Good morning everyone! If you recall in January, I made a stop at Carrie Ann Ryan's blog and I had a lovely time there. So when I saw she was touring one of her own books, I immediately jumped to have her on the blog here. Now I owe her an apology because I was so excited to have her here that I scheduled her on an off day, and with things going on this week, I almost let this get away from me.

But let's get to this and let's get her smokin' hot new book, A TASTE FOR A MATE introduced! And by the way, Carrie has a giveaway with this tour as well!

She'll be giving away an autographed bookmark to one commenter at every stop and a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter.

A TASTE FOR A MATE

Jasper Jamenson’s only responsibility to being the Beta of the Redwood Pack, second son of the Alpha, is to protect the Pack from themselves and the human world. After a century of selfless service, his brother’s new found mating forced him into taking a good look into his life. He isn’t sure he wants a mate, but fate may have other ideas.

Sounds yummy doesn't it? Carrie Ann is going to steal the blog for a minute and tell you about the challenges in creating a world of werewolves.

It’s a Werewolf World
by Carrie Ann Ryan

Thanks for having me here today. My hosts asked me to talk about creating a new world and the challenges presented there. I love creating a new world and making up something just for me – but believe me, there are challenges!

For the Redwood Pack, I first started with the Jamenson family. Because at the heart of it all, they are my world. Once I knew a bit about who they were, I built their positions in the Pack. As I did that, like the fact that Jasper was the Beta, it allowed me to think of powers and different abilities. I then looked at their mates – who each have their own ideas and abilities. With that I was able to broach out into the big world. Like are there demons and witches! Yep!

Also, would the humans know that werewolves lived among them? I decided no, because then there is always that lovely politics and hate groups that come up. I knew that I had enough drama with two Packs! LOL

But there were challenges. As a reader, I HATE when an author changes something that couldn’t be changed or if there are inconsistences. I don’t want to be that person, so I did my best and have a world chart and spreadsheet LOL. I have character ones too! I have tables or world and character characters like locations, descriptions, scents, scenery, placements and powers. The Redwood Pack series is seven books – I’m bound to forget something. That’s why I write it down on my spreadsheet and created my own little handbook.

I love creating new worlds and characters. What would you like to see in a world? Can you think of any other challenges in creating one?

I can so relate to Carrie Ann's remarks about inconsistancies -- and did you hear that, readers? She's a spreadsheet gal too! Series plotters -- a toast to you!

Let's look a little more closely at A TASTE FOR A MATE

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

She stood back and closed her eyes, conjuring the memory of her mystery man’s face. The image that filled her mind made her forget the lack of human contact. The thought of his deep, husky voice tickled her spine whenever he spoke. Green eyes caught her in his web with only a glance. She had fallen for a stranger and didn’t even know his name. He would come into her store every morning and order a cinnamon roll and coffee with only a few words. Then he would pay cash before lifting up the corner of his mouth in a semblance of a smile and walked out of her store. Was it strange she worried he’d keep walking and never return?

A bell’s tinkle pulled Willow from her reverie and self-pity. As she turned to greet her customer, her heart leapt to her throat. Him. Her mysterious fantasy. As she tried to regain her senses, she took all of him in. He had to be one of the tallest men she’d ever seen, easily over six and a half feet. The tight black T-shirt he wore hugged his biceps and cut into his muscular physique, while his broad shoulders stretched and strained the seams. His body tapered down to a narrow waist and hips as they met his thighs. His long legs were encased in worn jeans leading to work boots. Hmm, construction perhaps? She glanced back up his body to his striking face. He wasn’t beautiful, but he did have a face women dreamed about. A strong jaw and cheekbones gave him an aura of strength and protection. Hair was midnight black and long enough to brush his shoulders. However, today, a band held it back, showcasing his face more. He studied her, his green eyes calm and calculating. Willow let out a surprised gasp at the sexual heat radiating from him. Could she possibly be imagining things?

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM A TASTE FOR A MATE
~~@~~

Thank you, Carrie Ann for being here, and I hope you'll forgive this host's tardy start to the day. Readers, give her a warm welcome, please with your comments. And remember to follow her tour. The more you read and comment, the better your chances of winning. Tour dates may be found here.

Carrie Ann Ryan is a paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werwolf mate. Her first book, An Alpha's Path, is the first book in her Redwood Pack series. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She love meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens. Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at: http://www.carrieannryan.com/ http://carrieannryan.blogspot.com/ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carrie-Ann-Ryans-Author-Page/243643205647654 http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002584098860 Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Goddessfish Promotions , New Voices

Hi all! I'm here today with author, Rebecca Royce, who's currently on tour with her book LOVE BEYOND LOYALTY. This cover really snagged me, I have to admit. It's gorgeous and alluring.

So let's take a deeper look!

