Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Sweetest Salvation Blog Tour



Good morning! Thank you for sharing Sweetest Salvation on your blog!


My kids love to tell me my desk is a mess. Especially during a writing spree, edits and that final line edit read through. I can’t help it, hell the laundry piles up, kids fix some of their own meals … my Muse doesn’t have time for tidying, dusting, vacuuming, etc. She has many, many other things to worry over … hunks to pet, heroines who need saving or that one true love, love scenes to burn the pages.

So what is cluttering my desk when I’m ‘in the zone’?
M&M Peanuts – always. I buy a much larger bag when a story is fully complete and submitted to publisher(s)
Single burner for tea pot – I have my vanilla & peppermint teas at the ready and can drink all day without hesitation
Cell phone – never know when the hubs, mother, kids or schools will need me for something
House cell phone – again, see the above
Memo pads & pens to jot down notes for characters specifics as I go – ie: eye / hair colour, siblings, panty preferences (trust me, it’s important LOL), occupations and particular vices
Carrot & celery sticks – a girl can’t eat M&Ms all the time…no matter how much I wish it
Printed pictures of heroes who inspire me, or the heroes remind me of – lately it’s been Luke Bryan, always Matthew McConaughey, Galen Gering & Channing Tatum
Stress balls – not as naughty as it sounds. When I’m working things out in my head – a scene, character, plot – I squeeze those until things reshape in my head

So that’s all I can think of. The usual crowding along my desk. There’s other things here and there, but the above are central to my writing and just a reach away.



Tell me …
Is your desk/work area cluttered? What is the most unusual thing on your desk?


Hmmm. Kacey. I think I like the sound of those stress balls. Need to get some of those, for um, inspiration. :) Lol. 


Sweetest Salvation
Contemporary Erotic Romance/Light Bondage
Content Warning: Contains Voyeurism, Spanking, Multiple Partners
ISBN: 978-1-77130-330-9
Available at Evernight Publishing / Amazon.com (and more links below)
*An Evernight Publishing Editor’s Pick*


Excerpt © Kacey Hammell, 2013
“Mr. Sullivan is waiting for you. He said you’d know where to go.” He smiled and winked.
Cheeks on fire, she gave him a small nod and walked ahead. She moved into the bar area and looked around. The place was packed tonight.
There were a few people she recognized, but most were new faces. Hunter’s business was certainly thriving.
Bridget caught sight of her and waved. Andy did the same and turned to the left, down the hall that would take her to room fourteen and Hunter.
Movement caught the corner of her eye, and she looked to her right. At a table in the far corner, Paige and Nolan sat with another couple. She missed a step, but gained her balance again. She hadn’t thought about seeing them again. Paige waved and her husband smiled bright.
The couple’s kindness and understanding arced across the room. Andy smiled and waved back. They’d been there for her the other night. She’d be forever grateful for it.
Reaching the room, she took a deep breath and knocked. Hearing Hunter’s gruff, “Come in,” she turned the knob.
The room, similar to the one she’d used the other night, had a warmer feel to it. The fireplace ablaze, the heat of it welcomed her.
Andy’s gaze swept the room. Furnished with a full living room set, she loved the royal purple and black colors of the furniture and curtains than anything else. This room conveyed privacy and self-indulgence. Her heart rate increased just thinking of all that might have been done in this room.
It was made for sex. Especially with a glass display case that took up the most of wall. Inside were dildos, anal plugs, collars, floggers, cock rings and more toys of pleasure.
Andy’s gaze landed on Hunter where he sat in the center of the couch, arms stretched over the back of it.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
Her gaze narrowed on his and she shut the door behind her. “Don’t you sweetheart me, Hunter. And get that look off your face.”
“What look?”
“That self-righteous look. I might be here, but not for the reasons you think.”
“Then why are you here?” he questioned, his gaze unwavering.
“I wanted to tell you in person that your idea isn’t going to happen. We’ve been… friends too long. You’re Patrick’s best friend. It’s all kinds of wrong.”
He leaned forward, arms resting on his powerful thighs.
His red t-shirt molded his shoulders and the cuffs of the arms looked snug around his biceps. Damn him for being in such great shape.
She shivered, nipples tightening. She needed to get away from him.
“There, I’ve said all I have to say. Goodbye,” she muttered, and turned back toward the door.
