Manga Maniac Cafe

Interview with Olivia Logan, Author of Urgent: One Nanny Required

Julie — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:16:00 +0000

Olivia Logan dropped by the virtual offices to discuss her recent release, Urgent: One Nanny Required. Please give her a warm welcome.

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

[Olivia Logan] I am strong willed and impulsive. To me ‘No’ means try harder. Life is an adventure and no opportunity should be turned down without a second look. I hate when it is too hot or too cold so Spring and Autumn are my favourite seasons. Whilst I love high heels (what woman doesn’t!) I am more a bookaholic/ foodie then a clothes horse and can trawl for hours around a book shop or a deli than a clothes store. The two things that scare me the most are sharks and heights, so despite my impulsive nature the idea of sky diving/ parachuting/ bungee jumping/ swimming with sharks is a no-no!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Urgent: One Nanny Required?

[Olivia Logan] ‘Urgent: One Nanny Required’ is the story of Rania George who owns a sweetshop who one dark night spots a little boy outside alone. Not having had the best childhood growing up she empathises with him and lets him in prepared to call his parents and give them a piece of her mind only to find his single dad on the doorstep annoyed at her!

Nicholas Trenton knows what is son is like with nannies however he seems to be different with this woman. He has a shoot coming up in LA for 3 weeks and yes she seems angry at him but from the looks of her shop she could use all the financial help she can get. Why not ask her to come along and be his nanny since she clearly doesn’t think the other nannies he hired in the past up to scratch.

Question is what has Rania got to lose by saying yes?

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

[Olivia Logan] I am very curious by nature and love to people watch and got the idea for my story just by passing an old fashioned sweet shop in London and found myself wondering about the lives of the people who worked there. That kind of started my idea for my heroine in ‘Urgent:One Nanny Required’.

The idea of a single dad was actually inspired by one of my favourite story books written by Roald Dahl ‘Danny, The Champion Of The World’. In this book Danny, our young hero lives with his dad who is loving and kind and dotes on him completely. Not exactly the same as the father in ‘Urgent’. But before I digress onto telling you the plot of that story which ends happily, as a romantic I was always left wondering about the father. Did he ever remarry? Would he ever be persuaded to remarry? Hence the idea of our hero being a single parent.

The Hollywood idea actually came from a friend of mine who works in film who always complained that none of the heroes in romances ever have ‘real’ jobs! Like a Hollywood director is a real job! But after much ear bending I decided to listen to their views and make my hero have a ‘real’ job in Hollywood and by that I mean a ‘behind the scenes’ guy as opposed to a film star.

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

[Olivia Logan] Resourceful, Determined, Survivor

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

[Olivia Logan] Mmmm that’s tricky! I’d say it would have to be Eric Clapton’s ‘Layla’.

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

[Olivia Logan] Her kindle as she loves to read.

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

[Olivia Logan] Male toiletries as he doesn’t have time for worrying about that stuff as a single working parent; a little black book of women’s numbers (see previous reason) ; More than 3 pairs of shoes as being practical he doesn’t see the need.

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

[Olivia Logan] Waiting so long to find and reconnect with her long lost father.

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

[Olivia Logan] The first and foremost was my love of Greek and Roman myths that fuelled my passion for writing in the first place as I was saddened as a child to learn that after reading most of them I was running out so I tried to invent my own. The next was my class teacher when I was in (UK) year two who used to make up class stories with us which also made me think I could do it alone. And last but never forgotten my aunt who gave me my first romance book as a teenager(okay so I borrowed without asking) but which set me on my way to writing romance and I have never looked back since.

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

[Olivia Logan] Twinings English Breakfast tea, my laptop for obvious reasons and a window to look out of so I can daydream if I hit a writers road block.

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

[Olivia Logan] ‘The Book Of Lost Things’ by John Connolly.

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

[Olivia Logan] Mmmm that is a tough one as my parents encouraged me to read from an early age and I’ve loved all kinds of stories and authors. If I had to pick one book I would say ‘Under the lilacs’ but Lousia M.Alcott because of the imagery.

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

[Olivia Logan] I would love to say sleep but alas that isn’t true. I work full time so if I’m not writing I am working and if not that then running or hanging out with friends and family.

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

[Olivia Logan] I’m around on twitter as @olivia_logan_ or on my website http://olivialoganromance.com where they can also email me from the ‘Contact Me’ page.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase Urgent: One Nanny Required from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below:

About the book:

Hollywood director Nick Trenton needs a nanny and fast. It certainly hasn’t helped that his son has run off every one he’s hired. With a big shoot coming up in LA, Nick’s running out of options. Then along comes Rania George – sweetshop owner and one of the few people his son doesn’t want to give the slip. No, she doesn’t like Nick, but he can work around that. He loves his son and will do anything to get the lovely Miss George to say yes to his plan.

Rania is used to children hanging outside her sweetshop but seeing one alone on a dark night is a first. What sort of parent would let his child wander the streets at night?

Then she meets his Hollywood director father and assumes Nick’s too self absorbed to notice his son is wandering the streets alone. She learned from an early age that anything Hollywood related was bad news. She has vowed to stay away from anything – and she means anything – Hollywood.

Not that it helps when Nick’s cute-as-a-button son captures her heart nor when she’s offered to babysit said son for a huge amount of money. Only catch is she has to fly to Hollywood and spend three weeks in the company of his devastatingly attractive father.

