New Year" and thank you for being a follower of my blog. :) Today I bid farewell to Book of Secrets (as a book blog). It will still be here, but I'm not sure what I'll be doing with it.

My new bookish home on the web is located here:

www.novelreflections.net

You can also find me at:

www.theforbiddenbookshelf.com

I wish you many blessings in 2012!

~ Diana

Favorite Books of 2011

2011-12-31T13:38:00.001-06:00

Before 2011 comes to a close, I wanted to share some of my favorite books from this year. I read a total of 111 books, which is 42 more books than I read in 2010!! I'm so proud. :)

Here is a look at my top picks:

Top Favorite of 2011:

Wildflower Hill

By Kimberley Freeman

Favorite Paranormal Romance:

The Restorer

By Amanda Stevens

Favorite Cozy Mystery:

A Sheetcake Named Desire

By Jacklyn Brady

Favorite Historical Fiction

Ghost on Black Mountain

By Ann Hite

Favorite Historical Romance

Patience

By Lisa Valdez

Favorite Harlequin:

Caught on Camera

By Meg Maguire

What are some of your favorites? What are you most looking forward to in 2012?

~ Diana

My Favorite Christmas Gifts: Dolls and Bugs

2011-12-30T13:52:00.000-06:00

Hello, everyone!

I hope your holiday was a joyous one. Now that the chaos is winding down, I wanted to share pictures of the favorite toys that ~~I got~~ my kids got for Christmas. Hee, hee.

Savanna & Susanna

My daughter's aunt and uncle gave her a "My American Girl" doll. Savanna (pictured left) is the newest addition to the family. She's a cute strawberry blonde with green eyes. My daughter got Susanna (pictured right) from them last Christmas. If you've never seen one of these dolls, I have to tell you the hair on them is incredible! I wish my hair was as nice as theirs. LOL.

Robot Bugs

Santa Claus brought my son a collection of Hexbugs. These things look and act like robotic roaches. They are so cool! They came with two connecting habitats. I love watching these creepy little things scurry around. Very clever toy!

My Favorite Bug

My favorite gift (that really was for me) was an antique brass dragonfly necklace with a lemon jade stone from my husband. It's so pretty and delicate. Love it!

What about you? What were your favorite presents this year?

Book of Secrets and Among the Muses are merging into a new blog!

2011-12-24T04:00:00.048-06:00

Hello, my friends!

Yes, it's true. Effective December 31st, Book of Secrets is shutting down as a book review blog...but don't despair! ;-) I'm moving to a new blog. My good friend Tanya from Among the Muses and I are starting fresh and creating a joint blog called Novel Reflections. We will be featuring an eclectic mix of fiction books with romance being the main genre. The new blog will be launched officially on January 1st, 2012.

Badge by Tanya!

Novel Reflections is located at: http://novelreflections.net

There are several reasons I've decided to do this, but the main one is that the time and energy that goes into solo blogging has taken its toll on me. But, the thought of quitting altogether made me sad. :-( So, when Tanya suggested we form a joint blog, I said absolutely!

Another big change is that we're leaving Blogger behind and moving to Wordpress. This means that we will not have the Google Friend Connect feature, but there will be other ways to follow us.

Right now, if you go to our new page HERE and sign up for our newsletter, you'll be entered to win a $10 eGift card to Amazon, B&N, All Romance eBooks or Samhain. (Winner's choice!)

I plan on using Book of Secrets for this & that down the road (reading challenges, a few memes?, maybe a personal blog?), but all important bookish content, like author posts, giveaways, and reviews, will be posted at Novel Reflections.

Tanya and I are very excited about our new venture together, and I hope you'll join me in my move to Novel Reflections. There will be one more "I'm Moving" announcement post here on January 1st. Please let us know if you have any questions. Thanks so much, and have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Sincerely,

Diana

2012 Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge

2011-12-23T15:50:00.000-06:00

Hosted By: Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

Any full length book that includes a witch as a main character or major witchcraft elements counts. They may be fiction or non-fiction.

I'm going for the Maiden Level (6-10 books).

Teaser Tuesdays

2011-12-20T09:50:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1) Grab your current read

2) Open to a random page

3) Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

4) BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

5) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

TWISTED UP
By Lissa Matthews

He was slowly, or rather not so slowly, showing her the risk of being vulnerable. The pleasure of such was high if she trusted him, and his protection of her was worth everything.

- page 80-81

Guest Review by Sophie: LITTLE HOOT by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

2011-12-19T09:00:00.002-06:00

Chronicle Books; Dec 2007

Book Blurb:

It's not fair! All Little Owl wants is to go to bed at a reasonable hour, like his friends do. But no . . . Mama and Papa say little owls have to stay up late and play. So Little Owl spends all night jumping on his bed, playing on the jungle gym, and doing tricks on his skateboard but he's hooting mad about it ! Children who have a hard time going to bed will love this fun twist on the universal dilemma.

Sophie's Review:

The story was nice. I liked it. Well, I didn't like that Little Hoot had to stay up late. But, I really liked when he finally went to sleep. I'd stay up late, but I wouldn't stay up too late like an owl. My favorite character was Little Hoot. He wanted to go to bed before Mama and Papa Owl, but they wouldn't let him. Some of the things he did for fun were playing swords, playing on the jungle gym and jumping on the bed. I thought that the pictures in the book were very cute.

Sophie gives LITTLE HOOT 5 stars!

2012 Pagan Reading Challenge

2011-12-18T19:24:00.000-06:00

Hosted By: The Domestic Pagan

Books that can be counted will include nonfiction books that are about spirituality, magick, the occult, nature, myths, or the paranormal. They can be reference, how to, informative, encyclopedias, or memoir.

Fictional books that can be counted are anything that has to do with the paranormal, magick, witchcraft, or have a distinctly pagan flavor to the story.

I'm aiming for the Initiate Level (5-10 books).

Book Review: MERRYWEATHER LODGE: MALEVOLENT SPIRIT by Pauline Holyoak

2011-12-17T17:00:00.000-06:00

Whiskey Creek Press; Nov 2011

Book Blurb:

It’s Christmastime at Merryweather Lodge. Emily has returned to the cottage from her home in Canada; after the untimely death of someone she loved. Will she be able to celebrate a traditional English Christmas in her aunts enchanting little cottage or will she be tormented by the hideous creature, again? Was Emily’s attempt to banish her unearthly adversary successful? Will her aunt disclose the secrets she has been concealing for so many years? What will happen when Emily’s best friend comes to visit her? What secrets will she reveal? Will Emily ever get to make love to the man of her dreams? A chilling tale of love, passion, sorcery and sacrifice; laced with mystery and tied with humor. Inspired by the authors own experiences in a remote little cottage near Stonehenge.

Review:

MALEVOLENT SPIRIT is the second amazing book in Pauline Holyoak's eerie trilogy about the strange goings on surrounding a quaint English cottage near Stonehenge. In this book Emily returns to Merryweather Lodge for an extended visit with her Auntie Em, who owns the property. Emily quickly learns that the evil spirit of an ancient Druid priestess called Merthia is still plaguing Merryweather Lodge seeking revenge, and Merthia's prime target is Emily.

This is a very chilling tale that kept me on the edge of my seat! The story is told from Emily's first person point of view. Emily learns more about Merthia, and she finds out Merthia isn't the only "malevolent spirit" haunting Merryweather Lodge. Emily's relationship with her soul mate Jonathan deepens, and much is revealed about her best friend Skye. I think my favorite character is the colorful and quirky Auntie Em.

If you have not read the first book in the series, ANCIENT REVENGE, I highly recommend doing so before reading MALEVOLENT SPIRIT. The first book gives readers a lot of important backstory for the characters and places in book two. Plus, ANCIENT REVENGE was a sensational read as well.

My only complaint about this one? I thought that it ended abruptly. There is still much to be resolved, and I'm ready for the third book now! I give MALEVOLENT SPIRIT 4½ stars!

I received my copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

2012 Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge

2011-12-17T04:00:00.027-06:00

Hosted By: Darlene's Book Nook

I'm going for Level 2 (5-8 books), but hopefully I can read them all:

Dead Until Dark - Completed 1/29/2012
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone
Dead in the Family
Dead Reckoning
Deadlocked

Post reviews HERE.

Guest Post by Pauline Holyoak

2011-12-16T04:00:00.038-06:00

From, Award – Winning, Canadian Author Pauline Holyoak, comes a spine-chilling trilogy, inspired by her own experiences at a remote little cottage near Stonehenge. Merryweather Lodge – Malevolent Spirit book 2, now available.

“This author paints each page with fantasy, colorful characters, and haunting events that would light up a movie screen.”

I grew in Southeast England, in a coal mining village lovingly nicknamed, “The place that time forgot.” Go to my website, click on ‘Articles’ and find out why. I immigrated to Canada when I was 21 in search of adventure and a new life. I currently live in Alberta with my sports crazy husband, adorable sheltie dog and cantankerous ginger cat. I am the proud mother of two grown children.

The first book in my Merryweather Lodge trilogy Merryweather Lodge – Ancient Revenge, was the Readers Favorite 2011 Silver Award Winner for paranormal fiction. I have also written two children’s books and had twenty five articles published.

I often get asked. “What inspired you to write this trilogy?”…

Every summer, when I was a child, we would visit my aunt and uncle at their quaint little cottage on Salisbury Plain. It was called Scotland Lodge and was situated not far from the historical Stonehenge. My uncle worked as a farm hand for the local squire. My aunt tended the manor house. It was there as I roamed free, deep within the English countryside, that I experienced joy, enchantment and some very strange and frightening occurrences. It was like a fairytale kingdom with a sinister twist. The memories of my summers at Scotland Lodge stayed with me, as a sort of nagging unsolved mystery all my life. A few years ago I revisited my childhood wonderland (the old place still emanates a strange and eerie essence) and was lead by some mysterious force into concocting this story and writing this trilogy. It is from my mystifying experiences at Scotland Lodge that this story has emerged.

Blurb:

It’s Christmastime at Merryweather Lodge. Emily has returned to the old cottage from her home in Canada; after the untimely death of someone she loved. Will she be able to celebrate a traditional English Christmas in her aunts enchanting little cottage or will she be tormented by the hideous creature, again? Was Emily’s attempt to banish her unearthly adversary successful? Will her aunt disclose the secrets she has been concealing for so many years? What will happen when Emily’s best friend comes to visit her? What secrets will she reveal? Will Emily ever get to make love to the man of her dreams? A chilling tale of love, passion, sorcery and sacrifice; laced with mystery and tied with humor.

Excerpt:

I heard voices, lots of voices, some in a language I didn’t understand. “Find her you imbeciles. She has come back and she cannot escape. There is nowhere for her to go.” I recognized that voice but - could be - ? Shadows of screaming vultures circled overhead. The air was crisp and biting. I moved back from the stone and gazed around the area. The ancient monoliths were smooth and uniform, in a perfect circle. Fires inside the circle lit the sky and the air reeked of wood smoke, sweet herbs, and death. I rose from the ground and peeked around the blue stone. There were clusters of people - some in long white robes, others wore dark hooded cloaks. One of the groups closest to me was performing some sort of slaughtering ceremony. I cringed at the gruesome site.

Merryweather Lodge – A quaint little cottage, steeped in history, shrouded in secrets, its aura a paradoxical essence of heaven and hell. Come with me to the West Country in England and experience my protagonist’s strange and eerie journey there.

Merryweather Lodge: Ancient Revenge and Merryweather Lodge: Malevolent Spirit available at www.whiskeycreekpress.com – www.amazon.com – www.amazon.co.uk

Visit Pauline at her website www.paulineholyoak.com.

Book Review: JANE WAS HERE by Sarah Kernochan

2011-12-14T04:00:00.145-06:00

Grey Swan Press; June 2011

Book Blurb:

A mysterious young woman called Jane appears in a small New England town. She claims a fragmentary memory of growing up in this place, yet she has never been here before in her life. Searching for an explanation, she arrives at the unthinkable: that she is somehow connected to a beautiful girl who disappeared from the town in 1853. Is she recalling a past life? Jane becomes convinced of it. As she presses onward to find out what happened in this town over 150 years ago, strange and alarming things begin happening to some of the town's inhabitants. A thunderhead of karmic justice gathers over the village as Jane's memories reawaken piece by piece. They carry her back in time to a long-buried secret, while the townspeople hurtle forward to a horrific event when past and present fatally collide.