Hunter was quickly behind her, arms encasing her as his palms pressed against the door and preventing her retreat.
His breath was warm against her ear. Andy wished she’d left her hair down. At least she wouldn’t be able to feel his breath on her neck.
A shudder ran through her. “Let me out, Hunter. I need to leave.”
“Why? You were so desperate to remain a member and be here the other night. I’m simply offering a safer solution. Me instead of strangers,” he rasped against her ear.
“I don’t have to worry about much with strangers. At least they aren’t people I have to see after the sex is over.”
Hunter pressed in closer behind her, which pushed her farther against the door. She’d always been claustrophobic. And right now, being caged in by this man, made it even harder to breathe than if she was locked in a closet. His chest was firm against her, his mouth against her ear, and his hoarse voice soft.
Her thighs rubbed together and her clit chafed against her thong. The string along her ass was snug. All she had to do was turn around and take what he offered. She wanted a cock inside her.
Dear lord, this was Hunter.
Could she step over the invisible line and take what he offered?
He was attractive, always had been to her. Hell, she’d only been married, not dead. She appreciated a gorgeous man when she saw him.
Hunter always treated with her respect and friendship. She didn’t know how much he dated but had heard women at the club mention his prowess in the bedroom. He could probably give her everything she needed. There would be a sense of safety with him at least.
And her body’s reaction to him today, while surprising, knew what it wanted. While she was sure it was a bad idea for them to journey down this path, she was overwhelmed by the sudden realization that not just any cock would do.
She wanted Hunter. Wanted only him inside her.
Her breath hitched and her lungs filled, making it hard to breathe. No, she didn`t have the courage to give into this man.
She needed to get out of this room and away from him. Grabbing the doorknob once more, Andy yanked.
Hunter’s palms never moved from the door, but in her hasty movements, his chest aligned tighter against her back.
Pressed against the door, she turned her head, her right cheek resting on it as her breasts pushed against her bra. The hard surface scraped against her clothing, which abraded her nipples. The urge to purr and rub against the wood was overwhelming.
Hunter’s body pressed against her; the cock cradling her ass told her that he was just as affected as she. His length was hard, solid. His hips dipped and shoved against the crack of her ass.
“Andy,” he whispered in her ear.
She closed her eyes, willed herself to push back against him until he let her go.
Her eyes opened when she realized her hips moved against his. Her pussy quivered and her stomach clenched. There was no sense in fighting a losing battle. She wanted him.


Blurb:
After the deaths of her husband and child, tragedies that she blames herself for, Andrea “Andy” Sheaver has shut herself off from the world. The only place she finds any relief from her shattered heart is Club Splendor, where she and her husband often frequented together.  There, Andy submits to pleasure and pain in situations so her grief is forgotten for a little while.
But Hunter Sullivan won’t stand idly by and watch Andy self-destruct. A friend of her husband, and the owner of Club Splendor, Hunter has kept his love for Andy hidden for years. He refuses to think of her at the club, cold and detached as she’s become, looking for an easy fix to take away the pain in her heart.  Hunter wants her to vibrant in life again and sets out to prove he is exactly who she needs.



Buy Links:
~~~
Canadian author, Kacey Hammell is a multi-published erotic romance author who writes mainly in the Contemporary Erotic/Romantic Suspense genres.  She is a true romantic at heart.

Where to find Kacey…


Monday, April 29, 2013

See Me Virtual Tour and Scavenger Hunt






Natalie-Nicole Bates Portfolio
Title: See Me
Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Horror
Flame rating: Hot

Released: October 2012
Publisher: Leap of Faith
Word count: 22,000

Blurb:
Carly Anders  is hearing voices in her head. Another one of her kind is trying to contact her. She knows of the malevolent freaks—others who are eternal like her and seek out the weak to inflict pain upon. For years, Carly has held up huge protective walls to keep herself and her secrets safe. Now, physically and mentally exhausted, Carly needs protection and rest.
She accepts the invitation to visit an internet friend who needs help appraising a collection of antique photographs.  The situation is not ideal, but Carly hopes a male presence in her life will deter the determined suitor who haunts her thoughts and dreams.
Daniel Tremont is not what Carly is expecting.
The former funeral director has a secret of his own. Not only is he eternal like Carly, he is her creation from all those years before—her abomination she thought she killed.