Love Beyond Loyalty Gabriel Ward has no problem with the fact that he’s an Outsider. Hell, he’s always known he was different. What he takes issue with is the idea he has to follow any destiny at all. He’s taken care of himself-and others-since birth. There’s no way he has to start following rules now. Loraine Peacock can speak to animals. Other than that she thinks she’s just a regular woman making her way in the world. She figures its not that weird. Many people have unusual abilities. But when Gabriel and Loraine are forced together by a destiny he denies and she is ignorant of, they will both finally have to accept their Outsider legacy and help the others in their quest to defeat the ultimate evil—a demon bent on world destruction. That is, if they can both survive to find their way to the most important part of their destiny: love.

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

She turned on her heel, and Gabriel‘s heart sped up. He walked forward and grabbed her arm, which was tricky to do because he needed to hold up his blanket to prevent from being arrested for public indecency.

“You‘re leaving?” God, he wanted to shout, ‘don‘t leave.‘

Nodding, she gave him that forced smile again, and he wanted to wipe it off her face. “I am. I brought you to Alexa. It‘s time for me to go on my way. You‘ve told me a lot of stuff I have to digest. Good luck.” She looked at Alexa and he wished that one of his powers was mind reading because he had no clue what was going on inside of hers. “To both of you. It was nice meeting you.”

Pulling her arm free of his grip he thought for a second he felt her shake. Was she okay?

“Loraine, wait a second…”

He wouldn‘t have believed she could move that fast. One second she was there and the next she, while still walking, sprinted out of the building.

“Loraine,” he yelled but she didn‘t turn around and soon the crowd in the room blocked his view.

Why was she leaving? Like a light turning on, realization struck him. She had used the phrase your Alexa. What did she think his relationship with his oldest friend was?

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE MERCENARY WAY
~~@~~

Thanks, Rebecca, for stopping in here today and sharing LOVE BEYOND LOYALTY with us.

Readers -- Rebecca has a prize for you all!

Rebecca will be awarding a $50.00 gift certificate to Amazon.com to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the Tour; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Tour dates can be found here:

More About Rebecca

Rebecca Royce As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it. Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months. She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books. In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will. Website: http://www.rebeccaroyce.com/

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: giveaway , Goddessfish Promotions , New Voices

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Berkley HEAT , Erotic Romance , Lie To Me , Tori St.Claire

Hi all! I'm bringing you fellow Wild Rose Press author, Tory Richards today! Tory is a new to me author, so I'm super excited to bring her to the blog for that reason alone. And given we share a similiar pen name -- well, you just can't go wrong with that.

So let's take a peek at her new book!

THE MERCENARY WAY When a ruthless gem smuggler mistakes Sarah for her best friend Susan, she's kidnapped and stashed on an island. Her only hope of rescue is Susan's cousin Clint -- a soldier-of-fortune whose my-way-or-else attitude is as infuriating as his muscular body is distracting. Clint, ex-Navy SEAL turned mercenary, desperately needs a vacation. Rescuing a kidnapped woman from an island paradise isn't what he had in mind. And when he encounters Sarah's sassy mouth and tempting ways, he soon realizes he's the one in trouble.

I subjected Tory to my rigorous interview. She participated very enthusiastically, I'm happy to report. Here's what she had to share!

Briefly take us on the journey with you – when did you start writing, did you start in the genre you’re published in now, what hurdles did you have to overcome, etc.

TR: I started writing around the age of ten, on notebook paper. Then at thirteen I received a manual typewriter for Christmas, eventually a computer and the rest is history. I bounced all around when I started writing. Contemporary, historical, Viking. I settled on contemporary because it required less research. I hate research! The hurdle I had to overcome was feeling like there was something wrong with my wanting to be a writer. That stemmed from the reaction I received from my parents when I first told them my dream. They laughed.

Obviously you write in the contemporary romance genre. (She also writes erotic romance as well, readers!) Is that your favorite genre to read? Do you write in any other genres, or under any other pen names you’d like to share?

TR: I just have the one pen name, Tory Richards. I wrote mainstream romance when I started out but as my writing evolved I decided I’d have more freedom under a different name. These days I don’t have time for writing, much less for reading. Life often gets in the way and everything else takes a back seat to family and real work.

Of the books you have published, do you have a favorite? If so, which one and why?

TR: This is a hard question to answer because I pour everything I have into all my books. I fall in love with the heroes and I admire the heroines. And every one of my books has something of me in them. I have a sense of humor and it often comes out in my writing.

What are your published titles and please tell us about anything coming down the pipe next.

TR: At Ellora’s Cave you can find:
- Talk Dirty to Me
- Breathless Surrender
- Her Hands-On Man

Whiskey Creek Press has under my real name:
- Cupid’s Arrow
- The Senator’s Daughter

And under Tory:
- The Cowboy Way
- It’s All in the Jeans
- Wicked Desire
- Someone to Love Me

At Liquid Silver:
- The Promise

At The Wild Rose Press:
- All the Right Moves
- The Mercenary Way


TR: Anything could be coming down the pike. But I was asked by my publisher to sex up two earlier releases to be re-released in their torrid line under Tory Richards.

