Laura Kaye, Author

Joya Fields' Beneath the Surface Trailer & Excerpt!

2012-01-27T03:00:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to welcome to the blog my good friend,

Joya Fields

who is celebrating her second new release in a month! Take it away, Joya...

Laura, thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today to share the book trailer for my debut romantic suspense novel, Beneath the Surface. After months of spending time with my hero and heroine while I wrote the book, it was really fun to help them come to life through pictures and music in this trailer.

Brooke and Garrett meet under stressful conditions. Brooke’s best friend’s boat explodes, injuring her, and they find out it wasn’t an accident. Brooke, an amputee and an underwater archaeologist, is not leaving until she finds the person who hurt her friend. Garrett is a Florida policeman, overprotective of everyone around him. Brooke’s need for independence clashes with Garrett’s need to protect. But as the killer lurks and claims more victims, Brooke and Garrett must put aside their differences and their growing feelings for each other to stop the madman.

Thanks very much for having me today. Hope you enjoy the trailer! J

She’s fighting to stay independent—he’s determined to protect her no matter what…

Brooke Richards survived the earthquake that took her parents and most of her leg, but she needs time to regroup. A trip to Florida for a state-of-the-art prosthesis and to visit her best friend Linda seems ideal. But the trip turns traumatic when Brooke witnesses Linda’s boat disintegrating in a fiery explosion.

Police officer Garrett Ciavello believes the blast was intentionally set to hide something Linda found on a dive. When Brooke offers her expertise in underwater archeology, Garrett accepts her help with the investigation. But since his fiancée’s death years ago, Garrett has become overprotective, and as they are drawn to each other, Garrett realizes he will risk anything to keep Brooke safe.

Brooke is fiercely independent. Garrett is fiercely protective. Will they heal each other’s wound and find a killer…before it’s too late?

Excerpt from Beneath the Surface:

            For the first time since the accident, Brooke forgot about her leg. Forgot about all she’d lost and focused on the way Garrett made her feel.
            She knew she needed to stop him. She should find a way to resist the temptation to be with him. But for a few minutes, she could enjoy the taste of him, the feel of him, couldn’t she?
            He dropped his hands to her waist and softened the kiss before trailing a line of kisses down her neck. A weak cry slipped from her mouth. “Garrett,” she whispered.
            She should stop this now before it got any more intense.
            He lifted her chin and forced her to meet his brown eyes, smoky with desire. Heat spiraled to her middle and she caught a whiff of his sawdust scent.
            “I…I can walk you back to your own room before I head to mine.” His voice broke as he whispered.
            She swallowed hard. She couldn’t do this right now with him. Too many obstacles stood in their way. But as she looked in his somber eyes, she realized none of those complications were bigger than her need for Garrett.
            “Let’s go to your room,” she said, her voice shaking. She moved her hands inside his shirt and ran them over his tight abs and chest. Heat soared through her body at the feel of him. “Together…”

Hey everyone! Leave Joya some new release love and let her know what you enjoyed most about the trailer and excerpt! *grins*

Thanks for reading,

Laura

Judge a Book By Its Cover (JABBIC) Awards x 2! - Please Vote?!

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! The Houston RWA chapter has an awesome cover contest going on right now. The Judge a Book By its Cover (JABBIC) Readers' Choice Awards allow you, the reader, to view and judge covers in eight categories. It's fun to go through and consider whether a cover would make you buy on sight, pick up the book to read the blurb, or not catch your attention at all.

Two of my covers are up for an award:

HEARTS IN DARKNESS is one of the covers nominated for Sexiest Cover
NORTH OF NEED is up for Best Paranormal

click here

if you would be willing to take a closer look and vote. You have to vote through the whole category to vote for any, but it's seriously fun to do! And you'll find a lot of your favorite authors in the contest!

Thanks for considering, and thanks for stopping by!

Laura

Announcing the IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING Blog Tour! #PNR #Vampire #Fun

2012-01-23T08:00:00.006-05:00

Announcing the book tour for my new dark paranormal romance,

In the Service of the King!

Two fun-filled weeks of guest posts, interviews, character profiles and giveaways you won't want to miss!

2 Ways to Win:
1) comment each day to win an ebook
2) each comment throughout the tour enters you to win a grand prize bag of vampire goodies!

Kael, Warrior King of the Vampires, loathes the Night of the Proffering. He needs the blood of either his mate or a human virgin to maintain his strength, but hasn't enjoyed the ritual since he lost his mate centuries ago. Kael doesn't want a new companion, yet his resolve is tested when he lays eyes on his new offering, Shayla McKinnon. He is drawn to Shayla's beauty and poise...and the submission she offers. She is eager to give him anything he wishes, including her innocence, to please him. Will Kael give in to their overwhelming desire--even if it means risking Shayla's life?

Here's the Schedule:
(Live links to be filled in as available!)

Jan. 30 – Book Lovers, Inc.- Meet Shayla McKinnon

Jan. 31 – Books and Things- Meet Kael MacQuillan

Feb. 1 – Parajunkee’s View - 10 Reasons to Love Kael

Feb. 1 – RomCon Paranormal Blog - 7 Reasons to Love Laura's New Book

Feb. 2 – Book Monster Reviews and Literal Addiction + evening chat! - The Perfect Musical Anthem for ITSOTK

Feb. 3 – The Qwillery- The Cover Gods Were Smiling

Feb. 4 – Paranormal Haven - For the Love of Fangs & Blood

Feb. 6 – Books-n-Kisses - Vampires-n-Kisses

Feb. 7 – GraveTells - Joint Character/Author Interview

Feb. 8 – Book Savvy Babe- Musical Inspiration Behind ITSOTK

Feb. 9 – Dark Faerie Tales - On the Dunluce Castle Setting

Feb. 10 – Stella Ex Libris - A Secondary Character to Love

Feb. 13 – E.J. Stevens From the Shadows - Character Interview

Feb. 14 – Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust - 10 Reasons to Love Shayla

Feb. 14 – The Forbidden Bookshelf - The Fantasies Behind ITSOTK

Feb. 15 – Reading Lark after Dark - Author Interview

Feb. 22 – HQN Paranormal Romance

So, join the tour, spread the word, and have some fun!

Thanks for reading,

Laura

#SixSunday #42 - Enthralling her #vampire king...

2012-01-22T00:01:00.001-05:00

Happy Sunday everyone! I've got more from my February 1 release, In the Service of the King! Last week, the king admired Shayla's body. Today's he's quite taken with another aspect of her appearance...

He would’ve been impressed with her responsiveness if he hadn’t been so completely enthralled by those eyes. Her left iris was a brilliant emerald, nearly rivaling his own in the intensity and clarity of green. Her right, however, was a bright turquoise, touched by green to be sure, but without question a deep, dazzling blue. The effect of her mismatched gaze, paired as it was with her fair, creamy skin and dark tresses, was arresting.

Powerless to resist, he leaned down and cupped her left cheek in his hand, his thumb stroking across her cheekbone and playing with the ends of her eyelashes. “You have been touched by magic.”

Isn't she beautiful? Shayla's hair is actually midnight black in my story, but I couldn't resist this woman! LOL

Please check out the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on twitter! Thanks for reading and, hopefully, commenting, too!

Laura

Immortal Hope, Fact & Fiction, by Claire Ashgrove #Angels #KnightsTemplar

2012-01-21T03:00:00.000-05:00

I'm very pleased to welcome guest author

Claire Ashgrove

to the blog today!

Look out below for a giveaway!

Immortal Hope, Fact and Fiction

CENTURIES AGO,

Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll, revealing the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they forever roam the earth protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever-closer to eternal damnation. One promise remains to give them salvation – the return of the seraphs.

Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin’s soul. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she’s fated to heal. As he struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he’s sworn to uphold.

Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache, he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she's destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death.

One of the things that intrigues me most as a reader is when authors employ speculative fiction as a tool to their writing. I did this somewhat with IMMORTAL HOPE, and I’d like to share some of those tidbits with you. Today I’ve released a new page on my website that will go into more of these, if you’re really interested. But here’s a few things that are factual, and a few that I tweaked for the purposes of my cursed Templar Knights.

The Archangel Raphael’s historical purpose has been of healing. In The Curse of the Templars, he plays a warrior’s role, his skill with his sword equal to the fabled Mikhail (Michael). This deadly talent has placed him as the leader of the European Knights Templar. I also tweaked his appearance, depending on which description you adhere to.
The building that houses the Knights Templar in North America, does in fact exist. It is the Odd Fellows home, in Liberty, MO, and it was also owned and founded by a secret society. To my knowledge, the Knights Templar do not have a temple beneath the dilapidated brick shell. But ghosts evidently linger on the premises.
Anne’s house in Atchison Kansas is indeed on the city’s list of haunted attractions. It is currently unoccupied, and it is believed an “old witch” last lived in the house… her and her many cats. The tower room does not have power running to it. Yet often a light is seen on in the room. Cats have been heard purring inside, but no cats are in residence.
There is a network of caves just outside of Atchison proper, running along the banks of the Missouri river. Locals will tell stories of how the caves were at one time, (or currently, depending on the narrator) used for Satanic purposes. A fitting setting for the entrance to Azazel’s realm.
In Merrick’s history, he is the son of Geoffrey Martel, who is the brother of Fulk le Rechin. His cousin is also named Fulk – the first’s son. These people are historical people. Fulk I did imprison his brother at Chinon, thus claiming all Geoffrey’s power and property, and Geoffrey did stay in prison until near the end of his life. He did, in fact, die shortly after his release. However, Geoffrey Martel had no heirs.
Chinon did house Templar prisoners after King Phillip’s forced Inquisition. There are Templar engravings in the stone walls where the men were confined. In recent years, documentation has been discovered showing that these particular men were given pardons from the Catholic Church for reasons unexplained. This pardon has been essentially ‘buried’ in Church history.
The Copper Scroll is an actual artifact found with the Dead Sea Scrolls. It mystifies scholars today because it is written differently than the other items found with it. The descriptions are written in familiar language, such as “behind the red barn”, and it is believed to document, in some fashion, the lost treasure of Jerusalem.
The Templar Code specified knights must maintain a vow of chastity. The punishment for not doing so was to confiscate the knight’s sword and surcoat until such a time that the leader decided to return them. At the time, it would have been a grave punishment – a knight is not a knight without a sword. However, given it is not logical to expect a man to remain chaste for hundreds of years, this was modified in IMMORTAL HOPE to reflect a minor oath and a futility of keeping swords.

These are just a few of the historic facts woven into the series. I’ll be keeping that page updated as the series goes along, and the entries there will have more detail than this short summation. But I hope you’ve found it somewhat entertaining! In the end, this is what all the work turned into:

The Curse

In 1119, nine knights rode with Hughes de Payens to the Holy Land, becoming the Knights Templar. All were bound by marriage or by blood. Eight were recorded over time. The ninth vanished into history.

Beneath the legendary Temple Mount, the knights uncovered holy relics, including the Copper Scroll—a document written by Azazel’s unholy hand. For their forbidden digging, the archangels exacted a sacrifice. The knights would spend eternity battling the demons of Azazel’s creation, but with each vile death they claimed, a portion of darkness would enter their soul. In time, they would transform into knights of Azazel, warriors veined with evil, destined to fight against the Almighty.