Daniel has been searching for Carly for years. He knows she is the piece of his life that he has been missing for so long. Now that he has found her, he has no intentions of letting her go.

The quintessential paranormal romance
5 Stars~Night Owl Reviews

Buy links:




Inspiration for SEE ME…
By Natalie-Nicole Bates

I did not begin as a writer. For many years I was simply a book lover who turned reviewer. About two years ago, I decided to start writing my own novel. A year later, I was a happily published author of two contemporary romances.
I was always fascinated by paranormal romance. But as a reviewer, I watched the paranormal market literally explode. Vampires, werewolves, shifters, even zombies were making appearances at an alarming rate. Writers were writing these markets and writing well.
So what to do?
Inspiration came fast. I am an avid collector of Victorian-era photography. To me, there is much beauty in these old photographs, and to my delight—much inspiration as well.
My first published paranormal short story, Antique Charming, was centred on a cabinet card from 1896 of a man standing outside of a funeral home.
Antique Charming was successful, but could I write a paranormal that would be a longer length than Antique Charming?
Once again, I returned to my photographs. I had recently bought a Carte de Visite (1860’s) of a beautiful little girl about age 3, her photo surrounded by a memorial wreath. In my mind, Baby Charlotte was born.
SEE ME begins in 1896, where we meet sixteen year old Charlotte. Charlotte always knew she was special, but never knew why. She believed it all stemmed from a near drowning incident when she was three. An incident her family members refused to speak of.
Her hunch comes true one day in 1896 during a lumber yard fire when her true powers reach fruition.
One very small photograph from the 1860’s suddenly became one huge idea for a novella.
I then went in search of my Daniel Tremont, the hero of SEE ME. Daniel’s inspiration is a magnificent 1860’s Daguerreotype of a young man. The matt on this photograph is purple, which is usually the colour of significance for mourning, which means this young man probably passed away young. He was perfect.
Sometimes what you know well can be a powerful ally. In writing, this is so true. I took my love for Victorian photography and turned it into a plot for a novella that combines romance, paranormal, and a touch of my beloved horror.
I hope you will read SEE ME, now available at Leap of Faith Publishing. To view the photographs that inspired both SEE ME as well as Antique Charming, visit my new blog Ghosts and Phantoms at: http://ghostsandphantoms.blogspot.co.uk/

Buy links for SEE ME:
Leap of Faith Publishing:


Amazon:




Bio:
Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author. Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.

She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.

Visit Natalie online at www.natalienicolebates.com
Twitter: @BatesNatalie
Street Team Sign Up: https://www.facebook.com/groups/441841792565396/

Tour long Giveaway:  First place- $25 GC to Amazon or B&N and a bottle of ‘See Me’ Perfume
Second and Third place- bottle of ‘See Me’ Perfume

Dates: 4/22/2013 thru 5/3/2013

Super Duper Important- Scavenger Hunt Instructions:



There are 11 (eleven) stops for this Scavenger Hunt. Each stop contains a picture/button with a letter on it. All 11 letters form a message or phrase that is associated with the book. The letters are scattered randomly to the hosts. You will need to collect all 11, unscramble them, and then enter the decoded message in the Rafflecopter for the ‘extra entries’. Good luck!


Saturday, April 27, 2013

Virtual Book Tour: More Than Friends



More Than Friends
Jessica Jayne

Genre:  Contemporary Erotic Romance

Publisher:  Cobblestone Press, LLC

ISBN:  978-1-60088-800-7
ASIN:  B00AQKM5LG

Number of pages:  45
Word Count: 14,000

Cover Artist:  Fiona Jayde

Cobblestone Press     BN    ARe


Book Description: 

Jeni Acerna’s longstanding sexual relationship with her best friend, Brian Hamilton, is both blissful and troublesome. She’s been unable to commit herself to another relationship because no one compares to Brian in or out of bed.

Prior to attending a friend’s wedding together, they place a wager…the first to beg for sex owes the other $500. After a tortuous night, their passion erupts and their sexual relationship picks up where it left off…hot and heavy. However, this time, Brian wants Jeni… and not just in his bed. Can he convince her the risk is worth taking?