Review:

Wow, this book really pulled me in. It was a dark, eerie story about reincarnation and karma punishing the sins of past lives. A mysterious young woman calling herself Jane wanders into the town of Graynier. No one knows who she is, and she doesn't seem to know either. Jane shows up at the house that Brett Sampson is renting for the summer, telling him it used to be her home. She's searching for clues to her past in hopes of discovering her true identity. Brett feels an unexplainable connection to this strange woman, and he agrees to let her stay with him. After Jane arrives, bad things start happening to some of the townspeople. Is Jane the cause of the trouble, or is there another outside force with an agenda of its own?

This is the second book I've read this year where I didn't like any of the main characters, but I really enjoyed the story. I don't think the reader was meant to like them. Their foul personalities and shameful behavior were integral parts of the book. I was engrossed in the story trying to figure out how everyone was connected to Jane. {I can't go into more detail because I don't want to risk giving away spoilers!}

Jane's tale is not a pretty one, but it's one that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The author is also a screen writer, and you can see that in the vivid descriptions of places and events. There were parts that were spooky and parts that were pretty gruesome. JANE WAS HERE is a suspenseful read that fans of dark thrillers would enjoy. I give it 4 stars!

Favorite Quote(s):

When you get old, you know that everything comes and goes and then comes along again.

Book Cover: It's okay. I like the blue color, but I don't care for the skeleton.

http://www.janewashere.com/

Thank you to CRAZY BOOK TOURS for the opportunity to review this book.

Book Review: EDGE OF SURVIVAL by Toni Anderson @CarinaPress

2011-12-11T04:30:00.010-06:00

Carina Press; Nov 2011

Book Blurb:

Dr. Cameran Young knew her assignment wouldn't be easy. As lead biologist on the Environment Impact Assessment team, her findings would determine the future of a large mining project in the northern Canadian bush. She expected rough conditions and hostile miners—but she didn't expect to find a dead body her first day on the job.

Former SAS Sergeant Daniel Fox forged a career as a helicopter pilot, working as far from the rest of the human race as possible. The thrill of flying makes his civilian life bearable, and he lives by his mantra: don't get involved. But when he's charged with transporting the biologist to her research vessel, he can't help but get involved in the murder investigation—and with Cameran, who awakens emotions he's desperate to suppress.

In the harsh and rugged wilderness, Daniel and Cameran must battle their intense and growing attraction while keeping ahead of a killer who will stop at nothing to silence her…

Review:

In the wilds of northern Canada, a biologist living with diabetes falls for an ex-British military man haunted by his past in Toni Anderson's romantic suspense EDGE OF SURVIVAL. The book opens with a bang as Dr. Cameran Young finds the body of a murdered woman on her arrival in Labrador. Cameran is there to study the impact of mining on the local fish population. She never planned on becoming involved in a murder investigation, or with the helicopter pilot hired to help her during her research.

Daniel was part of an elite team in the Special Air Service in the British army, but he has been suffering ever since his last mission ended in tragedy. Daniel's job as a helicopter pilot stationed in the middle of nowhere was supposed to protect him from becoming involved with anyone. But, there's something about Cameran that draws him to her, and since trouble seems to follow her around, Daniel can't help but be there to protect her.

EDGE OF SURVIVAL was a thrilling, fast paced story with well drawn characters. Ms. Anderson did an excellent job creating a heroine faced with the challenges of having diabetes. Cameran was smart, strong and determined to achieve the goals she set for herself. Daniel will have lovers of tortured heroes swooning. Daniel is the type who is difficult to like at first, but you can't resist wanting to see the right woman save him.

I really enjoyed the plot and the unique setting of this book. I studied environmental science in college, so I found Cameran's research project intriguing, and Northern Labrador sounds so beautiful. I always wanted to be a part of an environmental impact assessment team, but alas, it wasn't to be. I'm happy I can live vicariously through amazing characters.

EDGE OF SURVIVAL is full of action, multi-dimensional characters with plenty of angst, page-turning suspense and romance. I give it 4½ stars!

Favorite Quote(s):

He needed to get away from her and the way she made him feel. He'd gotten drawn in again today. She terrified him. He'd experienced frustration, arousal, fear, excitement, fury and terror in the space of a few short hours, when he usually felt nothing but numb indifference.

I received my copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Book Cover: Ominous and sexy. Fits the story perfectly.

2012 BDSM Reading Challenge

2011-12-11T04:00:00.034-06:00

Hosted By: The Forbidden Bookshelf

I'm aiming to read at least 20 books for this challenge:

1. Story of L by Debra Hyde

2. Story of O by Pauline Reage

3. Crash Into You by Roni Loren

4. Slave by Sherri Hayes

5. Reluctant Muse by Victoria Blisse

10.

11.

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20.

AN ALPHA'S PATH Virtual Book Tour: Interview and Giveaway with Carrie Ann Ryan {Tour Prize: $25 Amazon GC}

2011-12-08T04:00:00.102-06:00

Hello and welcome, Carrie Ann! Please tell us a little about your latest release, AN ALPHA'S PATH.

Well, An Alpha's Path is about two souls who meet and connect. However, Melanie is unaware of Kade’s world, and that causes some uncertainty. What you really get out of this is – how far would you change your life for someone? How hard would you fight?

Kade, a slightly older werewolf (at over one hundred years), needs a night way from the Pack. Too many responsibilities and one near miss with a potential mate made Kade hide in his work, the only peace he can find. His brother convinces him to meet the sexy woman for a one night of fun. What could it hurt? But when he finds this woman could be his mate, can he convince her to leave her orderly, sane world and be with him and his wolf-half, for life?

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in your book? Were there challenges or obstacles you had to overcome?

There are werewolves, demons, witches and humans. Sorry folks, no vampires this time, I didn't want to overshadow my earthly magic. When I went to find what my world would be. I tried at first to think logically. Considering its a paranormal romance, sometimes true logic goes right out the window. I fell in love with my characters first. And through that I looked into what they needed in order to empower themselves, and what I couldn't give them so they would have to work for their future.

These Jamenson boys (and their sister) are very vocal, so their world came into its own quickly - once I found who they were.

Which character was the most challenging to write and why?

My most challenging character to write was Kade. He is an Alpha wolf. In most romances, the Alpha would swoop in, take charge and conflict would arise from there. However, whenever I wanted to do that, I just couldn't see Kade. Kade had his own thoughts, his own personality. His values and beliefs may be totally Alpha for the rest of his Pack, but with his mate, Kade may just be different. I totally love the direction he took eventually, but geeze, Kade. He could have at least warned me before he took over.

How did you decide on the occupations your characters would have?

Melanie was easy. I wanted to write about something I know. So I made her a chemist. Just like me. :-) She may have went off on her own personality wise, but her job was do able for me. What I thought of Kade, I saw him working with his hands, as well as his mind. An architect seemed the perfect point for me. And plus ladies, who doesn't like a man who can work with his hands? Yum.

How many books do you have planned for the series?

I always love answering this question! An Alpha's Path is the first in a seven book series called Redwood Pack. The series centers on the Jamenson Family, who rule their werewolf Pack. Each sibling must find their mate and a way to connect with them. Throughout this, there is also an overall conflict with a rival Pack, witches, demons and finding your own truth. I'm really excited about this!

Why do we love tortured heroes?

I think it's because some may want to fix them. Others just want to hold them and tell them its okay. I'm in the latter group. I'm a slightly tortured person in general - I want to read about a hero who needs me. If he's too perfect, how can I fit into his life?

Plus according to Keanu Reeves in The Replacements, "Chicks Dig Scars".

What is your writing process like?

My writing process is a bit like my day job. I am super organized with outlines and lists everywhere. I first outline my overall series, then I outline the book I'm writing. Once I'm done with that, I deep outline one chapter at a time and write. This way I can go in as much depth and connection as I can before I find the words my mind wants to write. I try to write everyday, but sometimes I need to double up on some days to keep up. I love what I do and I love writing. I'm still learning, but my lists are really important to me. I also have files of character analysis, world building and a family tree. My pet peeve is when worlds don't mesh after three or so books, so I'm doing my best not to annoy myself. :-)

What books have most influenced your life?

Don't laugh, but Twilight was actually the book that started it all for me. I wanted to read what the fuss was all about. And I'm not ashamed to say it - Twilight was my gateway romance drug. 5893 books later (and counting) and I'm a romance junkie. I wouldn't change it for anything!

What was the last amazing book you read?

Legacy by Denise Tompkins. It's her debut release and I was lucky enough to get an early copy. Check it out. Its fresh and REALLY good.

Other than writing, what are some of your passions in life?

Cooking. I love to cook, bake and feed people. I usually tweet a photo or at least a menu everyday I cook because I love it so much. My hubby is a happy man. Or at least that is what he tells me.

In your writing career, if you could do it all over again, what would you change?

This is my debut release, so I will let you know after book 2! But really, I would have joined my crit group earlier. I love those people!

What can readers expect next from you?

A Taste for a Mate will be out Spring 2012. It is book 2 in the Redwood Pack series and is Jasper's story. I'm writing it at the moment and IN LOVE with where it's going.

Also, book 3, Trinity Bound, will be out Spring 2012 as well. I'm going a slightly different direction with it as its m/m/f, but I can't wait to get started!

AN ALPHA'S PATH

{Redwood Pack, Book 1}

By Carrie Ann Ryan

Melanie is a twenty-five year old chemist who has spent all of her adult life slaving at school. With her PhD in hand, she's to start her dream job, but before she does, her friend persuades her to relax and try to live again. A blind date set up through her friends seems like the perfect solution. Melanie can take one night away from the lab and let her inner vixen out on a fixed blind date - a chance to get crazy with a perfect stranger. The gorgeous hunk she's to meet exceeds her wildest dreams – be he is more than what he appears and Melanie's analytical mind goes into overdrive.

Kade, a slightly older werewolf (at over one hundred years), needs a night way from the Pack. Too many responsibilities and one near miss with a potential mate made Kade hide in his work, the only peace he can find. His brother convinces him to meet the sexy woman for a one night of fun. What could it hurt? But when he finds this woman could be his mate, can he convince her to leave her orderly, sane world and be with him and his wolf-half, for life?

Excerpt:

Melanie took a deep breath as she gave herself a good look in the mirror. This bathroom may be the greatest and most luxurious thing she’d ever seen, but she barely gave it a second glance.

What the hell was she doing? There was a gorgeous god standing in the room that she practically ran from. What the hell was she doing in here?

All throughout dinner, she couldn’t seem to string two coherent sentences together. She resembled acting like a ditzy, shy deer in the headlights. It was no wonder Kade was just fine with not having sex tonight. Oh, he may have said that he wanted her, but he didn’t seem to fight for it.

Oh, that was just great. Kade was considerate of her feelings, yet here she was, making him the bad guy. This whole experience made her a wreck. Maybe Mel wasn’t experienced with men, but she was experienced with meeting people and communicating with another human being. Tonight was a once in a lifetime opportunity to have wild and passionate sex with a near stranger. And oh yes, just looking at Kade, she knew it would be exactly that. She grew damp just thinking about him, and what wicked things could await her if she would just say yes.

And honestly, what was stopping her? Going through with this would leave her with an amazing and glorious memory. She needed more of those. The need to hear she was beautiful, sexy and wanted overwhelmed her. Mel didn’t want to be the “smart” one anymore. She squared her shoulders and looked at herself in the mirror once more.

About the Author:

Carrie Ann Ryan is a paranormal and contemporary romance author. Her first book, An Alpha's Path, will be released soon. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She love meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:

Website and Blog

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Friend

Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan

Giveaway Details:

Carrie Ann Ryan is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click HERE for her complete tour schedule. The the more tour stops you comment on, the better your chances of winning. Good luck!

Book Review: HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE by Riley Adams

2011-12-07T04:00:00.093-06:00

Berkley Prime Crime; Nov 2011

Book Blurb:

BBQ-joint owner Lulu Taylor knows pretty much everyone in Memphis who lives ribs. But one person she'd rather not know is Tristan Pembroke, a snooty pageant couch with a mean streak. When she finds Tristan's dead body stuffed in a closet at a party, the police are suspicious - especially since Lulu's developed a taste for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Caught in a situation stickier than molasses, Lulu must clear her name, or risk getting fried...

Review:

Lulu Taylor runs Aunt Pat's, a barbeque restaurant in the heart of Memphis. When she's not serving up the tastiest eats in town, Lulu is busy honing her amateur sleuthing skills. In HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE, Lulu is involved in another murder mystery when she discovers the body of Tristan Pembroke, a beauty pageant couch with more enemies than friends. With a list of suspects a mile long, and another murder on the heels of the first, Lulu has her work cut out for her, especially when the murderer takes a dislike to Lulu's snooping.

