Manga Maniac Cafe

Character Interview with Bion Donkova from Mary Wine’s A Captain and A Corset and Giveaway!

Julie — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Please welcome Bion Donkova, intrepid airship captain from Mary Wine’s A Captain and A Corset. After the interview, enter for a chance to win a copy of A Captain and A Corset!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in five words or less.

[Bion Donkova] Right. Always Right. Never, ever wrong. Ms. Stevenson calls me arrogant. I believe she is ignorant of the world. But that is a given, she’s been raised with the narrow views of Victorian society.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share a typical day in the life of Bion Donkova?

[Bion Donkova] Dedication to duty. I set a goal to become a Navigator and it is something only achieved by the best. My skills in piloting an airship must be above excellent. Security is a chief concern, so Asian fighting skills are a must and they require daily training periods. Now I have the added duty of instructing Ms. Stevenson in the arts of being a Navigator. I do not mind mentoring her but she is stubborn.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words come to mind when you think of Sophia?

[Bion Donkova] Stubborn, Unfairly fortunate. She encountered a Root Ball, which transformed her sight. It’s something I have been working toward for years and she stumbled upon.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What was the first thing that you noticed about her?

[Bion Donkova] Madam, that is not fit for public discussion.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be?

[Bion Donkova] Hummm, I believe that would involve the night that my good friend Sven and I went drinking at the Red Petticoat. I would decline the wager to seduce the madam who ran the upstairs establishment. Who might have guessed that so petite a woman might have leg irons secured so firmly to the sides of her bed?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What’s one thing you won’t leave home without?

[Bion Donkova] My integrity. Honor defines a man.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t saving Sophia from the forces of evil?

[Bion Donkova] Raising eyebrow. A gentleman never kisses and tells.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share your dreams for the future in five words or less.

[Bion Donkova] I could never confine a definition of my new wife to so few words. I expect mayhem but confess I have become addicted to it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Purchase link:

About the book:

Airship Captain Bion Donkova has devoted his life to enhancing his navigational powers. When he discovers Sophia Stevenson has inadvertently received the gift of every captain’s dreams—the rare and powerful root crystal—he is just about ready to throw her overboard.

Sophia’s not so enchanted with her newfound powers—especially when she becomes the target of a corrupt airship deadset on using her powers for evil. When Sophia goes missing, Captain Bion drops his grudge and thunders to her rescue. Once the two are free of danger, it doesn’t take long before old grudges return, tempers flare, and red-hot passion ignite

PR: Debbie Macomber Fan Retreat – Grab Your Girlfriends and Head to Nashville

Julie — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:00 +0000

I received a press release for Debbie Macomber’s Fan Retreat, and because it sounds like fun, I wanted to share all of the deets. Check it out:

Looking for an easy summer getaway? Grab your girlfriends and head to Nashville for a special weekend with fellow book lovers in one of the South’s most vibrant cities! Held at the exquisite Opryland Resort from August 9–11, Debbie Macomber Fan Retreat offers the perfect way to experience the tastes, sounds and Southern charms of Nashville.

Enjoy a weekend of fun without planning a thing

Book your hotel room and your Fan Retreat ticket covers the rest! Get ready for an all-inclusive weekend of entertainment: listen to a country music band under the Tennessee stars; hop on a bus tour of Nashville’s landmarks and celebrity homes; dance the night away with friends at the Sock Hop Dinner; and spend time with one of America’s favorite authors, Debbie Macomber.

Experience the famed Opryland Resort for less

Fan Retreat guests will enjoy Opryland Resort‘s many amenities—luxurious guest rooms, acres of beautiful indoor gardens, cascading waterfalls, three pools to lounge by—all at an exclusive discount, making this the perfect weekend escape.

Exclusive perks at Fan Retreat

At Fan Retreat you’ll also walk away with tons of swag: early access to Debbie Macomber’s new novel, Rose Harbor in Bloom; and special giveaways from event partners including FitBit, Celestial Seasonings and local favorite, GooGoo Clusters. Plus a one year subscription to ALL YOU. To lighten the load, we’re including a Debbie Macomber tote bag to help bring everything home!

