Friday Fun: Debut author JENNIE MARTS!!

Please help me welcome my friend, debut author, JENNIE MARTS! Jennie is here today with her hilarious novel -- the first in a series -- ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT AND I AIN'T GOT NO BODY :) 

Jennie is offering 1 Free eBook to a lucky commentator so be sure to leave your email addy. This is a book you do not want to miss. Unless you hate laughing or enjoying a good read..... then you won't want it. LOL

Welcome, Jennie, and congrats on all your success so far with this novel!

 *********

Hi, my name is Jennie Marts and I am excited to share a little bit with you about my recently released romantic comedy, Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got No Body. My story features an ordinary school teacher named Sunny Vale whose well-meaning friends decide to help her find her Mr. Right.

BLURB:

Sunny considers herself a dog-loving, romance-reading, homebody. But her life goes from dull to deadly when her book club fires her from her own love life and sets her up on six blind dates- one of whom might be with a murderer. More trouble arrives in the dead of night, in the form of Jake Landon, a mysterious stranger, who breaks into her neighbor’s house and possibly her heart. But Jake is packing more than a loaded gun in his well-fitting Levi’s. He brings an arsenal of secrets and plenty of heat to Sunny’s ho-hum summer.

Jake Landon finds himself caught up in the capers of the sexy blonde in the house next door. But he has his own agenda which doesn’t involve playing hero to a curvy second-grade teacher and babysitting her panty-puking puppy. He's got other problems like fiery explosions, a missing person...and a parade of jerks Sunny insists on dating.

Could Sunny’s Mr. Right be right under her nose? Even though Jake is gorgeous, likes her dog, and has abs she can crack an egg on, can she really go out with him if he’s just murdered her next door neighbor?

**** 

Today, I am sharing with you a little inside scoop not available in the book. Let's take a peek into the small town of Pleasant Valley, CO, where Janice Tuttlebaum, local reporter has just cornered Jake in the coffee shop. The whole town is talking about Walter's disappearance and this handsome stranger who has moved into Walter's home. Nobody's nosier than Janice, except maybe Edna, Sunny's 80-year-old neighbor, friend and fellow book club member. Edna has been suspicious of Jake from the start, ever since she saw him sneaking around the night of the -- but I'm giving too much away.

I think Janice is trying to interview Jake now. She certainly has her chair pulled close enough to his to smell his aftershave or sneak a bite of his danish. Let's listen in.....

“This is Janice Tuttlebaum from the Pleasant Valley Times,” she says into a small handheld recorder. She also has a steno pad on the table and is scribbling notes whiles she talks. “I am here today interviewing Jake Landon, the witness who reported our local townsmen, Walter Mead, missing. Jake, what do you know about Mr. Mead's disappearance?”

Jake sighs and folds his newspaper in half. “Not much. I expected him to be here when I arrived in town. It's been several weeks and we really have no idea what happened to him.” He takes a sip of his coffee, then turns the questions to Janice. “How well do you know Walter? What can you tell me about him?”

“Well, he was just the sweetest old man. He fixed my front gate last summer and wouldn't let me pay him a thing. He said his only payment was to have me bake him one of my cherry pies. My pies are prize winning at the county fair every summer. I mean, er.....I will be conducting this interview, Mr. Landon.” Flustered by the attention of this handsome rogue, Janice pats her chest and tries to take back control of the interview. “Exactly what is your relationship with Walter, er...Mr. Mead?”

Jake gives her a mischievous grin. “I'd rather talk about this cherry pie of yours....”

A bell tinkles as the front door opens, and in walks Edna, fanning herself from the summer heat. "Whoo-ee, it's hotter than two rats -- What are you doing here, Mr. Froofroo Coffee? Do you think you have enough whipped cream on that drink?”

Another sigh escapes Jake. “I ran into Ms. Tuttlebaum here while I was getting my coffee, and she asked to interview me for the local paper.”

“Why are you sitting so close together?” Edna asks, as she squeezes a chair in between them. Fluffing her hair, she turns to Janice. “Now, let me tell you, I have been neighbors with Walter for almost twenty years, and I am telling you, I suspect foul play. You work for the paper, what are you doing to find Walter?”

“Well, we...uh...we certainly would cooperate or try to help....wait a minute....doesn't anyone understand I am the reporter here. I ask the questions.”

“Geez, touchy.” Edna turns to Jake. “What did you do to make her mad?”

“Nothing! I don’t even know her. I was just sitting here drinking my coffee, trying to read the paper...”

“Why is she all grouchy then?” Edna asks in a not-so-subtle whisper.

Janice huffs. “I am most certainly not grouchy. Now if you will excuse us, I was trying to conduct an interview, Ms......?”

“Allen. That's with two L's.” Edna looks pointedly at her steno pad, and gives her a conspiratorial wink. “In case you want to quote me.”

The bell tinkles again and Sunny marches in, eyes scanning the store for her neighbor. “Edna, what is taking so long? I've been in the car for 10 minutes...... Oh, hi, Jake. What are you doing here?”

“Evidently NOT drinking coffee, OR reading the paper. I think I'll just take my coffee to go. Bye, Sunny.” Jake nods his goodbye at the women. “See you around. Edna. Nice to meet you, Janice.”

Janice and Sunny watch him walk out the door, both obviously appreciating the view.

Edna taps on the reporter's notebook. “Alright Janice, now we can get down to the real story. If you two could peel your eyes off the man's bum for a minute, I am telling you this guy, Jake, is the real trouble. We don't know where he came from or what he does. I think he's dangerous.”

Sunny scoffs. “Oh Edna, you are always exaggerating! Don't start rumors.”

Janice, now all ears, flips to a new page in her steno notepad, clicks her pen several times then begins taking notes. “Now, Ms Allen, with two L's, you said. What exactly do you mean by danger?”