Yet an ancient prophecy remained to give them hope. When darkness raped the land, the seraphs would return. Female descendants of the Nephilim would carry the light to heal their dying souls.

Centuries have passed. Azazel’s might grows to intolerable limits. With the acquisition of eight holy relics, he will gain the power to overthrow the Almighty.

Six Templars stand above the rest in duty, honor, and loyalty. But each is haunted by a tragic past, and their darkened souls rapidly near the end. As they battle both the overwhelming power of evil and the nightmares of lives they left behind, the seraphs are more than tools to victory.

They are salvation.

SHORT EXCERPT

“Merrick, wait,” she called softly.

“Nay,” he answered on a hard swallow. “Nay, Anne. If I stay another moment, I will have you in that bed.” He shoved a hand through his hair and reached for the doorknob.

“But that’s where I want you,” she whispered.

He nodded once, a sharp dip of his chin. Pulling the door open, he answered, “I know.” Another protest, and he would turn right back to her waiting arms, cart her off to that oversized bed. When he finished with her, he would hate himself.

He entered the hall and shut the door.

Determination narrowed his gaze as he descended the stairs. He trained his thoughts to his cousin, focused on the oath he swore to Fulk. The very moment Anne discovered her intended, he vowed to leave. No sacred nail, no protected relic, no other oath would he honor until he fulfilled the promise to his kin. In so doing, he would free himself from this torment and lift his blade in Azazel’s name. It was a price he no longer feared to pay.

Before we close up shop – Everybody’s heard about the legend of the Knights Templar. What do you think they found beneath the Temple Mount?

Thanks!

Claire

www.claireashgrove.com

www.toristclaire.com

Twitter: @ClaireAshgrove

GIVEAWAY!
Claire will be giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a second $25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate to a second randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour. Be sure to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning! Click here for a complete list of blog stops.

Jason Momoa. 'Nuff said.

2012-01-20T10:17:00.000-05:00

I'm of the opinion these images need no commentary. Enjoy and happy Friday! *winks*

Thanks for ~~drooling~~ viewing!

Laura

#NorthofNeed is @FreshFiction's Fresh Pick!

2012-01-16T05:00:00.005-05:00

After receiving this stellar review on Saturday, I was thrilled to learn that the readers at Fresh Fiction chose NORTH OF NEED as their Fresh Pick of the Day!

January 16, 2012

The Fresh Pick is chosen by a group of readers and is never a purchased advertisement or promotion. We've picked this book because it appeals to us and we like to share our diverse tastes in reading and hope you'll give it a try.

And this comes right on the heels of the fantastic news that I can indeed confirm an April 2012 release date for Book 2 in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, WEST OF WANT! Woot!

Thanks for stopping by!

Laura

#SixSunday #41 - The #Vampire King Meets His Offering

2012-01-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm a little sad to be leaving NORTH OF NEED behind for now, but I'm just as excited to begin sharing with you my upcoming release, IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING, which comes out on February 1. Here's Kael, the vampire warrior king, meeting the heroine for the first time.

Taking a deep, centering breath, the king eased the heavy wooden door open and stepped inside the feeding chamber.

Kael pierced his tongue with his fangs to keep from making an utterance he had no business making. But for the love of all that was holy, the creature before him was magnificent. Perfectly posed despite the thundering sprint of her heart, her long black-brown hair was braided and intertwined in the traditional way, ribbons and flowers threaded throughout. The sheerest of white silk robes did little to hide from his vision the sexy muscularity of her body. She was not thin, which pleased him.

This is the first in my Vampire Warrior Kings series. The second comes out early this summer. Watch out for my joint book tour with fellow Harlequin authors Stephanie Draven and Leia Rice all this coming week!

Please check out the Other Sixers' posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter. Thanks for reading and, hopefully, commenting!

Laura

Welcome Guest Author Cari Quinn! #BookGiveaway!

2012-01-13T03:00:00.001-05:00

I'm very happy to welcome fellow Entangled author

Cari Quinn

to the blog today!

Look down below for a GIVEAWAY!

Welcome, Cari! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

Hi Laura, thank you so much for having me here today! I’m a HUGE fan of your work and have told everyone I know to read HEARTS IN DARKNESS. Loved it!

I’m Cari Quinn, an author of mostly erotic romance, who is also branching out into more mainstream contemporary romance. My first sexy contemporary title, NO DRESS REQUIRED, recently released from Entangled Publishing as one of the first few Flirts, their new line of novella-length romances!

Awesome, Cari! Congratulations! [And thanks for pimpin’ Hearts! *grins*] Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

NO DRESS REQUIRED just released in time for the new year, which is great as the story takes place on New Year’s Eve! The heroine, Noelle, has had a big crush on her BFF’s older brother for years, but he’s always been taken. Now that he’s not, she’s sure he’s slotted her into the dreaded “almost a little sister” role and sets out to change that. Now if only she’d get some good luck – or at least not so much bad – to help her out…

That sounds like so much fun! Which character is your favorite and why?

My favorite character in NO DRESS REQUIRED is probably Noelle. She tries to pretend she’s confident and is comfortable only wanting to spend one night with Jake, but the truth is she’s scared to admit she wants more. Plus I like holiday-themed sweatshirts too and I don’t care who knows it! (Yep, I rocked my Snoopy holiday shirts at Halloween and Xmas!)

LOL Oh noes, not holiday sweatshirts! *winks* As the author, what surprised you about this story?

That Jake wasn’t the cocky guy he appeared to be at first glance. His feelings for Noelle definitely made him question if he was truly the right guy for her. (Which he most definitely is!)

Aw, that sounds so sweet! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

Actually, yes, I hope so! I’m about to start working on NO FLOWERS REQUIRED, Alexa’s story. Alexa is Jake from NO DRESS REQUIRED’s sister and Noelle’s best friend. Her nickname is Type A, so I think her story will be fun! At least I hope so!

Awesome! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?

It’s a fun challenge trying to write a complete story in 15K words or less. I enjoy writing shorts as I think they exercise a different sort of muscles. Alexa’s story will be a little longer, I think, and should fall into the Ever After range at Entangled, which refers to novellas that are 20-40K.

I like writing them, too! What are you working on right now?

Right now I’m working on NEED ME, the next book in my erotic romance series, Unveiled, at Ellora’s Cave. As soon as I finish that, next up will be NO FLOWERS REQUIRED. I’m really excited for Alexa to find her HEA.

Good luck with everything! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Actually, the first book I ever wrote, INSATIABLE, just came out in print from Loose Id! It changed a lot over the years but Rachel and Shawn starred in the novel I started the summer after ninth grade. It’s going to be such a thrill to hold that book in my hands!

Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

Absolutely. I think my overall theme is that no one is truly how they appear on the surface. Everyone has layers and if you’re very lucky, you’ll meet that one person who will allow you to be your real, unvarnished self.

You KNOW I like that one! Very cool! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Hmm…not so sure this is that surprising since I talk about my love of coffee everywhere, but if I had a choice between food or a decadent latte, I’d pick the latte every time (especially if it was pumpkin spice or peppermint!)

LOL! Er, psst, I don’t drink coffee. At all! *gasp* Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

I’m actually rereading my favorite book for the fifth time right now, Angels Fall by Nora Roberts. I own it in hardback, paperback and Kindle. I love it that much. Nora is truly a word artist and I love AF the most of all her stories (and I’ve read most of them!)

Awesome recommendation! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Without a doubt, Spencer from PROVOKE ME. He’s such a conflicted, complicated guy – and he’s so deliciously Alpha. Watching him fall in love and learn to deal with his needs was a lot of fun for me as an author. I’m looking forward to writing another story featuring him and Kelly, his heroine, to wrap up the Unveiled series.

You’re a busy lady—so wonderful! Okay, now, just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Both? Swirls are always nice. ;D

Salty or sweet? Again, both. Chocolate covered pretzels are divine!

Bed or kitchen table? I won’t say both again, so definitely kitchen table!

Beach or mountains? Mountains all the way. Preferably with snowy peaks.

Give or receive? Hmm, I like to give and then receive after!

After years of ho-hum dating, Noelle Gregory is tired of fooling around. There’s only ever been one guy for her—Jake Conroy, her best friend’s older brother. Now that Jake’s back in town, she’s headed to his sister’s New Year’s Eve party to make her move. Purse full of condoms? Check. Sparkly dress guaranteed to show Jake the sexy woman she’s become? Check.

Carjacker that makes off with both two hours before the party? Check.

When Jake finds Noelle stranded on the side of the road—looking sexier than ever in her striped socks and silly holiday shirt, damn it—he’s glad for the snowstorm that cancels his sister’s party. His and Noelle’s friendship has tormented him for years, and now, Jake wonders if he should dare to sample what he’s always wanted…and if he’ll be able to walk away when it’s over.

Thanks for coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Publisher Author Page

GIVEAWAY!
Cari is giving away one ebook of No Dress Required. Leave a comment with your email address to be eligible to win. Open to international. Winner to be chosen using random.org. Open through midnight EST 1/15! Good luck!

Thanks for reading!

Laura & Cari

Announcing the Crave the Heat 3-Author Blog Tour! #HQN

2012-01-11T19:35:00.011-05:00

So, when me and two of my fellow Maryland Romance Writers realized we all had erotic Harlequin novellas releasing within a month of one another, the wonderful idea was born to host a joint blog tour. All next week, you can find me talking erotic paranormal romance with fellow authors Stephanie Draven and Leia Rice. There will be amazon gift card and ebook giveaways available along the tour, so we hope you'll stop by and join in the fun. And, zomg, wait til you see some of these excerpts. Yowzers!

Crave the Heat Blog Tour Stops

Comment for chances to win tour-wide prizes!:

1/16/2012 WhippedCream Reviews - Erotica and the Sexual Journey ($15 amazon GC)
1/16/2012 BookLovers Inc. - Reading Erotic Romance in the New Year

1/16/2012 Cocktailsand Books - Sex, Lies & Cocktails - Giveaway Form

1/16/2012 SOS AlohaBlog - my spotlight, Steph's spotlight

1/16/2012 TheBook Faery Reviews - 3 First Kisses - which do you like most?

1/16/2012 GraveTells - Dark Moments in Erotic Fiction

1/16/2012 BookSavvy Babe - Light-hearted moments in dark erotic fiction

1/16/2012 BanditCreek Books - Stephanie shares a secret

1/17/2012 WhippedCream Reviews - Hot Fantasies and Fetishes

1/17/2012 Harlequin'sParanormal Blog- Stephanie talks secrets

1/17/2012 SmexyBooks - History is Sexy, and we're proving it!

1/18/2012 WhippedCream Reviews - Our literary desires!

1/19/2012 Smutketeers - Seductive Heroes

1/19/2012 FantasyUnbound Blog - Check out our Unique Settings

1/19/2012 WhippedCream Reviews - On Hard Limits

1/20/2012 WhippedCream Reviews - On Sexual Tension

1/20/2012 TheForbidden Bookshelf - Sexy Heroines

About the Authors:

Stephanie Draven is a multi-published award-nominated author of myth-inspired paranormal romance. Writing for HQN Nocturne, Stephanie’s Mythica series asks the question: What if the monsters of ancient mythology still walked the earth...and what if you found out that you were one of them? Currently a denizen of Baltimore, that city of ravens and purple night skies, Stephanie lives there with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books.