Win a Consultation with Publishing Professionals

Are you an aspiring writer? Sign up for the Fan Retreat between now and June 30th and your entered to win a consultation with a member from Debbie’s Random House publishing team. Meet with someone from editorial, marketing, or publicity to get an in-depth look at what goes on at a major publishing house and tips on how to navigate it all.

For more information on Debbie Macomber Fan Retreat and tickets, go to MacomberRetreat.com.

Interview with P. J. Hoover, Author of Solstice

Julie — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Please welcome P. J. Hoover to the virtual offices today! P. J. is here to chat about her debut novel Solstice. Check out what she has to say.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[P. J. Hoover] MG/YA SFF author. Prior Electrical Engineer. Solves the Rubik’s Cube. Practices Kung Fu. Plays Wizard101. SOLSTICE (Tor 2013) & TUT (Tor 2014)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Solstice?

[P. J. Hoover] Sure! It’s a YA dystopian/mythology novel aimed at fans of Hunger Games and Percy Jackson. Solstice is set in Austin, in the future, when Global Warming is destroying the earth. It’s about this girl, Piper, who on her 18th birthday opens a mysterious present and all of a sudden this crazy world of mythology starts to explode around her. Her best friend almost dies, Piper has to travel to the Underworld to save her, and there are Greek gods.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[P. J. Hoover] I’ve always been a huge mythology buff, so I knew I wanted to do something with Greek mythology. The Persephone/Hades story was one of my favorites, but rather than writing a retelling, I wanted to do more of a “what happens after the myth” take on things. And so Solstice was born.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Piper?

[P. J. Hoover] Rebellious, Overprotected, and Passionate

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Piper had a theme song, what would it be?

[P. J. Hoover] It’s the End of the World as We Know It – R.E.M.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Piper is never without.

[P. J. Hoover] Curiosity

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Piper’s bedroom?

[P. J. Hoover] Dead flowers, a heater, wool socks

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Piper’s greatest regret?

[P. J. Hoover] Randy Conner’s death

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[P. J. Hoover] J. R. R. Tolkien, Joseph Campbell, and Homer

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[P. J. Hoover] Silence from my kids’ chatter, a computer, motivation

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[P. J. Hoover] I just finished The Madman’s Daughter and loved the story, the characters, and the basis for the novel. I am totally going to watch the Dr. Moreau movie now to compare them.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[P. J. Hoover] The Cave of Time (a Choose your Own Adventure Book from my book fair back in elementary school)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[P. J. Hoover] Hang with my family, practice Kung Fu, play Wizard101, and spend time with friends

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[P. J. Hoover] Thanks for asking! Readers can connect to me through the below places!

Website: http://www.pjhoover.com

Blog: http://pjhoover.blogspot.com

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorPJHoover

Facebook Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/pj.hoover1

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pj_hoover

Intagram: http://instagram.com/pj_hoover

Tumblr: http://pjhoover.tumblr.com

Email: http://www.pjhoover.com/contact.php

[Manga Maniac Café] Thank you!

About the author:

P. J. Hoover first fell in love with Greek mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. After a fifteen year bout as an electrical engineer designing computer chips for a living, P. J. decided to take her own stab at mythology and started writing books for kids and teens. When not writing, P. J. spends time with her husband and two kids and enjoys practicing kung fu, solving Rubik’s cubes, and watching Star Trek. Her first novel for teens, Solstice (Tor Teen, June 18, 2013), takes place in a global warming future and explores the parallel world of mythology beside our own. Her middle grade novel, Tut (Tor Children’s, 2014), tells the story of a young immortal King Tut, who’s been stuck in middle school for over 3,000 years and must defeat an ancient enemy with the help of a dorky kid from school, a mysterious Egyptian princess, and a one-eyed cat. For more information about P. J. (Tricia) Hoover, please visit her website www.pjhoover.com.

