Apr 30, 2016 | Anna Campbell, April 2016, Blog
Today we can finally read the latest in Anna Campbell’s must read Dashing Widows series. Anna has provided us a tease at what we can expect and an excerpt below!
All rakes are the same! Except when they’re not…
Spirited Helena, Countess of Crewe, knows all about profligate rakes; she was married to one for nine years and still bears the scars. Now this Dashing Widow plans a life of glorious freedom where she does just what she wishes – and nobody will ever hurt her again. So what is she to do when that handsome scoundrel Lord West sets out to make her his wife? Say no, of course. Which is fine, until West focuses all his sensual skills on changing her mind. And West’s sensual skills are renowned far and wide as utterly irresistible…
Passionate persuasion!
Vernon Grange, Lord West, has long been estranged from his headstrong first love, Helena Nash, but he’s always regretted that he didn’t step in to prevent her disastrous marriage. Now Helena is free, and this time, come hell or high water, West won’t let her escape him again. His weapon of choice is seduction, and in this particular game, he’s an acknowledged master. Now that he and Helena are under one roof at the year’s most glamorous house party, he intends to counter her every argument with breathtaking pleasure. Could it be that Lady Crewe’s dashing days are numbered?
Excerpt: https://annacampbell.com/books-2/the-dashing-widows-series/winning-lord-west/
Buy links (Provided by Author):
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Lord-West-Dashing-Widows-ebook/dp/B01DE5JHY2/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/winning-lord-west-anna-campbell/1123587394?ean=2940152939002
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/625086
Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaCampbellFans/?pnref=lhc
Twitter: @AnnaCampbellOz
Website: www.annacampbell.com
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Excerpt from Winning Lord West (Dashing Widows Book 3) Out 30th April
Richmond Park, London, May 1820
Lord West made an effort to lighten the tone. “I arranged this picnic purely for the pleasure of seeing you flying across the grass on the back of a galloping horse.”
Oh, dear, that wasn’t what Helena wanted to hear. She’d imagined he’d put this party together to further his pursuit of Caro. Helena didn’t want West noticing her. For years, he’d been content to treat her as a distant acquaintance. “Really?”
“Yes, really. It’s been a fancy of mine since I saw you restricted to a trot in Hyde Park. The experience was most uncongenial for an observer. You looked like someone was strangling you. Slowly.”
She frowned, resenting that West made her the focus of his attention. And that his conclusions were so accurate. “Town isn’t the place to ride neck or nothing. I’ll soon be back at Cranham.”
West signaled to a groom. “Such a pity.”
“That I’m leaving London?”
“No, that you don’t want a good gallop, when I went to such trouble to bring you a suitable mount—and a suitable saddle.”
The groom led a pretty chestnut mare toward them. Helena immediately noted the gleaming sidesaddle. Her hand curled at her side as if it already held a crop. Despite her misgivings about the man offering the favor, she itched to throw herself onto the lovely horse. The groom passed the reins to West, bowed and left.
West’s smile was mocking. “If you deny me, I’ll think that you don’t like me.”
She ran a gentle hand down the Arab’s jaw and bit back a sigh of longing. The mare truly was a darling. “I don’t.”
That wasn’t completely true. Her feelings for West had always been more complex than mere antipathy. When they were children, he’d been her hero. Shreds of that fondness lingered, although she’d long ago recognized that he was cut from the same cloth as her depraved husband.
“Ouch.”
She studied West, as with unconvincing nonchalance, Silas wandered off in Caro’s direction. “You don’t believe me?”
West shrugged. “Explaining exactly what I believe requires more time and privacy than we now enjoy. Even if you insist on seeing me as the enemy, I hope you’ll still accept Artemis as a gift.”
“Gift?” Helena stared at him, appalled. “What on earth do you mean? I can’t take such an extravagant present. Have some sense, West.”
He stood unmoved by her refusal, tall and lean in his immaculate dark green coat and fawn breeches. “Nonetheless, she’s yours.”
“That’s…” Helena struggled to understand what lay behind this ridiculous and inappropriate gesture. West had been out in society all his adult life. He knew how the world would interpret his generosity.
His gaze remained unwavering on her face. “Yes.”
