Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Top 10 Posts Countdown #4

Writer's cave hiatus--finishing Assassins Bite among other things. Enjoy the top 10 posts from my blog in the meantime :)

#4 Soulgirls--Las Vegas paranormal--Guest Heather Long

Paranormal romance comes in all shapes and sizes. From her Soulgirls series partying in a paranormal Las Vegas to the Fevered Hearts struggling for survival in 1850s Texas, Heather Long loves to build rich worlds populated by colorful characters. April is Heather’s birthday month and she’s celebrating a lot of new releases including A Fistful of Dreams, book four of the epic adventure series featuring the Kane and Morning Star families as well as the audible release of book 2 of her Always a Marine series, Retreat Hell! She Just Got Here. April also marks the month that Taking the Stage went on pre-order.

Don’t miss out on one exciting minute!

Read more:
http://maryhughesbooks.blogspot.com/2013/04/soulgirls-las-vegas-paranormal-guest.html

Thursday, May 22, 2014

You Don't Know Jack--Guest Michelle Hughes

You Don't Know Jack!

Bought for Love - Book One in the "You Don't Know Jack" series.  Alpha Male/Virgin Romance



You don't know Jack yet, but he's ready to meet you! Introducing Jack Duncan:  Billionaire, Alpha Male, Opinionated, and doesn't understand the word no. Trust me!  Once you've met him, he's impossible to forget!   Did I mention, ruthless?  You don't get to where Jack is now by playing things safe.  His motto? Saying no is not an option, but I'll let you think things are going your way.  

There's no denying that this charming, gorgeous piece of man is beautiful to look at.  Remember there's always a catch!  As Jack doesn't mind telling you, nothing in life is free.  Want to play in his world?  His rules, his choices, and your decision.  Unless he decides that your choices are the wrong ones.  You don't know Jack yet, but believe me, he's unforgettable!



Can a person be bought for love? You don't know Jack!

Jack Duncan is a ruthless, egotistical, cold hearted son of a bitch and that's only in the boardroom.  When it comes to sex and romance the only word he expects to hear is yes!  Sinfully sexy, he could manipulate anyone to follow his lead and he wasn't above pretending to be something he was not to get what he wanted.

Emily Yates was sweet, young, and innocent.  The perfect pawn for a man like Jack to use.  She was a blank slate that he could mold into the woman he wanted by his side for his political career.  From the moment she walked into his office, he was determined to have her in his bed, in his life, and as his perfect little pet. Jack poured on the charm and Emily saw the man he wanted her to see, but would she discover out who he really was before her heart was destroyed?  You don't know Jack.  He gets what he wants.  

Even if Emily discovered his true nature, would she already be too far gone to walk away?  And would he let her leave if she tried? When a man like Jack decided you're his, all you can do is hope to survive the aftermath of whatever plans he has.










That smile of his.  How could anyone in the world resist the charm of it?  "All I really want is to get to know you better."  The thought of him teaching me sent a strange thrill through my body that I didn't understand.

"And you will.  Tell me you'll let me show you my world.  I promise you won't regret it."

His eyes met mine and the intensity in that dark blue stare, made me catch my breath.  When his long finger reached up to caress my cheek, I was pretty sure I'd let him do whatever he wanted with me.  I nodded. He kissed me tenderly and the breath I'd been holding expelled on a sigh.  

"The things I will show you." Jack pulled me into his lap and I was so startled that I froze.  When he kissed me again though, I couldn't object. 

Wrapping my arms around his neck I surrendered to that kiss.  The rest of the world faded to black and he opened my mind to passion.  I didn't want to let go and apparently he didn't either since his arms snaked around my waist holding me tightly.

I felt the press of his erection against my bottom, and it terrified and excited me at the same time.  Stiffening in his hold, I felt him release me.  "You make me feel things I shouldn't."  He lifted me off his lap and placed me carefully beside him in the seat.

I didn't know how to rationalize his words, because I was still dealing with the shock of knowing he wanted me that way.  It was pretty heady.  This gorgeous man being turned on by my kiss?  I kept my eyes lowered and felt my cheeks burn.

"So incredibly untainted." His soft growl did something to my body I couldn't express.  Jack reached out his hand to a button that lowered the partition window from the driver.  "To the yacht, now!"

The way he talked to Dante was so demeaning that I found it hard to resonate the demanding man with the one that had kissed me so tenderly.   Jack Duncan was a very confusing man.

The tick in his jaw showed that he was angry, and I wasn't sure why.  "Did I do something wrong?" The thought of disappointing him didn't sit well with me, and I felt really insecure.  Maybe he didn't like the way I kissed?

"Little one the only thing wrong is I want to make love to you and I don't think you're ready for me yet." He chuckled and shook his head.  "Forgive me?"



I know people say you should be professional when discussing your background, but that's just not who I am in real life.  I'm a mother, wife, and author. Readers, I consider my friends, because you're sharing my imagination and that makes us closer than just two strangers!  I have always felt that I don't write a story as much as it writes me.  Characters consume my mind until I get so tired of listening to them in my head, I put them down on paper (computer would be more accurate these days).

I started publishing books in 2009, because honestly I was tired of keeping these stories to myself.  I was working as a Respiratory Therapist in 2008 when I was laid off, and I had tons of free time.  My youngest son was still at home in those days, so when he napped I'd write.  My husband and I made the conscious decision that I wouldn't go back to work until he started school.  Then the writing career took off.  I was making a better living staying home writing books, so I never returned to the workforce.  These days I do what I love, and have time to do all the things with my kids that a working parent normally can't.  It's been a huge blessing!  