Purchase link:

About the book:

Piper’s world is dying.

Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.

Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.

An imaginative melding of mythology and dystopia, Solstice is the first YA novel by talented newcomer P. J. Hoover.

Interview with Cathy Perkins, Author of For Love or Money and Giveaway!

Julie — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:12:00 +0000

Please welcome Cathy Perkins to the virtual offices this morning! Cathy is here to chat about her new release For Love or Money, and after the interview, she has an awesome giveaway for you to enter! Cathy is offering a Kindle Paperwhite to one lucky winner as part of her For Love of Money Blog Tour celebration! Simply fill out the rafflecopter form provided below for your chance to be entered. ?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Cathy Perkins] Oh wow, I’m so much better talking about someone else. Hmm, here’s my favorite descriptive tweet: Award-winning mystery writer, financial geek, thinks the best part of the Mediterranean diet is the wine. And the cheese. Maybe the olives

Whew – 2 characters to spare

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about For Love Or Money?

[Cathy Perkins] For Love or Money just released from Entangled Publishing. After writing several dark stories, I moved to the lighter end of the mystery/suspense spectrum with this new series. Written from Holly Price’s perspective, the mystery romps through eastern Washington State with its rivers, wineries, Native American casinos, and assorted farm animals. The relationship, some wicked fun chemistry between the CPA (Certified Pain in the Ass) amateur sleuth and a Franklin County detective, is a big part of the story. For Love or Money was huge fun to write and the advance reviews say readers like it!

Here’s the official blurb:

When Holly Price trips over a friend’s dead body while hiking, her life takes a nosedive into a world of intrigue and danger. The verdict is murder—and Holly is the prime suspect. Of course, the fact that the infinitely sexy—and very pissed off—cop threatening to arrest her is JC Dimitrak, who just happens to be Holly’s jilted ex-fiancé, doesn’t help matters.

To protect her future, her business…and her heart…the intrepid forensic accountant must use all her considerable investigative skills to follow the money through an intricate web of shadow companies, while staying one step ahead of her ex-fiancé. She better solve the case before the real killer decides CPA stands for Certified Pain in the Ass…and the next dead body found beside the river is Holly’s.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Cathy Perkins] Most of my stories start with either a daydream or a “what if,” but inspiration can hit in the strangest places. My husband and I were hiking along the Snake River in a game management area called Big Flats (which happens to feature in For Love or Money) and had to push through some tangled foliage at the shoreline. Being a mystery writer whose mind can go all kinds of strange places, I glanced over my shoulder and said, “Wouldn’t this be a great place to find a body?”

That germ of an idea kept growing. Why would the heroine be out at Big Flats to stumble over the body? How did the body end up beside the river in the first place?

The characters evolved as the story progressed. At first, I had Holly & JC simply meeting and rejecting the mutual attraction for assorted reasons. The chemistry between them kept growing and I realized they knew each other “before.” While that earlier relationship ended badly, the attraction was very definitely still there. It was a lovely way to add to Holly’s relationship conflict – was JC using her to get information or was he really interested in her? After the disastrous first time, could she ever trust him?

Writing the mystery from Holly’s perspective put a different spin to the murder investigation. (It would’ve been a completely different story told from JC’s perspective or even if they shared the POV role.) At times, though, I had to write scenes from JC’s perspective to make sure I knew where his head was. Then I had to filter those thoughts and reactions through Holly’s POV to get it on the page. A lovely challenge! I’ll put the “JC scene” on my website under “extras.”

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Holly?

[Cathy Perkins] Smart; tenacious; witty

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If JC had a theme song, what would it be?

[Cathy Perkins] A theme song? JC has a theme song? Damn. He never shared that little detail. Then again, he does hold his cards close to his vest.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Holly is never without.

[Cathy Perkins] Holly is never without her phone. She’s constantly using it for notes, texts, calls… and maybe for rescue.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in JC’s bathroom?