After all her experiences with Hollywood, is she willing to risk it?

Sensuality Level: Behind Closed Doors

Check out Crimson Romance’s Urgent: One Nanny Required page here: http://www.crimsonromance.com/new-release-romance-ebook/urgent-one-nanny-required/

Interview with Katie O’Sullivan, Author of Son of a Mermaid

Julie — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:49:00 +0000

Please welcome Katie O’Sullivan to the virtual offices! I was curious about Katie’s new book, Son of a Mermaid, so I asked her by to chat about the book.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] Katie O’Sullivan lives next to the ocean on Cape Cod, drinking too much coffee and inventing excuses not to dust. She writes YA and romantic suspense.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Son of a Mermaid?

[Katie O’Sullivan] This young adult book is aimed at advanced middle grade and beginner YA readers and makes a perfect young teen beach book for summer, filled with adventure, light romance and beautiful descriptions of life along the sandy shores – and beneath the waves.

Son of a Mermaid is the first book in a planned series about Shea MacNamara and the undersea world of mermaids and mermen that he discovers off the shores of Cape Cod. The blurb reads:

Shea MacNamara’s life just got complicated.

After a freak tornado devastates his Oklahoma farm, the fifteen-year-old orphan moves to Cape Cod to live with a grandmother he’s never met. Struggling to make sense of his new surroundings, he meets a girl along the shore who changes his life forever.

Kae belongs to an undersea world hidden from drylanders. The daughter of royal servants, she knows the planned marriage of her Princess to the foreign King should put an end to the war between the clans. Two things stand in the way of lasting peace: an ambitious Regent and rumors of a half-human child who will save the oceans.

Sparks fly when she meets Shea, but could the cute drylander really be the Son of a Mermaid?

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] My kids and I have always liked mermaid stories. One day my son and I were walking the dogs on the beach and found a strange rock with a hole cut through the center. We started weaving a tale about the mermaid who lost it… and the book grew from there.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] Loyal, strong, insecure

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] Iris, by the Goo Goo Dolls

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] Her transmutare medallion. Harvested from the heart of the ocean, the transmutare stones help mermaids channel and focus the ancient magick of the seas. Kae uses her medallion to help her transform her tail into human legs, to go ashore.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] Since he lost everything in the tornado, you won’t find much that is his own in Shea’s new bedroom. He didn’t bring much with him when he moved to Cape Cod, just what was in his backpack at school that day.

But things you’d never find? He’s a straight arrow kind of guy, so no alcohol or drugs, and he’s not into pop culture or fads, so no Pokemon or Homestuck stuff. He also has no photos of the mother who abandoned him as a baby – until he moves to his grandmother’s house and finds one. And recognizes her from his dreams.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] Kae regrets being so constrained by the rules of her family and society, and wishes she had more freedom. She can’t wait to go away to school, where she thinks she’ll be able to have a fresh start. When she meets Shea, she starts bending those rules but finds that she’s not the only one with secrets, and that things aren’t always as they appear.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] For this book, living by the ocean was a big influence, lol. Like my character Shea, I walk my dogs along the beach at sunrise every morning, and spend that alone time working through stories in my head.

I’ve also been reading a lot of YA in the last few years – the genre has changed significantly over time and is one of the more exciting areas in publishing today.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] The 3 C’s: My computer, coffee, and chocolate.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] I’d have to say Death Lies Between Us, by Jody Kessler. Before that, it was The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern.

I read and enjoy a lot of books (a LOT of books), but love it when an author brings something really fresh to a book, something I haven’t read before.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] My mom was into mysteries and Agatha Christie, so she started me off with the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. I read them all, but at the age of 10 read The Girl Who Owned a City, by O.T. Nelson and it changed the way I looked at books. Everything didn’t have to strictly “real” in the world of fiction, and grownups didn’t have all the answers.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] If I had my choice, I’d spend more time reading! But. I have three active, involved teens (over involved?) who keep me busy, as well as two big dogs who like to walk on the beach every chance they get. I watch a lot of soccer games and track meets, and go to a lot of concerts and plays starring my kids and their friends.

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

[Katie O’Sullivan] My website: www.katie-osullivan.com

My blog: http://katieosullivan.blogspot.com

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatieOSullivan

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/OkatieO

Add Son of a Mermaid on your Goodreads list: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17184560-son-of-a-mermaid

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Purchase link:

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17184560-son-of-a-mermaid

About the book:

Shea MacNamara’s life just got complicated.

After a freak tornado devastates his Oklahoma farm, the fifteen-year-old orphan is whisked away to Cape Cod. Struggling to make sense of his new surroundings, he’s trying hard to deal with feelings of abandonment… and the emotions stirred by a girl he meets along the shore.

Kae belongs to an undersea world hidden from drylanders. The daughter of royal servants, she knows the planned marriage of her Princess to the foreign King should put an end to the war between the clans. But two things stand in the way of lasting peace: the ambitions of the foreign King’s regent, and rumors of the Princess’s bastard child.

Sparks fly when she meets Shea, but could the cute drylander really be the Son of a Mermaid?

About the Author:

Katie O’Sullivan lives with her family and big dogs next to the ocean on Cape Cod, drinking way too much coffee and inventing new excuses not to dust. She writes YA and romantic suspense novels, and has worked for the last four years as the editor of CapeWomenOnline.com magazine and writes “The Write Way” column for the magazine.