“Yes, what?” she snapped, although she had a sinking feeling she knew.
“Yes, it’s a declaration of intentions.”
Horror flooded her. She faltered back across the grass as if he’d made an unwelcome physical advance. “This isn’t funny.”
“I’m deadly serious.”
“Then you’re wasting your time.” She straightened and glared at him. Her mind worked a thousand miles an hour to make sense of this abrupt alteration in their dealings. “I was a rake’s wife. Be damned if I’ll be a rake’s mistress.”
Author bio:
Must publish with credit line to
Robyn Hills www.robyngraphs.com.au
Anna Campbell has written ten multi award-winning historical romances for Grand Central Publishing and Avon HarperCollins, and her work is published in seventeen languages. Anna has won numerous awards for her Regency-set stories including Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, the Booksellers Best, the Golden Quill (three times), the Heart of Excellence (twice), the Write Touch, the Aspen Gold (twice) and the Australian Romance Readers Association’s favorite historical romance (five times). Anna is currently engaged in writing the “Dashing Widows” series, which started in 2015 with The Seduction of Lord Stone. She lives on the beautiful east coast of Australia where she writes full-time.
Apr 29, 2016 | April 2016, Blog, Samantha Chase
Friday Night Brides by Samantha Chase explores friendship, love and dreams. After all, everyone deserves a happy-ever-after! For Angie, Becca, Ella and Hailey they have spent their Friday nights together since they were little girls.
From the moment a bride-to-be steps into the first wedding dress the memories are etched forever. Will all of her hopes, dreams and plans become a reality? If you ask Angie, Becca, Ella and Hailey those questions, their answers might surprise you.
This amazing and fresh story weaves four women and the men they love on a journey of hope, love and friendship. Who will walk down the isle? Who will discover that sometimes others expectations should never supersede your own?
It’s time to take a journey that sweeps us through the trials and tribulations of love in a quest for a happy-ever-after. Each of our four heroine’s will depend on the truth and it will come from the most unexpected source. Sometimes the truth hurts but when you have friends like these gals, it makes it easier to work through it.
In a world of fairy tales, dreams and love Samantha has once again charmed us with what I hope is the beginning of a new series. These amazing characters have so much to offer us dear readers. I’m already thinking up what she has in store for the second book!
I received this ARC from the author for a fair and honest review. I hope that you will run and pre-order your copy now. It’s a must read for all dreamers!
Click here – Friday Night Brides – $4.99
Excerpt:
Angie angrily stared at the pile of clothes on her closet floor. “This should not be this difficult,” she muttered as she went back to searching for something to wear. Sean was due to arrive in a little less than an hour and she wasn’t pleased with any item of clothing she owned.
Stomping from the closet in her bra and panties, she tripped over Trampus on her way to grab her phone. Scrolling quickly, she pulled up Hailey’s number.
“Hey, Ang!”
“Okay, I am officially freaking out.”
“Uh-oh…”
“Yeah. Uh-oh. I’m totally screwed here.”
“What’s going on? Is Sean still coming?”
“He is but I can’t find anything to wear! Everything is either too dressy or too casual or too squeezy…”
“Squeezy?”
“You know, too tight to go out to eat in. And I really don’t want to break out the Spanx. I’m not prepared for that kind of workout.”
“Plus it would suck later when you’re trying to undress each other,” Hailey said and then snickered.
“Seriously not helping right now! What do I do?”
“Okay,” Hailey began, sounding serious, “where are you going for dinner?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then how do you know what you’ve picked out is too dressy or too casual?”
Angie sighed with annoyance. “Okay, let’s just assume we’re going fairly casual. At least I hope we are. I’m not going to put on jeans and a t-shirt!”
“Of course you’re not,” Hailey said patiently. “You can do a step up from that and still look nice—without looking like you’re trying to impress.” She paused. “Or are you trying to impress?”
“I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Honestly, I wish he would have just said he was bringing over a pizza or tacos. I would be totally cool with that.”
“You are going to have to come to grips with this new phase of your relationship. It’s obvious Sean is looking for more than dirty weekends and booty calls.”
“Booty call? Did you seriously just use that phrase?”
“What? It’s still a thing,” Hailey said defensively. “And I thought you wanted my help.”