[Cathy Perkins] JC wouldn’t come close to qualifying as a metrosexual, so definitely no hair styling products. After a failed marriage, he’s not about to let another woman move in and set up even temporary residence (although he would definitely make an exception for Holly), so no women’s tampons. And no candles. The only thing he wants to smell is the unique fragrance that is all Holly.

I started to add a rubber duck to the list, but given there actually is a Duck Float on the Columbia River (huge fundraiser with yes, little rubber ducks ), he might’ve ended up with one. Or two. Hmm… I can use that in the sequel…

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Holly’s greatest regret?

[Cathy Perkins] When Holly’s staring at the wrong end of the killer’s gun, she rather regrets she doesn’t have super-powers or at least a Kevlar vest. But the rest of the time, she regrets not giving JC a chance.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Cathy Perkins] My laptop – or a pad of paper and a pen with endless ink. I don’t have to be at my desk or the counter in the kitchen. The location can be anywhere. I once wrote a scene on the back of my bank deposit slip while standing in line to vote. The only thing I need to write is a starting point – an idea or a direction to get the words flowing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Cathy Perkins] I recently read Tana French’s In the Woods and loved both her use of language and the characters.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Cathy Perkins] I’ve read so many books, I’m struggling to pick just one. (I was the kid who was always lost in a story.) I read My Friend Flicka (did you know there was a sequel titled, Thunderhead?) when I was in elementary school. It’s the first time I remember actually writing myself into the story. Years later, the Anne McCaffrey novels had the same impact. Of course, I’d also have a dragon. I loved the world building and the characters became friends I couldn’t wait to hang out with.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Cathy Perkins] Like most authors, I still have a day job that demands a lot of time. When I’m not doing that or writing, I’m usually at our place in the mountains. We bought land that was a complete mess – collapsed barns, miles of rusting barbed wire fence and acres of trees and grass that hadn’t been maintained any better than the barns and fencing! (We’ve become close personal friends with everyone who works at the local dump!) It’s coming together and I love sitting on our (new) deck with friends, sharing a glass of wine at the end of the day.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Cathy Perkins] I’m active on Facebook and Twitter or you can check my website for the rest of the tour’s schedule or other updates about new releases.

Thanks so much for inviting me to the Cafe – it’s been fun chatting with you.

[Manga Maniac Café] Thank you!

Giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Description:

When Holly Price trips over a friend’s dead body while hiking, her life takes a nosedive into a world of intrigue and danger. The verdict is murder—and Holly is the prime suspect.

Of course, the fact that the infinitely sexy—and very pissed off—cop threatening to arrest her is JC Dimitrak, who just happens to be Holly’s jilted ex-fiancé, doesn’t help matters.

Book Information

Title: For Love or Money
Author: Cathy Perkins
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Length: 367 pages
Release Date: May 2013
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62266-097-1
Imprint: Suspense

Buy Links:

Purchase from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/For-Love-or-Money-ebook/dp/B00CK51J3U/

Purchase from Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-love-or-money-cathy-perkins/1115213927

About the Author:

Author Website: http://cperkinswrites.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cperkinswrites

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5367341.Cathy_Perkins

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CathyPerkinsAuthor

Bio: Cathy Perkins is a member of the Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She writes predominantly financial-based mysteries but enjoys exploring the relationship aspect of her characters’ lives. Her suspense writing lurks behind a financial day-job, where she learned firsthand the camouflaged, hide in plain sight, skills employed by her villains.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the setting of FOR LOVE OR MONEY, with her work-a-holic husband, a 75-pound Lab who thinks she’s still a lap-puppy and a Wirehair puppy’s who’s intent on digging her way to China. You can learn more about Cathy on her website http://cperkinswrites.com.

Waiting on Wednesday–Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Julie — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

I want a dragon!!!

In stores September 2013

Trinity
Don’t leave me here… It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn’t be a big surprise–her grandpa firmly believes there’s a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it’s begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it…
Connor
He’s come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.
Caleb
He’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.
Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head–a dragon that won’t be tamed.

What are you waiting on?