This is the third book in Riley Adams' A Memphis BBQ Mystery series, but it can easily be read stand-alone. I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Even the secondary characters had distinct personalities. I think my favorite was Cherry, Lulu's motorcycle riding, Elvis fanatic best friend. Cherry and Lulu together made for plenty of laughs. Ms. Adams did a fine job bringing Memphis to life, especially the descriptions of the delicious food! The mystery was good, and while I don't care a thing about beauty pageants, it was interesting to hear about the sinister goings on behind the curtain. Readers looking for a humorous Southern cozy mystery will be delighted by HICKORY SMOKED HOMICIDE. I give it 3.5 stars!

I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Cover: Messy pots and pans, but the BBQ sauce looks good!

THE GIRL MOST LIKELY Virtual Book Tour: Interview and Giveaway with Jana Richards

2011-12-06T04:00:00.113-06:00

Hello and welcome, Jana! When did you first consider yourself a writer?

A few years ago when I took some time off from my day job to stay home and write, I started taking myself seriously as a writer. I wrote every day from 9 to 3, and treated it exactly like the job it was. But it wasn’t until I was first published in 2007 that I really considered myself a “writer”. I guess there’s something about receiving that seal of approval from someone else that makes a person truly believe they have what it takes.

Please tell us a little about your latest release, THE GIRL MOST LIKELY.

"The Girl Most Likely" is part of the Class of '85 series with The Wild Rose Press, featuring several TWRP writers. The series revolves around the 1985 graduates of Summerville High School in Summerville, New York as they prepare for their 25th high school reunion. In some of the stories, old romances are rekindled. But in "The Girl Most Likely" Cara discovers a brand new love:

Cara McLeod, the girl most likely to have the perfect marriage, is now divorced and, in her own words, "fat, frumpy, and over forty." The thought of facing former classmates--and the ex-husband who dumped her--at her high school reunion terrifies her. Cajoled into attending by her kids and her best friend, Cara enlists help at the gym to lose weight and look great for the reunion. Personal Trainer Finn Cooper is more than willing to help--but does he have to be so to-die-for gorgeous?

Finn thinks Cara is perfect just the way she is. She's everything he wants in a woman, except for one thing--she can't get past the fact that he's eight years younger. To Finn, age and weight are just numbers. But can he convince Cara the numbers she worries about add up to only one thing for him--love?

What was your source of inspiration behind this book?

I was inspired to write "The Girl Most Likely" because high school reunions are occasions often fraught with angst. Everyone is worried about their appearance and how they are going to look to their former classmates. Many are concerned about not living up to the potential they showed in high school. Others want to portray a perfect family life. Cara feels she has struck out on all three issues. It was fun to make her suffer, but then to bring her around to realizing what was really important to her.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in your book? Were there challenges or obstacles you had to overcome?

Because "The Girl Most Likely" is part of a series written by a number of different writers, it was important to keep the facts straight in every book. The invitation to the reunion is included at the beginning of each book in the series. There are a few recurring characters who may or may not be included in every book. We had a spreadsheet on our Yahoo loop that included the names of the characters from each book to help us keep them all straight. We writers kept in contact with each other through this loop. The loop also included pictures from a town located in western New York on the shores of Lake Ontario that our fictional town of Summerville was based on. The pictures gave those of us who'd never had the opportunity to visit this area a chance to get a feel for it.

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

It's really hard for me to pick a favorite character from "The Girl Most Likely" because I really love both Cara and Finn. Cara is funny and resilient, and although she doesn't believe it at the beginning of the book, she's a tough cookie, able to face her problems with strength and good humor. Finn is also a strong person. He's made huge changes in his life in the hopes of having a better future. His best quality is kindness and his ability to empathize with others and to help them find ways to solve their own problems.

Please share some details about the villain in your story. Who or what is the antagonist?

One of the antagonists is Cara’s ex-husband Peter. After nearly twenty years of marriage, he dumps Cara on her 40th birthday, telling her he doesn’t find her attractive anymore. That would be bad enough, but Peter seems to forget that he has two teenage daughters who need his love and attention. He sends them money but spends little time with them. As a result thirteen year old Beth and seventeen year old Jenna feel abandoned and angry, often at their mother. Peter provides some of the motivation to Cara in her attempt to get fit and lose weight, mainly because she wants to be able to walk into the reunion and make him sorry he ever left her.

The antagonist who was the most fun to write was Cara’s mother. I took great delight in making her as nasty and controlling as I could. I’m not sure what that says about me! I really enjoyed making Cara suffer – but then finding the strength to stand up to her mother.

How did you decide on the occupations your characters would have?

I wanted Cara to have an entry level job which was not much more than a gopher-type position (go for coffee, go for lunch etc.) in an industry that would still allow her room to move up. So I gave her a job as a junior assistant at a local television station. Since Cara has little training for anything aside from childcare and throwing a really good dinner party, an entry level position is all she qualifies for. But I wanted to show the readers, and her, that she didn’t need to abandon all her high school career aspirations.

I decided to make Finn a physical trainer because I wanted him to be able to work closely with Cara in her quest to lose weight before the big high school reunion. And it turns out that Finn’s job was a career change for him too. It’s part of the way he totally reinvented himself before he met Cara.

Do you find it difficult to write in different genres? Is there one you prefer?

Actually, I love exploring other sub-genres in the romance world. So far I’ve written in contemporary romance (A Long Way from Eden, Till September), romantic suspense (Seeing Things), and historical romance set in World War Two (Flawless), which is also romantic suspense. A couple of my books have paranormal elements (Burning Love, Seeing Things), and I also enjoy writing romantic comedy (Her Best Man). I want to continue writing more stories set in World War Two. I find it a fascinating period of history with so many stories to tell. Someday I’d love to try my hand at writing a novel set in the Regency period since it’s also an interesting era and I love reading them. I’d also like to write a straight mystery novel, but of course mine would likely have strong romantic elements!

How do you keep your ideas for your books fresh?

I try to put a bit of a different spin on familiar themes. In “The Girl Most Likely” I made Finn eight years younger than Cara. She has a very difficult time with the difference. I also gave Finn a couple of secrets that are a bit out of the ordinary for a romance hero, but make him the perfect man for Cara.

Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

I find that I work best when I can devote a large chunk of time to my writing and totally immerse myself in it. That’s usually how I like to write a first draft. I’ll take time off work, clear away appointments and other obstacles and just concentrate on writing. That’s why I love retreats or book-in-a-week events.

What has surprised you most since becoming a published author?

What has surprised me most is the amount of time and effort needed to promote me and my work. I guess I thought the biggest effort would be writing my books, but I’ve discovered that writing is only the beginning!

If you could travel to another time and place, when and where would it be?

I would love to go back 200 hundred years and see the area where I live, the prairies of Western Canada, before settlement by white men and before the grasslands were turned under the plow for farming. It would be amazing to see herds of bison numbering in the millions as they thunder across the prairies. Seeing the land, the water, the skies completely pristine and untouched would be a thrill. But if I were to go back in time, I would hope for a short visit. With its brutally cold winters and punishingly hot summers, the prairies are a harsh place, even today. I can’t imagine the hardships of living here two hundred years ago without insulated, heated houses and air-conditioned cars. I’m too spoiled by modern conveniences to want to live permanently in the past!

Why do modern women still crave the alpha male in romance novels?

I think it’s because strong characters are always very appealing. No matter how modern or self-reliant the woman, she still wants a man who is tough in a crisis, stands up for his beliefs, and can fight his way out of any situation. And it’s always appealing to see a strong man brought to his knees by the love of a good woman.

What are your top three tips for aspiring writers?

Never stop learning your craft. Keep taking classes and going to conferences. Find yourself a good writing group and submit your work to more experienced writers for critique. Don’t believe that every word you’ve written is precious; unless you’re Shakespeare, your work will always need revision. Be confident in your ability but realize you can always be better. That’s more than three, but you get the picture!

In your writing career, if you could do it all over again, what would you change?

I think I’d take my writing much more seriously earlier than I did. For a long time I only wrote when I had ‘spare’ time. Back then I had a part-time job and two young children, and any mother knows that spare time is a rare commodity. I wish I would have made writing more of a priority years before I actually did.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

To visit Paris, to learn how to consistently hit a good golf drive, and to write a best-selling novel, not necessarily in that order.

What can readers expect next from you?

My novella “Home Fires” has just been contracted by The Wild Rose Press, and I’m really excited about it because I’ve wanted to write a War Bride story for a long time. British nurse Anne Wakefield travels to Canada in 1945 to marry her fiancé, a Canadian soldier she met during the war. But when she arrives, she finds that her fiancé has already married someone else. Devastated, Anne turns to his family for support. The kindness of Eric, her ex-fiancé’s brother, helps to heal her pain. When Eric’s mother suggests marriage, she must decide whether to return to England, or to take a second chance on love – this time with Eric. But can he forget that Anne loved his brother first? Will he ever believe that she loves him best?

Where can readers find you on the web?

You can find me at http://www.janarichards.net , at my blog at http://janarichards.blogspot.com, or on Facebook. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jana-Richards/157005711005866)

Can you leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from your book?

He chuckled. “Jessica better watch her back. You could give her a run for her money.”

He heard Cara’s throaty laugh, and various parts of his anatomy tingled in response. “Yes, that’s my evil plan. Take over Rochester Noon, then the world.”

“If you set your mind to it, I’m sure you could do it.”

“Thanks Finn.”

“For what?”

“For believing in me.”

“Are you going to be okay now?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks to you.”

He wanted so badly to tell her he loved her, adored her, thought she was the most amazing woman in the world. But fear stopped him. Was she truly over her ex-husband? Why else would losing weight for the reunion be so important to her if not to impress Peter?

“I’ve got to run. Thanks again. I’ll talk to you later at my condo, right?”

“Absolutely. I can hardly wait to hear about your big TV debut. Break a leg. Isn’t that what they say in show biz?”

She laughed. “Yeah, that’s what they say. Bye.”

Finn replaced the receiver and closed his eyes. He hoped everything went well with this interview. Cara deserved to realize how amazing she was.

If she did come to that realization, would there still be room in her life for him?

About the Author:

Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.

When not writing up a storm, working at her day job as an Office Administrator, or dealing with ever present mountains of laundry, Jana can be found on the local golf course pursuing her newest hobby.

Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren, along with two university aged daughters and a highly spoiled Pug/Terrier cross named Lou.

Giveaway Details:

Jana is giving away one $20 gift card to The Wild Rose Press to one randomly drawn commenter AND a $20 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click HERE for her complete tour schedule. The the more tour stops you comment on, the better your chances of winning. Good luck!

HIGHLAND HONOR Virtual Book Tour: Interview with Christine Young and Giveaway {Tour Prize: $50 Amazon GC}

2011-12-02T04:00:00.117-06:00

I'm pleased to welcome author Christine Young to Book of Secrets! Her latest is the historical romance, HIGHLAND HONOR.

Hi, Christine! Please tell us a little about your background.

Pertaining to writing, I published my first two books with Kensington in 1998, Dakota's Bride and My Angel. Kate Duffy was my editor and I thoroughly enjoyed her wonderful sense of humor and her knowledge of romance writing. Since then I have published 10 books and 2 anthologies with both Awe-Struck and Rogue Phoenix Press.

Please tell us a little about your latest release, HIGHLAND HONOR.

Highland Honor is set in the rugged Highlands of Scotland. After watching her evil stepbrother and the man she is supposed to wed, Callie flees her home. She means to find the one man she believes her deceased father trusted, Colin "Hawke" MacPherson. Unbeknownst to her Hawke blames her father for the cruel murder of his father.

From the first they are drawn to each other. But when Colin discovers who Callie is, he is torn between needing her in his arms and the revenge he has sought against the Whitcomb family.

Their story revolves around the strength of their love and their need to discover the truth about the horrific day Colin's father is branded a traitor to the English King and sentenced to die. Colin's worst fear is that Callie will do something impulsive that will jeopardize her life.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in your book? Were there challenges or obstacles you had to overcome?

The world was created through extensive research of the country; pictures and descriptions of places and the wonderful castles, some in ruin but many still very much intact. I have always loved geography and have spent many a day reading and looking over the old and the new National Geographic magazines. Of course the world had to be realistic but there was some fantasy too. The MacPherson castle is not an authentic Scottish Castle yet it had characteristics of many.

How many books do you have planned for the series?

There will be three books in this series: Highland Honor, Highland Magic and Highland Song.