Chapter One More Than Friends

Staring out the tiny airplane window, Jeni Acerna watched as the vehicles below transformed into matchbox cars and the slight cityscape of Tampa soon became a miniature play set. She was on her way to Cleveland for her college roommate Bethany’s wedding…alone.
Jeni had recently ended yet another relationship. Stephen Weller. He was a corporate attorney at a large firm in Tampa, Florida, working his way to senior partner. Handsome. Intelligent. And addicted to his work. He had to actually schedule time for Jeni on his Outlook calendar. Even when they had some time together for dinner or such, she had to regularly battle for attention with his iPhone. Jeni did not consider herself high maintenance. She was a small town Ohio girl, who moved to Florida like many northerners. She did not need constant attention. But she never expected to have to call her boyfriend’s secretary in order to arrange a dinner date with him. Stephen was reluctant to let the relationship go. He told her he truly enjoyed their time together, even if it was minimal. Jeni had some reluctance as well. She was twenty-eight years old and several relationships deep. But she wanted a relationship that involved spending time together and allowed for some spontaneity. At this point in Stephen’s career, that was not going to be possible. They went their separate ways.
It looked as if Jeni would be attending Bethany’s wedding solo. Not a big deal. Several of their college friends would be there, so Jeni would know more than enough people to keep her from feeling lonely. But a part of her dreaded the thought of going without a date. Many of her college friends were either married or engaged. Weddings were a great reminder that she was still so very far from having one of her own.
Instead of sulking to the wedding single, Jeni did what she inevitably did every time she traveled back home to Ohio—she called Brian Hamilton. Brian and Jeni grew up together. They had been best friends, but Brian had always been more than a friend. He was Jeni’s sex addiction and perhaps one of the big reasons none of her romantic relationships seemed capable of succeeding. She either compared her boyfriend at the time to Brian or could not keep herself from fucking Brian when she saw him.
“Hey, Jeni,” Brian said. He answered the phone in his usual cheerful manner.
“Hey, Bri,” Jeni replied. She was grateful to hear his voice, even though it had only been a couple weeks since they had actually spoken. “How are you?”
“Usual. Busy and bored,” he said with a laugh. Brian still lived in Canton Falls, Ohio, their small town about an hour south of Cleveland. He was a CPA working for his dad’s accounting firm, which consisted of Brian, his dad, and his older brother, Phillip. Brian enjoyed the work itself. He was always a numbers kind of guy. But living in Canton Falls could be suffocating. And Brian had made his way through most of the local attractive female population.
“Maybe I can brighten up your day and add some excitement. Would you want to meet me in Cleveland this weekend and go to Bethany’s wedding with me? I’m flying in on Friday evening.”
“You’ll be in Ohio next weekend and I am just hearing about this now?” he asked, pretending to be hurt. “Oh, wait! You must have broken up with dreamy Stevie, and now you need a date for the wedding.”
“Cute, Brian. And yes, I did.” He knew Jeni so well. Too well.
“Ha-ha,” he said with a laugh. “I knew it wouldn’t last. Jeni Acerna does not take well to being second fiddle. He’s a fool!”
“Thanks for the positivity,” Jeni said. “So, you’ll come with me?” To be honest, Jeni could not think of another person with whom she would rather spend the weekend.
“This is kind of short notice,” he said. “You know my social calendar is jam-packed.” He laughed. In their last conversation a couple weeks ago, Brian told her he had taken Samantha Franklin out on a date. She was the much younger sister to one of their high school classmates. Sam had had a crush on Brian since she was a little girl. When asked how the date had gone, he chuckled and said there was zero chance of them getting serious, but that it was fun to date a twenty-one-year-old again.
“You already have plans?” Jeni tried to disguise the disappointment in her voice.
“Tentatively,” he said. “Besides, it would be nothing but trouble for us to see each other.”
“Why would you say that?” she asked.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to ‘cool things off’ between us?” he asked.
“I suppose I did,” Jeni replied. She had made that request when she thought she and Stephen might have a chance at a real relationship. Brian always complicated things, because Jeni had an almost impossible time resisting him, and Jeni made regular visits to Ohio to see her parents, siblings, and friends. Brian had not been overly thrilled with the request, but he respected her and agreed to her “cooling off.” Jeni could kick herself now for ever suggesting that to Brian. There was little she wanted more than a dose of Brian Hamilton.