“Well, now I've got your attention. You might want to wipe that drool off your chin, Janice. Let me tell you about this Jake character....”

“Alright, that's enough.” Sunny says. “Sorry, we don't really know anything about the man.”

“Oh, she's just saying that because she has the hotsie-totsie's for him! If you know what I mean, Janice.” Edna winks at the reporter again, but Janice doesn’t notice as she continues to write furiously.

“What? I do not! What are you writing there?” Sunny cranes her neck to see Janice’s pad. “Quit writing! Edna, I am leaving, so if you want a ride home, you better get your hotsie-totsie out to the car! I don't even want coffee anymore!” She pulls on Edna's purse strap while Edna is making 'call me' miming motions with her hand up to her ear to Janice.

“I gotta go, Janice. But mark my words, this guy might be booty-licious, but there is trouble brewing in Pleasant Valley...”

Well, that’s a small dose of life in Pleasant Valley. For more of the antics of Sunny and her pals, the Pleasant Valley Page Turners, check out ‘Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got No Body, available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle editions.

I am often told that Edna is a favorite character in my book, due to her fun and quirky personality. I would love it if you left a comment about a favorite character you love, in fiction or in real life, that makes you laugh just by thinking about them. Edna is a composite character made up of several older women in my life, but especially, my own grandmother, who always had me stitches. Thanks for stopping by Jennifer’s blog.  

Friday Fun: Meet author Elke Feuer + Give*Away!

Hi, Jennifer. Thanks so much for having me as your guest today. I'll give away 1 eBook to a lucky commentator! Be sure to leave your email addy!

Thanks, Elke!! 

Tell us about your real life romance?

My husband and I met at the workplace during a training session. Luckily we didn’t work in the same department. He asked me out and the rest shall we say is history. We’ve been married almost four years.

What is your favorite writing conference to attend?

At the moment it’s RWA’s Regional Conference. I went for the first time two years ago, met amazing people, sat in informative sessions, and came back a new writer. I highly recommend it!

If you could time travel would you go forward or backward

Couldn’t I do both? I’d love to travel backward to see how people lived in the Victorian and Medieval times. Forward to see if they finally invent the device to combine my computer, phone, iPod, eReader into one tiny item that fit neatly in my handbag, right next to my car device like the one in Tron Legacy. Hey, a girl can dream can’t she?  

Tell us about your latest WIP

It’s called Deadly Bloodlines and what makes it exciting to write is that’s set in where I live in Grand Cayman and is about the daughter of a serial killer. I’m hopeful it will be the first of many set in Cayman. 

What is your favorite time of the year?

Without a doubt, Christmas. I get to spend more time with friends and family than any other time of the year and the weather is nicer in Grand Cayman where I live. The humidity drops and breezes blow cool enough that you can open your window.

How likely are people to end up in your next book?

Very likely. I’m a people watcher and a lot of times something about them jumps out at me and says “write me”. Who am I to say no?

Book Blurb

Restoration architect Josie Fagan takes on a project with lawyer and senator’s son, Patrick Pullman. It’s the perfect match. She needs his endorsement to save her business and he wants to restore his ancestral Chicago home. Love wasn’t part of her plan. Neither was being asked to stay at his home, haunted by ghosts, or discovering she has a claim to his home – which she adores. When she finds out his family may be responsible for her aunt’s disappearance fifty years ago, it’s a race to unearth the truth before she loses not only her business and her heart, but her life.

Patrick can’t deny his attraction to Josie and is willing to take a chance on love since his broken engagement a year earlier. Things become complicated when he learns of their family connection and her claim to the home he loves. He doesn’t believe in ghosts, or that his family is involved in her aunt’s disappearance, so insists they work together. But, when he starts seeing his uncle’s ghost, and threats are made on her life, he’s forced to confront the possibility his family could be responsible.

The ghosts of their aunt and uncle forge a connection through them, but is what they feel love or just the ghosts living out their unfinished lives?

Excerpt

Her breath stopped when she walked into his office.

At home, he’d been imposing with his broad shoulders and confident, arrogant air. In the courtroom, he was known as Calculating Pullman for the way he won cases. Seated behind his large mahogany desk he was a frightening force.

“Please have a seat.” He pointed to a chair in front of his desk.

Her heart dropped. She hoped he wasn’t going to give her a long speech like the ones his father gave. Just give me a straight yes or no, don’t sugar coat it. She sat calmly in the black leather chair, smiled through gritted teeth, and for a moment regretted her blatant confidence when they met.

His fingers played with the onyx paperweight on his desk. “Did you get new clients?”

Her heartbeat raced as she shook her head slowly.

“Good, I want you to do the restoration.” His eyes rose to meet hers.

Oh man! There was a catch, and she wasn’t going to like it.

“I want you stay at the house during the renovations and not take on any other jobs until mine is done.”

“What?” He couldn’t be serious. She searched his face. He was. “Why do I need to stay at the house?”

“I need this project finished on time and that will mean having you close to discuss designs and restoration changes. Living at the house is the best option and also eliminates the risk of theft.” He leaned back in his chair. “Room and board is free. You don’t want to waste money your business needs, do you?”

Damn, he knew about her finances and was going to play hardball. Well, she had no intention of letting him use it against her. She was the best candidate and they both knew it. If she wasn’t, he would’ve hired another company. “I want a flattering personal reference,” she countered.

A cocky grin curved his lips. “Then I want guarantees.”

She held his gaze.

“You’ll get your reference if you meet my six-month deadline, if I’m satisfied with the quality of the work, and if the job comes within budget.” He moved his chair back into the upright position.

“That will not include changes you make to my original estimate or if you select inferior products,” she added quickly.