Guest Post and Excerpt: Robin Covington, Author of Playing the Part

Julie — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:57:00 +0000

Please welcome Robin Covington, author of Playing the Part, to the virtual offices this morning! She’s here to tell about yummy men with ooey-gooey insides. After, Robin has an amazing giveaway, with a $50 gift card for the grand prize!

Heroes are like Ghiradelli Chocolate squares.

You know the ones . . . they come in those square, metallic packets. All different colors depending on the filling . . . my favorite is the bronze colored ones that contain the milk chocolate filled with creamy caramel . . . excuse me while I wipe off the drool.

I love opening the wrapper and seeing the dark chocolate—creamy but also firm – strong enough to protect the softer inside. The first bite is eye-rollingly-good. The chocolate resisting just before it gives way and the sweet, sultry caramel spreads over my tongue.

My Ghardelli chocolate square is just like my favorite kind of hero: strong on the outside but when touched with the right pressure he gives into and allows the sweetness to ooze out. And I want my hero to only be that way for me —to everyone else he’s Fort Knox—but to me he caves like that chocolate square.

My all-time favorite tough guy character with the sweet gooey center? Zsadist from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. This guy was all kinds of mean, closed off and covered from head-to-toe in Teflon. Only one woman had the chance to break through his armor—Bella—and he completed the circle with his daughter Nalla. But don’t think he’s a softie and a pushover, he will take you out in a heartbeat of you threaten them.

He is my ultimate Ghirardelli Chocolate Square . . . which hero is yours?

Excerpt – Playing the Part by Robin Covington

She was only human.

Piper looked down on the gorgeous, tousled, sexy man sprawled under her in the front seat of this way-too-small car. Mick’s eyes were dark—intense and tracking every movement she made. His chest rose in time with the harsh pants erupting from his mouth, the breaths ragged and loud in the silence stretching between them. His hands clenched in fists at his side, his body radiating the tension ricocheting around this car—he was waiting on her signal.

She gave him one.

Bypassing the temptation of his mouth, she zeroed in on the delicious expanse of his neck. The bristly stubble of his five-o’clock shadow scraped the tender inner part of her lip as she dragged her mouth over his skin, tasting the musky sweetness, the sharp tang of his arousal. Unable to help herself, she zeroed in on the pulse pounding just under his skin and took a little nip. Nothing too hard. Nothing to leave a mark. But damn, it got the reaction she wanted.

Mick snaked one hand around her waist, anchoring her against the hard, muscled expanse of his chest and the even harder bulge in his jeans. He slid the other hand up her back, tracing her spine and leaving a trail of tingly shivers in its wake before he wove his fingers into the hair at her nape. A tug, perfectly balanced between pleasure and pain, brought her mouth within kissing distance.

If he had eased into his possession of her desire, she might have second-guessed the decision to indulge in this moment, but he offered no mercy, annihilating her common sense with the destructive focus of one of his action movie roles. He was a world-class kisser, the combination of soft lips, firm strokes of tongue, and the sharp edge of his teeth all living up to the fantasies of his millions of fans.

“Let’s take this inside,” Mick murmured against her mouth.

“No. Here.” Her naughty side was coming out. She’d already checked—Mick had pulled into one of the secluded parking spots. No one would see.

Mick ceased the fevered mapping of her body, stopping just shy of her aching breasts, and Piper groaned in protest. He pulled back, his eyes dark and glittering under the meager lamplight. Full of questions. She lifted up, bracing her arms against the backseat on either side of his head.

She didn’t need to think about this. She’d made her decision. No, she needed Mick to live up to his reputation—in and out, no strings, no problems. She lowered her head, intending to restart the party.

Mick had other ideas. “If I were a good boy,” he said, “I’d point out that we’re in public.”

“We both know you aren’t that good.”

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Robin’s Bio:

Robin Covington, who NYT Best Selling authors, Robyn Carr and Carly Phillips, said was their new “auto-buy author”, writes sizzling hot contemporary and paranormal romance.