“Jeni, you know you are to me what alcohol is to an alcoholic. When I am around you, I can never get enough…no matter the situation.”
Jeni’s heart skipped a beat at the fact that she still had such a profound sexual effect on him. He, of course, still made her knees weak and her panties wet.
“I’d never be able to keep it cooled off spending the weekend with you. You should know that.”
And she did know it. They had seen each other only twice since the cooling off began several months ago, and both times were planned with many of their friends around them so as to avoid the one-on-one time. Even then, they had a difficult time keeping their hands off each other. She found his hand at the small of her back or on her thigh during dinner. She couldn’t stop from ruffling his silky, brown hair or nuzzling into his neck when they said goodbye.
They had had a secret love affair or rather sex affair for years. But she knew that it had never actually been a secret to anyone. They had known each other since they were born. Their parents were good friends and had gone to high school together in Canton Falls too. Since Jeni and Brian were fifteen, they had a magnetic attraction to each other. Their sexual relationship started in high school, continued through college, and carried on even after Jeni moved to Florida five years ago for warmer weather and a job in hospitality marketing at a large resort in Clearwater. Anytime she returned home to Ohio to visit her family and friends, she and Brian found a way to be together. And when she saw Brian, Jeni had an extremely difficult time not fucking him.
When they were in high school, they had tried the boyfriend-girlfriend thing. At the time, neither of them wanted a serious relationship, so they agreed to be friends with benefits. Since then, they never approached the subject of a “relationship” so as not to ruin the good thing they had. And it was good. Very fucking good!
“Are you turning me down because you might not be able to fuck me?” Jeni asked. Brian laughed.
“Might not? I’m turned on just thinking about being in the same room as you,” he said. “There is no way either of us would get out of that hotel room not completely sated.”
“Maybe the cooling off period can be over,” she teased. “Could we make a game out of it?” A thought popped into her head that could make it a challenge. Brian could hardly resist a challenge, especially against her.
“What kind of game?” Brian asked, intrigued.
“Every time we meet up, we are fucking within ten minutes,” Jeni said.
“It’s one of the many pleasures of getting together with you.”
“I’m not saying I don’t enjoy that aspect, because, of course, I do. But it might be fun to restrain from our natural instinct even if just for a little bit. Let’s agree not to have sex for the first twenty-four hours I’m in town. That still leaves about forty-eight hours to play.”
“That’s such a waste of twenty-four hours,” he said. “What do I get out of this?”
“The challenge,” she replied. “I know you can’t last that long being in a hotel room with me with nothing but our clothes separating us.” She heard him snicker on the other end of the phone. Brian could never pass on a challenge. He was way too competitive. “Whoever begs to be fucked first owes the other five hundred dollars. So make sure you bring cash when you pick me up from the airport.” Jeni knew they would not likely make the twenty-four hours, and she did not mind coming home with a little extra cash.
“You know me too well, Jeni,” he said. “I’m always up for a challenge. I’ve got you on this one! You’ll be begging me to fuck you well before that twenty-four-hour period is over. Keep the money in your bra. I’ll find it!”



Review:

Oh, this was a short and spicy read! When you have two friends with benefits like Jeni and Brian, things are bound to turn serious. I loved the wager between them and the hot, hot, hot lead up to the final explosion. Will they turn up in bed together? Who will lose their shirt along with their money? I'll never tell. Let's just say this is going to be a weekend to remember and you should totally have a handy glass of ice water close by during your lunch break if you are reading this little jewel at work.

4/5

Awesome read!





About the Author: 

I am a born and raised small town Ohio girl, who moved to the Sunshine State after graduating from college. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in English because I could not imagine doing anything else but reading and writing. It is such a pleasure to be able to share all the stories in my head!

In the journey of life, I also became a wife and a mother of three children. So, life is always an adventure. But the love of writing has never died.

My favorites:  I love to read and write... obviously! But I also enjoy all sports, especially college football and the Ohio State Buckeyes!  Go Steelers!  Go Rays! I LOVE to travel... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to travel. And I love sharing my love to travel with my children. I love to drink Teavana teas! I love a good glass of wine, especially if it comes from a bottle made by the FOOLS wine club… yep, I’m a member of that!  J  I love hanging out with my family and my friends!  Big fan of music, but love nothing better than putting on my jean shorts, tank top, cowboy boots and hat and watching Tim McGraw belt it out!  I’m a sucker for a cowboy hat!  J

Favorite quote:  “If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies.”