She hopes her debut YA novel, SON OF A MERMAID, will make a big splash this summer, engaging young readers with a Cape Cod tale of a boy who discovers both his roots and his destiny far below the waters of Nantucket Sound.

Review: Coyote Winds by Helen Sedwick

Julie — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:31:00 +0000

Title: Coyote Winds

Author: Helen Sedwick

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

COYOTE WINDS is an historical novel set on the western prairie in the years before the Dust Bowl, a time of optimism and confidence, a time when a man was measured by what he produced, not what he could buy. It explores the American can-do spirit that drew people to this wind-swept frontier and the consequences of that spirit. It asks whether that spirit survives today.

Lexile Score HL 690 (high low book); Honorable Mention 2013 Green Book Festival Award for Young Adult Fiction.

Summary: When thirteen-year old Myles brings home a coyote pup half-blinded by a dust storm, his father warns him a coyote can’t be trusted. His neighbor loads his rifle and takes aim. Yet Myles is determined to tame the pup just as his father is taming the land. The time is 1930. Tractors and fertilizers are transforming the prairie into the world’s breadbasket. The American dream is within every man’s reach. But when drought turns these dreams into paint-stripping, crop-killing dust, Myles wonders if they have made a mistake trying to tame what should be wild.

Seventy years later, when Andy remembers his Grandpa Myles’s tales about growing up on the prairie, he wonders what stories he will tell when he has grandchildren. Algebra, soccer practice, computer games, the mall? Determined to keep his grandfather’s memories alive and have some adventures of his own, Andy heads out to discover what’s left of the wild prairie.

Inspired by her father’s tales of growing up during the Dust Bowl, Sedwick weaves insight, humor, historical details and unforgettable characters into a coming-of-age story that reminds us that chasing a dream, even if it brings heartache, is far better than not dreaming at all.

Review:

I am fascinated with history, so when I was contacted to review Coyote Winds, I jumped at the chance. The story is told through alternating POVs (including a coyote’s), and Myles is experiencing the Dust Bowl first hand. His grandson, Andy, is desperately trying to understand his grandfather’s stories of life on the prairie. Andy feels like he is nothing but a disappointment to his overachieving attorney parents, and he is struggling in school. He can’t seem to connect with his peers or his classes. After his grandfather’s death leaves a hole the size of the prairie in his heart, Andy attempts to reconcile his grandfather’s tales with what life on the prairie in the 1930s was really like. Conflicting accounts his great aunt told his mother puzzle him, and for a boy who didn’t like reading, Andy was suddenly all about researching what his grandfather and his family endured on their homestead. I loved how Andy kept insisting that it’s his story, too, and his mother’s story, after she shuts down and doesn’t want to talk about it anymore.

It took me a while to warm up to Andy and his segments of the story. But before I knew it, I was invested in the lives of all of the characters in Coyote Winds. By the end of the book, I shocked by how much I had come to like them. The more I think about it, the more moved I am by this story. It is raw and uncompromising at times, and Myles’ accounts of his childhood experiences are unflinchingly truthful. From brutal rabbit hunts to disputes with the neighbor over proper farming techniques, Myles’ narrative POV is both unemotional and free of embellishment. He’s just telling it like it is. As he begins to realize how primitive life on the farm is, with no electricity or running water, he begins to question his father’s dedication to farming. Is he just stubborn? Can’t he see how difficult life in the middle of no where is, and how unhappy his mother and sister are? While Myles loves the land, he longs for something more.

Ro, the coyote pup Myles rescues after a dust storm, also shares the story through his eyes. His point of view didn’t work as well for me, because I was so stressed that Bad Things would happen to him. His chapters left me sad and depressed, because he kept longing for the things he would never have; a life among his own kind, and his brothers and sisters to play with. His human pack didn’t understand him, and when Myles, in an effort to protect both his friend and Ro, chases him off, my heart broke for the little guy.

By the end of the book I was sobbing. I don’t know why, other than each character had come to life for me, and had come to mean something to me. Even the people I thought I couldn’t stand had shining moments of insight that made me understand their stance on farming and raising their families. This is a book of broken dreams, but it’s also a story of hope and the courage to attempt to make changes in your life. While the farmland was harsh to Myles and his family, it was healing to Andy and his parents, and brought them closer together.

Grade: B+

Review copy provided by the author

Grab Skankenstein by Katie Reiter and David Fumarola for FREE!

Julie — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:54:00 +0000

I’m always up for a bargain, so when the authors of Skankenstein alerted me that their book will be available for FREE starting today, I decided to share the news with all of you. Go grab it if you enjoy the excerpt!

From Katie Reiter and David Fumarola:

We would like to let you and your readers know that from Friday, May 17th to Tuesday, May 21st we will be offering our debut novel, Skankenstein, for FREE in the Amazon Kindle Store. Interested readers can access the Kindle edition at http://www.amazon.com/Skankenstein-ebook/dp/B005UTD0KS.