His smile broadened and a boyish dimple winked at her.

Is he enjoying this?

Damn him, he is!

She didn’t like it one bit. He was taking away the control she wanted, needed, to have.

The excitement she’d felt when he agreed to hire her vanished. The masculine atmosphere that had floated in the air like cheap cologne when she arrived squeezed around her, making her uncomfortable.

“Do we have a deal?”

I love hearing from readers. They can contact with me at:

http://elkefeuer.com/

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Elke-Feuer/185367964831994

https://twitter.com/ElkeFeuer

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6550227.Elke_Feuer

http://www.crimsonromance.com/elke-feuer/

Where to get the book

http://ibookstore.com/

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.ca

eBooks.com

Man Candy Monday!

From Creative Commons - Free Pic. Pool/ By: M. Taggart
http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?w=809956%40N25&m=pool&q=handsome+men

This image makes me think of saying: Have a good Monday .... or else.  LOL
But wow! Amazing abs!! 

Enjoy:)

Friday Fun + Give*Away: Meet MIA DOWNING!

Please help me welcome the talented MIA DOWNING to the blog today! I'm so glad to have MIA here today (first time) and happy to report she'll be back next month with a new release! Yay!

Thanks for being here, Mia :)

Thank you so much for having me, Jennifer! I’m excited to be here and I’m such a fan of your writing. Rafe was a delicious find out in the mountains! I doubt I’d ever get that lucky. LOL

I’d love to give away a copy of EXCEEDING BOUNDARIES  to a lucky commenter. Make sure you leave your email addy. I’ll get back to you with the format of your choice! It’s a juicy, conflicted read, so it’s worth the comment!

    *  Was your road to publication a delightful stroll in the park or a tiring jog over hot coals?

I think it was more of a run through the park being chased by zombies. I’m lucky, I happened to be in the right place and right time when I submitted to my editor, so she saved me from the zombies. I started writing again in 2000, was a contest slut, won prizes, got rejected by a big six NYC editor over the phone with a request to write for a different line (I wasn’t ready to do what she wanted.) Then I listened to a friend who basically killed the dream with one sentence. That, along with health issues, put the dream in the trash can until this year when the stories decided they needed to be heard.

* Where is your favorite place to write?

Right now it’s on the laptop at the barn. We just got a horse, and we have two cows. They don’t all fit into the barn, and the horse is protective of his space. The horse comes out to eat, but needs to be watched (he doesn’t have a stall yet and I envision him playing Jacob’s ladder with his lead rope.) So I have two hours a day of writing time on the laptop. It’s peaceful, I take coffee, and if I spend a little longer on the laptop, the horse doesn’t complain.

* Do you have critique partners?

No. A critique partner (CP) can be a catalyst for good or evil. Unfortunately, I ended up in hell paddling the boat that goes back and forth across the River Styx, collecting coins from dead people. LOL I gave up fiction and instead turned to other venues within the business (technical and ghost writing.) But I couldn’t stay away, so finally I got brave. I do have two very close friends I use to bounce ideas and give more of an overview once I’ve written what I need to write. I also use a beta reader now and then. Of course my editor is a valuable tool though I try to make everything as perfect as possible before she gets the book. I do sound ideas off her, and she’s my biggest cheering section!

* What music are you listening to lately?

Each book has its own sound track and I have to go and find music that fits that scene/character. I know I have the right song when I put it on repeat and don’t hear it anymore. Weird, but that’s me.

The Spy Games series have songs that can mix and match because the characters are in every book. Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger was Kate’s music. Chase makes love to Kate to Snow Patrol’s Set Fire to the Third Bar. Charlotte loves Niki Minaj’s Starships. Jake thinks Rick Springfield’s song, Jesse’s Girl is too ironic and changes the lyrics to Chase’s Girl. LOL. Right now I’m on a 30 Seconds to Mars Kick. Jared Leto is mine. I’d like to see him on a Mancandy Monday!

Exceeding Boundaries, my first book, was written to Maroon 5’s Never Gonna Leave This Bed and a few others. Funny but I can’t listen to that song now, for this series. I only hope my characters don’t wish for country music. I hate it.

* If you could switch places with one of your characters would you?

Yes, I’ve always wanted to be Kate. She went from nerdy and frumpy to having a kick ass body, great boobs and nicer hair thanks to the government. She is optimistic and full of determination, willing to change to become what she needs to be for her job and for her relationship with Chase. Chase is not an easy man to love because he has so many facets behind the gorgeous face and bossy attitude. But more importantly, I love how she grows and becomes empowered by her new role as a spy, and how she has two men that love her so deeply. Granted, she would die first for Chase, but she loves her partner, Jake, too.

* Tell us a little about your WIP.

I just finished the last Spy Games Endgame. Charlotte Smith is a secret agent marking time until her final mission is put into play. Right now she’s Aaron James’ bodyguard. He’s an actor who got himself into a bit of trouble and needs protecting. He’s also Jake’s younger brother, who is the hero for book two, and plays an important role in book one.

And I’m also in the middle of a male/male targeted for the Boys Of Summer series TWRP has running this summer. It’s a best friends story and very heartbreaking to write at times.

Exceeding Boundaries BLURB:

Lawyer Megan Connors wants a man, one that will wine her, dine her, and help her to forget the pain of a date rape she experienced as a teen. Her boss, Adam Wentworth, is just the man--tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed, and a confirmed player. He's perfect for a weekend of non-committal sex that will entice her inner woman out to play for good. So Megan devises a plan for seduction, one that will lure Adam into her arms. 

Adam has been attracted to Megan since day one, but his preference for dominance and her fragile air kept him at bay. Megan's kiss under forgotten mistletoe is just the fuel his lust needs to exceed the boundaries she once put in place. He's game, but he wants more than a weekend with the vulnerable yet sexy Megan. 