If we peek in on your hero and heroine’s lives ten years from now, can you give us a glimpse of what we’d see?

TR: They would be living on Clint’s ranch. He will have given up the life of a mercenary and is making a fortune on breeding and raising thoroughbred race horses. Sarah will be busy raising their two daughters and son.

Now that we know a little more about you and where else we can find your books, lets specifically talk about THE MERCENARY WAY.

Tell me about your plot development? How did the idea spur, did you have to do much research, any interesting tidbits that we should know?

TR: I wish! I write by the seat of my pants and absolutely hate research. What I don’t know I make up and so far have been successful with that process. As for plot development, I listen to what my characters are saying. Yes, there are voices in my head.

Okay heroes in specific -- What’s one thing about Clint that we wouldn’t necessarily learn in the book? A secret dream, an embarrassing habit, an episode from childhood.

TR: Clint hasn’t been circumcised.

Oooh! Interesting tidbit!

All heroes are unforgettable in one way or another. What’s one thing about Clint that makes your heart go pitter-pat?

TR: He hasn’t been circumcised. Kidding! What gets to me are the moments when he pockets his big bad persona and reveals his tender side.

If your hero doesn’t have a pet in your novel, what kind of pet would best suit his personality?

TR: A Rottweiler!

Nice big dog with a tender side -- sounds perfect!

Moving on to heroines! Everybody has flaws. Sometimes they are endearing, other times they are annoying. What is your heroine Sarah's greatest fault?

TR: She’s mouthy, and it lands her into trouble more than one time.

Laugh! I can echo that.

Without giving away details that might spoil the story for those who have not read it, could you tell us the one strength Sarah provides to Clint?

TR: Sarah has grit and stamina. Even when she’s totally exhausted she refuses to give in, determined to keep up with Clint as they make their way to the other side of the island.

If Sarah was your daughter – what advice would you give her upon meeting your hero?

TR: He’s crude and hard on the outside but get into his heart and he’ll keep you there forever.

And last, if we peek in on Sarah and Clint's lives ten years from now, can you give us a glimpse of what we’d see?

TR: They would be living on Clint’s ranch. He will have given up the life of a mercenary and is making a fortune on breeding and raising thoroughbred race horses. Sarah will be busy raising their two daughters and son.

Did you say horses? Readers -- lookie! HORSES!!

I knew I'd like this lady.

Before we introduce Clint personally, Tory, I have just a couple other questions for you.

What do you find most difficult about your job as an author?

TR: Finding the time to devote to writing every day.

What has surprised you the most about being a published author?

TR: Ok I swear I’m not conceited but it would be the lack of awe with some people when they find out I’m a published author. I’ve wanted to be a writer forever and when I was first published I felt like I’d finally done it. I succeeded in reaching my dreams. I was beyond excited. So I expected everyone else to be just as excited. Ask me a ton of questions and be thrilled on meeting a writer. LOL Some are, but most could care less. Their lack of enthusiasm kind of hurt, until I woke up and realized that becoming an author was my dream. Not theirs. How can I expect them to get excited over my accomplishment if they dreamed of being an astronaut or belly dancer?

What would you like to say to writers who are reading this interview and wondering if they can keep creating, if they are good enough, if their voices and visions matter enough to share?

TR: DON’T EVER GIVE UP! If you believe in yourself someone else will, too. And it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. I was fifty when my first book was published. Expect to be rejected, too.

Very sound advice, Tory. Authors, keep that tidbit in mind, please.

So with all that said, let's take a first-hand look at Clint and Sarah and the danger they've gotten themselves into.

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

Grabbing his duffel bag, Clint sprinted in the direction of the trees, leaving Sarah to follow. She’d learn soon enough that he wasn’t going to wait for her. They’d almost reached the safety of the trees when the first shot rang out. It whizzed past them ricocheting off a nearby tree, splintering the bark over their heads. He glanced back, swearing. Just as he’d expected, Sarah had come to a halt and was looking around as though wondering what had just happened.

“Keep moving!” he commanded, grabbing her arm. He gave her a violent shove in front of him where he could keep his eyes on her, and ducked when another bullet whizzed past. Soon after, a volley of gunfire erupted, forcing Clint to push her to the ground before they shot her head off.

She screamed when he careened into her and, in seconds, they were slipping on the muddy earth. Keeping his hands on her hips, he forced her to crawl behind a large tree. As they came to rest against it, flying bark sprayed the area around them.

“We have to keep moving!” Sarah cried above the sound of gunfire. “They’re coming!” She tried to struggle to her feet, but Clint easily held her down.