“You’re right, you’re right. Sorry.”
“Okay then…the weather is great tonight so I think you should go with a pair of capris—preferably your black ones—and the turquoise halter with the little bit of beading on it that you wore last month when we went out to celebrate Becca’s birthday.”
Angie stepped back into her closet and found the outfit and examined it. “You don’t think the halter is too much?”
“Too much what?”
“Is the beading too fancy?”
“You wore it to the Cheesecake Factory. I think you’re safe.”
“I really could do with a little less sarcasm right now, Hails. I’m already on edge!”
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
For more information, please visit Samantha’s website – www.chasing-romance.com
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Facebook – www.facebook.com/SamanthaChaseFanClub
Twitter – https://twitter.com/SamanthaChase3
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/samanthachase31/
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Samantha-Chase/e/B006CZWRGC/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Instagram – https://instagram.com/samanthachaseromance/
Apr 28, 2016 | April 2016, Blog, Coffee With, Samantha Chase
I recently sat down to have a Cup of Coffee with the girls from Friday Night Brides.
First things first – I’m having my usual Latte with Coconut Milk
What’s in your mug (or glass)?
Hailey – It’s a show night so just my water (Holds up bottle)
Becca – An iced café mocha. Compliments of Max.
Angie – (rolling her eyes). While I’d love to say vodka, I’m with Hales and having water. Trying to keep the bloat down before the show.
Ella – I’m a bit of a chocaholic – with a great metabolism – so this is an iced milk chocolate melted truffle mocha.
Angie – And we all hate you.
Ella – Hey! That’s a little harsh.
Hailey – Girls…focus!
What’s your must read book?
Becca – I am a Bridget Jones addict.
Angie – Seriously, don’t get her started.
Hailey – I will gladly read Pride and Prejudice over and over again.
Ella – I always loved Judy Blume.
(Becca, Angie and Hailey collectively groan)
Ella – What? What did I say?
Angie – The problem is that Ella met Dylan when she was twelve and never had to pick up a romance novel. So Judy Blume was probably the last racy thing she read.
Ella – (giggling) I can’t even argue with that – because it’s true!
Thank you so much for hanging out. I’m thrilled you were all able to make it with the Friday Bridal show tonight.
Hailey – We’re all so used to the routine by now that it doesn’t take quite as much out of us to get ready. I mean, don’t get me wrong, getting ready takes an effort…
Angie – A lot of effort some nights…
Hailey – …But…it’s somewhat routine now. And it’s nice to have a bit of distraction so thank you for coming by to talk with us.
Thank you for letting us hang out at the store.
Hailey – Our pleasure. This is one of the best places to guarantee you’ll get all of us together in one place at the same time. This is like a second home. To all of us.
Becca – Very true.
Ladies, what’s it been like to grow up in a Bridal shop?
Hailey – I think that I had to deal with it a little more than the girls – mainly because it’s my mom’s business. To me, it was always a happy place to be. Everyone who came in, was just excited to be here! And once we all started modeling, I got to be part of that excitement.
Becca – It was really like every little girls dream. We’d come here and get to play dress up. Just on a much larger scale than you would at home.
Ella – It’s like getting to be a princess every week.
Angie – (Shrugging) It was cool.
Hailey – (groaning) Just once. Just one time, can’t you just show some excitement?
Angie – What? I said it was cool. That’s me being excited. You think you’d know this by now.
Hailey – Never mind.
What was your favorite girls trip destination?
All four – Anything tropical! (Lots of laughing)
Becca – It’s been a while since we’ve actually gone anywhere just the four of us, but the last trip was to Key West and it was amazing.
Angie – The beach. The drinks. And hot guys serving those drinks? Yeah. It was awesome.
Hailey – When we can’t get away we tend to hang out at my mom’s house because she has a pool…
Angie – And pray that she would get a pool boy!
Ella – We did that spa thing not that long ago and I would totally be on board for doing that again.
Becca – If it was a spa at the beach it would have been perfect.
Angie – Yes!
Ok – dish, boxers or briefs?
Becca – Boxers
Hailey – Boxers
Ella – Boxers
Angie – Wait…was commando an option?
What’s the secret to finding a dream wedding gown?