A Night of Southern Comfort, her best-selling debut novel earned 4.5 stars and was touted by RT Book Reviews as bringing a “fresh, modern feel to the genre while still sticking to the things that get our adrenaline pumping — sex and danger”. When she’s not exploring the theme of fooling around and falling in love, she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Mangianello.

Robin is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Washington Romance Writers, a faculty member at Romance University, a member of the Waterworld Mermaids, and a contributor to the Happy Ever After blog at USA Today. You can find Robin on her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter (@RobinCovington).

Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children, and ginormous puppy.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobinCovingtonAuthor?ref=ts&fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/robincovington

Website: http://robincovingtonromance.com/

Blog: http://robincovingtonromance.com/burning-up-the-sheets/

Playing the Part Buy Links:

Amazon:

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/playing-the-part-robin-covington/1115250855?ean=9781622667833

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Playing-the-Part/book-uNZPlvPOAkGupT4jhNTJDw/page1.html?s=7RyFcfdYJEue8i5ul93wBA&r=2

Tour Schedule:

http://www.entangledinromance.com/2013/06/10/playing-the-part-blog-tour/

About Playing the Part:

The harder they play . . . the harder they fall.
After publicly self-destructing over a heartbreak a year ago, bestselling romance writer Piper James is now making nice with her publisher by agreeing to teach Hollywood’s favorite action star how to act like he’s in love. Only playboy Mick Blackwell has no clue what love looks like.

When a seductive heat ignites between Piper and Mick, she jumps at the chance for a bit of fun between the sheets, but with two stipulations: she’s kept out of the public eye and things end when she returns to New York. Only Mick keeps changing the rules on her. Tempted by America’s favorite bad boy, Piper is wondering how far she’s willing to bend…

Character Interview with Finn Tremble from Tammy Falkner’s The Magic of “I Do” and Giveaway

Julie — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Please welcome special guest Finn Tremble to the virtual offices today! Finn is the protagonist of Tammy Falkner’s The Magic of “I Do,” and he has quite a bit to say this morning. After, he has a copy of A Lady and Her Magic for one of you to win.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in five words or less.

[Finn] Smitten. (Only description that matters right now.)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share a typical day in the life of Lord Phineas Tremble?

[Finn] Before I met Claire, it was – Spending time at my club, solving some petty crimes, vising with Robin and Anne, and the rest of my time was spent finding a woman to warm my bed.

After I met Claire, it became — thinking about Claire, wanting Claire, looking for Claire, and making Claire fall in love with me, and finding ways keep Claire in my bed.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words come to mind when you think of Claire?

[Finn] Stubborn, beautiful and MINE.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you find most exasperating about her?

[Finn] What’s not exasperating about her? Even more exasperating is how bloody much I love every exasperating thing she does.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be?

[Finn] I would never have fallen asleep after that first night with Claire. Then she never could have gotten away from me.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What’s one thing you won’t leave home without?

[Finn] A kiss from Claire.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t helping in the search for murderers?

[Finn] I like to help manage my brother’s holdings. I have a certain affinity for it, and I hadn’t realized how much I enjoy the responsibility of it until he was gone.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share your dreams for the future in five words or less.

[Finn] I want magic! (That’s only three words. But it sums up how I feel for Claire, our life together and our future.)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

[Finn] Thanks for having me. I hope you love THE MAGIC OF ‘I DO’!

Giveaway!

Ready for a chance to win A Lady and Her Magic (book 1 in the Regency Faery series)? Fill out the widget below. US addresses only, please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE MAGIC OF “I DO” BY TAMMY FALKNER – IN STORES JUNE 2013

Desperately Seeking Excitement…

With the temporary prohibition on magic on the land of the Fae, Claire Thorne might as well go back to the Regency world. The haut ton has just as many annoying rules as her world, but at least they have parties and dances. Plus, the roguish Lord Phineas "Finn" Trimble is there…

When the feisty faerie tumbles into his room through a magical portal, Finn can’t believe how completely unpredictable she is. Even before the two stumble into a dangerous intrigue that threatens both their worlds, Finn discovers that his hitherto carefree life is about to go up in smoke…