When the weekend is over, will Megan allow the past to keep her bound or can Adam convince her she’s strong enough to submit? 

BUY Links:

AMAZON

http://www.amazon.com/Exceeding-Boundaries-ebook/dp/B008GWRC32/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342148307&sr=8-1&keywords=exceeding+boundaries

THE WILD ROSE PRESS

http://www.wilderroses.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=87&products_id=866

Blog: www.miadowning.blogspot.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754711.Mia_Downing

Twitter:  miadowning007

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mia.downing.35?ref=tn_tnmn

Friday Fun: Meet author Ramona Butler!

Please help me welcome Ramona Butler and her great new Novel BORDER HEAT!
You can find out more about Ramona at her Website

Thanks so much for being here today, Ramona! I LOVE the cover for BORDER HEAT! Can't wait to read it.
****
Thanks, Jennifer.

Late Bloomer
I've always claimed to be a "late bloomer" but this borders on the ridiculous. Why?  Because it took me so many years to decide to even reach for that star -- go after my lifelong dream of publication.  Would you believe I began Border Heat before my detour to write six books with a good friend, the first of which made us a Golden Heart finalists on our initial attempt?
No, we didn't win, but our teamwork meshed so well it resulted in four published novels before I decided to fly alone.
My mother always said I had a stubborn streak -- from my father's side of the family, of course.  Still you can't begin to guess how long the romantic adventure, Border Heat, languished half-written in my heart and in my computer.
Five years?   Ten?  Ha Ha Ha!
So, now, at long last, it is with a great deal of pride and satisfaction, that I bring you an brief excerpt from my romantic adventure Border Heat  (published by Champagne Books --) -- the first book to carry my name as author.

BLURB:
Special Agent Jess Hightower, working undercover as a tour guide, knows he’s in trouble as soon as he catches sight of Caroline Cody’s red hair. What is the beautiful babe doing on a senior citizens’ tour of Mexico’s famed Copper Canyon? 

Red haired travel agent Caroline Cody blames a Tarot Death card for her latest assignment: an on-site review and evaluation of a tour tailed specifically for senior citizens, a trip that experiences trouble from the get-go. When her first meeting with tour guide Jess Hightower ends in disaster, she suspects he isn’t an experienced tour leader, but she can’t begin to foresee the danger he represents to the tour group—or to her heart.

EXCERPT:
 
A gunshot shattered the silence.  And from out of nowhere, a large form, blacker than the black night, slammed her to the ground, covered her.  Air swooshed from her lungs.  She gasped for breath, twisting, thrashing, fighting the hulk that had landed on top of her.  When her knee struck soft tissue, she was rewarded with a oath, then a hoarse, low-pitched, "For God's sake, stop your squirming.  I'm trying to save your unappreciative hide!"
Stunned by recognition of that husky rumble, she stilled.  "Jess?"  Lord, he was heavy.  Solid muscle.
"Shhh, don't talk."  Words breathed against her temple.
"Get off me, you--"
His callused hand covered her mouth and shut off her words.  She twisted again, writhing, bucking--with no success whatsoever.

Many thanks, Jennifer, for allowing me a spot to brag about this long awaited accomplishment.

--Ramona Butler
Buy Link
www.ramonabutler.com
http://ramonabutler.blogspot.com/
 http://www.facebook.com/#1/pages/Ramona-Butler/201924266492805



And, for those who might be interested, here is a list of the books I co-authored with Louise Crawford before attempting my solitary flight:

Jaded Hearts
http://amzn.comHYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BOO4V4ASZI"/dp/HYPERLINK http://amzn.com/dp/BOO4V4ASZI"BOO4V4ASZI

Lonesome Cowboy series
Sabrina Says http://amzn.comHYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BOO4WSQQ3G"/dp/BOO4WSQQ3G
Trouble in 3-D http://amzn.comHYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BOO4yr549W"/dp/HYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BOO4yr549W"BOO4yr549W
Sagebrush Cinderella http://amzn.comHYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BOO523KDA2"/dp/HYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BOO523KDA2"BOO523KDA2


Silver State Wild Romance series
Dance with Destiny   http://amzn.comHYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BOO4UWPKMC"/dp/HYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BOO4UWPKMC"BOO4UWPKMC
High Flying Love http://amzn.comHYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BO4VNVCV8"/dp/HYPERLINK "http://amzn.com/dp/BO4VNVCV8"BO4VNVCV8

(All of the above are also available via Smashwords.com)

Friday Fun: Meet Author Kristine Cayne!

Please help me welcome the talented KRISTINECAYNE! She's brought her newest Romantic Suspense, DEADLY ADDICTION, the 2nd book in the Deadly Vices Series!

You can see all of Kristine's great books HERE

But grab a cup of coffee and come on back to learn more about her and her work-in-progress ;)

Thanks for being her today, Christine!

 Do you have critique partners?

Dana Delamar (danadelamar.com) is my wonderful, amazing critique partner. We meet twice a week to go over new work and edit previous work. We’ve helped each other through our publication journeys. Dana is not only a fabulous writer, she’s also a terrific editor, which is a great thing to have in a critique partner, since she can tell me where all the &^%#ing commas go.

 If you could time travel would you go forward or backward?

Since I can read about the past, I think I’d travel to the future. Think of how much technology has evolved in the past 100 years. Can you imagine what the world will be like even 100 years in the future? I can try, but I’m certain my imagination doesn’t even come close to reality. It would be a life-changing event for sure.

 If you could switch places with one of your characters would you?