Ella – I think I’m the only one who can really answer this since I’m about to get married and found my dream gown…
Angie – Only after Mrs. J stepped in and got your mom off your back.
Ella – Well…yeah. That helped but…
Hailey – Not listening to anyone else. That’s a big part of it. You’re the one wearing it so why should other people get to tell you what that should be?’
Ella – I would hope if I liked something that looked horrible on me that someone would speak up. (Gasping) Oh! You’d tell me, right? Does my gown look horrible on me? Oh no…I mean, I love it and I thought it looked great. (Standing up) Why didn’t you tell me?
Becca, Angie and Hailey look at her in confusion.
Ella – It’s being altered already! Now what?
Angie – (Raises her hand) Um…Ella? What the hell are you talking about?
Ella – My dress! My dream dress!
Hailey – What about it? We love it. It looks amazing on you. We’ve said that since the beginning.
Ella – Becs? Is that true?”
Becca – Yeah. What are you freaking out about?
Ella – (Slowly sitting back down) Uh…nothing. Don’t mind me.
Hailey – (Grinning) As long as you feel good in it, that makes it the dream dress.
Angie – But it helps when you look good in it too.
Becca – Well of course…
What’s on your playlist while you are working or working out ;)?
Angie – Wait…working out? Are we supposed to do that?
Hailey – At work I like to keep things a little soft. Not like classical soft, but something like Adele or Ellie Goulding.
Becca – I need something with a little pep in it. Some Megan Trainor, Taylor Swift, Maroon Five…
Angie – She’s like a teenage girl.
Becca – But I like country music too. Luke Bryan is a favorite.
Angie – I love to belt out some Pink. Elle King. And lately that Cake by the Ocean song.
Ella – I am a little more eclectic. I like…
Angie – Ella sings some mean Bon Jovi!
Ella – (Hands over her face) Ugh…I’m never going to live that down, am I?
Angie – Not as long as I’m around.
Most memorable concert?
Angie – There was that American Idol thing that Ella dragged us to…
Becca – Please. Don’t remind me.
Hailey – Yeah. That was…memorable. But not for the way that I think you wanted.
Ella – (Shaking her head) It was awesome. I had a great time and loved every second of it!
What’s it like to have all those gorgeous male models around, all the time?
Hailey – Very pleasing (giggling). I have to admit, growing up around them and with them helped us – or at least, me – to feel more comfortable approaching guys. Plus, you were guaranteed to have a cute guy’s attention at least once a week.
Becca – Yeah. That was definitely a perk – especially in high school. And now? Now it’s like eye candy.
Ella – I really don’t even notice them that much. (Shrugs) I think Dylan’s far more gorgeous than all of them.
(Collective groan from the other three)
Angie – It certainly doesn’t suck
Hailey – It’s very different now than when we were younger. Back then, it was…well, it made us act silly. But now, while we can appreciate how hot they are, we’re all just friends.
Angie – Oh come on, Hales…for a while there – and not that long ago – you were still acting silly over the models.
Hailey – Only one of them…
Becca – (Clears throat) Um…one?
Hailey – Oh for the love of it…can we move on?
Chocolate or vanilla?
All four – Chocolate!
Planner or procrastinator?
Hailey – A planner. Definitely.
Becca – Oh yeah. No one plans quite like Hailey.
Hailey – And what about you, Becs? I seem to recall more than one day planner in your bag.
Becca – (Shrugging) I like to plan but then I procrastinate about actually doing what I’ve written down in the planner.
Angie – Procrastinator. Definitely.
Ella – I think I’d call myself a casual planner. I know what I have to do and I get it done. I’m not rigid about anything and I kind of hate procrastinating.
Angie – she’s the good one.
Hailey – Hey! I’m good too!
Angie – No. You’re uptight. There’s a difference.
Hailey – (Sighs loudly) It’s not uptight. Things just need to run on a schedule and…
Becca – This would be a good time to point out that we need to get moving if we’re going to be ready at showtime!
Hailey – Oh my gosh! Is it that late already? I thought we had more time?
Angie – (Laughing as she stands) And that, my friends, is what happens when you don’t pay close attention to your schedule!
Get your copy here: Friday Night Brides – $4.99
Author Info:
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.
When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.