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

Hawke, of course. The alpha male is always a challenge. A delicate balance between his confidence and power when it is butted against the fragility yet the stubbornness of Callie has to be maintained.I think this also answers the question below. The challenge lies in keeping Hawke pure alpha yet bringing out his gentleness when he is dealing with Callie.

Tell us about the villain in HIGHLAND HONOR. Who or what is the antagonist of your story?

There are two antagonists in this story: the stepbrother, Archibald Covington and the betrothed, Simon Huntington. I truly love to write the villains. A writer doesn't have to stay "politically correct" so to speak. They can be as bad as I need them to be.

How do you create your characters' names?

I use a character name book which isolates names from certain countries and tells the meaning of the name.

What was one of the most interesting things you learned in researching your book?

I obtained old maps of the clan territories. It was fascinating. I was also able to place where my clans primarily lived. I also enjoyed discovering the clan tartans both the dress and war plaids.

What are three things many people don't know about you?

Other than my family and closest friends most don't know I am a retired high school math teacher. They think I taught English. I'm addicted to Cityville on Facebook (anyone want to be my Cityville friend?). I love to knit and do needlepoint.

Where can readers find you on the web?

http://christineyoung-romancewriter.blogspot.com/

http://www.roguesangels.blogspot.com/

About the Author:

Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. Now the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington. She is the author of 10 published romance books and 2 novellas. Christine is a retired high school math teacher. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children. Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

Rogue Phoenix Press; Nov 2011

Book Blurb:

Willfully stubborn, innocently courageous, Callie Whitcomb braves a journey through the treacherous highlands to the MacPherson castle. Callie flees from an unwanted marriage as well as her ruthless half brother. Naively she believes Colin MacPherson, the head of the clan, is loyal to her father and will give her sanctuary, protecting her from the vile plans that have been made for her.

As hard and as unyielding as the winter storms that sweep through the countryside, Colin is irresistibly drawn to the impetuous beauty who has magically appeared on his doorsteps. Despite his vows of revenge against her father, she stirs his passion as well as his sense of justice...but to love her would violate all his vows of revenge.

Excerpt:

Scotland November 1512:

A heavy frost sat on the frozen earth, and a full moon shone clearly between the heavy clouds dotting the sky. Lady Callie Whitcomb looked over her shoulder as she raced through the deepening gloom toward the lighted tavern ahead. Every shadow, every mournful sigh of the wind sweeping through the trees, every chilling animal sound filled her with terror. Fear for her life drove her to put all thoughts of danger aside. He would follow her, find her, and drag her home.

Home.

"Don't think of that now," she reminded herself fiercely, even while tears stung in the back of her throat and fear made her limbs tremble. "Don't ye dare think of home. It no longer exists." Nothing and no one could coax her back or make her believe there was naught but terror in the home where she'd been born.

"I will never marry Lord Huntington. Never!" she whispered fiercely, the chill night air solemnly echoing her words.

Her stepbrother, Archibald Covington III, made sure she could never return.

"There ye be, lass! I've been waiting for ye."

The voice rose from nowhere and surprised her. Her heart froze, lurched, then began an erratic beat, while raw nerves snapped, sending a myriad of sensations racing down her spine.

"Archibald--" she whispered, panic sweeping through her. "He's found me." All she could hear was the pounding of her own blood in her ears.

Giveaway Details:

On her book tour, Christine will be giving away:

a $50.00 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter for the blog tour.
a Clan MacPherson book mark awarded at each stop to one randomly drawn commenter.

Click HERE for Christine's tour schedule. The the more tour stops you comment on, the better your chances of winning. Good luck!

Guest Review by @AsianCocoa - TWO LETHAL LIES by Annie Solomon

2011-11-30T09:24:00.000-06:00

Forever; Sept 2010

Book Blurb:

On the run since his daughter was born, Mitch Turner has concealed a truth so dangerous, its discovery could jeopardize both their lives. But when a series of shocking murders hits their newfound home, the trail leads straight to Mitch. With the police out for blood and his daughter ripped from his arms, he has nowhere to turn--until a beautiful stranger offers her help.

Neesy Brown has made mistakes in her life, yet she refuses to believe this mysterious man is a killer. There's a strength in his broad shoulders that draws her to him and a weariness in his eyes that she longs to ease. As the murders tear her small town apart, she vows to help Mitch find his missing child. But a cunning predator is pulling them deeper and deeper into his fatal game. And the price of losing is the child--and the future--they could both share...

Review:

Two Lethal Lies was a really suspenseful novel that kept me guessing until the end.

Mitch Turner has been on the run with his eleven year old daughter, Julia for years. They have never stayed in one place for longer than a few weeks always in fear of their lives. After saving a young girl after she jumps off a bridge, Mitch finds himself accepting the family’s offer to stay in their guest house. Julia convinces Mitch to stay in the small town for a few months after she bonds with Sara Jean and her family. Their lives seem pretty care-free until a couple of murders take place and Mitch becomes the prime suspect. Julia is taken from him and Mitch must become a fugitive to find his daughter and keep her safe from a cold and twisted predator.

I liked Two Lethal Lies. It kept me on the edge while I was trying to figure out what Mitch was running from. The reveal was disturbing and made me gasp. I really enjoyed Mitch’s relationship with his daughter, Julia. It was heartwarming to see how close they were to one another. I liked Neesy a lot and wanted her to get her happily ever after. She had bad luck with men and deserved to be loved. The relationship between Neesy and Mitch started late and seemed to take a back seat to the suspense and mystery of the story. I would have liked a little more development of their romance. Two Lethal Lies was fast-paced and full of suspense and action. I give this romantic suspense novel, 3.5 out of 5 stars.

A Few Blogkeeping Items (plus winners!)

2011-11-28T12:49:00.009-06:00

Hello, everyone! I've put together this "blogkeeping" post to share a few things with you. I'll start with the good stuff - recent winners! I don't usually do a separate winners post, but I've had so many this past week, I thought it would be best to post them:

Black Friday Book Bonanza (11/25/2011):

WildAboutBones

Storm Warning (11/22/2011):

*yadkny*

Who Do, Voodoo? (11/21/2011):

Julie W

The Welcome Home Garden Club (11/18/2011):

1) CrystalGB

2) lgm52

3) Karen B

4) tetewa

5) Anita Yancey

Congratulations! I sent e-mails to all of the winners this morning. They have two days to respond before alternates are chosen. I've already heard back from many of them.

A couple more things I'd like to share:

** Update: This post originally stated that I'd started a separate Google+ and Facebook page for my blog. I changed my mind and deleted them. Sorry about that!

You are welcome to "friend" me on Facebook and Google+ instead. Here are the links:

Google+:

https://plus.google.com/114454240471955451389/posts?hl=en

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/bookofsecrets

Happy Reading!

Bodice Ripper Revival (Review and Giveaway): PATIENCE by Lisa Valdez

2011-11-26T10:00:00.002-06:00

Berkley Sensation; April 2010

Book Blurb:

Known for her exceptional beauty, Patience Emmalina Dare has been pursued by admirers ever since coming of age. But suitor after suitor fails to inspire her love—or her desire. Certain she will never find a man who touches her deeply, she decides to forgo marriage in favor of pursuing her music. But just when Patience thinks she has her life well in hand, a passionate kiss with her enigmatic brother-in-law awakens a powerful need in her. How will she reconcile her desire for him and her desire for a life that’s her own—and what will she do when he shows her a deep and hidden part of herself that she never knew existed?

When the secret of his illegitimate birth pushes Matthew Morgan Hawkmore from his place in society, the darkly handsome half-brother of the Earl of Langley plots his resurrection and his revenge. Betrayed and abandoned by the women he believed loved him, he swears to never again be controlled by love. But despite his vow, he is unable to resist the beautiful Patience, whose strength and self-reliance hide a need that he is perfectly suited to fulfill. Can he have her without loving her? What will he give up to keep her? And will her passionate surrender be the one thing that can stop him from making a tragic mistake that could destroy them both...

Review:

The format of this review is different that was I normally use. This is the form from an online book discussion I will participate in next month.

Did you like the book overall or not?

I loved it. PATIENCE is going on my list of favorite historical romances. It was erotic, passionate, and unique, and it hit all the right buttons for me.

Did you like the story?

PATIENCE was a touching story about two people who have been hurt and betrayed and find comfort and fulfillment in each other. Matthew Hawkmore has been shunned by high society after it is revealed that his real father was a gardener and not the Earl of Langley. Patience Dare, a talented cellist, has had her heart broken, first by the death of her mother, and then by the cruel words of her former music teacher. They both abandoned the dream of finding love until finding each other.

Do you feel it portrays BDSM in a real way, a positive way?

Yes. From reading the book blurb, you’d probably never guess this book was about a Dominant/submissive relationship. I’ve read some negative reviews for this book, and many are because the reader was put off by BDSM. Granted, it was light BDSM, but for historical romance lovers who don’t like the idea of female sexual submission, this story is likely to make them angry. Personally, I thought Matthew and Patience’s D/s relationship was written very well and felt realistic.

Did you like the sex scenes in the book?

Whew! Hot. I’m very surprised that this book wasn’t published under Berkley’s erotica line (Heat) rather than Sensation. The sex was explicit and the language was graphic. Ms. Valdez was masterful at building up intense sexual tension before giving readers the release they crave, much like Matthew did to Patience.

What did you like best about this selection?

What I liked best was the deep, emotional bond that formed between Matthew and Patience. They were both strong characters who complimented each other perfectly. I loved how Patience found her strength in submitting to Matthew, and how Matthew became a better person because of Patience.

What did you like the least?

The overuse of the words “pulsed” and “throbbed.” On every few pages, there was a various body part that “pulsed” or “throbbed.” That became distracting after a couple of chapters.

How would you have changed the story?

I wouldn’t change anything about the story.

Quote(s) I particularly enjoyed:

“Ah, my sweet Patience, I worship the struggle in your eyes, and the tears you won’t allow – for I value most that which is not easily given.”

“Every emotion you feel in the suffering of my commands honors me. I cherish each one. But ultimately…your struggle must always be toward obedience. Now, move your hands.”

“…it is not only I who adore the sweat of your submission, it is you as well. And I shall make you sweat – sweat, writhe, and weep, and beg me on bended knee for release or respite. And as I pleasure you and punish you, it shall be my greatest joy, for I shall know that it is yours as well.”

Giveaway Details:

This post is part of the Bodice Ripper Revival Weekend hosted by myself and Tanya from Among the Muses. We're giving you the opportunity to win one of the BRR books reviewed this weekend. The winner will have her (or his) choice of one of the following prizes:

A copy of PATIENCE, either a paperback from The Book Depository or Kindle copy.
A Kindle copy of CONOR'S WAY, the book Tanya will review on Sunday.

To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address. For an additional entry, you may leave a comment on Tanya's review post tomorrow at Among the Muses. Contest is open until Monday, 11/28/2011, at 11:59 pm EST. Good luck!

Bodice Ripper Revival Weekend

2011-11-25T04:00:00.114-06:00

It's time once again for the Bodice Ripper Revival Weekend, hosted by Among the Muses and Book of Secrets! Every month, Tanya and I revisit the old-school historical romances from years past, or we find new books that are bodice ripper-worthy!

On Saturday, I will be reviewing PATIENCE by Lisa Valdez. Then on Sunday, Tanya will be reviewing CONOR'S WAY by Laura Lee Guhrke. Take a look:

Book Blurb:

A woman called Patience. A desire that would put her name-and love-to the test. Known for her exceptional beauty, Patience Emmalina Dare fears she'll never find a man who touches her deeply-until she shares a passionate kiss with her enigmatic brother-in-law. But can she reconcile her desire for him with her desire for a life that's her own?

Book Blurb:

In the aftermath of the Civil War, beautiful and stubborn Olivia Maitland was determined to save her family and their near-bankrupt Louisiana plantation no matter what--even if it meant taking in cynical ex-boxer Conor Branigan in exchange for help. It wasn't long before she discovered the secret pain hidden beneath his rugged ways. And his ache touched something in her, lighting afire in her heart.

Conor Branigan had seen his family and his hopes destroyed in Ireland and had sworn never to care for anyone again. But now he dared hope for a love greater than any he'd ever dreamt of, with Olivia and her three adopted children-and a future that he would fight to keep forever.

Of course, we want to spread our love of bodice rippers by offering a contest to our readers! We're giving away the winner's choice of either PATIENCE (paperback from The Book Depository or Kindle copy) or CONOR'S WAY (Kindle copy only).