https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Author-Jessica-Jayne/388268367912903



Tour wide giveaway

4 - $10 bookstore egift cards- winner's choice Amazon or B&N

1 ebook copy of More Than Friends


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Should Have Known Better Blog Tour




Should’ve Known Better

Cassandra Carr

Sara Jenkins is a self-professed math geek and hockey fanatic. She's thrilled when the Buffalo Sting of the NHL hire her as an advisor because she can marry her two loves into the perfect job.
Sebastian St. Amant is a young French-Canadian hockey player looking to make the jump from the minors to the big leagues. His lifelong dream is within reach, but he needs to convince the Sting's management and coaches he's ready for the NHL.
Sara and Sebastian meet, and sparks fly immediately. Both want to succeed at their jobs, but they can't ignore the growing attraction between them. Of course, a relationship is out of the question since Sara works for the Sting and Sebastian is a player -- and one fifteen years her junior. But the impossible becomes the necessary as Sara and Sebastian find they can't fight their attraction any longer. Even if everything crashes around them, though, they'll still win the ultimate prize - each other.

Excerpt:
Sarah Jenkins scooted to the edge of the seat in her SUV as she stared at the hulking building in front of her. The August sunshine was only partially to blame for the bead of sweat running down the side of her neck. She couldn’t afford to screw this up. After wiping her damp palms on her skirt, she slid out of the car and hit the alarm remote. Turning, she bounced off a hard object and stumbled backward from the force of the impact, letting out an involuntary grunt. The immoveable object was a man, and what a man he was. He had a body like granite, with chiseled features, and was casually attired in shorts and a T-shirt clinging for dear life to his arms and chest. The guy could’ve been a sculpture.
Yum.
“Are you all right?”
Her heart pounded in her ears due to the fight or flight reaction from their collision, paired with the pure, inexplicable rush of lust he evoked.
“I’m, um…” Sarah cleared her throat. Talk, you idiot. “I’m fine.”
Her cheeks flamed as she ducked her head. Was this what scientists meant when they said women were attracted to males they sensed had the strongest DNA? Between his killer body, light green eyes, and sexily tousled head of hair, he looked like he’d just jumped out a cologne ad in GQ. As far as she could see, his DNA was damn near perfect.
It was hard to miss the long, thorough once-over he gave her, leaving her hot and feverish—a reaction she couldn’t attribute purely to the blazing heat or her frazzled nerves.
Their gazes collided and he stared at her with a glimmer of male interest. She wasn’t sure why he’d be interested in her. He was gorgeous, and she was, well, a nerd, for want of a better word. Her eyes were drawn to full lips that would’ve looked feminine on other men, but there was nothing feminine or soft about him. Hard, sinewy muscles stretched over his arms, legs, and torso, but despite his size and musculature he managed to look lean rather than bulky. He reminded her of a panther readying to strike, and her breathing kicked up another notch. Sarah shook her head to clear it. She had a new job to focus on right now and that was the only thing that was important. It had to be. She couldn’t afford to screw this chance up.
“After you,” he said, moving back a step and motioning for her to pass. His voice had a hint of an accent. French-Canadian, perhaps? It rolled over her like a gentle breeze.
“Thank you. And I’m sorry about running into you.”
“I’m not.” He gave her a one-sided, incredibly hot smile.
She needed to get into the building before she did something stupid like offer herself to him as a human buffet.

Does this sound hot or what? So adding this to my TBR list!

Reasons I Love Writing May-December Romances
by Cassandra Carr

If you're at all familiar with my writing, you've probably seen a May-December romance in at least one of them. Why do I like writing May-December romances? Many reasons. Here are five of them:

1. There's an inherent conflict when people's ages are so far apart.
2. Oftentimes the two characters are at different places in their lives and seem to want different things. Getting them to the same place at the end is definitely a challenge.
3. The "forbidden love" aspect of the story can be played up.
4. The younger of the two can bring youth back to the older of the two and vice versa.
5. It can make for an interesting dynamic, as oftentimes the younger of the two is actually the one who behaves/reacts more maturely.