“No!” he said against her ear. “They’re still back at the house. They’re shooting wild, hoping to scare us out in the open. We still have a good head start,” he finished in a calm tone.

“You sound like you’re used to this,” she commented, trembling beneath his weight. She cried out again when another bullet hit the ground in front of them.

Clint forced her head down, lying protectively over her, all the while knowing that if a bullet went through him, it would probably go through her too. “Pray, angel.”

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE MERCENARY WAY
~~@~~

Tory will be awarding a $20.00 e-gift certificate to Bath and Body to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the Tour; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Tour dates can be found here:

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Goddessfish Promotions , New Voices

Now, I don't mean to turn the blog into a downer event, but as I sit here this morning, I'm struck by an oddity that I didn't see coming.

Bear with me while I share a story.

In 2002, my yellow lab literally brought home another dog. For weeks, every time we let him out, he'd run off into the field, disappear for a few hours and come home with a cute little collie-mix friend... who we couldn't touch.

It was like Charley was saying, "Hey, feed her too, she's my friend" to us. And to her, "They're cool people. Hang out, you'll see."

Eventually, she didn't leave. She'd hang out under our trucks, lounge in the shade beneath the trees, and followed Charley everywhere. It took four months before she would eat the food set out if she could see us within five feet of the bowl.

At the time, Charley -- who had also been a walk-on addition -- was undergoing heartworm treatments and the vet didn't want to neuter him until we had the all clear there. So you can guess what happened. The collie, who I named Hunny, started to look pregnant. Which meant she was absolutely not having puppies outdoors. So I put more effort into getting her on the back porch, and then one afternoon she followed Charley inside. A few weeks later she had puppies on my guest bed.

We gave two away, but their personalities weren't really wonderful given their mothers, so the other four stayed here. Two of which are now curled up at my feet ten years later.

About three or four years ago, I was out of town and left the dogs outside. The next morning, I went to the farm to feed the horses in the morning and Charley didn't come to breakfast. Odd for him. The dog was food driven completely. So I went about my chores and then watched Hunny, who led me straight to Charley who'd been shot but was still alive. For the two days of recuperation at the hospital, Hunny would come up to the car when we pulled in, the look on her face: "Well? Where is he?" When he came home, she was at his side constantly.

Funny thing -- Charley loved to go in the car. Hunny would never get in. She'd run behind the truck as far as she could... following her Charley.

Well a year later, Charley passed and I thought for certain Hunny would leave us too -- be that death or she'd wander off. Nope. She stayed around. We were approaching 7 or 8 years with this dog, and still could only touch her if we cornered her -- flea and tick med application, deworming, vaccinations, etc. She refused to let herself be a "loved on" dog, although she faithfully slept beneath my bed when I was in it, and on it when I wasn't.

Another dog walked-on and stayed around, and she became best buds with Rogue. Routinely, she kicked her remaining daughters in line if they misbehaved, and they outweighed her by a good 20 lbs. She treed cats (why I have so many), lugged home dead... things. And when my eldest was born, every time he cried, she was the first one in the room. Though when he mobilized, she stayed far, far away.

This year, Hunny mellowed. I figured it was old age setting in. She was at least eleven. But she would allow me to pet her whenever, she'd spend hours sitting still to have burrs and mats cut out of her fur (where previously she tensed and bolted at the snip-snip of scissors). And shock of all shocks, she began to let my eldest touch her as well.

I have to say here... Hunny was part of the family for the way she was. I accepted she didn't want a lot of human interaction, and I never put great amounts of time into coercing her. She had her place, ideosyncracies and all, and that's just the way things were.

This morning, on our first snow of the year, I let Hunny outside. I let her inside. I fed the horses and came inside to find her on the floor... no longer with us.

And I am stunned about the way her death affected me. I never envisioned that the dog who I couldn't shower with love would have such an impact when her time came. I mean, I know when my 18yr old cat's time comes, I'm going to be torn to pieces. But Hunny? I figured it would be a sad day, but at the bottom of everything... I've buried a lot of animals in my life. I've always been the one who had to take pets to the vet for the final visit, or had to make the call, or sat with them during their last moments when the vet came to our house. I'm pretty immune to all that now. A couple tears, and then it's over, and we move on.

I don't sit hours later and look at a collar and get all teary-eyed and I certainly don't blog in length about things. My critters are oddly quiet today. No little dogs chasing cats. Big dog who was having "Where do I fit into the pack" issues with Hunny is quiet. Rogue, who spent so much time with her is asleep, but pointed at the back door.

I guess it just surprises me that loss can come with so many reactions that aren't expected. While I am sad, I look up at the window she tried to chew her way out of when I didn't realize I'd left her inside, and it makes me laugh now. For years I've cursed that torn up wood and wished I could replace it. Now, maybe I'll let it stick around for eternity.