Stephanie is celebrating The Fever and the Fury
Buy Stephanie’s Books
Newsletter | Twitter | Website & Blog | Goodreads | Facebook

Laura Kaye Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of a half-dozen books. Hearts in Darkness is a finalist for the EPIC eBook Award for Best Novella, Forever Freed won the NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

Laura is celebrating In the Service of the King
Buy Laura's Books
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

Leia Rice is an avid lover of everything Parisian, Ancient Grecian and Ancient Roman. She wishes that women would still wear the pretty dresses and petticoats that they did back in the 18th century, but she’s well aware how much of a pain they must have been. Leia writes historical fiction, romance and erotica in these areas, because she cannot get enough of each respective time period.

Leia is celebrating The Revolutionary Mistress
Buy Leia’s Books
Website & Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks so much for reading! And hope you'll tour with us!

Laura

Welcome Guest Author Dawn Chartier! #Vampires!

2012-01-09T03:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome guest author

Dawn Chartier

to the blog!

Welcome, Dawn! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

Thank you for having me today, Laura. And congrats to you on your Breakout Author award. How awesome is that.

So a little about me, eh? Well, I live near the wonderful City of New Orleans, yet far enough from the craziness that the city is known for. I’m married, and I have two of mine and two of his type of family. We also have two Goldens who are more spoiled than all four daughters put together.

I write paranormal romance, suspense, and contemporary erotic romance. I try to golf and I fish too.

Aw, man, thank you, Dawn! What a sweetie! Okay, now, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

I just self-published a novel called NOT AN ANGEL, that was once with The Wild Rose Press. Not An Angel is a second chance at love type of story between a human and Poryria vampire.

Here is a little blurb:

Kira McCoy wants to die. Losing her husband and daughter tragically left her without hope. Now her disturbed brother-in-law will stop at nothing to have her for himself. All she wants is to find peace, but instead finds herself on top of a bridge ready to end her suffering.

Protector of the Poryria, Trace Stuart is called to defend his race or embrace death. Defending humans is not part of the plan, but he cannot stop himself from saving Kira.

Realizing that he shares a special bond with Kira, Trace defies his Queen and rushes into the heart of darkness in order to rescue the woman he loves. Will Kira be able to reach past her own pain to pull them both into the light?

Oh, yum! How do I love vampires…let me count the ways!!! *grins* Which character is your favorite and why?

It would have to be Kira. She’s lost so much, and grows the most.

Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

I plan to write a few more books to this series. Next up would be Drago’s story after I finish writing another novella for another series.

Awesome! I love series! What are you working on right now?

Well, I just finished edits for DIAMONDS, a contemporary erotic novella which is coming out January 18, 2012, published with Siren BookStrand. Now, I’m working on revisions for Buried Magic, a witch and warlock novel.

Wow! So many intriguing projects! Love it! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

I still have it saved in my computer. My sister begs me to try and get it published. She said of all my books that was her favorite. (God, I hope not.) It was also a vampire novel.

That’s a great story! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

Yes. My mom had neighbor who had tragically lost her baby and husband close together, and that is where the idea came from. I wanted to give the woman a happier ending.

Oh, that’s really moving, actually. Good for you. Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

Yes. Second chances.

I like that one, too! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Probably that work in construction. I don’t actually hold a hammer or anything, but I do get to go to the jobsites on occasions. (hard-hat and all)

That IS surprising! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

Who wouldn’t have wanted to write Harry Potter, right. Although, how on earth she kept up with a bazillion characters, I’ve no clue.

Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

To date it would be, Storm Morgeaux. (her story is not published yet) In my novel, Buried Magic, Storm learns that she’s a witch, then discovers she’s part warlock as well. Warlocks are not nice and she struggles with that, plus the guy she has the HOTS for hunts and kills warlocks. Storm has big problems, but even a bigger heart.

Sounds intriguing! Now, just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark! Yum! (but I’ll take either)

Salty or sweet? Sweet

Bed or kitchen table? Ha-Ha. My mind went in the gutter, but you could mean something else, right? I’ll say table so I don’t sound so boring.

Beach or mountains? Love the beach! Haven’t been to the mountains yet.

Give or receive? I’ll give you anything if you give me dark chocolate.

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Buy Not An Angel

Leave some new release love for Dawn, everyone! And thanks for reading,

Laura & Dawn

#SixSunday #40 - Owen introduces the Anemoi... #PNR #GreekGods

2012-01-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

I've got a new book releasing on February 1, so this will be my last post from my contemporary fantasy romance, North of Need, for a while. SNIFF!!! Megan thinks on what she's learned about Owen's divine family...and gives you a sneak peek into the future books in the series! *grins*

In the days and weeks that followed, several of Owen’s uncles, she supposed, had popped in to introduce themselves. Polite though reserved, Zephyros had found them immediately after the wedding, though he’d seemed uncomfortable around her and hadn’t stayed long. Chrysander, on the other hand, invited himself for a whole weekend and left her feeling she’d known him forever. Using the face of a compass, Owen had long-since explained the Anemoi family tree, with the four cardinal wind gods representing the north, west, south, and east, and the dozen lesser ordinal and interordinal gods. While the father of the Anemoi, a powerful storm god named Aeolus, had sent gifts to the new couple, no one else had appeared. Yet.

Zephyros is the hero of Book 2, West of Want, coming in April (I think!) Next week, we shift to In the Service of the King, my dark vampire romance!

Don't forget to check out the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter. Thanks for reading and, hopefully, commenting!

Laura

#ForeverFreed is up for a Paranormal Reviewers' Choice Award!

2012-01-06T09:09:00.001-05:00

I'm humbled that another of my books is up for a best book of the year award. The fact that it's Forever Freed, the first novel I wrote and first I sold, makes it particularly special.

Forever Freed received this raving 5-star review from the Paranormal Romance Guild earlier in the year, nominating it now for one of their Reviewers' Choice Awards. There are great books nominated in four categories, and Forever Freed is in the bottom "Reviewers' Choice" category. Voting starts this a.m. and goes through 1/20. If you'd

vote for it

I'd be so appreciative, but after everything you guys did for me last in two other voting awards I ultimately won, I'm not going to push! *grins* I just wanted to share the award nod because, no matter how many books I publish, this one will always be close to my heart!

Thanks for reading!

Laura

PS - Be sure to scroll down and leave comments for Rosalie Lario and on my previous award post - both are offering giveaways that end tonight at midnight EST!

Welcome Award-Winning Guest Author Rosalie Lario! #demons #yum

2012-01-04T03:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome fellow Entangled author

Rosalie Lario!

And congratulations on all your recent awards, particurlarly GraveTells Debut Author of the Year! Woot!

See below for a GIVEAWAY!

Welcome, Rosalie! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

My name is Rosalie Lario and I’m the author of two different paranormal romance series: the award-winning Demons of Infernum series, featuring sibling, half demon bounty hunters; and The Fallen Warriors, featuring a band of fallen angels who seek to save humankind from eradication.

Aw, man, both sound awesome! I love series! Okay, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

Heart of the Incubus is a novella set in my Demons of Infernum world. It stars an incubus named Cresso, who works as a biochemist for a laboratory sponsored by the Elden Council (the council governing travel between dimensions). Cresso gets more than he bargains for when he falls for Genevieve, one of his coworkers. Not only can the woman not stand him, but she’s also being pursued by a stalker. When Cresso determines to find and stop the sadistic stalker, he never believes he’ll be able to convince Genevieve he’s worthy of her love. But as they work together to solve this mystery, Genevieve discovers there’s much more to the sexy incubus than she ever imagined.

Heart of the Incubus takes place after the events in Touch of the Angel, Book 3, of the Demons of Infernum series, but it can and does stand alone.

Book 1 in the Series!

Sounds great! Which character is your favorite and why?

It’s always so hard to pick a favorite character, but I admit to having a soft spot for Cresso. He first appears in Blood of the Demon as a friend of Taeg’s. I truly enjoyed witnessing the admitted playboy fall hard for Genevieve.

I love my heroes best, too! Cresso sounds delicious! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

I’m currently hard at work on Call of the Siren, Book 4 in the Demons of Infernum series. It’s set to release in July or August of this year.

Wonderful! Good luck! So, what happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Oh wow. In a word, it sucked. I have it saved on my computer and I’ll probably pull it out one day for laughs. But as horrible as it was, the book was invaluable because it was one big step in the process of learning the craft.

Yes! That’s so true! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

I think the love scenes are both the easiest and the hardest to write, LOL. It all depends on my mood when I’m writing. Sometimes I’m not feeling it but I have to muscle through it anyway; that’s hard. But then there are times when my fingers can’t move quickly enough; I love it when that happens!

So interesting how often love scenes appear here authors’ responses! *grins* Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

No, I haven’t. I guess I don’t know anyone that interesting!

LOL! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

If there were one overall theme to my books, it would be that love is all-powerful. I truly believe that, with love, we can accomplish anything.

Love that! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I love the thought of the paranormal but I’m truly a wimp in real life. Horror movies scare me so badly that I usually can’t watch them, LOL.

That’s awesome, Rosalie! I like to think I’d be brave if I encountered a real spooky baddy! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

I only wish I could write a stunning romance novel like To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning. It’s probably my all-time favorite book.

Oh, wow! I’ll have to check that out. Highland? Warrior? Taming him? Sounds good to me! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Taeg, the hero of Mark of the Sylph, Book 2 in my Demons of Infernum series. I just love his personality. He’s such a sarcastic know-it-all, and the perfect blend of confident and easygoing, with only the slightest touch of Alpha. Sigh...I love him.

Oh, yum! I can’t wait to read this series, and you’re making me want to NOW! *grins* Okay, now, just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Both!

Salty or sweet? Depends on my mood. ;-)

Bed or kitchen table? I’d love to say table, but I’d be lying. I’m all about the comfort.

Beach or mountains? Beach

Give or receive? Uh...what exactly are we talking about here? *grin*

Biochemist Cresso Taylor lives the sort of lifestyle most men would envy—he has wealth, natural incubus charm, and more women than he can handle. But it’s not enough anymore. Not after meeting Genevieve Russell, the sexy scientist who works with him at Elcorp Laboratory. And she wants absolutely nothing to do with him.

After her fiancé broke her heart, Genevieve has had enough of womanizers. She’s determined to steer clear of sexy-as-sin Dr. Taylor, despite the fact that his incubus allure makes her want to rip his clothes off. But when a secret admirer’s affection turns to the macabre with threatening notes and grisly gifts, Cresso appoints himself her protector. As she and Cresso hunt her stalker, she discovers there’s a lot more to the sensual incubus than she ever imagined.

Thanks for coming on the blog, Rosalie! Where can we find you on the web?

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Amazon Author’s Page | Publisher’s Author Page

GIVEAWAY!
One commenter who leaves their email address will win an ebook of Heart of the Incubus! Open to international. Comment by midnight EST on Friday 1/6. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

Thanks for reading, everyone! Now leave Rosalie some new release comment love!

Laura & Rosalie

Awards: Breakout Author & Favorite Read(s) of 2011! I'm Saying Thanks...

2012-01-02T12:12:00.004-05:00

The end of the year brought me a slew of awards that left me awed, boggled and so very, very grateful.

Here's what I mean:

Sizzling Read of the Year for NORTH OF NEED!

With 269 / 1109 (or 26%) of the vote!

HEARTS IN DARKNESS came in 4th place with 102 (or 9%) of the vote!