About the book:

Sometimes the ugliest monsters come in the prettiest packages:

Victoria Frank is the picture of teen perfection – she’s talented, witty, and ruthless – but being queen of tiny Geneva, NY isn’t enough. Tired of merely designing the perfect outfit, she sets out to design the perfect person. But by the time she realizes beauty is only skin deep, she’s already unleashed her monster on the world. Now it’s a race against time to stop the vile creature from destroying her life, and she has to do it in the most evil place of all – high school.

After ditching her horrifying creation in L.A., all Victoria wants is the perfect senior year, but it becomes impossible when the dreaded beast shows up in her own backyard. Armed with a new body, a new attitude and a new name, M turns the school hierarchy on its head. But when M suffers the embarrassment of a lifetime and sets her sights on revenge, our queen bee finds herself pitted in a cat fight to the death where kid sisters, boyfriends and tiaras are all fair game. It’s a twist on Frankenstein unlike any before, with an ending so explosive it’ll leave your bowels quaking.

AUTHOR BIO

David Fumarola has been writing as long as he can remember, and getting the stories out of his head and onto the page is the only thing that gives him peace of mind. Katie Reiter enjoys writing in her spare time, as well as cheap wine, teen drama and hipster safaris. They met as teenagers interning at the Albany Times Union and have been writing together since 2009. Skankenstein is their debut novel.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

http://skankensteinbook.tumblr.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Writings-of-Katie-Reiter-and-David-Fumarola/103917029640105?fref=ts

LINK TO PURCHASE

http://www.amazon.com/Skankenstein-ebook/dp/B005UTD0KS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363206425&sr=8-1&keywords=skankenstein

EXCERPT (“Salted Wounds”)

“Ok,” I said, folding my arms and sitting back in the booth. “I get it; you’re a bad ass bitch. Now what the hell do you want?”

She set down her burger, ketchup and onions spilling out where she had taken a bite. The greasy graveyard on her plate made me want to vomit. I had spent a good portion of my life avoiding crap like that. Not only was I trying to stay skinny, but that stuff goes straight to your complexion.

“What’s the rush, Victoria? Believe me; we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other from now on.”

“Yeah,” I snorted, “right.”

“And your tone! What would your mother say if she could hear you?”

“You don’t know crap about my mother!”

“Well, I know she raised a shallow, manipulative mess.”

I couldn’t keep my anger inside any longer. Still, I didn’t want to cause a big scene, even if we were in a trashy diner. I reached out and grabbed her plate, sliding it toward me. I grabbed the salt and twisted off the top. Then I flipped open the burger and dumped the contents of the entire jar onto the beef patty. I smiled and slid the plate back to her.

The wretch shook her head. “Now what was the point of that?”

“It made me feel better.” My smile turned into a grin.

She sighed and pushed the plate toward the edge of the table, where the waitress could collect it. “This conversation’s starting to bore me,” she said, “so I’ll cut to the chase.”

“Well?” I asked impatiently.

“I need your help.”

I scoffed. “You need a lot more help than I can give you.”

“You mean more than you already gave me,” she said, her eyes squinted in contempt.

“Exactly,” I said coldly. “If you need some help getting out of town, I’d be happy to oblige.”

She laughed. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere, Victoria. In fact, I think I’m going to settle in here.”

“Why?” I asked in disbelief.

“I’m sick of being alone,” she said, seemingly honest. “I just want friends. I want to be normal.”

“You’re never going to be normal, you freak.”

“Well, that’s not entirely true. That’s where you come in.”

“What do you mean?” I asked as the waitress grabbed the plate. She made a face at us when she saw the salt covered food, but she didn’t say anything about it.

“Are you ready for the check?”

“Yes,” I said quickly, shooing her away with my hand.

“You broke my heart, Victoria. So did Dr. Kunst. Why does everyone want to hurt me?”

“Not everything’s about you,” I told her. “Sometimes things just don’t work out.”

“You sound like Dr. Kunst,” she said harshly.

“He sounds like a smart man.”

“Not really,” she replied with a smile. “Like you, he underestimated me.”

“So what? You want revenge just because a couple of people didn’t have room for you in their lives?”

She gulped down the rest of her iced tea and then slammed the cup down on the table. Luckily it was plastic, so it didn’t break.

“Nobody understands. All of you have had such easy lives. My own parents didn’t love me; they had their own affairs to consume themselves with. You didn’t love me; you just wanted me to be your real-life Barbie doll. Dr. Kunst didn’t love me; he just wanted me to be his youthful distraction. I have no idea what it’s like to be loved. I want to know. I want to be like everyone else.”

“Wah wah,” I said, wiping the fake tears from my eyes. “So your life sucks. Get over it. It’s not going to get any better by complaining about it and getting back at the people who hurt you.”

“Oh, no?”

“No. If you want it to get better then you need to be proactive. You have to do something to change it.”

“That’s exactly what I’m doing.” She smiled at me deviously.

“No. You’re bitching at me, thinking it will get me to feel sorry for you.”

“Well, I can see that it’s not working.”

“Wow, you’re so perceptive.”

“There’s no need to be facetious.”

“Wow, that’s a pretty big word for a chick with a second grade education.” I rolled my eyes.

“I told you, I’ve been catching up.”

“In more than one department.”

“Hey,” she said. “It’s not my fault if boys find me desirable. What am I supposed to do, turn them all down?”

“No, but you’re not supposed to screw all of them either. That’s what we kids today call a ho-bag.”