For more information, please visit Samantha’s website – www.chasing-romance.com
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Facebook – www.facebook.com/SamanthaChaseFanClub
Twitter – https://twitter.com/SamanthaChase3
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/samanthachase31/
Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Samantha-Chase/e/B006CZWRGC/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Instagram – https://instagram.com/samanthachaseromance/
Apr 27, 2016 | April 2016, Blog, Coffee With, Robin Covington
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte with Coconut Milk and a drizzle of caramel:) What would you order?
Do they have Diet Coke? No? I’d have a caramel frappucino with extra caramel and whipped cream.
Thanks so much for hanging out with me today.
I’m so excited!
Congratulations on your RITA nomination in the novella category for One Little Kiss. Super exciting and what an honor. Where were you when you got the call?
That’s a funny story. I was at my mother-in- law’s house which is about two hours from my house. We were visiting during my kid’s spring break and my phone completely died – nobody at Verizon or Apple could fix it – and I knew the RITA calls were going out the next day. My husband, the Main Man, joked that I would gt a nomination because my phone was dead and I gave him the evil eye and posted on Facebook about how irritated I was. The morning of the calls, I got a FB message from a RWA Board Member which said, “Please call me I have news for you.” I called her back and got the news and was completely freaking out. The Main Man hugged me and said that he was going to break my phone the night before the RITA calls every year. LOL.
For those who are not familiar with your work can you tell us a little bit your books, they take place in some pretty cool places – Nashville, Texas, Las Vegas, I could go on! Can we expect any more releases from your current series? Do you have any new series in the works that you can give us a tease?
I write sizzling, sexy contemporary romance – male/female and male/male. I have set my books all over the place – usually places I’ve visited and fell in love with. My “Boys are Back in Town” series is set in a fictional small Virginia town which is based on my own hometown, Danville, Virginia.
I have the final book in The Boys series will be out soon and I’m starting a new series based in the sports world of Crossfit MMA and Olympic swimming. And in June my first erotic romance, THIRD, will be out!
What was the inspiration for One Little Kiss?
ONE LITTLE KISS . . . this story was part of an anthology centered
around romances with an Irish twist that occur on St.Patrick’s Day. I set mine over one night with the hero and heroine stranded in an airport and hotel due to a fluke St. Patty’s Day blizzard. A friend-to- lovers, second chance romance it also pays homage to a friend who had recently been dealt a blow with a hard medical diagnosis. It flew on the page in about 6 days I loved the story so much.
A quick little plug – readers should run to Amazon right now, A Night of Southern Comfort (The Boys are Back in Town Book 1) is $0.99 on Amazon and The Men of the Zodiac Series is currently on sale for $0.99. It includes 12 AMAZING stories in addition to Robin’s The Prince’s Runaway Lover. Two perfectly priced books
to start your collection or add to it! 🙂
Thanks!!
What’s it like to write in a series with other authors? I enjoyed the Zodiac Series from Entangled and the Sutherlands Saga. How do you research for those and do you have any communication with the other authors when plotting?
It’s fun and challenging. I’ve done it a few times now and it’s exciting 
to brainstorm ideas, plots, and characters with other authors. We feed off each other and it grows and grows – I think it raises the bar for all of us. The challenges are the timelines and keeping the people straight and not 
contradicting each others stories but we usually have google docs where we keep group info and Facebook groups to maximize communication. The internet makes it so much easier to coordinate and as long as you communicate it can go very well.
I read that you’re a lawyer with the US Navy – how did you land that awesome job? Has that inspired any of your stories? Do you travel to any fun places?
It sound more exciting than it is! I don’t get to travel that much for work and I’m okay with it because traveling for work is not the greatest.
I started out in private practice when I graduated from law school but after a few years of a very heavy litigation schedule, I decided to move to working for the Navy (my husband was an attorney for them and he’s a Navy veteran) and I’ve been here for about 16 years. I LOVE my clients! I work with Navy pilots and Marines and in the past I’ve also worked with Navy sailors – all very exciting careers – and I’ve used so much of what I’ve learned from them and experienced with them in my books. Maybe one day I’ll set a series of books on a Naval Base . . . who knows? Right now, I do avoid writing about attorneys because it’s too much like being at work . . . LOL.