Breakout Author of the Year!

With 226 / 613 (or 37%) of the vote!

Nominated for a total of EIGHT Readers' Choice Awards!

Here were the full results! There were 13,000 votes across 10 categories. Here were my placings:

Favorite Book of 2011 – 4^th place (out of 37 nominees) with 12% vote
Best Cover Art of 2011 – 2^nd place (out of 10) with 27% vote (1^st Jeaniene Frost)
Sexiest Story of 2011 – 2^nd place (out of 15) with 21% vote (1^st JR Ward)
Favorite Sweethearts of 2011 – 4^th place (out of 20) with 18^% vote (behind Ward, Frost, Moning)
Most Compelling Hero of 2011 (Owen) – 4^th place (out of 15) with 18% vote (behind Ward, Frost, Moning)
Most Kick Ass Heroine of 2011 (Megan) – 5^th place (out of 15) with 15% vote (behind Ward, Frost, Moning, Blake)
Favorite Author of 2011 – 3^rd place (out of 14) with 19% vote (behind Ward, Frost)
Breakout Author of 2011 – 1^st place (out of 11) with 37% of the vote

5-STAR Gold Heart Award Winner for NORTH OF NEED

(1 of 9 books to which GraveTells has awarded this)

Book of the Month Wins for NORTH OF NEED:

GraveTells

Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

Favorite Read of the Year Nods:

NORTH OF NEED - 1st place Favorite Read at GraveTells

NORTH OF NEED - 4th place Favorite Paranormal at Reading Between the Wines Book Club*

NORTH OF NEED - 5th place Ultimate Favorite at Reading Between the Wines Book Club*

NORTH OF NEED - A Favorite Read at Cocktails and Books

NORTH OF NEED - 1st place Favorite Paranormal at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

HEARTS IN DARKNESS - 3rd place Favorite Read at Smitten by Books*

HEARTS IN DARKNESS - Top 10 Favorite Read at Reading Lark*

FOREVER FREED - A Favorite Read at Cocktails and Books

JUST GOTTA SAY - A Favorite Read at Mark of the Stars

[*Indicates a Site Offering a GIVEAWAY of winner's choice of one of the site's favorite books!]

So, naturally, I need to say thanks. Thank you to the readers, bloggers, reviewers, editors, cover artists, critique partners, family members and friends who made 2011 everything that it was for me.

GIVEAWAY!
I know it's a small token, but I'm offering you a giveaway - two people will win choice of one of my ebooks. Leave a comment with your email address through midnight EST on 1/6 to be entered to win. Open to international.

Thanks to each of you for joining me on this journey! I hope you'll stick around to see where the ride goes next in 2012!

Thanks for reading,

Laura

Here's What I'm Hoping For in 2012!

2012-01-01T03:00:00.001-05:00

HAPPIEST NEW YEAR, FRIENDS! AND WELCOME 2012!

The beginning of the year is a great time to take stock and lay out some goals. 2011 was great to me, and I'm hoping 2012 will bring more of the same! Here's what I'm working towards in the coming year:

Revise and submit my women's fiction manuscript. I finished writing it nearly a year ago, but after an agent loved it but wanted more conflict, I've had a set of revisions to complete I simply haven't had the time to fit in. I need to rectify that, so it's at the top of my list.
Meet all my existing contract obligations (for my second Harlequin Cravings, and the last two in my Anemoi series).
Begin a new project I'm going to be collaborating on with my good friend and historical fiction author Stephanie Dray. I can't say more about it just yet, except that I'm totally stoked!
Get an agent. This was on my list for last year, so obviously it's a goal I've yet to achieve. But between the women's fiction and the new project, I'm hopeful.
Write at least three novellas.
Attend RT, RWA Nationals, and the NJRW Conference (at a minimum).
Write at least two academic papers for my day job.
Get a new desk and reorganize my office. I have an old-fashioned desk that makes me lift my arms, and it's giving me a bum elbow! (I have a typing injury!!! LOL)
Take better care of myself in general, particularly I need more sleep (need to fight the night-owl tendencies!) and to eat better.

Oh, I'm sure there's more, but these are some of the biggies I want to make sure to put down in writing and hold myself accountable for. What's on your "hoped for" list for 2012?

Thanks for reading!

Laura

Oh, What a Year! 2011 in Review!

2011-12-31T12:00:00.001-05:00

This time last year, I wrote on this blog, "If 2011 is half as good as 2010, it'll be damn great!"

Well, 2011 was so good to me I don't think "damn great" begins to cover it.

Looking back on 2011, I'm just stunned at the good fortune I've experienced in my writing career so far. This time last year, I was still months away from releasing my first book, hadn't yet launched my website, and had two books sold. Oh, what a difference a year makes. Here's what 2011 had in store for me:

I wrote approximately 220,000 words this year! That's a lot of #1k1hr on twitter! Actually, I discovered #1k1hr in 2011, so there's that, too! LOL

I received four new book covers this year.

I sold seven new books and two series - Hearts of the Anemoi to Entangled Publishing and Vampire Warrior Kings to Harlequin Nocturne.

I received my first ever "call" from an editor - from Nocturne's Tara Gavin.

My first novella, Hearts in Darkness, released in April.

My first novel, Forever Freed, released in May.

My second novella, Just Gotta Say, released in September.

My second novel, North of Need, released in November.

I wrote my first books on contract, as opposed to just whenever my brain happened to cooperate. Turns out it's a very different experience! Do you agree?

I organized my first-ever book blog tours. Now I've done four. Oy.

I received my first-ever book reviews. At first, it was scary as heck, just the action of clicking the button to open the website. Now, even though that flutter's still in my gut, it's not as scary, even when they're not as good as I'd wish!

I received my first reviews in Romantic Times (for Hearts in Darkness and North of Need)

My books won their first awards: NJRW Golden Leaf Award for Best Paranormal of 2011 to Forever Freed, and Sizzling Read of the Month for both Hearts in Darkness and North of Need.

I attended my second RWA National Conference and met Sherrilyn Kenyon, which was a wonderful moment.

I attended my first NJRW Put Your Heart in a Book Conference and loved it! Will definitely attend again! It was also at this conference that Stephanie Dray and I brainstormed a wonderful team project we're going to be co-authoring this year!

I launched my website, designed by the awesomely awesome Rachel / Parajunkee.

For the first time, I got to work with a publicist, the wonderful and amazing Dani Barclay!

I designed my first-ever book trailers, after taking a class through the RWA-PRO section.

I achieved PAN status in the RWA (Published Authors' Network) for making a minimum $1,000 in sales on one title (Hearts in Darkness).

Three of my four books hit Amazon bestseller lists (Forever Freed, Bestselling Gothic Romance; Hearts in Darkness, Bestselling Contemporary Romance; North of Need, Bestselling Fantasy Romance)

I had my first booksigning this year. And sold three books. LOL

I participated in my first Baltimore Book Festival. (I think I sold 5 books there!)

I became really great friends with a number of writers from my local RWA chapter, the Maryland Romance Writers, and each one is a friendship I truly value!

All this and I feel like I'm forgetting so many things that made this year wonderful and exciting and more than I ever imagined! My head spins just thinking of it!

I want to thank each of you for all the help you've given me throughout the year! So, as you look back over your 2011, what are you most celebrating?

Thanks for reading, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Laura

#NorthofNeed is Up for 2 Awards Thru 12/31! Please Vote?

2011-12-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

I'm so completely stunned! North of Need is up for two different sets of awards, both based on stellar 5-STAR reviews, and both of which require me to ask your help to win! Readers' choice awards mean so much though, because they come from you, the reader, and I love knowing something I've done has touched you in some way. I would be forever grateful if you would consider voting for me and North of Need in the following contests, both of which close 12/31:

1) Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

2) In the GraveTells Readers' Choice Awards of 2011, nominated for:

Favorite Book
Best Cover Art **
Sexiest Story
Favorite Couple/Sweethearts
Most Compelling Hero
Most Kick-Ass Heroine
Favorite Author of 2011
Breakout Author of 2011 **

At GraveTells, you can vote for more than one book per category! The categories with ** are ones I have a fighting chance in! LOL

Thanks so much for considering voting! Your time and support means a lot to me, truly!

Thanks for reading,

Laura

Open GIVEAWAYS Ending Soon! Don't Miss 'Em!

2011-12-29T17:00:00.001-05:00

Owen says, "What are you waiting for?"

Hey guys! I've got a number of ways for you to win really cool stuff, and I didn't want you to miss anything! So here are all my open giveaways in one place! All end right around 12/31 or 1/1, so go get 'em! Good luck!

Four Traditions I Love - part of the 30 Days of Decadence event - WIN 1 of 3 $10 Amazon GCs
My Fang Fetish - part of the 30 Days of Vampires event - WIN $10 Amazon GC plus event main prizes ($100 bookstore GC)
Favorite Things About Winter - part of the Winters Favorites event - WIN $10 Amazon GC plus event main prizes
SnOHw Man! Giveaway - part of the Sizzling Read of the Month North of Need Spotlight - WIN a print North of Need and collection of swag and snowman items
Laura Kaye Spotlight - part of the Holiday Bash 2011 - WIN $5 Amazon GC, poster, ornaments plus event main prizes (Kindle Fire)

Thanks for reading!

Laura

Welcome Guest Author Paige Cuccaro! #EntangledBooks #Angels

2011-12-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome fellow Entangled Publishing author

Paige Cuccaro

who's celebrating her new release

Hellsbane!

See below for a Giveaway!

Welcome, Paige! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

I grew up in a little town called Eight Four, PA, and moved to central Ohio where I live now with my husband and three daughters, 12 years ago. I’ve been writing since the birth of my first daughter who will turn 21 this year and I write mostly paranormal. Quite a few of my paranormal books are romances and even more are erotic romances. Those books, my erotic romances, are published under my penname, Alison Paige.

Great! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

HELLSBANE is about a 23 year old young woman who just discovered she’s half angel (a nephilim). Now, her angelic father wants her dead and Heaven wants her to hunt fallen angels and their demon minions who’ve escaped the abyss and send them back. The problem is the fallen angels and demons won’t go quietly. So now Emma has to learn how to be Heaven’s kick butt bounty hunter before one of the bad guys hacks off her head. Of course, in the meantime, she’ll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.

Sounds awesome! Which character is your favorite and why?

Wow, its hard pick. I really love Emma and Eli both. Emma, because of her wit and her passion. She knows what she has to do and whether she likes it or not, she’s gonna do it. She sticks up for her friends no matter what and she has a good heart. But I love Eli too because he has such a capacity to love. He sees the best in people and will fight to the death for those he loves. He’s so wise and yet so naive, plus he’s sexy as hell.

Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

Yes. Right now there are two more books planned for the series. HEAVEN AND HELLSBANE, and HELLSBANE HEREAFTER. There may be a few short stories in between there.

Those are great titles! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?

Sticking to my gut and letting what I knew had to happen, happen. As a writer you really grow attached to your characters and it’s not easy to let bad things happen to them. But without the bad things there’d be no story.

So true! What are you working on right now?

I’m still working on book two, HEAVEN AND HELLSBANE. It will be going to edits very soon and then I’ll move on to book three.

Good luck! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

After much rewriting it got published. It’d started out as a sweet romance, and ended up as erotic romantic suspense. Many, many stories between the first and second version of that book though, are still herding dust bunnies under my bed.