I think I'm going to get her a personazlied tag for her collar. She had one but it fell off years ago. Then maybe we'll hang her collar on my office wall. Seems like a fitting way to remember her. I'm debating saving her ashes, but I've never done that for a pet before. Seems a bit... extravagant. Maybe I'll do something with the flower bed I've been saying I'd like to build for as many years as I had the dog.

What about all of you? Do you have special ways you've remembered your lost pets? Any ideas I can mull around while I am snowed in and have to wait for that final step?

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Musings

So you've wanted to know which knight's story is next to come...


Just look at this cover!! WHEE!

IMMORTAL SURRENDER
The Curse of the Templars, Book 2

Coming, September 25, 2012

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Immortal Surrender , Paranormal Romance , The Curse of the Templar

With Immortal Hope's release date just passing, I'm super excited about The Curse of the Templars series.

I received word from my editor at Tor that Immortal Surrender, the second book in series, will be released in September 25, 2012, not October as I previously believed.

YAY!

On that note, here's another peek at Immortal Hope. Remember, it's the first in the series. You don't want to miss where it all begins!

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Immortal Hope , Immortal Surrender , Knights Templar

Hi all!

I just wanted to pop in with a couple of announcements!

First up:

I was just notified that MISUNDERSTANDING MASON has been nominated for Book of the Month (December) at Long and Short Reviews. YIPPEE!

If you'd like to help me out there, I'd dearly appreciate your vote. You can do so here:








Secondly...

Several of you have been asking, so I thought I'd put this up here.

The latest news on IMMORTAL SURRENDER will go out to my newsletter subscribers at midnight tonight (technically Feb 7). If you'd like to sign up and hear it first, you can join the newsletter here: SIGN UP!

Thank you all for your continued support -- it means a great deal to me!

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Book of Month Nominee , Immortal Surrender , Misunderstanding Mason , The Curse of the Templar

Hi all! Before I get into the winners (which I'm sure, you really don't want me to put off any longer), I want to tell you a few things I learned about Virtual Book Tours.

1. Having two books release on the same day isn't nearly as fun as I thought it would be, after the initial 48 hours. It becomes work then.

2. Putting over 1100 names onto paper and folding them up just to draw a couple out of the pile, even with the help of the eldest demi-demon makes for a surprising way to get blisters on the pads of the fingertips.

3. Meeting deadlines in the middle of two book tours? Hah! Right.

4. There are not enough hours in one day.

5. Planning that project in the middle also? That joins the "hah right" department.

6. I did meet a lot of new faces and had some really interesting discussions. -- BONUS

7. Dust does not quite settle onto the Christmas tree as fast as I thought it might. The stockings, however, are a different story.

8. There are not enough hours in a day.

9. When your internet fails, or the devices that are supposed to connect you to it, during a book tour... then guilt settles in because you can't make appearances. And there's just no way of quite communicating that effectively either. All one can do is make daily stops into different repair shops to get the problems a) troubleshooted, and b) fixed.

10. The administrative side of book tours is not particularly fun -- ie, the part where I have to be the 'business person' not just the author stopping in to chat. "Where can I find my post? Do I have the wrong link up? Oh crap the post I scheduled to go is incorrect." Add that into 51 times of having to do that... I could definitely wait a lifetime to invest in the project a second time. Though it will occur again, before "lifetime" happens :)

11. It's amazing the tolerance level I can develop when it comes to the demidemons and the things I've learned to tune out while attending to necessary business that can't wait until the house is quiet. Simply AMAZING.

12. There are not enough hours in a day.

So... all that said... I did have a blast with the tours. THANK YOU everyone for hosting me, for following, for engaging me in conversation. I hope you'll stay in touch both via my blog here and/or via email.

Now -- the Winners**:

STRIPPED
$25.00 Amazon Gift Card -- Yadira yadkny(at)hotmail (dot) com

IMMORTAL HOPE:
#1 -- $25.00 Amazon Gift Card -- Terri M oklahomamommy0306 (at) gmail (dot) com
#2 -- $25.00 Amazon Gift Card -- Cayce cayce005(at)yahoo(dot)com

TOUR HOST AWARDS
Stripped -- Carrie Ann Ryan
Immortal Hope -- I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read

Bitten By Paranormal Romance Book Giveaway:
Signed STRIPPED -- Lexi -- eyesofblueice(at)gmail(dot)com

**
I will be contacting the above winners to verify sending addresses within the next hour. If your name is listed, and you do not hear from me, email me please -- means there's something wrong with the email address I have on file for you. If you receive the email, you have one week to confirm. Then I will choose a different winner if I haven't heard a response.

Congrats everyone!!

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: Giveaways

Reposted from Wednesday due to Technical issues:

Book boyfriends... the acceptable means of infidelity.

You know you have one. You know you've experienced his kiss and want more. You know your heart is every bit as much his, as his belongs to someone else...