To enter the giveaway, visit our blogs tomorrow and Sunday, and leave a comment on one or both book reviews (up to 2 entries!). We will accept entries until Monday, 11/28/2011, at 11:59 PM CST and announce the winner shortly thereafter.

Tanya's blog can be found here: http://www.amongthemuses.com/

We hope to see you this weekend!

Black Friday Book Bonanza Giveaway (US)

2011-11-24T21:00:00.098-06:00

Welcome to my Black Friday Book Bonanza giveaway! Thank you to the hosts Book Savvy Babe, The Bawdy Book Blog, and Alive on the Shelves. I'm giving away six ARC romances to one lucky winner! These are books that I enjoyed, and now I want to pass them on to someone new. Here are the books that the winner will receive:

Eat Prey Love by Kerrelyn Sparks

The Goblin King by Shona Husk

The Highlander's Heart by Amanda Forester

Unleashed by Sara Humphreys

The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis

Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

Contest Rules/How to Enter:

The contest is open to US addresses. You must be 18+ to enter. You don't have to follow my blog to enter, but I would love it if you did! :)

I'll keep it simple: to enter, just leave me a quick comment on this post with your e-mail address. Contest open until Sunday, 11/27/2011, at 11:59 pm EST.

A winner will be chosen using Random.org and notified by e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before an alternate is chosen. Not responsible for items lost or damaged in transit. Good luck!

For a complete list of blogs participating in the Black Friday Book Bonanza Giveaway Hop, just click HERE. Have fun!

Book Review: THE LADY OF THE RIVERS by Philippa Gregory

2011-11-23T04:00:00.152-06:00

Simon & Schuster; Oct 2011

Book Blurb:

Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta always has had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she met his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and saw her own power reflected in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the wheel of fortune before Joan is taken to a horrific death at the hands of the English rulers of France. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream.

Jacquetta is married to the Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, and he introduces her to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the duke’s squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the duke’s death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.

The Woodvilles soon achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta can sense the growing threat from the people of England and the danger of royal rivals. Not even their courage and loyalty can keep the House of Lancaster on the throne. Henry the king slides into a mysterious sleep; Margaret the queen turns to untrustworthy favorites for help; and Richard, Duke of York, threatens to overturn the whole kingdom for his rival dynasty.

Jacquetta fights for her king, her queen, and for her daughter Elizabeth for whom Jacquetta can sense an extraordinary and unexpected future: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York.

Review:

THE LADY OF THE RIVERS is compelling historical fiction inspired by the life of Jacquetta of Luxembourg. In this book, her family is said to be descended from the river goddess, Melusina, and Jacquetta has been gifted with the ability to see into the future. At 17, she becomes the wife of John, Duke of Bedford, who was the English Regent of France under Henry VI. John is only interested in her scrying ability for his own political gain. The duke was many years her senior, and their marriage was brief.

Later, Jacquetta secretly marries her true love, Richard Woodville, who was a squire for the Duke of Bedford. They have many children together (the book mentions 14 of them), despite often being kept apart because of political duties. Jacquetta becomes a close friend to Queen Margaret, Henry VI's wife. As allies to the king and queen, Jacquetta and her family are caught in the turmoil of the War of the Roses.

THE LADY OF THE RIVERS was an interesting, well written story. This is the first book by Philippa Gregory I've read, and it's obvious that she knows British history from this time period. I am not that familiar with the War of the Roses, and Ms. Gregory made it come to life in rich detail.

After finishing the book, I still haven't decided if Jacquetta herself was a strong character. She points out many times that women are not meant to make their own paths in life. Women who are a threat to men end up imprisoned or burned at the stake. She's fearful of her magical gifts. She was very much at the mercy of others, and probably had no choice in the matter. If I calculated correctly, Jacquetta was the great-grandmother of Henry VIII, and the great-great-grandmother of Elizabeth I, so she certainly left an impressive legacy.

I enjoyed the magical elements in the book. They never overpowered the story, and they gave Jacquetta more depth. One of my favorite parts of the book was Jacquetta's brief friendship with Joan of Arc and how they were tied together by fortune's wheel.

THE LADY OF THE RIVERS is the third book in Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series:

THE WHITE QUEEN
THE RED QUEEN
THE LADY OF THE RIVERS
THE WHITE PRINCESS (2012?)
THE KINGMAKER'S DAUGHTERS (2013?)

Thank you to CRAZY BOOK TOURS for the opportunity to review this book.

Interview with Romantic Suspense Author Toni Anderson and International Giveaway

2011-11-22T04:00:00.014-06:00

I'm pleased to welcome author Toni Anderson to Book of Secrets! Her latest release is the romantic suspense novel, EDGE OF SURVIVAL.

Hi, Toni! Please tell us a little about your background.

I'm a former Marine Biologist who lives about as far from the ocean as possible. I'm married to a shark researcher and we moved from Scotland to Canada seven years ago. I started writing seriously when I was pregnant with my first child. I'm still at it.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

It's taken a long time. Maybe after my husband started introducing me as a writer? Maybe after I attended my first RWA conference? I'm not sure.

Please tell us a little about your latest release, EDGE OF SURVIVAL.

Book Blurb:

Dr. Cameran Young knew her assignment wouldn't be easy. As lead biologist on the Environment Impact Assessment team, her findings would determine the future of a large mining project in the northern Canadian bush. She expected rough conditions and hostile miners—but she didn't expect to find a dead body her first day on the job.

Former SAS Sergeant Daniel Fox forged a career as a helicopter pilot, working as far from the rest of the human race as possible. The thrill of flying makes his civilian life bearable, and he lives by his mantra: don't get involved. But when he's charged with transporting the biologist to her research vessel, he can't help but get involved in the murder investigation—and with Cameran, who awakens emotions he's desperate to suppress.

In the harsh and rugged wilderness, Daniel and Cameran must battle their intense and growing attraction while keeping ahead of a killer who will stop at nothing to silence her…

I’m so excited about this book. I absolutely love my hero, Daniel Fox (a British ex-SAS soldier turned helicopter pilot) and my heroine, Cameran Young (a fish biologist who suffers from diabetes). They are such polar opposites. Him--wild and reckless. Her--regimented and controlled. And yet they teach each other how to cope with their respective worlds. Cam brings Daniel back from a self-destructive edge, but his former military skills and disregard for the rules are what he needs to help save her in the end.

This is my first military hero as opposed to law enforcement. That changes the dynamics of the story because the hero doesn’t care about solving the crime, he just doesn’t want anyone else getting nailed on his watch. I think one of the things I like most about the story is the contrast of such strong personalities falling in love. And there’s a fabulous supporting cast too, including some unusual four-legged varieties.

My heroine has diabetes and I'm donating 15% of my royalties to diabetes research.

What was your source of inspiration behind this book?

The story is set in Northern Labrador and the heroine is doing a research study on fish migration—an Environmental Impact Assessment—in one of the most remote regions on earth. The study she’s conducting is one I actually did in 1996. I was flown all over the place in helicopters, dodging bears, and sleeping onboard an icebreaker every night. It was one of the most fascinating experiences of my life and I am thrilled I could use it in a novel.

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

There's a secondary character in the story who came to me in a fully-formed flash. RCMP Staff Sergeant Griff Kershaw is dealing with martial problems while still trying to solve a murder. I just fell in love with him.

Which character was the most challenging to write and why?

I loved writing this hero but he was never easy. Growing up as a Brit, the SAS were always my idols, but the research I've done on these men (and other elite soldiers) suggest they sometimes struggle to cope back in normal civilian life. So not only did I have to get into a male POV, I had to get into the head of a man suffering from PTSD and burying himself in sex and booze, and still doing the right thing.

He tried every trick in the book to get away from Cam, some not always forgiven in the romance reading community, but I never stopped believing in him. He's a bit of a wildcard.

How did you decide on the occupations your characters would have?

I use a lot of scientists in my books. I get pretty fed up when people use the logical and clinical scientist stereotype in their books. I've been surrounded by scientists for 25 years and they tend to be hard-working, idealistic, practical, overworked, underpaid, party animals. Or maybe I'm just lucky with my friends.

Because I write RS books many of my characters are law enforcement. One of the things I really like about EDGE OF SURVIVAL is I managed to have a hero and heroine who weren't cops. I doubt I'll be able to pull that off again.

What makes your book stand out from others in the romantic suspense genre?

Setting is a big thing. My stories are generally set in Scotland or Canada. I have written US settings too, but I hate being tied down :) I like to think I bring the setting alive, wherever it is.

What is your writing process like?

My writing process is...ugly.

I always begin with the flash of a scene in my head. From there I figure out a vague idea for a plot and the characters all at the same time.

When figuring out the characters it's all about knowing what is the worst thing you can do to them and then doing it--hence character being woven into the plot. Then I start digging deeper and when I have my plot map I write the first draft of the story.

I usually hate my first drafts :/

The second draft is for weaving the threads more tightly together and also improving my prose. I'm not sure how many drafts I write before I send it out to my critique partner--it always seems like a million. And I've never actually written THE END at the end of a story. I guess I'm never really finished.

Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

I have a mug that I use when I'm writing. It's a beautiful piece of Highland pottery and feels glorious in my hands. Apart from that, no, I just write.

What is the most interesting thing you've done for research?

I went to the Writers' Police Academy in North Carolina last year. I got to role play with some police training simulation videos and it was such a high. OMG. I'd be a terror on the streets as a cop :)

What are three things many people don't know about you?

I love growing tomatoes but hate eating them.
I'm the third of four children.
I have size 5 (US) feet.

What does romance mean to you?

In a story it's about an unbreakable connection forming between two people which helps them defeat whatever challenge they're facing. I love the passion of people falling in love. The fire. The newness and surprise. On a personal level it's less about roses, more about sharing the load. Although, roses never hurt.

Why do modern women still crave the alpha male in romance novels?

It's weird, isn't it? Perhaps, as most of us tend to identify with the heroine in romance novels, we see alpha heroes as foils for our own personalities. The stronger the man the stronger the woman.

I really don't know, but I do know I'm married to one :) He drives me crazy, but I love him.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

Aha--I have a constantly exploding bucket list. This is the dream list:

A boat for DH.
Getting a camper van to travel around the country.
A trip to Africa to visit my husband's brother's family.

What books have most influenced your life?

When I first moved to Canada in 1995, I discovered Catherine Coulter, Nora Roberts and Karen Robard's books. These changed my life. I'd read my granny's Mills & Boon romances growing up, but these novels blew my reading world wide open. It was wonderful :)

My very favorite author, the one who makes me go all fan-girl inside, is Suzanne Brockmann. Love her.

What was the last amazing book you read?

Tricky--I think the last time I was absolutely enthralled was when I read the WarPrize books by Elizabeth Vaughan.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

Chocolate. People Magazine. Rewatching 'Lord of the Rings' to see Orlando Bloom as an elf. And Viggio, and Sean Bean :)

Who are the top three sexiest men of all time (real and/or fictional)?

Paul Newman
Eric Bana
Sam Starrett (Suzanne Brockmann's books)

Just 3?? Come on :)

In your writing career, if you could do it all over again, what would you change?

I'd start earlier. I'd spend those nights I lazed around watching TV and start writing instead.

What can readers expect next from you?

More Romantic Suspense stories. Many more :)

Where can readers find you on the web?

I have a website (http://tonianderson.shawwebspace.ca), and a blog (http://tonianderson.blogspot.com), and I’m on Facebook as both me (http://www.facebook.com/toniannanderson) and with an author page with information about my books (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toni-Andersons-books/153356538022559), and I’m a twitterer—Lord, do I ever twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/toniannanderson) and I have an occasional newsletter (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Toni_Anderson_Newsletter/join). It’s hard to avoid me on the net :)

Can you leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from your book?

“How do I know you didn’t kill her?” Her words sliced like razorblades across his skin and he flinched.

Murderer. Assassin. The taunts and accusations from the British media flashed through his mind, and for a moment he couldn’t see where he was going. He blinked rapidly to clear his focus. This was why he preferred numbness over feeling; this was why he did not get involved. The breath in his lungs struggled to get past the wave of anger that locked down his teeth. Heat surged through his body and evaporated off his skin like steam. He forced himself to breathe tactically because being accused of murder shouldn’t be a problem.

He should be used to it by now.

And it was a smart question, he conceded after a few breaths. Why the hell should she be stupid enough to trust him?

You always need to be the hero, Maggie’s voice sang in his head. Well, he sure as hell wasn’t a hero anymore. He wasn’t anything except a helicopter pilot trying to do his job.