What an interesting evolution! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

The easiest is coming up with the ideas and writing out the outline long hand. It’s one continuous flow of thought and it’s just so much fun. The hardest is actually making myself sit in the chair every day and write. Some days ya just don’t feel like it.

That is so true! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

I’ve incorporated aspects of real people into some of my characters. Usually secondary characters. It makes it easier to bring them to life if I think of them as someone I already know even though a lot about them is different than the real life version. I love to use real places in my stories though. It’s fun to go back to the parking lot where Emma got attacked by a shuffling demon, or sit in the restaurant where she had lunch with her mom and sister and think…this is where it happened.

Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

Good and evil are two sides of the same coin and which side is which depends on who’s doing the looking.

Ooh, that’s cool! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I’m very shy. People never realize that about me because I can force myself to behave as though I’m not. But inside, when I’m smiling and cracking jokes, I’m really shaking in my shoes, holding my breath and waiting for it to be over so I can go sit and a corner where no one will notice me.

I think that’s pretty common among writers. Writing is a very solitary, in your own head, kind of process. But after it’s finished it becomes a very, very public affair. The two sides of it are such polar opposites that it’s not unusual to find people at one end of the personality spectrum or the other.

I agree! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

I would have LOVED to have written the Vampire Chronicles. I think they are such a fantastic collection of characters and rich detail that makes me want to forsake real life and live forever in a book.

Love that! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

I have a character named Thes, who stars in a couple books that have never gotten published. (with good reason). But I LOVE him. He’s smart, and handsome and tortured. He’s an angel and is forever on the outside looking in at what he wants and is full of questions no one wants to answer. He’s just an awesome character and I hope to show him to the world someday. Someday. *sigh*

Aw, sound awesome! Okay, now, just for fun!

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Milk Chocolate

Salty or sweet? Salty

Bed or kitchen table? Bed

Beach or mountains? Beach

Give or receive? Give

Emma Jane Hellsbane just found out she’s not human—or, at least, not only human. She’s half angel, too, and now Heaven’s got a job for her: round up all the Fallen angels and their red-skinned, horned devil-demon minions and boot their butts back into the abyss. Only problem? The demons and their Fallen masters fight back…and they don’t fight fair.

Luckily for Emma, she can put a stop to the constant threat of having her head hacked off if she figures out which Fallen angel is her father—and then kill him before he kills her. Of course, in the meantime, she’ll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.

No one said being Heaven’s bounty hunter would be easy. But with a name like Hellsbane, Emma Jane was born for the job.

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, PAIGE!

Thanks for having me! This has been fun!!

GIVEAWAY!
Paige is giving away one ebook copy of Hellsbane! Comment with your email address to enter to win. Open to international. Winner to be picked by random.org. Open through midnight EST on 12/30! Good luck! And Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading, everyone!
Laura & Paige

Welcome Guest Author Rachel Firasek! #PNR

2011-12-26T03:00:00.001-05:00

I'm very excited to welcome fellow Entangled author

Rachel Firasek

to the blog today!

Rachel's celebrating her new release with a Giveaway! See below!

Welcome, Rachel! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

I write mostly paranormal romance and always under my real name. Pen names scare me at this point. :)

LOL Okay! So, then, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

The Last Awakening released in December and is finding its place in the world. Ari and Grey are rather special to me now, I’ve spent so much time with them. In January, The Last Beginning will hit! Woot!

Awesome! I love a series! Which character is your favorite and why?

I think it’s Sadie and she’s in The Last Beginning. She’s a straight-forward character and I really love her fiery attitude.

Kick-ass females rule! Woot! As the author, what surprised you about this story?

The pain. I knew it would be a harder story to write. I wanted to dig deeper into Grey. He’s such a twisted soul, but dang, it can be hard to get back from that kind of despair.

That makes this book sound so intriguing! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

The Last Beginning will wrap up the Curse of the Phoenix series. :)

So, what was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?

The re-writing and trying to get everything just perfect with the right amount of grief---that wouldn’t make the reader stay so blurry eyed they couldn’t finish.

That sounds challenging but awesome! What are you working on right now?

I’m starting on a top-secret project with two other authors. It’s going to be so much fun. Also, I’m plotting a Dystopian YA that has been bugging me all year.

Cool! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

It was published in March. J Piper’s Fury is my first full novel and after many-many rewrites it found a home. *much to my shock*

Congratulations! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

Easiest to write: dialogue and action.

Hardest to write: emotion and description.

I always have to go back and layer in emotion myself! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

Not normally. My made-up characters are so much more fun, although, my daughter will tell you that she sees a bit of herself in each one of my heroines. So, maybe her.

That’s kinda awesome! Love it! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

Wow, hmmm….each story has a different theme, but I always want to write a story that will light the soul. I want to touch the reader long after a story is over.

A great goal for an author! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

In person, I’m a complete recluse. Online, I kind of feel my groove, but in public---I’m like a plucked chicken. :)

LOL Another introvert, eh? Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

Oh, this is easy! It’s my fave book of 2011. Debra Anastasia writes contemporary romance and her book Poughkeepsie inspires me. I want to write a book like that. Something that will change people.

I know Debra and her story well! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Hands down, Piper Anast from Piper’s Fury. She is the most like me. An introvert with a mouth. Love her.

Love that description! Okay, then just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark every day!

Salty or sweet? Salty!!! Love to make my mouth dehydrate.

Bed or kitchen table? Kitchen table---if it’ll hold.

Beach or mountains? Beach. I love the roar of the ocean.

Give or receive? Give…I’m horrible at receiving!

For three hundred years, Arabella’s life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris–god of the Underworld–gifts the phoenix her mortality and returns her voodoo magic. If she fails to harness her wayward magic and save a man worthy of a second chance, she’ll forfeit her power and her soul–forever.

Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him after the tragedy that brought him and Ari together. Confronted by the waif of a woman who forces him to face his worst fears, he resists, fighting the need to keep his personal demons hidden instead of setting them free.

When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, it’s not just her life in danger, but now the one of the man she loves.

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

GIVEAWAY!

Rachel is giving away one ebook copy of The Last Awakening. Comment with your email address to enter to win. Contest open through midnight EST on 12/28. Open to international. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Good luck!

Thank you for having me today!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, RACHEL!

And thanks to everyone for reading! Now leave Rachel some comment love!

Laura & Rachel

For the Love of Snowmen: Feel-Good Pics from Readers & Me!

2011-12-23T16:00:00.006-05:00

Merry Christmas!

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Solstice!

& Happy Holidays to one and all!

What's better than snowmen to get you in the spirit of the season? They're cute, cheerful, fun to make and remind us of the carefree days of childhood. So, I put out a call for friends and readers to send me fun snowmen decorations of their own or that they saw in their travels. And y'all sent me some great pictures! So, enjoy these pictures of my and friends' snowmen and a moment of holiday cheer:

From Eria

From Dani

From Tamara

From Sharon

From Kellie

My Snowman Collection - These are about half of them!

My Favorite Snowman - my mom gave it to me probably 20 years ago and the cardinals always remind me of her. They were her favorite. To me, a cardinal in a snowy trees is one of the most beautiful sites of winter.

This snowman I have to share because it had me laughing so hard! Snowman humor, people!!!

And, see? My love for snowmen goes waaaay back! This is me at age 8.

And, this snowman I just love...from the back cover of North of Need. You know you have a great editor/cover artist/friend when she gives you the detail of your hero's mismatched eyes...

So, there you go! Some fun snowman cheer! I hope you have the most wonderful holiday, and I thank you for all your friendship and support in 2011.

Thanks for reading,

Laura

Come Meet Pete the Sexy Mailman...and Guest Author Joya Fields!

2011-12-22T03:00:00.001-05:00

I'm so very excited to welcome my good friend, critique partner and fellow Wild Rose Press author

Joya Fields

to the blog today! Joya is celebrating her **new release** with a giveaway--see down below!

Welcome, Joya! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today, Laura. I’m thrilled to be talking about a story that you helped me get published! I write romantic suspense, contemporary suspense, and paranormal suspense.

Aw, shucks! I loved reading this! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

LOVE DELIVERED released just yesterday from The Wild Rose Press. It reflects my affection for small towns and the people who live there. Pete has strong ties to the community and the town and Bianca is chasing her dreams in New York City. Not just for herself, but on behalf of her mother, who never got the opportunity to follow her dreams. When Bianca returns to the small town where she grew up to fix up her deceased grandmother’s house for sale, she can’t help but be charmed by the town…and Pete, the mailman.

Sigh…Pete. *grins* Which character is your favorite and why?

LOL, I feel like a mother who can’t chose between her children. It feels wrong to pick one character over another, but I think Bianca would understand if I chose Pete. Because I fell in love with him. He’s the best part of a lot of men I know all wrapped into one.

Oh, I like how you put that! As the author, what surprised you about this story?

Honestly, nothing surprised me through the writing process. The characters told me their story early on. The biggest surprise for me was when the publisher decided to classify the story as “contemporary humor.” That cracked me up! Guess what? I’m funny. Well, Pete’s funny.

Pete is funny! *winks* What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?

Revisions. I can write a story in no time at all. Then I have to revise, revise, revise, and revise. And then usually revise again.

I hear ya, sister! What are you working on right now?

I’m writing a ghost story with a ghost who’s a practical joker and a matchmaker. Picture Betty White haunting an historic Baltimore apartment building.

Awesome description! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

It’s buried in a drawer and will never see the light of day. However, it was a great learning experience.

Yes, so agree! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

Characters are easy to write. I’m lucky to have lots of colorful people in my life. Plots are hard, though. I usually don’t know how the story will progress. Often, I know the beginning and I kinda-sorta know the end, but I have no idea what will happen in between.

*nods in total understanding!* Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

Definitely. The parade scene in LOVE DELIVERED is loosely based on our family July 4^th celebration. A marching band plays in the yard before the parade every year and it’s the party of the year.

Such a cool small town moment! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

For sure. I realized early on that every story I write carries the same message: bad things will happen in life, but if you find the right person, you will find happiness again.

Love that! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I’ve completed three marathons. One of them in less than four hours! 3.59.51 to be exact.

Whoa! I did not know that! Go you! Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

Easy. The TWILIGHT series. No maybe the HUNGER GAMES series. No wait…okay. So many great books and series, but these are two of my favorite because they are so emotional.

They’d both be at the top of my list, too… Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Oh wow, this question makes me pause. I think the heroine in my WIP about a serial killer is my favorite so far. She’s had an awful, awful life, but finds hope and comes out fighting. She’s probably the strongest character I’ve ever written and I admire her strength. I wrote about her after seeing an interview on 20/20 about a young, spirited girl who survived an attack and had a better disposition about life than most people I know who haven’t experienced that kind of trauma.

Very cool! Can’t wait to learn more about her! Okay, then, just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark

Salty or sweet? Salty

Bed or kitchen table? Sofa (LOL, couldn’t resist cheating)

Beach or mountains? Beach

Give or receive? Give

Bianca McClain has worked for years to achieve her dream job in New York City. After her grandmother passes away, she finds herself returning to the small town she grew up in to ready her house for sale. The slow, friendly pace of the town and its citizens, especially Pete the mailman, appeal to her—but there’s no way she’s giving up everything she’s accomplished in New York.