She laughed. “Just because you’re afraid to explore your sexuality doesn’t mean everyone else is.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, come on, Victoria. You don’t think I’ve figured out you’re a virgin by now?”

“Jesus, you say it like it’s a bad thing,” I said, looking around the diner. “And keep your voice down.”

“Sorry, I didn’t realize it was such a touchy subject for you.”

“It’s not!” I insisted. “But unlike you, I don’t want the entire town to know about my sex life, or lack thereof.”

“Speaking of the entire town, that’s what I need your help with.”

The grumpy waitress brought the check to our table and walked away without saying a word. She didn’t go back to the counter. Instead, she went outside, and I could see her lighting a cigarette through the window.

“What do you mean you want help with the entire town?”

“Well, I told you I wanted to know what it feels like to be loved.”

“And you want to love the whole town? Ew, way to be gross.”

“No, you imbecile, I want the whole town to love me.”

I couldn’t help but burst out in a fit of laughter. It took several minutes for me to finally regain my composure. “And just how do you expect me to pull that off?”

“Well, there’s no greater sign of love than to be elected by the people.”

I looked at her sideways. “I’m not sure I follow you.”

“I want to be Prom Queen.”

Once again I was seized by an uncontrollable fit of giggles. “It will never happen,” I said through laughs. “I’m popular, not a miracle worker.”

“You underestimate yourself, Victoria.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Even if I could do it, there’s no way I’m helping you. Not after what you’ve done to my family.”

“You really don’t think it’s the right thing to do?”

“No!” I blurted out in amazement. “The right thing to do would be to kick your ass and send it back to the flames of hell from which you came.”
“That’s too bad,” she said in mock despair. “I was hoping you could be reasoned with.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

“I guess that means I’m just going to have to resort to threats.”

I gulped. I wasn’t really scared of her, but I had seen the trouble she could cause. “What do you mean?”

“Well, just because your sister is gone doesn’t mean there aren’t other people for me to play with.”

My stomach felt hollow. I was glad I hadn’t eaten anything; otherwise I might have thrown up.

“Who should I start with? There’s Avery. She’s pretty eager to get away from you. Or maybe your dad? He’s been pretty lonely lately, too. Maybe he could use some company. Then there’s always Elliot…”

“Stay away from him!”

“Well, I’ll only have to concern myself with him if you make me…”

I sighed in frustration. “If I do this, if I help you, do you promise to leave me and my family alone?”

“If you help me win Prom Queen, and get the student body to respect and love me, then yes, I will leave you alone.”

I was running out of options. I didn’t know what to do. The police weren’t going to believe me. There was nothing I could do to her without getting arrested myself. I had to just do what she wanted and hope she would go away.

“Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Then I’ll see you at school on Tuesday. I hope you make the most of that Monday. I’d hate to come back to those nasty Sloppy Joe insults.” My own personal demon slid out of the booth and stood up. “You made the right decision, Victoria. Elliot is too pretty to let something bad happen to him.”

She turned and walked out of the diner. I grabbed the check and clenched it in my hand. I was sick of paying for her mistakes.

Cover Reveal: After The Kiss by Lauren Layne

Julie — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:52:00 +0000

I have a cover reveal to share today! Loveswept pulled out all the stops for Lauren Layne’s After The Kiss. I really like this cover! It’s got a Julie James vibe, and guess what else I like? Everyone’s got their clothes on. Yup, I get tired of all of the bare man chests. What do you think about the cover for After The Kiss?

After the Kiss: The Stiletto Series

Lauren Layne

Loveswept | August 26, 2013

In the first book of a delightful new series from Lauren Layne, the star columnist of Stiletto magazine will do anything for a story. Anything . . . except fall in love.

Julie Greene loves flings. Loves steamy first dates, sizzling first kisses, and every now and then, that first sexy romp between the sheets. Comfy pants, sleepy Sundays, movie nights on the couch? Shudder. But when Julie gets assigned the hardest story of her career—a first-person account of that magical shift between dating and “I do”—she’ll need a man brave enough to give a total commitment-phobe a chance at more.

Normally, Mitchell Forbes would be exactly that man. A devastatingly hot workaholic who tends to stay in relationships for far too long, he should be the perfect subject for Julie’s “research.” But what Julie doesn’t know is that Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once in his life. And the leggy journalist notorious for avoiding love is exactly the type of no-strings fling he’s looking for. In other words, Mitchell is the polar opposite of what Julie needs right now. And, at the same time, he’s exactly what she wants.

Connect with Loveswept and Lauren:

ReadLoveswept.com | Lauren’s Website | Lauren on Twitter

Pre-order After the Kiss:

Amazon | B&N | iBookstore

Cover Reveal: Endre by ST Bende

Julie — Fri, 17 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I have a couple cover reveals to share today. First up is the cover for Endre, Book 2 in the Elsker Saga by ST Bende. Endre is a New Adult paranormal romance, and it’s published by Entranced Publishing. It hits stores in September. I like the consistency between the covers. I also like the premise and that the books are based on Norse mythology. What do you think?

Endre by ST Bende

Book II of The Elsker Saga

Release Date: September 23, 2013

Publisher: Entranced Publishing

Genre: New Adult paranormal romance
Blurb:

Sometimes, finding your destiny means doing the exact opposite of what The Fates have planned.