Switching places with one of my heroines would mean I’d get to be with one of my heroes for a while. What a great idea! J I can’t pick which of my heroes I prefer, because they are both terrific men in their own ways, and I’m sure I’d get along with either one. But which of my heroines would I rather most be? Personality and lifestyle-wise, I’m most like Lauren James, the heroine of Deadly Obsession. But if I traded spots with her, I’d have to deal with the dreaded stalker. On the other hand, I’m not sure I could or would want to be Alyssa, the heroine of Deadly Addiction. She’s had some incredibly difficult and dangerous experiences that I know I couldn’t live through. I’m just not that tough or kickass. Okay, decision made. I’d switch places with Lauren, get rid of the stalker, then enjoy being the girlfriend/wife of a world famous sexy movie star for a while. Rowr!

Tell us a little about your WIP.

My current work in progress is Deadly Betrayal, the third book in my Deadly Vices series. The hero is Kaden Christiansen, who was first introduced in Deadly Obsession as Nic’s bodyguard. 

Here’s a short blurb:

AZITA SERAJ, Dari doctor and women’s rights activist in Afghanistan, is horrified to learn that her late husband’s brother, Khalid Mullazai, is giving his twelve year old sister to a Taliban tribal leader in exchange for debts owed. Desperate to save the girl, she reaches out to the only hope she has: an American soldier she treated several years earlier for a gunshot wound. A wound he received in an ambush she’d been deceived into initiating. Can she enlist his aid and still keep secret her betrayal?

KADEN CHRISTIANSEN never forgot the beautiful Afghani doctor who saved his life, and when he receives her cry for help, he doesn’t hesitate. The opportunity to see Azita again and to discover the source of the ambush that caused the death of one of his men is one he relishes.

Hunted by Mullazai and Taliban fighters as they travel across the country disguised and posing as a married couple, Kaden and Azita begin to fall for their own act and for each other. But Kaden senses that Azita is holding back. Is the reason their cultural differences or something darker?

***

Sound good? I’m looking forward to learning more about the Afghani people, culture, and politics.

Favorite actor/actress/both?

Right now, I have two favorite actors – Channing Tatum and Chris Hemsworth. I’m more than a little ashamed to admit that this is mostly due to looks and charm. However, I do think that both actors will continue to grow and have tremendous acting careers. On a side note, they are both the inspiration for characters in my series. Coincidence? ;-)

As for my favorite actress, I’ve enjoyed every Katherine Heigl movie I’ve seen, well, except for One for the Money. Ugh. Casting error anyone?

Do you believe in love at first sight or just lust at first sight?

I definitely believe in lust at first sight. I’m sure everyone has experienced that electric feeling, the tightening of your tummy upon seeing that special person. Some people believe it’s pheromone based, and that’s certainly possible, but we’ve seen this (or experienced it) over and over with television, movie, and music stars. People fall in lust with people they’ve never met.

I don’t think you can fall in love with someone until you get to know them at least a little. There has to be something in their manner, their personality, that draws you to them and elicits feelings of kindness and caring.

Friday Fun: Meet Author MAUREEN FISHER + Give*Away!

Please help me welcome the wonderful MAUREEN FISHER! She's brought 2 (Two!) great book excerpts, FUR BALL FEVER and JAGUAR LEGACY. You can learn more about Maureen at http://booksbymaureen.com
But come on back because Maureen is offering 1 copy of either FUR BALL FEVER OR JAGUAR LEGACY....winner's choice!

Thanks for being her today, Maureen!

Many thanks for the chance to be a guest on your blog, Jennifer. It’s great to be here, and I’m happy to answer some interview questions. Please feel free to comment or ask me any question you want. One commenter will win the book of her choice (either Fur Ball Fever or The Jaguar Legacy).

As a romance author, do you have any advice to women for injecting more romance into their relationships?

I do. At the risk of sounding immodest, the advice I’m about to impart on cranking up your romance quotient is so simple yet so brilliant, I expect to be awarded a significant humanitarian award. Like the Nobel Peace Prize. Or the Order of Canada. Or the coveted Above-and-Below-the-Sheets Romance Upgrade Award.

Seriously!

To put my money where my mouth is, I will share with you the secret for injecting more romance into a relationship, both in and out of the bedroom:

Every man must learn what makes a woman tick.

Yes, folks, it really is that simple.

Since the beginning of time, we women have struggled, sadly with limited success, to instill more romance into our relationships. The good news is, the failure is not our fault. Seriously. The key to living the romantic dream nestles in the capable, not to mention long-fingered, sensitive, well-manicured, sinewy, and delightfully work-roughened hands of our romantically-challenged main squeeze. Think, for example, how wonderful it would be if our man grasped that overt ogling of the waitresses at Hooters was an unconditional no-no; how delightful if our man embraced our hormone-whipped mood swings with a hug, reassuring words, and an offer to clean the toilets; how glorious if our man listened with unfeigned interest to our frustrations, hurts, and complaints—without offering advice on how we should handle the situation; how totally sublime if our man memorized all our most sensitive spots and lavished attention on each and every of them. Frequently. Gently but firmly. The way we love most.

Okay, so I sense skepticism. How, you ask, can we impart this knowledge to our menfolk without indulging in mind-melding or nasty threats involving sharp implements? In the interest of female solidarity, I’m willing to share my mind-blowing ‘how-to’ secret:

Introduce the love of your life to romance fiction.

Okay, so I’m taking the high road and ignoring the eye-rolls. Bear with me. To achieve this goal, I have devised an Action Plan containing Tasks, Sub-Tasks, and Milestones.

The first task is sneaky. It exploits men’s love of logic. This is where you explain to him that romance novels provide unlimited opportunities for a man to plumb the depths (so to speak) of the mysterious world of Venus. In the process, he might even reach new insight into Martians. How, I ask you, can any man in his right mind resist unveiling the feminine mystique--what we love, what we hate, what turns us on, what turns us off, in short, what makes us tick?