Born and raised in Centreville, MD, Pete Schaeffer loves his small town mail carrier job and can’t imagine leaving for any reason—or anyone—so he's dumbfounded by his intense attraction to Bianca, a woman with a fast-paced life in the big city.

Pete and Bianca soon find themselves lost in each other’s arms. When the summer ends, they will have big decisions to make. Will the small-town guy and big-city girl find common ground and lasting love, or will their differences drive them apart?

Where can we find you on the web?

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Publisher’s Page

GIVEAWAY!
One commenter who leaves their email address will be entered to win an ebook of Love Delivered. Open to international. Winner to be chosen by random.org. Contest open through midnight EST on 12/25! What to comment? Tell Joya what YOU love about small towns!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, JOYA!

Thanks so much for having me, Laura, and thanks for being my friend and critique partner! J

Thanks for reading!

Laura & Joya

Happy Book Birthday Hearts in Darkness!

2011-12-20T03:00:00.002-05:00

Imagine this cover art as an 11"x17" poster! That's what you could win today by following my blog and commenting with your email address (+some fun swag)! (Open to U.S.) Contest open until 12/23 midnight EST!

I'm celebrating the 8-month book birthday of my contemporary romance, HEARTS IN DARKNESS!

Makenna James thinks her day can't get any worse, until she finds herself stuck in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call and juggling too much stuff, the pin-striped accountant caught only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights went out.

Caden Grayson is amused when a redhead literally falls at his feet. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he's terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he's trapped in his own worst nightmare.

To fight fear, they must both reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?

Accolades for HEARTS IN DARKNESS:

76 Amazon Reviews!
Bestselling Contemporary Romance on Amazon!
885 Ratings and 200 reviews on Goodreads!
EPIC eBook Award Finalist for Best Novella! (winners TBA 3/12)
Fictionwise 6-Month Bestseller since June '11!
4+ dozen book blogger reviews, including RT Magazine and a new 5-STAR review yesterday by Book Savvy Babe!
Sizzling Read of the Month for May at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews
Up for Sizzling Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

Have you given HEARTS IN DARKNESS a try yet? A great gift for yourself or a friend!

Thanks for reading and celebrating with me!

Laura

Don't Miss My SnOHw Man! #Giveaway at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews!

2011-12-19T03:00:00.002-05:00

NORTH OF NEED is the spotlighted book at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews this month, having won Sizzling Read of the Month for December, and so I'm offering this super cute giveaway! Included:

Print North of Need
North of Need notebook
Snowman stocking
Snowman Hershey bar
Snowman Peeps
Snowman picture frame
Romance Trading Cards from all my books
Snow globe
Pen
Vanilla lotion (Owen says Megan smells like vanilla...)
25% off Wild Rose Press coupon

Don't miss out! The contest runs through December 31! Head over there and enter to win! And check out the Sizzling Read of the Year contest in the upper right of that site's page!

Thanks for reading!

Laura

#SixSunday #39 - Some Ancient Holiday Cheer from #NorthofNeed!

2011-12-18T08:30:00.001-05:00

If you're looking for my Stuff Your Stockings Blog Hop Post, please scroll down one blog post! Thank you!

Happy Sunday everyone. I'm happy to share six from my contemporary fantasy romance, North of Need! Megan's just given Owen a Christmas present from a man who's been dead several millenia:

“Do you recognize it?” she asked, adrenaline in the form of pins and needles tingling over her body.

“No, well, I know the symbols. It says, ‘Without the death of winter, there is no rebirth of spring.’ It’s ancient.”

“Yes…Owen?”

He pulled his gaze from the amulet.

“It was your father’s.”

Aw! Love this sweet holiday moment between them. Hope it brings you cheer!

Please see the Other Sixers' Posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter! Also, at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews: North of Need won Sizzling Read of the Month for December, and so I'm offering a SnOHw Man Giveaway over there, AND the book is up for Sizzling Read of the Year, and your consideration for a vote would be much appreciated! Feel free to check both out via the above link! :)

Thanks so much for reading (and commenting)! Happy holidays!

Laura

Stuff Your Stockings Christmas Ho Ho Hop!

2011-12-16T00:01:00.004-05:00

I'm one of nearly 200 authors participating in the biggest, bestest holiday blog hop of them all!

That's nearly 200 ways to win!

WIN HERE:

WHAT YOU COULD WIN: You could win one of my four ebooks AND an authentic 2011 White House Christmas Ornament. New in beautiful box with booklet. Image below.

MINIMUM ENTRY: Name, Email Address, Comment

EXTRA ENTRIES: See Form

Reverse has Teddy Roosevelt scene

AT OTHER STOPS ON THE BLOG HOP:
Prizes Galore:
$400+ In Gift Cards to Amazon, B&N, ARe, and Other Publisher Sites
150+ In Ebooks of all heat levels
Jewlery, Gift Baskets, Christmas Ornaments, and all kinds of goodies
Each participating author is going to hold a contest on their blog with so many treats up for grabs it’s enough to make every reader’s Christmas just that much happier! In each contest post the author will link the others participating in the blog hop to help you find each and ever stop to increase your chances to win.

RULES
1) The contest will start Friday, December 16, 2011 and go til midnight EST Sunday, December 18, 2011; 2) Must leave e-mail address; 3) Open to international; 4) Winner will be chosen by random.org;
5) What to comment? Share your favorite holiday MOVIE!
I'll start: mine is Love Actually!

Now, my books for your consideration:

Forever Freed | Hearts in Darkness

*NJRW Golden Leaf Best Paranormal of 2011!

*NJRW Golden Leaf Finalist for Best First Book!

*Gothic Romance Amazon Bestseller!

EPIC eBook Award Finalist for Best Novella!*

Contemporary Romance Amazon Bestseller!*

Sizzling Read of the Month (May) at Sizzling Hot Books!*

Up for Sizzling Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books!*

600+ 4- & 5-star Goodreads ratings!*

Just Gotta Say | North of Need

Fantasy Romance Amazon Bestseller!*

On Amazon's Hot New Fantasy Romance List!*

Sizzling Read of the Month (Dec) at Sizzling Hot Books!*

Up for Sizzling Read of the Year at SHBR! Plz VOTE!*

Thanks so much for visiting me during the hop! And happiest of holidays!

Laura

Giveaway now closed!

Join Me & @StephanieDraven at A Novel Idea Bookstore, Bridgeton, NJ 12/17!

2011-12-15T09:00:00.007-05:00

If you live in driving distance of Bridgeton, NJ, Stephanie Dray/Draven and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see you there! This Saturday, 2-4 p.m.! Good reads, good food, good fun!

Thanks for reading! And please spread the word if you have any Philly/Wilmington or New Jersey friends!

:) Laura

17 Authors, 26 eBooks, 1 Kindle Fire - Will it be yours?

2011-12-14T03:00:00.000-05:00

I'm one of 17 authors giving away a brand spanking new Kindle Fire, along with a bundle of eBooks to get you started, including all FOUR of mine! Just enter to win, through midnight PST on 12/15! Don't miss out on this great gift--for yourself or someone you really, really love!

Click here to go to the entry form!

And good luck!

Thanks for reading,

Laura

Photos from a Great Weekend: Booksigning, Surprise Getaway, Holiday Fun!

2011-12-12T14:00:00.000-05:00

I had the best weekend! I just had to share!

First, I had my first bookstore signing at Ukazoo Books in Towson, Maryland. There were 9 Maryland Romance Writers authors there. The crowd was small but attentive, and they asked questions and bought some books. So it was pretty cool and a lot of fun! And it was awesome seeing my books on shelves, too!

After the booksigning, MRW had its annual holiday party at president Sharon Buchbinder's house. The food was wonderful and the company even better! Plus, I received four awards for First Novel-length Publication, Publishing Multiple Novels in a Year, Publishing a Short Story, Publishing a Novella. The chapter gives out pins for each of these awards, which was pretty awesome!

After the party, my husband swept me away on a surprise getaway weekend. We spent the night at the luxurious Hotel Monaco in Baltimore. We had a premiere suite that was totally yummy! The next morning, we went to breakfast at the Blue Moon Cafe, which has been featured on the show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, which is how we first learned of it. And we dived into a huge plate of Captain Crunch French Toast. No, I could not finish it, but it was fun trying!

Afterwards, we browsed the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore, which we'd never visited before. It's several blocks of cute shops and restaurants. I treated myself to several handmade pieces of jewelry (I'm a total jewelry hound!), we shopped for a few hours, and then had lunch. We also couldn't miss the "Miracle on 34th Street" - a block in the neighborhood where the residents go all out decorating! It was really cool!

When we got home in the evening, we decided to keep the holiday celebration theme going and took the girls to a local drive-through holiday lights display. We go every year, usually on Christmas Eve, but we couldn't help ourselves and just had to go early! The display always makes me feel like a kid! And this year they passed out super cool 3-D glasses!

Then, I get the news that NORTH OF NEED is up for Sizzling Read of the Year! This was the result of the book winning Sizzling Read of the Month for December, and it would just be so awesome to earn such a big honor for the book!

So, I'd say that was a dang good weekend, wouldn't you? Tell me something great about your weekend! Thanks for reading,

Laura

#NorthofNeed is Up for Sizzling Read of the Year! Please VOT*E!

2011-12-11T20:31:00.000-05:00

I would very much appreciate your vote for NORTH OF NEED in the Sizzling Read of the Year competition at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews. The book won Hot Read of the Month for December, and now is in the pool for the yearly contest!

Thank you for considering and for voting!

Laura

Welcome Guest Author Jeanette Grey & Her Debut Cyperpunk Romance!

2011-12-09T03:00:00.001-05:00

I'm so excited to welcome

debut author

Jeanette Grey

to the blog today!

Look down below for her giveaway!

Welcome, Jeanette! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

Hi! I'm a northern girl, currently living in the south. I'm a former teacher and a life-long reader and writer of romances, but I'm brand-new to actually putting them out there for other people to read. I write sizzling hot contemporaries and action-packed science fiction romances.

Awesome! And congratulations on your first book! Tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

Unacceptable Risk is a cyberpunk romance about an ass-kicking heroine trying to save the world, and her best friend Edison, who is always trying to save her. It's set in a not-so-distant dystopian future and features lots of tech, lots of adventure, and probably my favorite love story I've ever written.

Ooh…definitely intrigued here! Which character is your favorite and why?

Edison, for sure. He's the sort of hero who doesn't mind that his girl is strong and independent, or that her convictions come first. But he's strong in his own right and refuses to sell himself short when he thinks Plix isn't being fair. He's smart and strong and sexy and incredibly unselfish in his love.

Me likey! As the author, what surprised you about this story?

This was one of those stories where I plotted out the ending about a hundred times, but I could never seem to come up with a solution that did the characters justice. Taking a big leap of faith, I kept writing anyway. And boy was I ever surprised when just as I was hitting the end of my outline, the characters told me exactly where the story needed to go.

I LOVE when that happens! Good for you! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

I've been playing with the idea of writing another book involving one of the side characters, but I haven't made any firm decisions yet. I do have another work in progress that's set in the same universe. Not sure if it'll end up being part of a series yet or not.

Good luck! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?

Balancing the futuristic, high-tech elements of the story with the human, romantic elements which are really its core. The setting is critical to the story of course, and I wanted to paint a vivid picture of this world, but without getting too technical and keeping the reader from the emotions and the characters. It was a tricky balance!