To expand on these points, I can't speak for other authors, but I love it when I have multiple "touch points" for conflict. Sure, having one big, central conflict is great, but if you have the opportunity to explore all sorts of different areas of conflict the book is more interesting. When the characters are at different places in their lives, with maybe one just starting out and the other nearing the end of something, they will each have divergent things that are important to them and that they will strive for.

Forbidden love is a great trope in romance, and that aspect is played up inherently in May-December romances. When an authority figure gets together with someone they shouldn't - boss/secretary is a great example, all sorts of problems can ensue. Plus, that younger person might help the older one rediscover their youth, which is always fun. Lastly, I always find it funny when the younger one is actually the character that reacts more rationally and maturely to the situations the characters are thrown into.

Not all of my storylines involve May-December romances, but when I decide to do it, it's a lot of fun.

What do you like (or hate) about May-December romances?

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Tiger's Claim Blog Tour



Thanks you Lia for stopping by the blog today! Here are a few questions to spice up the tour.
How did you get started with paranormal romance?

It was a light bulb moment. LOL. I started reading paranormal romance about five years ago and fell in love with the different worlds. I decided I’d try to write my own.

 What are your favorite characters to write about?

I love characters who are strong, compassionate, loyal, and funny.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Chocolate

Horror movies or classic film?

Horror movie

Cheeseburger or salad?

Depends on my mood. LOL

Pantster or Plotter?

Plotter

What was the toughest scene you ever had to write?

I recently had to hurt one of my heroes in my WIP.

The anatomy of a sex scene: how do you construct a bite your nails hot scene?

These are tough for me because I can’t write it with other people around. It’s weird, I know. I’m getting better though. Now I just write it all out, then go back and add the feeling, sights, smells, bites and so on.

What is your next writing project?

I’m in editing with book 3 in my Ashwood Falls series and writing book 3 in The Divinities series. Plus I just started plotting a new series that I will be co-authoring with my BFF Carrie Ann Ryan.

GIVEAWAY!
Lia is giving away a $25 Amazon GC and a swag pack to one commenter during the tour. 



A Tiger’s Claim
Ashwood Falls: Book One
Lia Davis

As the Alpha’s only daughter Shayna Andrews has always been treated like a rare gem, protected like royalty, and she’s suffocating.  Her longing to be independent has driven her to sneak out one evening after dinner. After relishing in being able to run free without an escort, she finds herself face-to-face with the enemy, miles from home, and nearly loses her life until a lone wolf comes to her aid.
Travis Hunter’s main objective is to destroy the Onyx Pack—a group of drug using, murdering rogue shifters. His seek-and-destroy plans are put on hold when he rescues a female from a brutal attack. The beautifully exotic tiger shifter, Shayna, stirs a passion he thought died with his long-lost mate.

When Shay’s first heat cycle slams into her, Travis has no choice but to submit to her needs—and his own. But there is always a price to sleeping with the Pack princess. Not only will they have to face her Pack, Shay and Travis will have to deal with a mating that is beyond a single night and could have consequences more than either of them had thought. And when Travis finds out Shay wears the enemy’s brand, things will go from bad to worse.
Warning: One alpha female who doesn't take no for an answer, a wolf with more on the line than just his heart, and a combustible attraction that's sure to cause more than one sweaty night.

Authors Bio:

Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and two very special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, a paranormal romance author, graphic designer, and co-owner to Fated Desires Publishing, LLC. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!
An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very activity imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing and designing are stress relievers that allow her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.
Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.



Review:

The opening scene of Tiger Claim was a great lead in.  I felt what Shay was experiencing-the annoyance at the men in her life (oh yeah!), the feeling of being caged and the wonderful excitement of freedom she got from being free in the woods, even for awhile. But you know what they say about good things lasting...When some creeps show up and try to have their way with Shay (hey, that sort of rhymes) Travis (hunky!!!) steps in and saves the day. (Oh no...I think I have a sexy Dr. Seuss thing happening here. Rhyming again!)

Throughout the book, the sheer force of nature that develops between Shay and Travis was spellbinding and I felt it all the way to my toes. A good shape shifter romance with some smokin hot sex scenes and characters you grow to care about. Great read! If this is the start to the series, then I am so there for the rest of it. Great story Lia. :)

4/5 

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