He narrowed his eyes against the glare of the setting sun. “I could have snuck around the back of the bar, slit Sylvie’s throat and left via the back door before coming in the front to pick up you and Vikki.” He kept his tone moderate. “But one, I’m not covered in blood and that was not a clean or easy kill, and two, I’ve been flying nonstop since dawn, slinging equipment to a new drill site. I didn’t have time to murder anyone today.” His fingers tightened on the cyclic. “Check the logs if you need to verify that.”

He could have easily accused her of malleting Sylvie, but that was rubbish because she wasn’t covered in blood, and he doubted she’d ever killed anything outside a laboratory.

Lucky bloody her.

Doc Young looked like a poster girl for VSO, the antithesis of warfare, the converse of evil. That sort of bone-deep innocence was rare and underrated. A lone caribou crossed barren tundra below but the Doc didn’t even see it. She just watched him with eyes the color of sage.

A muscle ticked in his jaw and he concentrated on the scenery. “I guess you’ll just have to trust me.”

She looked away. He focused on flying, trying to get back the buzz of racing high above the world. Over brooks that snaked across the valley floors, over the three-billion-year-old Laurentian Shield, the oldest rock in the world. Over ponds as deep and blue as the ocean. But excitement eluded him. Right now he was remembering how it felt to have everything ripped away—his career, his life, his honor. How suspicion tainted the air until you choked on every breath. Desperate to forget, he increased speed until they were rushing over the barren country, the boom of the rotors punching the atmosphere. But you couldn’t outrun memories and no one knew that better than him.

It took another ten minutes to navigate the puzzle of islands, inlets and fjords, to the sheltered bay where the Imaviaq was anchored. They arrived just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

“There she is.” Daniel couldn’t wait to ditch his passengers. He radioed ahead for permission to land. The first mate waved them in as a crew member, decked out in yellow protective gear, manned the emergency fire-hoses. They got final clearance and Daniel lowered the aircraft gently into the wind, onto the painted yellow circle on the deck. He started the shutdown process, keyed in the speakers so both women could hear him.

“You can get out now. The first mate over there will show you where you’re quartered and fetch your gear down later.” He heard metallic clinks as both women unbuckled their seatbelts. “Keep your heads down and don’t go around the back of the aircraft. The tail rotor will take your head off.”

The Doc started to get out, but her headphones were still attached to her head. He caught them as she slipped out of her seat. Her hands went up as her ball cap flew off and whipped out to sea. A mass of shoulder-length curly brown hair exploded around her face, and Daniel got slammed in the gut by something other than flying.

She swore. He read the unexpected word on her lips as he leaned over and grabbed her wrist. Her bones felt delicate within his grasp.

“The rotors,” he repeated and jerked his head to the rear of the bird. “Be careful of the rotors.” He maintained eye contact until he was sure she fully understood the danger. She was still spaced from finding Sylvie’s body, and the death toll was high enough for one day. He didn’t want anyone sliced and diced on his watch.

“Right. Got it. Thanks,” she shouted.

He let her go.

She rubbed her wrist as she headed around the nose of the aircraft, and he purposely turned to watch Vikki Salinger sashay her ass across the deck. And though he stared at the motion, enjoyed the synchronicity of perfect female body parts bouncing with each step, he found himself watching Cameran Young out of the corner of his eye. Just as carefully. Just as avidly.

Giveaway Details:

Toni is giving away an ebook of her previous release, STORM WARNING, to one lucky commenter! Here's the blurb:

Sorcha Logan is looking for peace.

Recently returned to her hometown on Scotland's craggy coast, Sorcha wants to tame the spirits that made her flee. When she finds a corpse in the surf, however, she can't suppress the memory of discovering her father's body. Nor can she suppress the ghosts that haunt her-or the town's conviction that she's dangerous, and a witch.

Ben Foley is looking for a killer.

An American DEA agent, Ben is in town to investigate the suspicious death of his partner. He's sure that Sorcha knows more than she's letting on-but the more time he spends with the sexy suspect, the less he can fight their illicit attraction. And the less certain he is she's involved with a drug cartel.

But can Ben protect Sorcha from being set up? Or worse-killed?

The contest is open internationally. To enter, please leave a comment on this post or a question for Toni. Be sure to leave an e-mail address too. Entries will be accepted until 11/26/2011 at 11:59 pm CST. Good luck!

Cozy Mystery Monday (Review and Giveaway): WHO DO, VOODOO by Rochelle Staab

2011-11-21T04:00:00.128-06:00

Berkley Prime Crime; Nov 2011

Book Blurb:

When Liz Cooper's friend Robin Bloom finds an unusual tarot card tacked to her front door, Liz writes it off as a prank. Robin refuses to ignore the omen—her late husband drew the same card, the three of swords, in a reading the night before he was killed in a car accident. As more cards and darker threats appear, Liz realizes someone very dangerous is upping the ante.

Liz turns to her brother's ex-college roommate, occult expert Nick Garfield. As Nick leads her into the voodoo community to locate the origin of the deck, she can't ignore their attraction to each other. Then a woman is found murdered and Robin becomes the prime suspect. Determined to clear her friend, Liz joins forces with Nick to unravel otherworldly secrets and seek help from beyond—or risk being outwitted by a cunning killer...

Review:

I've been eagerly anticipating the release of WHO DO, VOODOO, ever since it showed up on my radar two months ago. The story is set in and around Hollywood. As a psychologist, Liz Cooper prides herself on being logical and level-headed, so when someone pins threatening voodoo-themed tarot cards on her friend Robin's door, she assumes it's a prank. Robin is scared that it may be much more, so Liz contacts her brother's old friend, Nick Garfield, for help. Nick is a professor and an expert in the occult. While Liz and Nick set out to find the owner of the unique tarot cards, a young woman is murdered, and Robin is the prime suspect. Liz is faced with the possibility that she may need supernatural help in solving the case.

WHO DO, VOODOO is an impressive debut from Rochelle Staab. I thought that the occult aspects of this story were so interesting and well-researched. This book offered a fresh and unique approach to paranormal cozy mysteries. I learned the difference between Vodou, voodoo and hoodoo, and the inner workings of spells and curses. The solid mystery combined with supernatural elements captured my attention. I liked the characters; they seemed very genuine, and there was a nice romance forming between Nick and Liz. Liz's mother was a pistol, but she made for some funny moments. WHO DO, VOODOO is the first book in Ms. Staab's Mind For Murder series, and I'm looking forward to more!

I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Cover: Eye-catching!

http://www.rochellestaab.com/

http://berkleysignetmysteries.com/book2454

Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Berkley, I have one copy of WHO DO, VOODOO to give away!

To enter, leave a comment with a valid e-mail address.
Open to US addresses (publisher's request).
Contest ends on 11/25/2011 at 11:59 pm CST.
Winner will be notified by e-mail and has 2 days to respond.
Book will be shipped directly from the publisher.

Good luck!

Interview and Giveaway with Lori Wilde

2011-11-18T04:00:00.094-06:00

I'm pleased to welcome author Lori Wilde to Book of Secrets!

Her latest release is the contemporary romance, The Christmas Cookie Chronicles: Carrie. Hi, Lori!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I won my first writing contest. That's the first time it felt real.

Please tell us a little about your latest release.

The Christmas Cookie Chronicles are a series of ebooks that return readers to the town of Twilight, Texas as many of the secondary characters from previous books get their happily-ever-after.

What was your source of inspiration behind this book?

The readers! I got so many requests for stories featuring the secondary characters in my previous books about Twilight, Texas that I just had to comply. What fun to revisit old friends.

For readers who are not familiar with your books, please share some background information on your series.

The books center around a group of matchmaking women who belong to various clubs in Twilight, Texas--knitting, quilting, cookie swapping and gardening. Each book features a different hero and heroine, but the group of women who help each other through good time and bad remains constant.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in your series? Were there challenges or obstacles you had to overcome?

The world building in this series was so easy because it's based on a real town where I used to live. All I had to do was go back to that town and write down what I experienced.

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

Raylene Pringle, the former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, because she is so honest and blunt. She gets away with stuff that no one else can get away with.

Which character was the most challenging to write and why?

Sarah Collier was the most difficult because she was so introverted and lived so much in her head. Characters need to be active to be interesting. I really had to work to make Sarah's introversion something that extroverted readers would understand.

How many books do you have planned for the series?

So far there are four print books and the three ebooks that comprise The Christmas Cookie Chronicles. The books have sold really well, so there may be a return to Twilight after my new series, coming out in 2012, is completed.

What makes your book stand out from others in the same genre?

I think it's the humor. Even though the books aren't laugh out loud funny, I think little touches of humor endears the characters to readers.

How do you create your characters' names?

I started collecting names when I was a kid. I'd write a long list of interesting names on a pieces of paper. My mother thought I was a weird kid.

In your writing career, if you could do it all over again, what would you change?

I would have worked harder sooner.

What was the last amazing book you read?

Gone With a Handsomer Man by Michael Lee West. She's awesome!

http://www.loriwilde.com/

http://wildelori.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/#!/loriwilde

http://www.facebook.com/lori.wilde

Giveaway Details:

Lori is giving away a print copy of The Welcome Home Garden Club to FIVE lucky winners! The giveaway is open to US addresses. To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address. Entries will be accepted until Wednesday, 11/23, at 11:59 pm. The 5 winners will be randomly chosen and notified by e-mail. Good luck!

LOVE BEYOND SANITY Book Tour: Interview and Giveaway with Rebecca Royce

2011-11-17T04:00:00.092-06:00

Welcome to Book of Secrets, Rebecca! Please tell us a little about your latest release, LOVE BEYOND SANITY.

Love Beyond Sanity is the second book in the Outsider series. It is Charma and Jason's tale.

What do you do when your destiny is not at all what you believed it to be? Charma and Jason are hunted by two demons as they lead the group of Outsiders back into the light. They must decide if prophecy is enough reason to stay together through insane odds or if love is their fate.

Eighteen years earlier, Charma lost her destined soul mate. Convinced he must be dead, she kept her fears to herself so as not to destroy the morale of the Outsiders who already live with a shaky prophecy as their only guide.

Dr. Jason Randall is a man used to getting what he wants. There has never been a problem he couldn't out think or a situation he wasn't capable of handling.

Now they are both hunted by not one but two demons as they lead the slowly forming group of Outsiders out of the darkness and back into the light. The two strong souls will have to decide if prophecy alone is enough reason to stay together through insane odds...or if love is their true fate.

What was your source of inspiration behind this book?

I'm not sure exactly where my inspirations come from. I know that Charma reminds me a great deal of my best friend but other than that, I can honestly say, I haven't a clue.

For readers who are not familiar with your books, please share some background information on your series.

The Outsiders have always been with us keeping the balance of good and evil in the universe. After a prophecy predicts their near demise, steps are taken to assure the continued survival of the race.

Now it is up to 9 soul mates to save humanity from the worst demon to ever come t to earth. The only problem? Most of them have no idea they're not human or that they have any destiny at all.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in your series? Were there challenges or obstacles you had to overcome?

I am writing this series within the confines of 'now.' Things that couldn't happen in the real world have to be explained. My characters frequently have to get onto airplanes to travel across the world and that timing has to be accounted for.

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

In this book? Jason. He's so horribly confused.

Which character was the most challenging to write and why?

Charma has a lot of deep pain that had to be worked through. I loved it but it was tough at some parts.

We usually never talk about villains in books during interviews. Share with us who or what is the antagonist of your story.

The demon--Sebastian, as he goes in his human form--is the bad guy. He gets his own chapters. Its really something to get into his head. I pity my family during that time. In this book, he is actually competing with his sister, who Jason dubs 'Self-loathing' to see who can be worse.

What was one of the most interesting things you learned in researching your book?

I actually learned a lot about heart surgeries and mental health institutions. For the last book, Love Beyond Time, I learned about fishing. I never know where my writing is going to take me.

What makes your book stand out from others in the same genre?

I can honestly say that I haven't found another series that goes quite like this one does. I hope that readers will want to check it out.

How many books do you have planned for the series?

9 total.

Two have been published and two are being edited, which leaves me the joy of having five more to write. I'm so excited.

About Rebecca:

As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.

Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.

She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

http://www.rebeccaroyce.com

http://www.rebeccaroyce.blogspot.com

Excerpt:

"Oh, Dr. Randall, you are so limited. The Fates, Destiny, the Gods chose you, however it is that you are comfortable describing it. Veli Destrand, before he died, used to call it 'the good side'. He was pretty accurate in that." She laughed. "Such a shame he's dead and you won't get to meet him until I send you to death. But in the mean time you're so exciting to play with."