I have a lot of respect for authors who take on scifi or steampunk, etc., for just this reason! What are you working on right now?

I'm editing up a super-hot contemporary novel full of sarcastic humor, dark pasts, and cross-cultural miscommunication. The hero and heroine meet at a three day-long Indian wedding, and then have to figure out how to make their relationship work once it’s over.

I'm also writing another cyberpunk romance novella involving a tormented mercenary and a beautiful scientist.

It's fun having a couple of very different projects going. Means I always have something I can write on, no matter my mood.

These sound awesome! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Oh gosh, I wrote it when I was seventeen, so it's probably in the back of my closet at my dad's house! I hope he never looks there!

LOL! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

I find love scenes easiest. When I'm in the zone, they just flow. Action and dialog are much more difficult, but I like pushing myself, and I usually end up happy with the outcome because of the struggle.

Always interest to hear different authors’ takes on that! So, have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

Never wholesale, though little glimmers of real people and real moments sneak in from time to time. Back when I was younger, I used to write a lot of real-life events into my stories, but I tended to get caught up in being faithful to the events and was hindered in my story-telling. The departure into pure fiction is really what gave my story-telling wings and freed me up to write more compelling people, worlds and narratives.

Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

I write a lot of different kinds of stories, but I think the common thread is the idea of love as a redemptive force. My characters are often lonely, damaged people, and it's through love and connection that they find happiness and healing.

Love that! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

That back when I used to teach, I was a physics/chemistry teacher. People seem to assume that because I write I used to reach English.

I can see that. Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

The Demonica series by Larissa Ione. What an amazing world she made!

Good pick! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

Oh, I love them all! But if I had to choose, probably the heroine from the contemporary novel I mentioned earlier. She's sarcastic and damaged and just so much fun to write.

Can’t wait for that one! Okay, now, just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark. Always.

Salty or sweet? Both. Preferably at the same time. Chocolate-covered pretzels are my kryptonite.

Bed or kitchen table? Bed, but only because walking there to cuddle after is such a hassle.

Beach or mountains? Ooh, close call, but I'll go with mountains – assuming there's a cabin with indoor plumbing and electricity. I don't camp.

Give or receive? Give. (But always with the hope of reciprocation. I am human.)

She may learn to live for love…if vengeance doesn’t kill her first.

Plix spends her lonely, gritty life trying to solve the mysteries her father left behind. Armed with a variety of cybernetic enhancements and a talent for getting into places she shouldn’t be, she searches for clues to his murder—and who’s responsible for poisoning her city.

Waking up on a street corner with her brain wiring fried to a crisp, she figures she must have gotten close this time. There’s only one man she trusts to pull her back from the brink: a tuner who can retrieve the evidence hidden deep in the recesses of her mind. A man she dares not let too close to her heart.

When Edison downloads a secret SynDate schematic from Plix’s burnt-out circuitry, he knows with dreadful finality that nothing—not even the fiery kiss he’s been holding back for years—will stop her from pursuing her quest past the point of insanity.

All he can do, as he helps her plan her final mission, is ease her pain, watch her back…and hope one of them doesn’t pay with their lives.

Read an Excerpt!

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Amazon Author Page | Publisher’s Author Page

GIVEAWAY!
One commenter who leaves their email address will win an ecopy of Unacceptable Risk! Open to international! Winner to be chosen by random.org. Contest closes midnight EST on Sunday, 12/11! Good luck!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, JEANETTE! And thanks for reading everyone!

Laura & Jeanette

9 Hot Authors This Saturday at @UkazooBooks! Readings! Food! Fun!

2011-12-08T12:00:00.000-05:00

Join me and my good Maryland Romance Writers friends Stephanie Dray/Draven, Kate Dolan, K.D. Hays, Eliza Knight, Afton Locke, Janet Mullany, Sherri Neilson and Kate Poole offering readings, fun, food, and prizes at Ukazoo Books in Towson, Maryland! Would LOVE to see you there!

Thanks for reading,

Laura

Welcome Guest Author Boone Brux! #entangledbooks #demons

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome Fellow Entangled Publishing Author

Boone Brux

to the blog today!

Happy New Release, Boone!

Welcome, Boone! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

Thanks so much for having me, Laura. I’m Boone Brux and I’m very excited to be here today. Let’s see, I write fantasy, paranormal romance, humor, and dabble in erotic romance, pretty much any genre that lets me escape reality. I’m published through Entangled Publishing *gives lame fist pump* and Red Hot Publishing.

LOL Love that! Okay, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

Shield of Fire is book one in my Bringer and the Bane series. It tells the story of Rhys and Ravyn. He’s the last full-blooded Bringer, who are a race of beings that protect humans from the Demon Bane. Rhys saves Ravyn from a demon after she flees from Menda Abbey and takes her under his wing to train her, but quickly realizes she is not mere human.

The Demon Bane are quite adamant about kidnapping Ravyn for their own nefarious purpose, so of course there’s lots of demon attacks, fighting, screaming and mayhem. Good times.

The more Rhys and Ravyn learn about her and why the Bane need her, the more questions arise about the Bringers and their past. Book one is the beginning of the end, the spark that ignites events that lead to the ultimate battle. *Cue music: du du du dunnn*

Indeed! *grins* Which character is your favorite and why?

Definitely Icarus, son of the demon king. I like him most because he gave me so few problems. His character was fully formed from the first time he walked onto the page. He’s also a fun challenge to keep bad but different from the other demons.

Sounds awesome! As the author, what surprised you about this story?

Okay, I’m going to be brutally honest and say I was most surprised that anybody wanted to publish it, especially when the editing process started. LOL. I asked my editor how they choose a book and she said if the storyline is unique, the writing smooth, and the voice strong, they can fix the rest of the stuff. I’m in awe of what an editors do, especially those who remain positive and encouraging when you know they want to throw their computer through the window.

Editors are magical creatures, there’s no doubt about it! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

Heck yeah! There are five books planned. Books two and three will be coming out in 2012.

Excellent! I love series! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?

I guess it was plotting out the entire series. I wasn’t much of a plotter, you know, the kind of person who won’t read the directions. When my editor and I started talking about book two and three, I realized I needed to know what threads to weave through each book and where to plant the seeds. I had a tendency to drop things into the story and forget about them. All that planning made my head hurt, but boy did it make the story cohesive. It’s amazing what having a purpose for putting something into a story will do for the plot. D’oh

I’m a total pantser, myself. What are you working on right now?

Book two of the Bringer and the Bane series. It’s tentatively been titled, Kiss of the Betrayer. I’m also finishing up a story for an Entangled Publishing anthology. All proceeds will go to Autism Awareness. It’s a great project. There’s also a Halloween anthology in the works. I’m teaming up with Patricia Eimer and Rosalie Lario. I’m so excited about this project. I can’t give out many details, but I have a feeling this is going to morph into a hilarious story.

What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

It just got published. Shield of Fire was the first book I ever wrote. However, I must qualify that by saying that the first version hardly resembles the final draft.

That’s awesome! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

By far the easiest is humor. I love writing it. My husband is hilarious. Sometimes it’s like living with a stand-up comedian, but he’s great for inspiration.

Deep emotional stories are the most difficult. They wear me out. I internalize sad stories and get depressed. I’ve never watched the movie, Sophie’s Choice, but my husband told me what it was about and by the time he finished, I was bawling my eyes out. Thus I use humor to deal with most situations. That’s not always a good thing.

Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

Not yet, but I have big plans. Watch out friends and family.

Is that an evil laugh I hear?? *winks* Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

Not on purpose, though I find it helps to have a central theme. In Shield of Fire it’s a duty before self theme. Book two is more of a living with guilt theme, but no real message besides good verses evil. Even those lines get blurred. Nothing is black and white. There are always exceptions to the rule. Those are what create the best twists and surprises in a book.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Well, my high school friends are probably amazed I can read, let alone write books. On a more obscure note, I was a live-in nanny in America and Europe for twelve years. I’ve got a whole series based around those experiences planned. It should be very cathartic. The names will be changed to protect…well, not the innocent, but me from law suits.

*chuckles* Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

I’ll state the obvious first, Harry Potter. A close second is Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series because humor is my first love. Wouldn’t have minded penning Karen Marie Moning’s Fae series. Seriously brilliant.

Good choices! Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?

I wrote an erotic short sci-fi story about a woman named Andromeda. She was mouthy, funny, and a loner. I think I enjoyed her so much because she said all the things I’d love to say. Later this year I’m going to rewrite and expand her story. I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve.

That sounds great. Okay, now, just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark, because it’s healthy and goes with red wine.

Salty or sweet? Salty, but potato chips dipped in chocolate would be great.

Bed or kitchen table? Bed, I love my bed. I’d live there if I could.

Beach or mountains? Beach

Give or receive? Receive

Protecting humans is the Bringers’ duty. Sending demons to the Shadow World is their pleasure.

In one night, Ravyn’s life plunges from barely tolerable to deadly. Forced to flee the only home she’s known, she stumbles headlong into the clutches of Icarus, a powerful demon intent on stealing her powers. Unfortunately for him, she has no intention of cooperating.

When Rhys realizes the woman he’s rescued from the Bane Demon is no mere human, his obligation as a Bringer dictates he protect and train her in the ways of his people. But he’s unprepared for the intense desire he feels for the fiery Ravyn. To surrender to his need may mean her death.

As the Demon King’s desire for ultimate power escalates, fathers are slated against sons, and foes are made allies. The Bane threat upon them, Rhys and Ravyn must quest to unite the last of the Bringers—and explore a passion too powerful to ignore.

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST, BOONE! Everyone, leave Boone some new release love! Isn't that an awesome cover?

Thanks for reading,

Laura & Boone

Welcome Guest Author Natalie J. Damschroder! #entangledbooks

2011-12-06T03:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the blog to my fellow Entangled author

Natalie J. Damschroder!

Welcome, Natalie! Please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.

Thanks so much for having me today, Laura!

I’ve been writing romantic fiction for nearly 20 years, and just had my 10^th novel published. Right now, I’m writing paranormal romance for Entangled Publishing and romantic adventure for Carina Press, both under my real name, Natalie J. Damschroder. My husband and I just celebrated our 19^th anniversary, and we’re parents of two female anti-teenagers. When I’m not writing, I work part time as a chiropractic assistant and a freelance editor/proofreader. In the minuscule amount of free time I have left, I’m a rabid fan of Supernatural, Jason Manns, and the New England Patriots.

LOL Awesome description! Okay, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.

Under the Moon comes out in paperback today! (Also available in e-book.) It’s the first book in my Goddesses Rising trilogy, about modern-day goddesses whose power gives them strength, but also makes them targets. My heroine, Quinn Caldwell, and her protector, Nick Jarrett, team up with her assistant Sam Remington to track down and stop a leech from stealing power from goddesses.

Happy release day! This sounds so cool! And you know I love stories about gods and goddesses! Which character is your favorite and why?

Nick and Sam are my favorite. I can’t pick one! I love their relationship, which is overtly antagonistic but works surprisingly well when it comes to Quinn.

I love those kinds of relationships. As the author, what surprised you about this story?

Under the Moon was my first-ever NaNoWriMo book (National Novel Writing Month). Since I didn’t get the idea for the bones of the story until about two days before NaNoWriMo started, I was very surprised it went so smoothly from beginning to end. I’m still surprised that after years of rewrites and rereads and the whole production process, I love it as much as I ever did. :)

Wow! A NaNo success story to be sure! Congrats! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?