Winning the heart of an immortal assassin was a dream come true for Kristia Tostenson. Now she’s knee deep in wedding plans, goddess lessons, and stolen kisses. But her decision to become immortal could end in heartbreak — not only for Kristia, but for the god who loves her. Because while Ull would do anything to protect his bride, even the God of Winter is powerless against the Norse apocalypse. Ragnarok is coming. And the gods aren’t even close to ready.

About the Author:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the ELSKER series. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.

You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail to stbende@gmail.com.

Author social media links

Blog: http://stbende.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/stbende

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stbende or @stbende

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/stbende/

ELSKER by ST Bende

Book I of The Elsker Saga

Blurb:

Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest-to-goodness Norse God — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.

Her orderly life just got very messy.

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MaJIgkk-CI

Buy Links:

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Elsker/book-h7Bk69_5n06_14jqUhk-Cg/page1.html?s=MDjO03uxek-K4vwciTWJxA&r=1

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Elsker-The-Saga-ebook/dp/B00CGL33S2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366782935&sr=8-1&keywords=elsker

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elsker-st-bende/1115161284?ean=2940016665375

Entranced: http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints/blush/elsker/

Micro Review: My Little Pony: Under the Sparkling Sea by Mary Jane Begin

Julie — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:25:00 +0000

Title: My Little Pony: Under the Sparkling Sea

Author: Mary Jane Begin

Kindle version is only $2.99!

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

This gorgeous illustrated picture book features a brand-new My Little Pony underwater adventure, and includes an exclusive art poster!

When Twilight Sparkle receives an invitation to visit the underwater city of Aquastria, she invites all her pony friends and Spike to travel with her. The ponies are welcomed by the ruler of Aquastria, King Leo, who sits on the Cosmic Council alongside his cousin, Princess Celestia. There is a long-held rivalry between the seaponies and the mermares. The two groups compete each year in a race for the grand prize, which is a beautiful pearl. Join the ponies and Spike as they confront danger, make new friends and race to the finish in this shimmering new world!

Review:

I wasn’t feeling well earlier this week, so I wasn’t in the mood to read a book with lots of words. One that demanded a lot of attention. So I picked up My Little Pony: Under The Sparkling Sea because, well, it’s My Little Pony! And I thought the bright, vivid illustrations would cheer me up. They did!

Twilight Sparkle and the pony gang are invited to the Annual Aquastria Race by King Leo. While some of the ponies have to be convinced that a good time will be had by all, they all worry about how they can attend. Aquastria is located under the water! Twilight Sparkle quickly reassures them that her magic will overcome all obstacles, like the ability to breathe under water, and soon they are on their way. They meet many new friends, and are awed by the seaponies’ beautiful city. They even rescue a few of their new friends!

I wasn’t totally wowed by the story, but the artwork is stunning. Colorful and detailed, Mary Jane Begin’s illustrations capture the magic and wonderful of Aquastria. I don’t know much about the My Little Pony characters, other what my niece has excitedly shared when she is on a MLP geek-out, but each of them has a unique, appealing design that incorporates their trademark flowing manes and chunky legs. Each of them is a distinctive splash of color throughout the book.

While the story isn’t a total dog, it falters in comparison to the lovely, vibrant artwork. Still, this lovely rendered picture book will appeal to My Little Pony’s many fans.

Grade: B-

Review copy provided by publisher

Guest Post: My Top 10 Favorite Things by Terry Spear and Giveaway!

Julie — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:59:00 +0000

Please welcome Terry Spear, author of A Highland Werewolf Wedding, to the virtual offices today! Terry is here to share her favorite things! Afterwards, you can win a copy her previous Highlander Wolf book, A Howl for a Highlander.

My Top 10 Favorite Things by Terry Spear

10. Purple flowers—In Dreaming of the Wolf, the hero, Jake, loves to take pictures of Colorado wildflowers, and one of them is purple Shasta daisies. The cover artist even kept that in mind by making a purple cover.

Lavender, lilacs, heather, and thistle filled clear glass vases in the wedding service the hero, Cearnach attends in A Highland Werewolf Wedding, and the heroine, Elaine is so impressed, she knows one day she’ll want purple flowers for her wedding, too.

9. Ancient castles—I loved the castle ruins especially. When I visited the one that is featured in A Highland Werewolf Wedding, I felt one with the ruins. It’s supposed to be one of the most haunted, and yet I felt as though I belonged there. Maybe in the way distance past, some of my Scottish ancestors had married into the family and lived there. Elaine also feels a connectedness to the castle ruins overlooking the Irish Sea. And that’s why I set the story in that forlorn, lovely place where spirits of men and women still roam.

8. Chocolate—dogs can’t eat chocolate. But since my werewolves are part human, they definitely like chocolate. But even better than straight chocolate? Haviland Thin Mints. Yum. They only come out during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, so they’re a treat! And in A SEAL Wolf Christmas (October 2013), you’ll learn how they get the heroine in trouble.

7. Irish Cream—I’m part Irish, so I love my Irish Cream! When we were in Scotland, the ladies were trying to decide on something to drink. I said, “Irish Cream!” I know it was Scotland, but we are all part Scot and part Irish so it seemed the right thing to do.

6. Water—I love the water—lakes, ocean, the Gulf. If you’ve read Savage Hunger (the first book in my Heart of the Jaguar series), do waterfalls remind you of anything? Pools, ponds. Crystal clear aqua water is the best, but I’ll take all kinds of other types, just to be near it.