He didn't see it coming. The electrical current struck his body with what he could only imagine was the force of an eighteen-wheeler. His entire being shook from the experience. His insides burned as if he were a mere piece of toast. Without surprise, he fell to the hard ground.

Breathe. It was nearly impossible to perform that basic function. Eventually, it would pass. He knew this because he'd been going through this experience at least once a day since he'd been stuck in his own mind's creation, but each time she electrocuted him, it seemed to get worse.

No, she was not nuts. He was here. The nameless man—she'd never learned his name—who had been made for her, chosen for her in heaven was in this room.

And, she had felt him die. Felt it the night he hadn't come to their secret garden. It had been like someone had taken a sledge hammer and demolished half of her body and soul with one hit. She'd known he was dead.

Alone. That was how she'd felt. With other people's problems filling her days, nights, and dreams.

Until now.

Had he been this way since he'd disappeared when he was twelve? Charma's eyes roamed his body for signs. Impossible. He looked too healthy. Muscle tone defined his body. He didn't look like a man who had been endlessly asleep on a bed. His eyes fluttered as if he was in deep REM sleep.

She cleared her throat, afraid to wake him but wanting to at the same time. "Hello."

Nothing. Charma's cheeks warmed. Why had she assumed he'd respond to her? He was in a coma for goodness sake. She was going to have to do more than speak aloud to get his attention.

Jason shook his head. This wasn't going to be easy. Maybe her arrival was a good thing. Maybe she was another piece of the puzzle he needed to solve his dilemma. "Self-loathing, the woman I've invented to come here and cause me tremendous pain as a way to punish myself for killing a man who assaulted me in the parking lot." Jason gestured around the hillside. "This whole thing is one giant guilt trip."

Standing up, her eyebrows pressed inward, and she held a confused look in her eyes. They seemed to be searching for something but he wasn't clear on what.

Finally, she spoke. "Listen to me very carefully. So much of what you just said makes no sense to me and we have zero time to sort it out. I'm not sure how to convince you that what I'm about to tell you is the absolute truth but it is. This is not some grand illusion. Not really."

"That's just what a falsehood that didn't want to be proven wrong would say."

Giveaway Details:

Rebecca is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to one person who leaves a comment on her book tour. Click HERE for her complete tour schedule. The the more tour stops you comment on, the better your chances of winning. Good luck!

Guest Review by @AsianCocoa: WHEN BLOOD CALLS by J.K. Beck

2011-11-16T11:49:00.000-06:00

Bantam; Aug 2010

Book Blurb:

Attorney Sara Constantine is thrilled with her promotion—until she finds out that she must now prosecute vampires and werewolves. The first defendant she’ll be trying to put away? Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius kisses a beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s hoping only to avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss ignites into an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows that Sara is determined to see him locked away—unless he can convince her that he’s not a monster. And that might mean making the ultimate sacrifice.

Review:

Lucius Dragos is a vampire who has been arrested for the murder of a well-known judge. Sara Constantine is the attorney who must prosecute Lucius and obtain a guilty verdict that will bring about his ultimate death. This sounds pretty simple especially with overwhelming evidence against him. But Luke is the one-night stand that Sara cannot get off her mind. She’s not so sure that her feelings for him won’t get in the way of her new job.

Both characters had a lot of baggage and dark pasts to deal with. Luke is a mercenary who has never been caught or tried for any of his past assassinations. The fact that there is so much evidence against him seems improbable. So who really killed the shape-shifter judge and what was the motive? This novel was full of all types of supernatural characters and I really appreciated the complexity of the main protagonists as well as the secondary characters. The suspense and mystery in this novel held my attention and the twists kept my anticipation level high.

The chemistry between Luke and Sara was undeniable and I liked how their romance unfolded throughout the novel. J.K. Beck did a wonderful job with the world building. I enjoyed the premise of a top secret government agency (Division 6) that oversaw all of the supernaturals of the world. Even more covert was the secret society of the Shadow Alliance that Luke worked for. The whole story was great and the ending was a bit of a surprise.

When Blood Calls is an incredible start to an intriguing paranormal romance series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in The Shadow Keepers series and I would highly recommend this novel to paranormal suspense fans. When Blood Calls gets 4 stars.

Interview and Giveaway with Anita Clenney

2011-11-15T04:00:00.143-06:00

Welcome to Book of Secrets, Anita! Please tell us a little about your background.

I've always loved reading, but never considered writing until several years ago. I'd worked in real estate, as a secretary, admin assistant for the President of a litigation support firm, and my more adventurous jobs were at a pickle factory and booking shows for a group of Aztec Fire Dancers. The pickle factory didn't last long. :) After a long reading jaunt, I realized I could write a book. Or so I thought. In reality I had no idea how difficult it was to write a book, much less get published. But I persevered, learned a lot, got an awesome agent, and now I'm doing what I should have been doing all along. And I'm thrilled that after only three months, the first book, Awaken the Highland Warrior hit the USA Today best seller list and the NY Times extended list.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Some days it still shocks me that I'm a writer. I'm not sure it's really sunk in yet. :)

Please tell us a little about your latest release, EMBRACE THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR.

Cody McBain and his family spent years protecting the identity of a powerful female warrior who was targeted by an ancient demon, keeping the secret from even her. When she found out her entire life had been a lie, she abandoned Cody and her clan. Now, vampires and demons have discovered she's alive and are in a race to find her and the clan's sacred Book of Battles. Cody will have to break all the rules to save the woman who shattered his heart.

Knowing she can’t fight this evil alone, Shay returns to her clan and the Scottish Warrior who betrayed her…the only man she’s ever loved, where she discovers that betrayal isn’t always what it seems. Sometimes it’s far worse.

Who was your favorite character to write and why?

I loved writing Cody. He tried so hard to to the right thing, but it came back to haunt him. He's borne so much hurt and anguish, and now he sees once last chance to do things differently.

We usually never talk about villains in books during interviews. Share with us who or what is the antagonist of your story.

I love my villains. I could talk about them all day. I have two villains in this story. The main villain is Malek, an ancient demon who's almost a thousand years old. Malek is hideous in his natural form, but in his human form he's very distinguished. He loves old things and has been obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the Connor Clan, but his greatest discovery came when he found the name of the warrior destined to destroy him. He waited over a century before he could plan his attack, then 26 years later he discovered he'd been tricked. Now, he's furious and seeking vengeance, but he isn't the only one looking for his enemy. Vampires, his vile brethren who were supposed to have been destroyed centuries ago after they became a threat to the entire Underworld, are alive and well, and they're after Malek's enemy too. But the identity of their leader will stun both Malek and every warrior clan on earth.

Why do we love tortured heroes?

Women are great at loving and nurturing, and there's something so romantic and compelling about a strong, sexy man who's hurting inside. We want to heal him, make the hurt go away, make him love and laugh again.

What is your writing process like?

I do a lot of brainstorming first, because my stories are heavy on mystery and suspense. I jot down lots of notes, get a synopsis on the page, and then I start writing. But I'm never locked into the synopsis. It's thrilling when the story takes a different turn.

How do you deal with writer's block?

That's a frustrating one. I can get stuck on a scene and it's almost paralyzing. Usually, something will snap me out of it. A scene in a movie, or a book. Most recently, I had a bunch of candles lit for atmosphere and that did the trick.

Do you find it difficult to write in different genres? Is there one you prefer?

I love romance and mysteries, and I can't see myself writing a story without some level of each, so different genres isn't difficult for me. This warrior series is heavy on both romance and mystery. I'm writing a new series now that's heavier on the mystery, and I have a cozy mystery series waiting on the back burner.

Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

I usually need quiet. It's difficult for me to concentrate otherwise.

What has surprised you most since becoming a published author?

It surprised me to learn how much readers have loved the books. I think new writers always have doubts, even after we're published. So this is a nice validation.

What was the last amazing book you read?

The Heir, by Grace Burrowes. It was so beautifully written.

What does the future hold for paranormal romance?

I think paranormal romance has a bright future. Actually, paranormal anything has a bright future. It's finding its way into every genre. With romance, adding a paranormal element adds a unique layer that's very complementary to romance. When I first started writing, I didn't intend to write paranormal, but I found that a paranormal element immediately crept into my work. Probably because I've always loved the mysterious, the bizarre, and the unexplained. And I think I'm not alone in this fascination.

What does romance mean to you?

For me, romance isn't wine, chocolate, and a candlelight dinner. Romance is that breathless feeling you get when you lock eyes with a man and you know there's a connection between you that's as real as the blood flowing through your veins. Everything else fades from your mind. Here's an example from Embrace the Highland Warrior when Shay sees Cody for the first time in nine years.

Shay drew in a steadying breath, flipped on the light, squinted at the brightness, and turned. Her mouth dropped open.

The essence of him was still there; the boy next door who’d kept her secrets, bandaged her scrapes, and comforted her against his scrawny chest, but there was nothing scrawny about him now. He was tall, with broad-shoulders and lean muscles undisguised by his soft gray T-shirt and worn jeans. Dark hair brushed his collar, giving him a rugged, dangerous look. His face was still stunning. Strong jaw, straight nose, and those intense hazel eyes that even at nineteen had tempted married women to watch as he walked past. Her gaze caught on the scar above his eyebrow, trophy from the motorcycle wreck when he was sixteen, and she remembered the terror of finding him sprawled on the rocky hill, so still she thought he was dead.

He appeared dumbstruck as well, staring as if she were the ghost. He swallowed hard, eyes moving down her body and back up.

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

Besides spending time with family, I love reading. I don't have as much time to read as I would like, and I love bargain shopping.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

Get out of debt.

Travel more.

Write faster.

What can readers expect next from you?

I love writing this series, and I'm also working on a paranormal relic hunter series.

Where can readers find you on the web?

http://www.anitaclenney.com

http://www.facebook.com/anitaclenneyAUTHOR

http://www.twitter.com/anitaclenney

http://www.mysteriesandmargaritasblogspot.com

http://www.goodreads.com/anitaclenney

http://www.redroom.com/anitaclenney

Can you leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from your book?

Cody sighed. Might as well get it over with. He removed the shackles, returned them, and bent over her. “Shay, wake up.”

Her eyes flew open. She planted both hands against his chest and shoved, knocking him on his back, then sprang on top of him. “How dare you handcuff me to a bed?” she yelled, punctuating each word with a shake that rattled his brain. He didn’t fight back. She had to get it out of her system, and he didn’t blame her. He’d be more than pissed if someone shackled him.

She landed a fist into his stomach, and the breath rushed out of him. Okay, enough was enough. He captured her hands and rolled, trapping her under him.

“Get off me, you oaf.”

“I’ll get off when you stop beating the snot out of me.”

She let out a war cry and lunged for his throat, teeth bared. Intrigued, he hesitated a second too long, and she sank her teeth into his neck. A jolt of desire shot straight to his groin. He’d never been one for the rough stuff, but damn! He pulled back before she could do more than leave a bruise. He trapped her legs with his and held her hands above her head, letting his full weight press her into the soft mattress. She still struggled but could move only enough to get him excited.

“I’m sorry, Shay. I had to do it. It was too dangerous to let you go traipsing through the woods. I had to keep you safe.”

“What if he was hiding in one of the other bedrooms and sneaked in here while I was handcuffed to the bed? You left me so I couldn’t even protect myself.”

“Lach heard him out in the woods, but that’s why I locked the door, just in case. If this guy had broken it down to get to you, you would’ve screamed, and I would’ve come running. I was never far from the house.” He’d heard every name she called him.

Her eyes still flashed fire, but her breath was steadier, and she kept glancing at his mouth. He thought that was a good thing. He wondered if she’d calmed enough not to hit him, because he should move. She had to notice the effect all the wiggling around was having on him. He felt her hips push against his, and he groaned. He relaxed his grip and lowered his head, letting his lips touch her chin. He kissed his way to her mouth, and she head butted him in the nose.

While the stars exploded in his head, she shoved him aside and bolted out the door. He jumped up and went after her as she pounded down the stairs. He caught up with her outside. She was swinging her purse like a whip, headed for the car.

“Where are you going?” he demanded.

“Get away from me.”

“You can’t leave.”

“Watch me.” She opened the door. “I’m tired of people hiding things from me. I thought you were going to stop. Now you’re handcuffing me to the bed.”

“I explained it to you.”

“Don’t touch me,” she said, jerking away when he grabbed her arm.
“You’re not leaving.”

Shay straightened her shoulders. “You can’t stop me.”