Yes! The Goddesses Rising trilogy continues next year with Heavy Metal, featuring a young goddess who has no idea she is one, and finishes up with Sunroper, where the heroine and her unlikely hero have to work together to stop a rogue goddess who has gone insane.

OMG sounds fantastic! What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

I still have it. I found it in a box last year and had to change my main bio because I’d remembered the title wrong. LOL It’s My Very Own Reading Book and it’s really a collection of mostly unfinished short stories featuring a boy named Bobby and Jamie Summers (aka the bionic woman). I wrote it in 2^nd grade, so I was probably about 6.

ROFL! That’s so awesome! What do you find easiest and hardest to write?

Hmmmm. I don’t know if anything is always easy. LOL Hardest is definitely emotion and description. I tend to focus on action and dialogue and have to layer the others in once I get to revisions. Easiest is probably scene and chapter hooks, those lines that kind of punch you and force you to keep reading when you’re supposed to be doing chores or sleeping. :)

Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?

I put a little something from my own life into everything I write, to varying degrees. In Under the Moon, Quinn owns a cabin in Michigan, near Sarett Nature Center. I did a summer internship there when I was in college. In Heavy Metal, I mention a restaurant that was a landmark in my childhood, and the restaurant’s owner makes a short appearance in the book.

Very cool! Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?

Not deliberately, but we all have one that can be impossible to get away from. Independence, a need for control, is the theme that finds its way into all of my writing.

Interesting, so, what would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

People never believe me when I say I’ve always been shy. I’m such a know-it-all control freak (sometimes labeled “leader” LOL) that people are always surprised to hear I’m an introvert. I also hate the telephone, and order pizza online so I don’t have to make a call.

Hello, fellow introvert! LOL Which romance book or series (or other genre, if you don’t write romance) do you wish you had written?

None of them, because if I had, I wouldn’t have had the joy of reading them!

LOL Love that! Okay, now, just for fun:

Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark, all the way—usually with toffee or nuts in it.

Salty or sweet? Both at the same time, or one right after the other.

Bed or kitchen table? LOL! I personally go for comfort, but the…er…immediacy of the kitchen table is always exciting.

Beach or mountains? Again, both, but the beach edges out the mountains just a little.

Give or receive? Oh, man, I’ve gotten predictable. Both! I love the satisfaction of giving someone something I know is just right, but I also love getting something I’ve wanted desperately.

Their power gives them strength…and makes them targets.

Quinn Caldwell is the epitome of a modern goddess. Her power source is the moon, her abilities restricted only by physical resources and lunar phase. She runs a consulting business and her father’s bar, serves on the board of the ancient Society for Goddess Education and Defense, and yearns for Nick Jarrett, professional goddess protector and the soul mate she can never have.

But someone has developed the rare and difficult ability to drain a goddess of her powers, and Quinn is a target. With the world thinking Nick has gone rogue (whatever that means) and that Quinn is influenced by “family ties” she didn’t know she had, keeping themselves safe while working to find the enemy proves harder each day.

But not as hard as denying their hearts…

Thanks for being coming on the blog! Where can we find you on the web?

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Amazon Author Page | Publisher Author Page

Author Blog | Supernatural Sisters Blog | Everybody Needs a Little Romance Blog

Everyone, please leave Natalie some release day love! Thanks for reading!

Laura & Natalie

#NorthofNeed Is Sizzling Read of the Month!

2011-12-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

A huge thank you to the 100+ readers who voted for North of Need for Sizzling Read of the Month at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews! North of Need was eligible for the competition based on an absolutely glowing 5-heart review. The win will put North of Need into the running for Sizzling Read of the Year. Interestingly, that contest will also put two of my books in competition, as Hearts in Darkness also won as Sizzling Read of the Month back in May!

So, I just wanted to say thank you and let you know the way you turned out for the book truly warmed my heart!

Laura

#SixSunday #38: A Critical Moment for #NorthofNeed's Greek God Hero!

2011-12-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

I've got more of North of Need's Owen and Megan for you this week, and this picks up close to where last week's ended:

His orgasm hit like a tidal wave, tossing him around until he didn’t know which way was up, dragging him down and then right back to the heavens again, stealing his breath until he dangled near the brink of unconsciousness.

Peace descended on Owen, body and mind. One beat passed, then another.

The tingling, like standing too near a live electrical current, started in his extremities and worked inward. Body still shuddering, he rolled off Megan and looked at his hands, but couldn’t see the phantom presence making its way up his arms, up his legs. When the preternatural sensation hit his chest, his whole body seized against the mattress, his head arching back unnaturally, like someone was pulling him upward by the heart.

Oh my! What's happening to Owen? ;)

Don't forget to check out the Other Sixers' posts and follow the #sixsunday hashtag on twitter!

Thanks for reading, and hopefully commenting, and happy December!

Laura

Next Stop: Poughkeepsie, with Guest Author Debra Anastasia!

2011-12-02T05:00:00.000-05:00

I'm very excited to welcome my friend and guest author
Debra Anastasia
to the blog today! She's celebrating the release of her awesome novel, Poughkeepsie, with a great giveaway! Read on...

POUGHKEEPSIE

He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others . . . he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.

Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.

When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.

Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right?

In an interwoven tale of unlikely loves and relationships forged by fire, Debra Anastasia takes readers into the darkest corners of human existence, only to show them the radiant power of pure adoration and true sacrifice. Complicated families and confused souls find their way to light in this novel, which manages to be racy, profane, funny, and reverent all at once.

Give a Copy of Poughkeepsie a Home:

Poughkeepsie in eBook, ePack, and Print: Omnific Publishing
Poughkeepsie in Kindle and Print Amazon Kindle Amazon Print
Poughkeepsie Book format allromanceebooks.com

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

GIVEAWAY
There are 2 eCopies of Poughkeepsie to give away on the blog today. To enter, please leave a comment and a valid email address. Winner will be chosen by random.org. Open to international. Contest runs through 12/2 midnight EST!

Leave Debra some love, y'all, and enter to win! And be sure to watch the trailer--it's really well done! Thanks for reading,

Laura

New Cover Goodness! #Vampire + Castle + Rope = Woot!

2011-12-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

I'm thrilled to debut the cover for my dark paranormal erotic romance, IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING, which releases on February 1, 2012 from Harlequin Nocturne Cravings.

Check this bad boy out!

Here was my query blurb, sure not to survive, but it gives you a good idea of the story:

Kael the Fair, one of seven reigning vampire warrior kings, loathes the Night of the Proffering—the night he must feed from a human female virgin to maintain his immortality and his humanity. By feeding directly from the veins of the Proffered as he takes her virginity, Kael could determine whether the mating bond exists between them—but war and a previous loss lead the king to refuse to take a mate. Groomed for the Proffering, twenty-year-old Shayla McKinnon risks her promising academic career to make two other dreams come true—vengeance for her sister's murder at the hands of the evil Soul Eaters and the impossible goal of capturing the Warrior King’s heart. In the feeding chamber this night, a battle of wills ensues, one played out through a game of domination and submission that might prove dangerous to both of their hearts.

I'm so excited about this new series, guys! If you know me at all, you know vampires are my favorite supernatural creature, so I'm psyched to bring some fangs and blood back into my life! LOL Oh, and, in case you're wondering, that's the Dunluce Castle ruins up there in Northern Ireland...

Thanks for reading! Would love to know if you have a favorite part of the cover! Squee!

Laura

Happy Book Birthday to #JustGottaSay & #NorthofNeed! Celebrate with me...

2011-11-30T00:01:00.003-05:00

I'm celebrating two book birthdays today! It's the two-month publication anniversary of my contemporary erotic romance, JUST GOTTA SAY, and the one-month publication anniversary of my contemporary fantasy romance, NORTH OF NEED!

Like to win one of these? Leave a comment with your email address and follow my blog (over yonder on right-->), and leave your blog follower name, and I'll choose two ebook winners on Friday 12/2!

Oh, and what a great birthday present for North of Need! It's received four 5-star reviews in the past two days, including one at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews that enters it in the Sizzling Hot Read of the Month contest! Please consider voting today!

Thanks for reading!

Laura

Laura Kaye, Author

Joya Fields' Beneath the Surface Trailer & Excerpt!

Judge a Book By Its Cover (JABBIC) Awards x 2! - Please Vote?!

Announcing the IN THE SERVICE OF THE KING Blog Tour! #PNR #Vampire #Fun

#SixSunday #42 - Enthralling her #vampire king...

Immortal Hope, Fact & Fiction, by Claire Ashgrove #Angels #KnightsTemplar

Jason Momoa. 'Nuff said.

#NorthofNeed is @FreshFiction's Fresh Pick!

#SixSunday #41 - The #Vampire King Meets His Offering

Welcome Guest Author Cari Quinn! #BookGiveaway!

Announcing the Crave the Heat 3-Author Blog Tour! #HQN

Welcome Guest Author Dawn Chartier! #Vampires!

#SixSunday #40 - Owen introduces the Anemoi... #PNR #GreekGods

#ForeverFreed is up for a Paranormal Reviewers' Choice Award!

Welcome Award-Winning Guest Author Rosalie Lario! #demons #yum

Awards: Breakout Author & Favorite Read(s) of 2011! I'm Saying Thanks...

Here's What I'm Hoping For in 2012!

Oh, What a Year! 2011 in Review!

#NorthofNeed is Up for 2 Awards Thru 12/31! Please Vote?

Open G*I*V*E*A*W*A*Y*S Ending Soon! Don't Miss 'Em!

Welcome Guest Author Paige Cuccaro! #EntangledBooks #Angels

Welcome Guest Author Rachel Firasek! #PNR

For the Love of Snowmen: Feel-Good Pics from Readers & Me!

Come Meet Pete the Sexy Mailman...and Guest Author Joya Fields!

Happy Book Birthday Hearts in Darkness!

Don't Miss My SnOHw Man! #Giveaway at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews!

#SixSunday #39 - Some Ancient Holiday Cheer from #NorthofNeed!

Stuff Your Stockings Christmas Ho Ho Hop!

Join Me & @StephanieDraven at A Novel Idea Bookstore, Bridgeton, NJ 12/17!

17 Authors, 26 eBooks, 1 Kindle Fire - Will it be yours?

Photos from a Great Weekend: Booksigning, Surprise Getaway, Holiday Fun!

#NorthofNeed is Up for Sizzling Read of the Year! Please V*O*T*E!

Welcome Guest Author Jeanette Grey & Her Debut Cyperpunk Romance!

9 Hot Authors This Saturday at @UkazooBooks! Readings! Food! Fun!

Welcome Guest Author Boone Brux! #entangledbooks #demons

Welcome Guest Author Natalie J. Damschroder! #entangledbooks

#NorthofNeed Is Sizzling Read of the Month!

#SixSunday #38: A Critical Moment for #NorthofNeed's Greek God Hero!

Next Stop: Poughkeepsie, with Guest Author Debra Anastasia!

New Cover Goodness! #Vampire + Castle + Rope = Woot!

Happy Book Birthday to #JustGottaSay & #NorthofNeed! Celebrate with me...

Open GIVEAWAYS Ending Soon! Don't Miss 'Em!

#NorthofNeed is Up for Sizzling Read of the Year! Please VOT*E!