5. Forests—I live in a cornfield. When the stalks are high, it’s like a forest and as the wind rustles the cornstalks, it sounds like the pine forests I lived near in Oregon and California and Florida. I love planting trees where I am now and trying to create a forest to cool me in the hot sun. My wolves all love the forests too. They provide protection for them when they run as wolves. Cearnach and Elaine are forced to run as wolves in A Highland Werewolf Wedding, and woods help to protect them while they try to reach shelter. Taking hikes in the woods is something that I love doing.

4. Writing—of course! I LOVE creating new stories. I think about stories all the time. It’s fun bringing characters and their troubles to life, giving them a romantic to-die for interest, and a happily-ever-after.

3. Creating teddy bears—I started making them about 20 years ago and they were featured in magazines and won awards. Like characters in a book, the bears each have their own unique personality.

2. Photography—I love taking pictures of flora and fauna. I could never paint pictures as much as I’d love to, and so for me, photography is a way of capturing beautiful images in all their glory forever.

1. READING—I’m as addicted to writing as I am to reading!!! If I can’t write for a day, I’m in withdrawal. The same with reading!!! I now have a Nook, but the last plane trip I took where I didn’t bring enough books to read, I had to stop in an airport gift shop and stock up!

Thank you, Terry, for sharing your favorite things!!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for a chance to win A Howl for a Highlander (Terry’s previous Highlander Wolf book). US and Canadian addresses only. Just fill out the widget to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can purchase Terry’s book by clicking the links below

About the book:

A HIGHLAND WERWOLF WEDDING – IN STORES MAY 2013

On The Run…

After werewolves Elaine Hawthorn and Cearnach MacNeill almost have a head-on collision on a foggy Highland road, they’re pretty well stuck with each other. It’ll be hours before anyone can get there to pull his car out of the ditch and they both have better places to be.

And Nowhere to Hide From Each Other…

The sexy little American brings out all of Cearnach’s big bag protective instincts. If she thought she was in trouble before, Elaine has no idea what kind of complications a hot Scot can cause…

Delightful, steamy, and devilishly funny, join the hundreds of thousands of readers who already discovered that USA Today bestseller Terry Spear delivers a sizzle worth howling about.

Praise for A Highland Werewolf Wedding:

“The two protagonists are well matched in intelligence, and their snappy dialogue will have readers chuckling from the first chapter on.” —Booklist

“The hills of Scotland make a dramatic backdrop for this novel, and the characters are pleasing and well written.” —RT Book Reviews

“A Highland Werewolf Wedding is another shining example of exactly why Terry Spear is the Queen of the shifter romance.”—Night Owl Reviews, 5 Stars, Reviewer Top Pick

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over two dozen paranormal romance novels and medieval Highland historical romances. She has received incredible praise for her romances, including Heart of the Wolf named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world. She lives in Crawford, Texas, where she is working on her next paranormal romances! For more information, please visit www.TerrySpear.com.

Guest Post: Diana Quincy’s Top 10 Places to Travel and Giveaway!

Julie — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:55:00 +0000

Please welcome Diana Quincy to the virtual offices! She’s here to share her Top 10 favorite places to travel. She also has a giftcard and a digital copy of her book Seducing Charlotte up for grabs!

TOP 10 FAVORITE PLACES TO TRAVEL by Diana Quincy

Paris – Because it totally lives up to the hype. There’s nothing like walking its streets and soaking up the atmosphere. The architecture is breathtaking, the coffee at the sidewalk cafes delicious, and the street fashion a feast for the eyes. Plus, with the Louvre and Versailles, what more could a person want?

New York – I’m entranced by the high-energy, people-on-the-go vibe of this city. The museums, fashion, shopping, food and sights make this iconic city hard to beat.

London - Because I write Regency romance, this destination is almost a given. It’s been too many years since I last traveled to this capital city. When I do return, I plan to hit some of the fabulous country estates, the British museum and Hyde Park, of course!

Jerusalem – You can feel the history in the walls of this ancient city where the world’s three great religions meet. Walking along the stone walkways in the old city, with the voices of Palestinian peddlers and the aromas of Middle Eastern foods filling the air, one can’t help but feel a very special sense of connection to this vibrant place.

Bangkok – On a boat ride along city channels or visiting the city’s temples, the Thai people are among the nicest I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. The sites are exotic and awe-inspiring, the food delicious, and the mouth-watering fruit in the market unlike anything one can find in the US.

San Diego – I don’t just want to visit this coastal California city. I wouldn’t mind living there. The weather is beautiful—sunny with a slight, humid-free breeze off the water—and the ocean views are spectacular. The laid-back vibe I experienced while visiting made me want to stay a while.

Shenandoah Valley of Virginia – The mountain views are dazzling, especially when the peaks are capped with snow. It’s as picturesque as anything I’ve seen. A feeling of serenity always comes over me when I take in the splendid views

The Caribbean – This is the ultimate place for complete leisure and relaxation, especially at the all-inclusive resorts where you don’t have to worry about the cost of food and water activities once you’ve paid for the package. With pristine beaches and water is so clear I can see the fish swimming around my legs, this is THE place to recharge and refuel.

Italy, Greece and Spain – I haven’t visited any of these places yet, but all three are at the top of my list!