Once you reach the first milestone (his buy-in that romance novels offer men untold benefits), it’s time to implement task two. Take a deep breath and drop a hint that, going forward (that’s man-speak, required to indicate you’re on his wave-length), his enlightenment will cause those Gates of Paradise to open more often. And bingo! He’s riveted by the bait of abundant sex. You’ve achieved the second milestone.

At this point, you must advance quickly to task three. Tap into his competitive streak by recounting your recurring fantasy of a man sprawled in an airport chair, legs crossed, waiting for his flight, briefcase and laptop at his feet—a manly man, a hunk who is truly comfortable in his own skin, a studmuffin who is dabbing the tears in his eyes, a hottie who has discarded his business report on financial trends in favor of the latest Nora Roberts bestseller. Assure him that at the end of the day (more man-speak), only real men read romance.

If you’ve done your job properly, you’ll soon hear him beg for Jennifer Jakes’ newest historical romance, or Maureen Fisher’s paranormal, or even romances by lesser-known authors like Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Lori Foster. Simply hand your dude the mushiest romance novel you can find, place a box of tissues within easy reach, and give him space to do the rest.

Mission accomplished! I offer you a transformed man who understands women inside and out. A man who knows what to do to and how to do it to crank up the romance quotient.

Seriously!

Which of your story protagonists do you love best and why?

It’s impossible for me to pick a favorite. Similar to how I feel about my children, I love each and every one of my protagonists equally—for their strengths, flaws, quirks, and all.

For example, while feeling compassion for the failings and foibles of Charley Underhill, heroine of The Jaguar Legacy, I also love her complexity, spunk, and wit. Never boring, Charley is full of contradictions and more than a few hang-ups. And no wonder. An independent woman at heart, she has lived under the thumb of her manipulative and alcoholic mother her entire life. Honest and ethical at heart, she sees no alternative but to tell a lie that nearly destroys her in order to save her mother’s life. Charley’s passion for life bubbles over, while her tendency towards bossiness, rash actions, inquisitiveness, and obstinacy trip her up at every turn. When feeling nervous, which happens a lot around the hunky Alistair Kincaid, she falls back on smart-assed comments, witticisms, and a quirky sense of humor to mask her discomfort. Courageous and resolute, if she believes in a cause, nothing will stop her from doing what she feels is right. In the end, Charley finds within herself the strength of character to overcome emotional trauma, supernatural forces of evil, and mind-numbing fear to save the man she loves.

How did you decide on the topics for your books?

With me, each book is different.

My first book, The Jaguar Legacy, is a paranormal romantic suspense that gives voice to my belief in reincarnation. Triggered by the energy of the archaeological dig, my heroine makes the unnerving discovery that in her past life, she had been an Olmec High Priestess, trained to kill at an early age, and thirsting for power. At the risk of sounding slightly Looney-Tunes, I’m convinced that the past life I wrote about was one of my own. Certainly, it was the part of the book that flowed most easily, the only part that required little or no editing.

A newspaper article about a charity extravaganza called The Fur Ball provided the kernel of the idea for my second book, Fur Ball Fever. What could be more fun than a romantic crime mystery set against a wacky backdrop of animal politics—One for the Money meets Best in Show (with hot sex)? I wanted something funny, something outrageous, something zany. I zeroed in on a pet-napping gone terribly wrong. Throw in two former flames as reluctant allies, an aging flower child auntie, murder, a phony televangelist, a missing trophy wife, several drag queens, a dominatrix or two, the bawdiest nightclub in Atlantic City, and the result is a zany roller-coaster ride of murder and mayhem, culminating in a Fur Ball extravaganza the locals will never forget.

My Work-in-Progress, Cold Feet Fever, is a sequel to Fur Ball Fever. The hero is the Southern hunk of a playboy brother of my hero in Fur Ball Fever. Work? In Sam Jackson’s opinion, the only place God intended a man should exert himself was in the bedroom. Sam is lazy but charming, a commitment-challenged gambler and womanizer, an underachiever with a photographic memory he prefers to hide. He’s irresistible to the ladies. Can you tell I’m in love with him already?

Read more about Maureen Fisher and her books at http://booksbymaureen.com

Maureen Fisher’s Books

The Jaguar Legacy http://amzn.com/B005L40LX6  is an award-winning romance written in the tradition of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (with steamy romance).

Despite the baffling panic attacks that devastated her career, enterprising journalist Charley Underhill barges in on a Mexican archaeological dig, bent sifting rumors from truth about the Curse of the Olmecs. A juicy exposé would restore her reputation and earn money for her mother’s life-saving treatment. If it means lying to a no-good womanizing archaeologist with a sexy Scottish accent, brilliant scientific mind, and penchant for gaudy Hawaiian shirts, so be it.

Uncovering the past is archaeologist Dr. Alistair Kincaid’s purpose in life. Still smarting from his ex-wife’s ruthless betrayal, he fears a premature press leak about his latest discovery, an ancient Olmec city buried in the jungle, will doom his floundering career. He can’t let a snoopy reporter, even one with a quirky sense of humor, smarts, and a dazzling grin, destroy his last chance at success. Or steal his heart.

Together, the couple uncovers long-buried secrets best left alone, including the long-lost art of shapeshifting. Strands from past lives intertwine with the present, drawing Charley and Kincaid deeper into a legacy of danger, romance, and evil. Torn between saving her mother’s life and betraying the man she loves, Charley must make the impossible choice as atonement for sins committed in her past life.

Excerpt (The Jaguar Legacy)

Kincaid took care to hide his elation. She'd practically admitted to having feelings for him. He lowered his voice to what he hoped was an enticing rumble. “We can take it slowly, one day at a time.”

“That won’t make the least bit of difference.”