And your significant other is totally okay with you cheating for a few hours out of your life with the drop-dead sexy hero in your latest romance novel.

It can't get better, can it?

So just who have you fallen in love with over the years? The strong silent type? The naughty rogue? The agressive no holds barred lover?

I've published quite a bit and written even more, but there's one hero who outshines them all for me presently. His name is Kyle Garland. His story is A BROKEN CHRISTMAS -- which is an appropriate year-round read, not just a holiday heartwarmer.

Delta Force operative Kyle Garland divorced his wife to protect her. His top-secret missions expose him to constant danger, and his world is full of lies and deceit. But the threat to Aimee doesn’t come in the form of insurgents or bombs. Rather, his soul-deep love and the dreams he silently nurtures are her greatest hazard. When a career-ending injury brings him home for Christmas, to keep her safe he must bury his feelings and hide the monster he’s become. Fourteen months ago, Aimee had the perfect marriage… then Kyle blindsided her with a divorce. Now, he’s coming home, and she intends to get her answers. Yet the crippled man she confronts bears scars her years of nursing cannot heal. The secret he’s hiding is tearing him apart. No matter how she tries, he keeps her at a distance, despite the love that’s still evident in his kiss. What Aimee doesn’t know is her own damaged past terrifies Kyle more than any wartime horror. As she forces him to confront his demons, will the holiday shred the fragile bonds they share, or will Christmas complete all their broken parts?

I have to share why Kyle is my favorite too:

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

As he eased the golf cart to a jerky stop beside her car and she stepped out, he slid her a sideways glance. Walsh must have put her up to this. Damn him. Evidently he couldn’t get the message either—Kyle wanted to be left alone. But Conner Walsh had a way of screwing everything up.

How, in the name of God, could he survive living with Aimee?

“Are you coming?” Aimee called from inside her car.

More than anything in the world, Kyle wanted to tell her no. Not because he resented her too accurateassessment of his physical limitations, not because he wanted to move on and forget about her. No, he wanted to tell her she was out of her mind because the idea of going home with Aimee made him jittery.

“Yeah,” he mumbled with disgust. Coordinating cane, good leg, bad leg, and numb hand, he worked his way to his feet and limped to the passenger’s door. At least she hadn’t opened it for him—he’d have died right there if Aimee thought he was that incapable of tending to himself. His career might be toast, he might be crippled, but he was not an invalid.

And he was not hiring a nurse, damn it.

Kyle slid into the passenger’s seat with a grimace. The old pain started in his knee, worked its way up to his thigh. Muscles that had taken months to reattach and bind to bone protested the cold. Rebelled against the time he’d spent standing on the plane, just to prove to himself he could. “Why didn’t you move out?”

Aimee keyed the engine and dropped the gearshift into reverse. Looking over shoulder as she backed out of the space, she answered, “I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

“What have you been doing?”

As she shifted into drive, her foot on the brake, she gave him a meaningful look. “Searching for a job.”

“Oh.” Kyle lapsed into silence. He drummed his fingers on the center console, mentally ticking off the numerous reasons why staying with Aimee in the house they’d bought as husband and wife was a bad idea. Beyond the fact he loathed the idea of her tending to him like she might one of her former patients she smelled too incredibly good after a shower, and he didn’t know how to keep his hands off her.

Already his brain formed fantastic pictures of them in the bed, reuniting in ways that would make Hugh Heffner blush. In the kitchen, on the dining room table, lathering each other in the shower…

Like he’d just run into a brick wall, the slow burn of pleasure that crept into his blood came to a frigid halt. He let out a derisive snort. Shower—right. He couldn’t handle the shower solo, much less with Aimee’s hands all over him and soap slicking his body. His leg wouldn’t hold up, the wet tile would make him slip. Christ, he couldn’t even make love to her if he wanted to—he couldn’t feel a damn thing in his right hand. He’d be no better than a bumbling teen. All thumbs, no finesse, and a damn sight rougher than what her fragile skin could handle.

So much for that little fantasy. Aimee deserved a whole man. Not one who’d been reduced to benches in the bathtub.

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM A BROKEN CHRISTMAS
~~@~~

If you think you might fall in love with Kyle as much as I did while telling his story, comment on your favorite book boyfriend below -- what made you fall in love? Each comment will be entered into a drawing on Feb 5, for a .pdf copy of A BROKEN CHRISTMAS.

Then, check out the wonderful Book Boyfriend Blog Hop, sponsored by Reading Between the Wines and As the Pages Turn, and the fantastic prizes these authors are offering. It's a great kick-start to the Valentine's Holday!



<center><a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad3/folksohana/BookBoyfriendHop-1.jpg"width="250" height="350"/></a></center>


~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: A Broken Christmas , Book Boyfriend Blog Hop , Giveaways

Hi everyone! Today I'm very excited to bring to you one of the authors I write with at Roses of Prose, the fabulous Jerri Hines. She's going to talk about Romantic Suspense today, and show off her book, THE JUDAS KISS, available from Whiskey Creek Press.