Praise for A Lady and Her Magic:

“A dash of Jane Austen and a sprinkle of faery dust make this book a treasure.” —Kathryne Kennedy, author of The Elven Lord series

“Charming and filled with the magic of love and faith…Falkner’s tale whisks readers into a realm of enchantment.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Marvelous magical mayhem.” —Midwest Book Review

“Absolutely enchanting…a delicious Regency fairy tale beautifully written.” —Romance Junkies

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As half of the Lydia Dare writing team, Tammy Falkner has co-written ten books, including A Certain Wolfish Charm and In the Heat of the Bite. A huge fan of Regency England, her regency paranormal series combines the magical elements of both mystical faeries and the glittering regency ton. Tammy lives on a farm in rural North Carolina with her husband and a house full of boys, a few dogs, and a cat or two. Visit her website, www.tammyfalkner.com, for more information.

To purchase The Magic of “I Do”

Cover Shot! The Historians by Trisha Leigh

Julie — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

ZOMG! I love, love, LOVE this cover! I love all of the details in the bridge and the pillars, and those glasses – they rock! The premise looks awesome, too. In stores July 2013

*If you could learn the identity of your one true love—even knowing you’d probably never meet—would you do it?*

Years have passed since refugees from a ruined earth took to space, eventually terraforming a new system of planets. Science has not only made the leaps necessary to allow time travel, but the process engineered a strange side effect—predicting people’s one true love.

The problem? If only one soul ever has been born, or will be born, that perfectly matches yours, the chances the two will exist in the same time and place are almost zero. It’s rare enough that the predictions have been reduced to a game, a parlor trick, and no one expects a happily ever after with their True.

*If you had the chance to meet your one true love—even knowing you couldn’t be together—would you go?*

Seventeen-year-old Kaia Vespasian is an apprentice to the Historians—a group charged with using time travel to document the triumphs and failures of the past—and can’t resist a peek at her long-dead one true love. Before she knows it, she’s broken every rule in the book, and the consequences of getting caught could be disastrous.

*If you could save your one true love from a terrible, untimely death, would you be able to resist?*

When Oz Truman, a fellow apprentice, discovers Kaia’s secret, he shows her the predicted trajectories that could result her from altering the history of ancient Egypt. They prove that if Kaia doesn’t ensure her True dies as he’s supposed to, the effect on the present will be catastrophic.

*Would you have the strength to watch them die?*

But when Kaia she notices Oz popping up in historical archives where he doesn’t belong, she suspects he has a secret of his own—and the conspiracy she uncovers breaks worse rules than traveling to ancient Egypt to meet a boy.

If Kaia’s experience with her one true love has taught her anything, it’s that no alteration to history comes without consequences. The Historians trained her to observe and record the past, but Kaia never guessed she might have to protect it—especially not from the people she trusts.

Interview with KC Blake, Author of Bait

Julie — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:00:00 +0000

KC Blake is visiting the virtual offices today to chat about her latest release, BAIT. Check out what she has to say.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[KC Blake] I am a YA-reading, church-going, chocolate-loving, shop-a-holic with two beautiful cats and a dog.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about BAIT?

[KC Blake] If you don’t believe monsters in the closet are real, ask Bay-Lee.

At sixteen, Bay-Lee is an average student. She never raises her hand in class and doesn’t put the right answers on tests even though she knows them. The other kids would be surprised to learn she’s living under an alias as she’s forced to move from state to state, hiding from The Order, a secret society of shifters bent on killing her before she can start to Van Helsing’s school. For some reason the monsters are afraid of her.

When a reaper steps out of her closet to issue a warning, she realizes her problems are only beginning. Even as her dream of following in her father’s footsteps to become a hunter draws closer, a dark threat looms over the school. Someone or some thing is killing hunters on their birthdays. If she doesn’t figure this mystery out fast, she won’t make it to seventeen. Her childhood was stolen from her. She’s determined not to lose anything else to the bloodthirsty beasts.