This wasn’t going the way he’d planned, but it was too late to back off now. “I know you don’t trust men, but I promise I will never lie to you.”

Charley’s voice quivered. “I’m not ready for this. Everything’s moving too fast.” She turned her back on him.

“I’ll make you a deal.” He swung her around to face him and clasped her hand in both of his. “I’ve never forced myself on a woman and I don’t intend to start now. I promise I’ll try to keep my hands to myself. The next move will be up to you. I won’t touch you, well, unless I forget, until you tell me you’re ready. Willing and eager would be good too.”

Her eyes flickered, then widened in surprise. "Clever. You’re putting me in the driver’s seat.”

He didn’t feel so clever right now. “Aye. Another of my many virtues,” he said, wishing he could retract his promise.

“Don’t hold your breath waiting for me to change my mind,” she warned with a steely smile.

He hid the queasy feeling behind a forced grin. What had he been thinking? He should have moved in for the kill when he’d sensed that, with a wee bit more convincing on his part, she'd have conceded defeat.

“This doesn’t mean I’m giving up without a fight.” He furrowed his brow to emphasize his next words. “I intend to use my killer wit and fatal charm in every devious manner known to man and beast to convince you to change your mind.”

“Suit yourself.” She clamped her mouth shut in a stubborn line and set off down the dark path toward camp …..

Fur Ball Fever http://amzn.com/B005LIALVE is a romantic crime mystery spiked with attitude (most of it warped), tons of humor, and enough steamy sex to drive those who dare read it racing for a cold shower. One reader described it as One for the Money meets Best in Show.

After a lifetime of impetuous mistakes, pet spa owner Grace Donnelly outdoes herself when she loses her elderly client’s prize pooch—a shoo-in to win the annual Jersey Shore Fur Ball. Money, careers, and lives are in jeopardy. Too bad her helpers consist of an aging hippie aunt, a renegade schnauzer, and a drag queen. Worst of all, the only man truly qualified to help is her former flame, the hunkiest bodyguard north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
Security specialist Nick Jackson faces his worst nightmare when Grace’s amateur investigation nearly blows his undercover operation. Unless he nails the con-artist who scammed local seniors and whacked a witness, his homicidal granddaddy will take justice into his own liver-spotted hands. To salvage his case, his sanity, and his ex-lover’s velvety skin, Nick joins forces with the sassy crusader who rubs him the wrong way—and so many right ways too.
Action bounces between a beach harboring washed-up corpses, a fancy yacht no honest preacher could possibly afford, and the bawdiest nightclub in Atlantic City. Hazards multiply like bunnies until exploding into romance, murder, and mayhem culminating in a Fur Ball extravaganza the locals will never forget.

Excerpt (Fur Ball Fever)

When Nick freed Grace's lips, her breath was coming hard and fast. More turned on than she could ever remember, she took another risk. Still gasping for air, she explained, “Most bondage scenarios revolve around a fantasy.” She paused for a beat, gathering her courage. “You said I’d be in charge,” she reminded him. “I want to act out a fantasy.”
He gave an audible gulp. “Anything specific?”
“Mmmm-hmmm,” she said around a deep, shuddering breath. One fantasy had tantalized her thoughts and tormented her dreams ever since she’d laid eyes on Nick. Breathing hard, she raised her head. “You’re the white knight. I’m a fair maiden you’re rescuing from the clutches of an evil ogre who has tied her up.”
His eyes blazed. “I can live with that, darlin’,” he said. “Is this fair maiden conscious or unconscious?”
A wave of hot desire thickened her speech. “Sleeping. The white knight is trying to awaken her.” Suffused with the heady liberation of surrender, Grace closed her eyes and held her breath. She didn’t have to see Nick to feel the heat of his gaze scalding her skin. The tension became unbearable.
Then the mattress sank under his weight. Although he didn’t touch her, his body radiated heat. The aroma of sandalwood and hungry male enveloped her. She compressed her lips on the moan that struggled to escape. If the white knight didn’t do something, and fast, she would jump clear out of her skin—if she wasn’t cuffed to the bed.
His mouth skimmed her cheek, trailed heat down her jaw line, feathered tiny kisses down her neck. He stopped above her right breast. She pictured him staring. Her nipples throbbed with anticipation, longing for the tug of his mouth. She held her breath, squeezed her eyes shut, forced her body to remain motionless. This was too good, too delicious, to break the spell. Her body was on fire simply from imagining his next move.

The mattress shifted. She opened one eye a slit to find him kneeling between her legs. Closing the eye quickly—before he noticed the fair maiden was wide awake and more than ready for action—she waited, clenched and quivering …….

Both books are available at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/7zvucl3 and Smashwords http://tinyurl.com/86uoetb

Remember, one commenter will win the book of her choice (either Fur Ball Fever or The Jaguar Legacy).

Good luck, and thank you!

Maureen Fisher

http://booksbymaureen.com

Friday Fun: Meet author H.D. Thomson

Help me welcome the talented H.D. Thomson. She's brought her great Suspense novel, SHROUDED IN DARKNESS. 

You can find all of H.D.'s novel on the website . But come on back and learn about H.D. ;)

Thanks for being here today, H.D.

If you could switch places with one of your characters would you?

Wow. That is such an interesting question. I don’t think I would want to trade places with any of them. Or at least I’d like to trade places by the end of each character’s story. I sure wouldn’t want to go through what they’ve gone through. I really put them all in some form of hell or another.

Tell us a little about your WIP.

Right now I’m working on a short story called Shades of Gray. The heroine finds herself with a pair of sunglasses that exposes a person’s aura. Unlike most of the people she comes into contact with the glasses, she lacks color. During the course of the story, she discovers why she is differing shades of gray. I’m really enjoying writing it. I’ve gotten even darker in this story then I have in any other.