Cathryn Blankenship has no desire for a season in London! Why on earth would her father want her to leave her home in Charles Town? Upon Cathryn’s steadfast refusal, Governor Blankenship is forced to assign a young lieutenant to watch over Cathryn on the journey and ensure his daughter’s appearance in London. Cathryn finds Lieutenant Jake Pennington the most aggravating, maddening man she has ever met...a man Cathryn soon admits she is in no hurry to see leave. But fate has other plans for her in a world she is ill prepared to enter. She descends into a place where love and betrayal go hand and hand, where greed and treachery are second nature, but moreover the threat her father believes he has sent her is awaiting her arrival. When fate tears her apart from her Lieutenant, Cathryn finds herself desolate and alone. Soon Cathryn makes fateful decisions that will eventually send her back to her home where she will have to fight for her life. And the only one that can save her is the one she believes deserted her.

The Historical Pull of Romantic Suspense

Well let's take a closer look at The Judas Kiss while you're here, Jerri!

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

Cathryn stepped out. The night air felt refreshing in itself. She had needed air.

“It’s about time,” a voice said to her side. She turned quickly to find Jake, smiling, waiting in the shadows. Others walked by; Cathryn politely acknowledged all, but her eyes stayed upon Jake. Reggie sauntered over slowly.

“I can cover for a few minutes,” he whispered. “Don’t tarry.”

Jake took her hand and they walked down the stairs leading to the garden. Finding quickly a bench away from prying eyes, Jake pulled her down beside him. Her hand reached his and she held it.

“Oh, Jake, please take me away,” she pleaded.

“What is wrong, Cathryn? Your grandparents?”

“No, it’s just I can’t stay in this house. Oh, Jake, I have missed you. Why can you not take me away?”

“You know the answer, Cathryn,” Jake uttered.

He reached over and gently caressed her cheek. His fingers touching her face were feather-light sending warmth through out her body. Leaning over her, he cradled her face in his hands before he kissed her. His lips pressed to hers, which he touched softly, coaxing her to respond in the same manner. Her breath caught while his tongue touched her lips, sliding deep into the cavity of her mouth.

And then his arms captured her. She lost herself in his arms. Every part of her body awakened with desire. They shared a deep, hard, openmouthed kiss that provoked something inside of her that yearned for more.

“I can’t do this anymore, Cathryn. I can’t hide my feelings when I’m around you.”

“Why then hide anything? I don’t care about what anyone thinks. I know what I feel, Jake,” she cried. “I’m miserable without you and have only survived this month with the thought of seeing you again. I don’t belong here, Jake. They haven’t paid attention to Father’s instructions. Why that detestable man just only informed me that he thinks we are to be married! I would never! They can’t make me marry that man.”

“Marry? I thought you said...Is something arranged, Cathryn?” Jake stuttered.

“Not by me or Father,” Cathryn said, startled by his reaction. “He just told me. I have no knowledge of such. I don’t believe him.”

“You are talking of Edmund.” Jake paused and pulled away. Cathryn grabbed his hand.

“What is wrong, Jake?”

He had no time to answer for in the next moment Reggie’s voice resounded through out the garden. “No, I haven’t seen her, Edmund. Are you certain she came this way?”
Jake grabbed Cathryn's hand and led her through a path toward a different entrance. Before he let go of her hand, he turned her to him, “I have to go, Cathryn. I’m sorry.”

“I can tell something is wrong, Jake,” she pleaded. “Don’t do this to me. I need you so. I love you. Don’t leave me like this. Don’t you know I won’t stop loving you even if you leave me? I can tell you think you are trying to be noble. There is no need. I will never be happy without you. What more can matter?”

“You are so innocent to the world, Cathryn,” he said, taking her in his arms once more. Her lips parted to meet his, sharing a different kind of kiss. He needed not to say the words. His kiss told all. Tears welled in her eyes for she felt his pain, hers.

“Please, don’t leave me, Jake,” she whispered as their lips parted.

“I do love you, Cathryn.” It was the last words he uttered, leaving her desolate in the garden.

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM THE JUDAS KISS
~~@~~

You can find out more about Jerri here:

Jerri's Blog
Facebook - Novel Works
The Roses of Prose Blog

To purchase her books go to Amazon.com and Whiskey Creek Press

Thanks so much, Jerri for stopping by the blog today! Best of luck with the upcoming release, Daughter of Deceit!

~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: New Voices

Book boyfriends... the acceptable means of infidelity.

You know you have one. You know you've experienced his kiss and want more. You know your heart is every bit as much his, as his belongs to someone else...

And your significant other is totally okay with you cheating for a few hours out of your life with the drop-dead sexy hero in your latest romance novel.

It can't get better, can it?