He grabbed her, tossed her over his shoulder, kicked the car door shut, and stomped up the steps.

“Put me down!” Shay kicked and twisted, cursing at him. He dumped her on her feet inside the door.

She blew her hair out of her face, and as soon as she could see, she threw a punch at his chin. He deflected it and grabbed her arm. “Stop hitting me.”

“How dare you throw me over your shoulder like some kind of caveman,” she spat, trying to wrench her arm free. It didn’t work, so she used her knee.

“Ah, not there.” Cody trapped her knee. “I made the mistake of letting you leave here nine years ago without listening to me. By God, I won’t do it again. You’ll listen if I have to sit on you,” he growled.

She drew back her other arm, and before she could throw the punch, he had her on the floor and was sitting astride her, pinning her wrists to the floor. She bucked and twisted, but he held her down. “We can do this all night if you want, but you’re going to listen to me this time.”

“Listen to more lies? You’re still hiding things from me. Like the fact that you have Nina’s entire house under surveillance. Like the fact that you’ve got a Bat Cave in your basement. Like the fact that you were in Scotland when the stalking started.”

“You think I’m your stalker?” he yelled. “Me! I’m trying to keep you alive. We’re all trying to keep you alive. That’s what the clan’s been doing your whole damned life, trying to keep you alive! And just like always, you’re making it hard as hell. Your father wasn’t a bloody spy, and that thing in your living room wasn’t a man!”

Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, iTunes

Giveaway Details:

Anita is giving away a paperback copy of EMBRACE THE HIGHLAND WARRIOR to two random commenters! The giveaway is open to the US and Canada. Be sure to leave your e-mail address with your comment. Entries will be accepted until 11/18 @ 11:59 pm CST. Good luck!

Cozy Mystery Monday (Review and Giveaway): FLIPPED OUT by Jennie Bentley

2011-11-14T23:45:00.118-06:00

Berkley Prime Crime; Oct 2011

Book Blurb:

Avery and her hunky handyman boyfriend Derek Ellis are renovating another house in Waterfield, Maine. But it’s not just any house. It belongs to local news anchor Tony “the Tiger” Micelli—and it’s a quaint cottage with limitless possibilities. Even more exciting is that the makeover is going to be filmed as part of a home renovation TV show.

Unfortunately the road to cable TV fame is a bumpy one: this DIY spins into a DOA when Tony’s corpse is found at the cottage, flat on his back and not from natural causes. Turns out there were a few people who wanted Tony dead, and that the murderer might have his sights set on a few more Waterfield residents. That means it’s up to Avery to nail the killer. Before someone yells "Cut!" and it's all over.

Review:

FLIPPED OUT is the fifth book in Jennie Bentley's popular Do-It-Yourself mystery series. I really enjoyed this one. In fact, I'd put it in my top three favorite cozy mysteries I've read this year.

For someone new to the series like me, Ms. Bentley did an excellent job of weaving in the series backstory with this book's mystery. Avery Baker has lived in Waterfield, Maine, for about a year, ever since she inherited her aunt's old house. She's a former Manhattan textile designer, and her boyfriend, Derek, is a doctor-turned-contractor. Together, they take on home renovation projects around Waterfield, and usually a dead body turns up along the way.

Avery and Derek's latest fixer upper is being showcased on Flipped Out!, a home renovation TV show. Not long after the crew comes to town to begin filming, the owner of the cottage being revamped is found murdered. Fingers point to the fiancee of the deceased, Melissa, who also happens to be Derek's unpleasant ex-wife. As Avery and Derek investigate further, they discover that the murder victim is connected to more than one member of the Flipped Out! TV crew. So, along with trying to complete the renovation project on schedule (the show must go on!), Avery and Derek work to catch the killer before there's another victim.

FLIPPED OUT had an intricate plot, likable characters and a charming setting. This was not an easy mystery to solve. There were several twists and turns to the story, and in the end, the killer could have been one of many possible suspects. FLIPPED OUT was filled with several funny moments. I particularly loved Avery's attack cat, Mischa, and how he launched himself at Derek's shins every time he came in her house. LOL. I thought the home renovation and all the "shop talk" was very interesting and blended nicely into the story. Also included at the back of the book are renovation and design tips. Fans of cozy mysteries shouldn't miss this one!

I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Cover: Cute, though I don't think the house in the book ever looked that bad!

http://jennabennett.com/

http://berkleysignetmysteries.com/book2433

Giveaway Details:

Thanks to Berkley, I have one copy of FLIPPED OUT to give away!

To enter, leave a comment with a valid e-mail address.
Open to US addresses (publisher's request).
Contest ends on 11/18/2011 at 11:59 pm CST.
Winner will be notified by e-mail and has 2 days to respond.
Book will be shipped directly from the publisher.

Good luck!

Book Review: THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART by Amanda Forester

2011-11-12T15:20:00.002-06:00

Sourcebooks; Nov 2011

Book Blurb:

Fleeing into the wilderness to escape an abusive marriage, Lady Isabelle Tynsdale would sooner face down a wild boar than spend another night with her wretched husband. Battered by the elements, desperate to elude a band of attackers, and defending herself against, as fate would have it, a wild boar she is rescued by the handsome Laird David Campbell.

Campbell knows holding Isabelle captive for ransom is his best chance to temper the storm threatening to destroy his clan. The ransom of an English countess should be more than enough to pay off his debts to England and save him from an unwanted marriage. But Isabelle didn’t escape her husband just to become another man’s captive and Laird Campbell is seriously misguided if he thinks she’s going to go quietly.

Review:

THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART was a captivating story with a strong cast of characters and an intriguing plot line. This is the second book of Amanda Forester's Highlander series, but it can easily be read stand-alone. The story is about a young English lady named Isabelle who escapes her abusive husband by fleeing alone into Scotland. She is rescued (several times) by the rugged and charming Laird David Campbell. David has turmoil in his life too; his loyalty is being torn between the opposing ambitions of two men: the steward of Scotland and his foster father, Laird Douglas. He doesn't need a beautiful and tempting English woman as a distraction. David decides to ransom Isabelle and return her to her husband, but she turns out to be more than he bargained for.

THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART is the perfect book to get lost in for a few hours. Romance, adventure, a brooding Highlander, a determined heroine, political intrigue, and the beauty of Scotland. What's not to love? It ends up being a story within a story. There's the romance between David and Isabelle, and there's also a sub plot involving David's sister, Cait, finding love with a rival clansman. I loved Cait's story, and at times I found myself rooting for her and her true love more than the main characters! I thought that this book had a stronger religious overtone than most romances I read, and the love scenes were mild too. THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART would appeal to fans of sweet/Christan romance, as well as fans of Highlander romances like me.

I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Cover: Really like it! The Celtic cross is beautiful. (Hunky Highlander is not bad either.)

Guest Post by M.L. Guida

2011-11-11T04:00:00.071-06:00

My inspiration to write paranormal romance is nestled in my fascination with the supernatural. I have always enjoyed a good horror book or movie. My favorite horror authors have been Stephen King and Anne Rice. I fell in love with Rice’s vampires, especially Armand. The ultimate sexy vampires! In my young paranormal adult book, The Healer, my hero is named Armond. However, I wanted to write something different than vampires so I decided upon a demon.

In my world, I can create my own supernatural creatures. In Cassandra, I create an Underworld where demons dwell, not the ones that will possess you like in The Exorcist, but demons that had mated with mystical and real creatures. My hero, Eric Wyvern, is Prince of the Dragon Demons who are in danger of becoming feral and conquering their world and then focusing on ours. Plus, Eric is a sexy alpha-male.

Many times, readers want to know writers come up with our ideas. Writers develop ideas based on every day experiences. In terms of Cassandra, I surfed the internet and stumbled upon a sinkhole in South America. The huge sinkhole sunk over 100 feet into the ground. A highway had caved into the hole. I broke out in shivers when I saw it, because I wondered what would happen if it stretched to hell and something crawled out. I took it one step further and thought about my favorite mountain town, Frisco. What if a sinkhole happened in the middle of the night at Walter Byron Park? Hmmm…what if a demon flew out searching for his mate? Eric comes to life for me. What would happen if the heroine could see ghosts and a demon goddess from the Underworld? The demon goddess in my book is the Wraith, and I have to admit she was fun to write about. She is shrouded in a dark cloak and all you can see is her skeletal hands and red burning eyes. When she talks, she hisses. She is one of my favorite characters in this book.

So, the next time you see a sinkhole, imagine where it would go? What lives down there? What wants to escape into our world?

About the Author:

M.L. Guida writes paranormal romance. She is pursuing her Master of Art in Creative Writing through Regis University. She currently is a member of Colorado Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America and Savvy Authors. For the past two years, she was the newsletter editor for CRW and she was CRW’s Vice President for 2011. M.L. Guida lives in Colorado and enjoys skiing, taking her cocker spaniel, Sadie, for walks and traveling.

Find her on the web at:
www.mlguida.com

FINDING MS. WRIGHT:
Three Tales of Extraordinary Love

CASSANDRA

Demon Prince Eric Wyvern must have Cassandra. Boldly, he kidnaps the gifted psychic from a mountain inn, taking her to his dark underworld. Held captive, her key to freedom is agreeing to his terms. Neither expects to fall in love and unlock the secrets that can save both worlds. – M.L. Guida

SIA

Paranormal hunter Andrew Grant has less than a week to locate a stone and thwart a wizard’s bid for ultimate power. Sia holds the key to his success and to his heart. Only together can they discover love and save the world. – Hillary Seidl

EVELYN

Five hundred year old Prince Alexander needs a woman, and only archaeologist Evelyn will do. Their magical kiss sparks more than mere romance – it creates a key that will open their hearts to a true love that will save their worlds. – Lori Corsentino

Three men, each on a crucial mission to save their way of life, seek their true mates – women who unknowingly hold the key to their very survival.

Release Date: eBook - 11/15; paperback - 11/25

Publisher: 5 Prince Publishing

For More Info: http://5princebooks.com/

Interview and Giveaway with Amanda Forester

2011-11-10T04:00:00.047-06:00

I'm pleased to welcome historical romance author Amanda Forester to Book of Secrets! Her books include THE HIGHLANDER'S SWORD, and her latest release, THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART. Hi, Amanda!

Thank you for inviting me to chat with you today. What a beautiful website - I think I'd like to stay here a while!

What has surprised you most since becoming a published author?

To be honest, what surprised me most is that I was published. I never expected that I would publish a novel, let alone a trilogy of Highlander stories. I started writing as a way to cope with stress, but it turned into something much more.

Once I got published I thought writing would become easier - it hasn't. If anything it is even more of a challenge. My first manuscript I wrote with the expectation no one would ever read it. Such freedom! Now I have to work to turn off my internal editor and try to free myself to write boldly.

Where do you find inspiration for writing in your daily life?

I often have stories running through my head, and I'm not quite sure where they come from, except that they have always been there. I do enjoy reading a lot of historical novels, which inspire me and give me a feel for the setting. I don't think I have ever used a real person or a fictional character as a basis for a character in on e of my books. Sometimes though I like the way a certain scene in a movie or book makes me feel, and I try to create a similar emotion in my book, even if the situation and characters are completely different.

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

Since I have written and studied the Highlands for my books I would love to actually visit Scotland someday. I think it would be glorious to visit places I have only read about. Second, I would like to catch up on my scrapbooking or at least complete my kids' baby books (hides face in shame). And third, and I know this isn't particularly exciting, but I would really love it if I could someday have everything in my house, including the garage, completely clean and organized. Yeah, probably not likely to happen!

Thanks so much for inviting me to stop by today. I enjoyed writing The Highlander's Heart about a Highlander laird and a lost English countess. I hope you will enjoy it too!

Lady Isabelle escapes her murderous English husband only to be abducted by a Highland warrior and held for ransom. Her determination to break free from captivity is exceeded only by the passion growing between her and the Highland Laird. David Campbell plans to hold Isabelle for ransom as an easy way to line his pockets and return her back where she belongs, but he is unprepared for a feisty English lass with a penchant for finding trouble. Caught between rival clans bent on claiming the throne of Scotland, Campbell must choose a side, and a bride. Standing on the brink of war, Isabelle may be his only hope to save his clan, and his heart.

Giveaway Details:

Comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of Amanda Forester's latest release, THE HIGHLANDER'S HEART. Find Amanda at her website, facebook, or twitter. The contest is open to the US and Canada. Entries will be accepted until 11/14/2011 @ 11:59 pm CST. Good luck!