Bay-Lee developed a plan over the years. It’s a plan for vengeance, a plan for justice. The biggest obstacle in her way: jungle green eyes. Falling in love at this point could ruin everything. It’s the furthest thing from her mind. Then she meets a young hunter with a past as dark as her own and a bleak future. From the moment they meet he makes it clear he wants nothing to do with her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[KC Blake] This has been brewing for a long time, so long that I don’t remember when or how it first started. The rock star slash vampire slayer in the story was actually an idea for another book. I decided he fit better in this story.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Bay-Lee?

[KC Blake] Driven, compassionate, and determined.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Bay-Lee had a theme song, what would it be?

[KC Blake] Happy Ending by Avril Lavigne. “All this time you were pretending. So much for my happy ending.” I think it’s the perfect song for her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Bay-Lee is never without.

[KC Blake] Her dagger.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Bay-Lee’s purse?

[KC Blake] A credit card, her real I.D., or a romance book.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[KC Blake] Good books like City of Bones, music that moves me to strong emotions, and great movies.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[KC Blake] My computer, music, and a solitary place to work.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[KC Blake] The Demon’s Lexicon.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[KC Blake] The Outsiders was the book that made me fall in love with YA. I started writing shortly after reading it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[KC Blake] I love to go shopping, hang out at the mall throughout the day, and eat lunch with friends.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[KC Blake] My blog: http://kasi-kcblake.blogspot.com

Vampires Rule fan page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Vampires-Rule/184193604955442

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4809417.K_C_Blake

K.C. Blake Author page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/K-C-Blakes-Author-Page/246146215412824

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Amazon Purchase link:

About the book:

Ghosts, a reaper, and a rock star.
At sixteen Bay-Lee is not your typical girl. She doesn’t even try to fit in at school. What’s the point when she’ll be moving to a new place within a few months?
She’s lived her whole life on the run, hiding from monsters.
Then a reaper uses her closet to cross over from the Spirit Realm. It has a message for her. Just when she’s about to join her father at his school for hunters she finds out they are dying on their birthdays. Something is killing them, slipping past locked doors, never leaving a trace of evidence, and her birthday is only two months away.
Becoming a hunter isn’t exactly her dream come true. She’s doing it for her mother, for revenge, for justice. Nothing is going to get in her way, least of all love. Then she looks up into a pair of jungle green eyes and everything changes.
Bait is also available in ebook form from all the usual suspects in online retailers.

Smashwords link for Bait: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/252449

Bait on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17858622-bait

K.C. Blake’s blog: http://kasi-kcblake.blogspot.com

K.C. Blake Author Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/K-C-Blakes-Author-Page/246146215412824

Twitter: @kasiblake

The Sunday Post and Stacking the Shelves–June 16th Edition

Julie — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 11:25:00 +0000

The Sunday Post is hosted by Kimba of The Caffeinated Book Reviewer. This is a weekly meme where we can share news of the week and highlight new books received.

Had fun a the show and we are heading home today. I missed the puppers, so I’ll be happy to get back. Elle was the Reserve Park Saddle Champion (the trainer rode her), and I need to figure Pixie out. Our best finish was 5th, but the last class was our best, IMHO. She hits the ring and gets so wound up the first direction, so I need to hold her back better. We are better the second way of the ring, so I’m sure that after a few more shows, we’ll do better. This was only our second show, and I already feel more comfortable with her than I ever did with Blondie, so I’m very optimistic that after a few more miles in the saddle, she (and me, by extension) will settle right down. It’s so exciting having a horse that wants to show, so I’m looking forward to more.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend!

Check out my current contests! See the Contest Widget on the Sidebar to enter!

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews to share new additions to our library. Click here to learn more about it.

New Arrivals at the Café:

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Scroll of Years by Chris Willrich

Ikigami Vol 9

Children of the Sea Vol 5

A great big thanks to the publishers for their continued support!

What did you get? Please leave links and share!

Subscribe in a reader