So just who have you fallen in love with over the years? The strong silent type? The naughty rogue? The agressive no holds barred lover?

I've published quite a bit and written even more, but there's one hero who outshines them all for me presently. His name is Kyle Garland. His story is A BROKEN CHRISTMAS -- which is an appropriate year-round read, not just a holiday heartwarmer.

The truest gifts are damaged ... Delta Force operative Kyle Garland divorced his wife to protect her. His top-secret missions expose him to constant danger, and his world is full of lies and deceit. But the threat to Aimee doesn’t come in the form of insurgents or bombs. Rather, his soul-deep love and the dreams he silently nurtures are her greatest hazard. When a career-ending injury brings him home for Christmas, to keep her safe he must bury his feelings and hide the monster he’s become. Fourteen months ago, Aimee had the perfect marriage… then Kyle blindsided her with a divorce. Now, he’s coming home, and she intends to get her answers. Yet the crippled man she confronts bears scars her years of nursing cannot heal. The secret he’s hiding is tearing him apart. No matter how she tries, he keeps her at a distance, despite the love that’s still evident in his kiss. What Aimee doesn’t know is her own damaged past terrifies Kyle more than any wartime horror. As she forces him to confront his demons, will the holiday shred the fragile bonds they share, or will Christmas complete all their broken parts?

I have to share why Kyle is my favorite too:

~~@~~
EXCERPT
~~@~~

As he eased the golf cart to a jerky stop beside her car and she stepped out, he slid her a sideways glance. Walsh must have put her up to this. Damn him. Evidently he couldn’t get the message either—Kyle wanted to be left alone. But Conner Walsh had a way of screwing everything up.

How, in the name of God, could he survive living with Aimee?

“Are you coming?” Aimee called from inside her car.

More than anything in the world, Kyle wanted to tell her no. Not because he resented her too accurate
assessment of his physical limitations, not because he wanted to move on and forget about her. No, he wanted to tell her she was out of her mind because the idea of going home with Aimee made him jittery.

“Yeah,” he mumbled with disgust. Coordinating cane, good leg, bad leg, and numb hand, he worked his way to his feet and limped to the passenger’s door. At least she hadn’t opened it for him—he’d have died right there if Aimee thought he was that incapable of tending to himself. His career might be toast, he might be crippled, but he was not an invalid.

And he was not hiring a nurse, damn it.

Kyle slid into the passenger’s seat with a grimace. The old pain started in his knee, worked its way up to his thigh. Muscles that had taken months to reattach and bind to bone protested the cold. Rebelled against the time he’d spent standing on the plane, just to prove to himself he could. “Why didn’t you move out?”

Aimee keyed the engine and dropped the gearshift into reverse. Looking over shoulder as she backed out of the space, she answered, “I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

“What have you been doing?”

As she shifted into drive, her foot on the brake, she gave him a meaningful look. “Searching for a job.”

“Oh.” Kyle lapsed into silence. He drummed his fingers on the center console, mentally ticking off the numerous reasons why staying with Aimee in the house they’d bought as husband and wife was a bad idea. Beyond the fact he loathed the idea of her tending to him like she might one of her former patients, she smelled too incredibly good after a shower, and he didn’t know how to keep his hands off her.

Already his brain formed fantastic pictures of them in the bed, reuniting in ways that would make Hugh Heffner blush. In the kitchen, on the dining room table, lathering each other in the shower…

Like he’d just run into a brick wall, the slow burn of pleasure that crept into his blood came to a frigid halt. He let out a derisive snort. Shower—right. He couldn’t handle the shower solo, much less with Aimee’s hands all over him and soap slicking his body. His leg wouldn’t hold up, the wet tile would make him slip. Christ, he couldn’t even make love to her if he wanted to—he couldn’t feel a damn thing in his right hand. He’d be no better than a bumbling teen. All thumbs, no finesse, and a damn sight rougher than what her fragile skin could handle.

So much for that little fantasy. Aimee deserved a whole man. Not one who’d been reduced to benches in the bathtub.

~~@~~
YOU HAVE JUST READ AN EXCERPT FROM A BROKEN CHRISTMAS
~~@~~

If you think you might fall in love with Kyle as much as I did while telling his story, comment on your favorite book boyfriend below -- what made you fall in love? Each comment will be entered into a drawing on Feb 5, for a .pdf copy of A BROKEN CHRISTMAS.

Then, check out the wonderful Book Boyfriend Blog Hop, sponsored by Reading Between the Wines and As the Pages Turn, and the fantastic prizes these authors are offering. It's a great kick-start to the Valentine's Holday!









<center><a href="http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad3/folksohana/BookBoyfriendHop-1.jpg"width="250" height="350"/></a></center>









~Claire
www.claireashgrove.com
www.toristclaire.com

Labels: A Broken Christmas , Book Boyfriend Blog Hop , giveaway