Keep up with me on any of my social media links, I promise I'll return the favor!

Web:          www.michellehughes.net











Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Unforeseen Obsession--Guest Valerie J. Clarizio--Plus Giveaway!


Today I'm part of friend Valerie J. Clarizio's release blog hop. She's sharing a new Unforeseen Obsessions excerpt every day. Plus check out the Rafflecopter :) Please welcome Val!


After Alex Polecheck's police officer husband, Sam, is stabbed in cold blood, she vows to see the murderer brought to justice. Peter, Sam’s best friend, and fellow police officer, seems to be the only member of the Police Department interested in catching the killer.


Peter sets out on a perilous hunt for the killer, while trying to protect Alex, who appears to be next on the murderer’s list.


The mystery begins to unravel when Peter finds a connection between the murder of Sam and two other law enforcement officers, who were all part of an internet crime taskforce. Peter and Alex find themselves alone in the battle for justice and truth when they discover members of the local police department cannot be trusted. Will Peter piece together the puzzle before Alex is silenced? While battling to protect Alex, will he be able to continue to conceal his love for her?
Available at Amazon and Whiskey Creek Press   



Valerie is a writer of romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and women’s fiction novels. She lives in beautiful Door County Wisconsin with her husband and one very spoiled cat. She loves to read, write, and spend time at her cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She’s lived her life surrounded by men, three brothers, a husband, and a male Siamese cat who required his own instruction manual. Keeping up with all the men in her life has turned her into a successful hunter and fisherwoman.


She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Additionally, she was a finalist in the 2011 Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, Novellas Need Love, Too! Contest.


Ms. Clarizio’s Links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads


Excerpt 3--Chapter 1


Tears burned her eyes as she continued to kneel in the damp grass. His head still rested on her lap.

“Alex…Alex.”

She lifted her gaze to find Peter, Sam’s partner, squatting in front of her. He must have heard the 911 call over his radio.

She watched as Peter placed his hands on Sam’s shoulders and gently slid him off her lap.

He rose to his feet, pulling her up with him. She stared into his warm brown eyes. He looked as confused as she felt. Wrapping his arms around her he pulled her to him as she sobbed into his chest. He guided her away from Sam so the EMTs had room to work. Though they attempted to revive him, Alex knew there was nothing they could do for him. She had seen the unmistakable transition in his eyes.

Alex struggled to stop her tears, and put her thoughts in order. It seemed to take forever.

She lifted her head from Peter’s chest and stepped back. His gaze held hers. Her throat constricted. She knew what she wanted to ask but sound escaped her. She swallowed hard and fought for a voice. “What happened here? I don’t understand. Who would do this to Sam?” she asked Peter, Sam’s partner and best friend dating as far back as grade school.

Peter’s watery gaze never left hers. She stared up at him, waiting. The pain in his eyes was unmistakable. He suffered as well. He’d just lost his best friend.


He cleared his throat. “I don’t know.”


See the rest of the excerpt at the sites listed at Valerie J. Clarizio's Tour!


Available at Amazon and Whiskey Creek Press



Giveaway:

$10 Amazon Gift Card

2-Ebook Copies of Unforeseen Obsessions

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Thanks to Roxy Mews, I'm (sort of) able to go to #RT14!



And here are my partners in Lustiness:

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Top 10 Posts Countdown #5

Writer's cave hiatus--finishing Assassins Bite among other things. Enjoy the top 10 posts from my blog in the meantime :)

#5 Welcome Guest Blogger Vivi Andrews!

Shortly after the release of my first novella as an ebook, I went to a local romance writers’ meeting.  Afterward, at lunch with a trio of aspiring writers, we whiled away a few hours chatting about the biz.  It was heady stuff, my first experience being appealed to as a published author in the know.  But I quickly discovered I had no idea how to answer their questions – not because I knew nothing about writing (though that may be more true than I’d like to admit) but because their approach to writing so wildly differed from my own.

They wanted to know how I got the brass publishing ring into my hot little hands, but their first question wasn’t about how I researched which editors and agents to submit to or how I plotted my multi-pronged attack on the publishing industry, but rather which workshop I thought was most directly responsible for my publication. 

Read more:
http://maryhughesbooks.blogspot.com/2009/10/welcome-guest-blogger-vivi-andrews.html

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

May 1T Olio

photo credit: ucumari via photopin cc
What two words make me a happy author?

I'll give you a hint. One begins with a c and ends with ontract. The other is sing, sideways.

NEWS NEWS NEWS!

Signed Contract. I've signed a contract with Samhain Publishing for the first of a new series. Heart of the Wolf (previously Alphas Don't Wear Bows) features witch princess Sophia searching for her aunt but finding alpha wolf shifter Noah instead.

The Pull of the Moon series. I have to admit, my original idea was for a lighter, more safe-for-work version of the Biting Love stories. But. Life. Happened.

Editor Christa kindly informed me shifter novels need to be hot. Really hot. About the same time I joined up with Roxy & Jodi at Lust With A Laugh.

photo credit: Bruce McKay Yellow Snow Photography via photopin cc
So, not Biting Love. Think darker. And much, much sexier.

Prequel novella Masked Attraction, featuring wizard Daniel and wolf shifter Zoe, is coming as part of a Mo's Crew bundle in time for Halloween this year.

Look for Heart of the Wolf in 2015.