Favorite romance movie?

Favorite romance movie… Hmmm. I love a happy ending. If I know the ending is sad, then I won’t watch it. I have yet to watch the Notebook. My favorite at this point would have to be While You Were Sleeping. I liked Sandra Bullock, but I loved Bill Pullman in it. Actually I love anything Bill Pullman is in, especially the suspense movie, Malice, with Nicole Kidman and Alec Baldwin. That movie had a wonderful twist!

What is your favorite time of year?

Fall hands down. I live in Phoenix where much of the year is summer. When the day get below 80, it’s perfect to me. I love the changing of the leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving. The air just smells better! There’s a crispness to it that is hard to describe.

What was the best advice you were given leading you to getting published?

To me this is a very easy question and it covers just three words: Never give up. It’s that simple. You never know what is around the corner. Life can truly change on a dime.

BLURB:

Jake Preston is on borrowed time.  If he doesn’t stumble upon a miracle and soon, he’ll end up dead.  And even if he does, he still might end up dead with a clever killer hounding his heels.  He believes the one miracle and antidote to save him is in Margot Davenport’s house, across the country and miles away from Boston.  Somewhere locked in her home is the key to reversing an experiment that is killing him with each breath he takes.

Margot doesn’t particularly care if she ends up dead.  She’s lost everything she’s ever cared for.  A divorce and the loss of her job as a corporate lawyer has left her with little faith in herself or in anyone else.  Most importantly, she’s lost the one person on this earth she’s looked up to and cherished–her brother, Johnny.  His death in a car accident has devastated her, and she can’t find the willpower to pull herself from the chasm she’s fallen into.  Her only solace is at the bottom of a wineglass.  Having moved back to the small town in northern Arizona where she was raised, she’s made a point of isolating herself both mentally and physically from everyone other than a few chosen friends.  Little does she know that her life is going to explode into chaos and the person behind Johnny’s accident is coming after her.

EXCERPT:

Margot Davenport should never have opened the front door. She should have just kept on getting slowly and thoroughly drunk that night. But the pounding on the door went on and on, reverberating throughout the house and inside her skull.  Stumbling from the couch in the living room, Margot knocked over her glass and an empty wine bottle, and grabbed onto her throbbing head with a hand.

“Damn it!”

In the hall, she tripped over her calico cat, Marmaduke, who streaked past her and up the stairs. She swore again. The banging continued. The crazy fool outside had given up on the doorbell long ago. 

“John!  Come on.  Open up!  It’s me, Jake!”

At the mention of Johnny’s name, Margot’s stomach twisted and rolled with sudden nausea. “Okay! Okay! Give me a second.”

She groped for the light switch to the hall. Nothing happened.

“Damn, stupid thing!” That’s what she got for not replacing the house’s ancient wiring.

“John, I’m freezing my ass off!”

“What do you expect,” Margot muttered, wondering if this guy was playing some sick joke at her expense.

Margot hit the outside light switch and peered through the glass panel beside the door. A man stood on the front porch. She didn’t recognize him, but then again, the sheet of snow and the light’s glare against the night backdrop didn’t help matters.

A gun or pepper spray for protection sounded pretty nice right now, but Margot hated guns and had never expected the need, living on the outskirts of Greyson, Arizona. It wasn’t like this town up in the White Mountains was loaded with crime. The worst incident had been a case of disorderly conduct last winter, and that had been from a drunken tourist.

“Who is it?”

A pause on the other side followed—almost as if she’d surprised him.

“Margot? Is that you? It’s Jake Preston.”

Though muffled, his words were clear enough to make out. The name sounded familiar, but she couldn’t recall what Johnny had said about him.

Margot frowned and winced as pain cut across her temple, brow and the base of her skull. She should have stopped at one glass of wine. “How do you know Johnny?”

“I worked with him at Miltronics for several years on the outskirts of Boston.” 

Margot debated about turning this Jake away as she watched him stamp his feet against the porch. He must be freezing—what with the wind and snow.

“I know it’s late, but I need to talk to John. Please. If you could just get him, you’ll see I’m harmless.”

The urgency in his voice made her decide. He obviously didn’t know about her brother. She sighed heavily. What she had to tell him wasn’t going to be easy.

Margot unlatched the lock and opened the door.

An angry gust of wind burst into the house, tearing the knob from her grasp. The door flew wide and crashed against the wall. Gasping, she reeled back as snow flew in, stabbing her face with icy spikes.

“Here, let me.” He stepped inside and shoved the door closed with his shoulder. He turned his back against the light from the kitchen, casting his face in shadow. His baseball cap further shielded his features—along with sunglasses of all things.

How very odd. Sudden apprehension curled up her spine as Margot stepped away from Jake and the doorway. Topping a good six-feet, he appeared far larger than when he’d stood behind a locked door.

“What are the sunglasses for?” she asked.

“The light.”

“What?”

“My eyes. They’re sensitive to light. I injured both corneas as a child.”

“Oh.” She must have been staring at him like an idiot, but something about him made her uneasy. And it wasn’t just the glasses and pale complexion.

He must have sensed her disquiet, because he explained further, “It’s called traumatic iritis. It’s something I’ve had to live with for as long as I can remember.” He shrugged a large canvas backpack from his shoulder and placed it on the floor. “Can you get John for me?”

“He’s dead.”

Margot never intended the words to come out so abrupt and final, but...it hurt. Balling her hands into fists, she fought against the sudden tears that burned the back of her eyes. Please no. Not now. She couldn’t fall apart in front of this stranger.

“He can’t be. That’s impossible.”

BUY LINK:

http://www.amazon.com/Shrouded-Darkness-Series-ebook/dp/B00698OPYY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1334239064&sr=1-1