Of all the places you’ve visited, which is your favorite? Is there some place special you hope to visit one day?

Leave a comment for a chance to win one of two $25 giftcards to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winners’ choice).

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of Seducing Charlotte? Just fill out the widgets below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the book:

A grand passion. A ruinous secret. An impossible choice.

The wildly handsome Marquess of Camryn is an industrialist who stands for everything social reformer Charlotte Livingston detests.

She’s mortified by her intense attraction to the aristocratic factory owner who thinks nothing of replacing workers with machines, depriving them of honest work.

Stirred by Charlotte’s tart tongue and refreshingly direct manner, Camryn launches a relentless campaign of seduction to win the spinster’s heart, but she is loyal to another man.

As a violent Luddite rebellion rages across England, unrelenting desire flares between the passionate adversaries.

Camryn vows to destroy the rebel movement, unaware Charlotte harbors a secret — a shocking connection to the machine wreckers that could shatter them both.

About the author:

Although I’ve always loved reading and writing, I’m not one of those people who has always known I want to be an author.

I discovered my love of romantic fiction about four years ago, while picking up summer library books for my two boys. I noticed a historical romance by Shirlee Busbee on the end cap and picked it up to browse through while waiting in line to check out our books.

That’s all it took to hook me.

I spent that summer reading every historical romance I could get my hands on.

A few months later, I was motivated to try writing my own story, which resulted in my first manuscript, Compromising Willa.

Now I cannot imagine not writing.

I guess you could say I’m a late bloomer.

I’m now working on my fifth manuscript, which is my first foray into contemporary fiction.

When not bent over my laptop or trying to keep up with the laundry, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family and dream of traveling much more than my current schedule (and budget) allows.

Online, you can find me on Twitter @Diana_Quincy and over at The Dashing Duchesses, where I blog about history and romance with a talented group of authors.

I am a proud member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA), Washington Romance Writers (WRWDC) and the New Jersey Romance Writers (NJRWA).

Diana loves to hear from readers. You can keep up with her online at the following links:

Website: http://www.dianaquincy.com/

Blog: http://www.dianaquincy.com/category/news/

Twitter: @Diana_Quincy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DianaQuincyRomance?ref=hl

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7045151.Diana_Quincy

Excerpt: Seducing Charlotte

He marveled at the way the sun illuminated the clear blue in her eyes. “I won’t bother to dissemble, Miss Livingston.” Taking hold of her hand, he pulled Charlotte around the massive tree trunk, out of the sight of the rest of the guests. “I hope to steal another kiss. Actually, I have thought of little else since our last one. Will you allow it?”

She flushed, her gaze floating beyond him. “Really, Camryn, if you ask for permission, it hardly qualifies as stealing a kiss.”

Blood raced to his vitals when it registered she’d just told him to take what he wanted. Shaking his head, he wondered what is was about this woman that made him desperate to touch her again. It had been an agonizing week since he’d last felt her lips beneath his. Now, finally offered the opportunity, he greedily grasped it.

Cupping Charlotte’s cheeks, he marveled at their satiny softness before lowering his face to hers, kissing one side of her succulent mouth and then the other. Then he intensified his actions, pressing down on her lips, bidding her to open them to him as she had once before. When she did, he kissed her as deeply as he had ever kissed a woman.

He licked and plunged his tongue deeper, greedy to taste more, losing himself in her subtle floral scent. She tasted of lemonade, a woman’s softness, and unlimited possibility. Her untutored tongue ventured to taste him as well, provoking a delighted sound of surprise from him. The wondering hum that sounded from the back of her throat made his body quicken in a rush of heat.

Awareness gradually filtered back to him, reminding Cam of their surroundings. He pulled away with great reluctance, his blood at a boil, and forced himself to take a step back lest he pull Charlotte to the grass and make love to her right there with other guests nearby.

She stood frozen in place with her eyes still closed, red circles burned into the high arches of her cheeks. After a moment, as if in a daze, her lids fluttered open. He easily recognized the hazy arousal in those unfocused blue depths for they mirrored his own.

They stood facing one another for a moment, bodies apart, but gazes interlocked. She blinked. “When I said you had a clever tongue, I really had no idea.”

You can read more HERE

Didn’t win? You can purchase seducing Charlotte here:

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seducing-charlotte-diana-quincy/1115100612?ean=9781622661039

Buy at Kobo

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Seducing-Charlotte/book-9_54bie4KE6qnH8yw7sPlw/page1.html?s=KiYtLe-ceEy5D7G5sjlWBA&r=2

Buy at the iBookstore

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/seducing-charlotte/id634921193?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Buy at Google play (for Android)

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Diana_Quincy_Seducing_Charlotte?id=Au_agRHIpb0C&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImJvb2stQXVfYWdSSElwYjBDIl0

Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop! Win The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

Julie — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:01:00 +0000

Welcome to my Love in Bloom Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Portrait of a Book. This hop runs from May 16th – 22nd and you can win a ton of new reads! Check out all of the participating blogs here.

I am giving away a copy of The Espressologist by Kristina Springer.

About the book:

What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

With overtones of Jane Austen’s Emma and brimming with humor and heart, this sweet, frothy debut will be savored by readers.

Just fill out the widget to enter for a chance to win. US addresses only, please

a Rafflecopter giveaway