Your bio mentions that you husband built you a writing cave. You are one lucky lady and we all need to thank him! What a beautiful place to escape at the end of the day to write!
He did! I love my writing hideaway. My client is 8 feet wide and 22 feet long and in 2013 my husband suggested that I could organize the closet and create an office at one end of the space. I decided that the first 11 feet would be my closet and the last 11 feet would be my office. I have a window and gorgeous black glass chandeliers and red walls. I adore it.
I know you were recently at RT2016 in Las Vegas – how was that? Would you recommend it to readers/bloggers? Can you tell us when and where you will be in the upcoming months?
I didn’t get to go this year! The day job would not free me up but I have been in years past and it is an amazing convention. It is geared to give authors and readers every chance to interact and discuss their love of books. And they promote fun, fun and fun at every turn. It is a really wonderful convention – with really hot cover models!
I’ll be at the Romance Writers of America conference in San Diego the week of July 13th. On Wednesday I’ll be signing at the Literacy Book Signing which will be open to the public.
In September, I’ll be at the Baltimore Book Festival in Baltimore, MD.
I’ll be on panels and signing books and generally getting up to no good and eating way too many deep-fried oreos!
***** 8 Tantalizing Tidbits *****
1. What is a must read book and why?
SUTPHIN BOULEVARD by Santino Hassell. It’s a recent discovery and I loved it.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?
I currently live in MD and I would send you to a restaurant located on the river and order a bunch of crabs to eat as the sun sets. Yum.
3. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist?
Country! I grew up in a house where everyone played country music and my family had a band. It’s in my blood, I guess. My favorite artist of all time? Holy moly. That’s impossible to say but I know that I always have Dolly Parton and Patsy Cline on my iPod.
4. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go?
Australia! I have always wanted to go there and I want to go for an extended time – a month to six weeks. I want to see every part of it because I think its ethnically diverse, geographically diverse and so rich with history. And I love the accent. It makes me smile. And it has Australian Rules Football . . . have you see the uniforms? Oh man . . . .
5. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one?
None right now but I plan to get one on the inside of my left wrist. An eternity symbol with my kid’s names
integrated in the design.
6. Organized or Free Floating?
I am a planner freak so I am crazy-organized. I have the Erin Condren Planner and I write everything down because if I don’t then I will forget it. And it gives me the perfect excuse to buy all the fun stickers on Etsy.
7. Binge watcher or weekly viewer? Which show(s)?
Netflx and on-demand have made me a binge watcher – I have a hard time waiting week-to- week. We gave up cable TV last year and so we use amazon prime, Netflix, and Hulu to catch our entertainment and I get my money’s worth.
8. What’s your favorite TV show and why?
Roswell. It was on for three seasons at the end of the 1990’s on the CW and was like Romeo and Juliet but with an alien boy and a human girl. It was odd, and high school, and sexy, and romantic and addictive. I own it on DVD and digitally. . .because I love it so hard. (I actually got my start writing romance Roswell fan fiction forums. I still love them and the show.)
Thank you again Robin. It’s time for another Latte 🙂
Happy Reading Dear Readers
Happy Writing Robin!
ICYMI: Day 1 Robin Covington Blitz – Review of One Little Kiss
ICYMI: The Prince’s Runaway Lover (Men of the Zodiac)
ICYMI: Shadow Ranch (The Sutherlands)
Author Info:
Bestselling author Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her bestselling books. When she’s not writing sexy, sizzling romance she is collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello.
You can find Robin at her website (robincovingtonromance.com), Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Don’t send chocolate . . . send eye candy!
Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children (they get it from her, of course!) and her beloved furbabies.
Apr 26, 2016 | April 2016, Blog, Robin Covington
One Little Kiss by Robin Covington is absolutely sinful and I am thrilled to see it’s a contender in the 2016 RITA Novella category. It’s got depth of emotion and plot, amazing characters and a VERY emotionally satisfying ending. Without sacrifice, work or challenges, love isn’t worth the risk!
Leighton Greer is on her way to Dublin for a chance of a lifetime until a raging blizzard delays her flight and strands her at the airport.
Karma can be worse than an crazy ex-boyfriend. For Leighton it smacked her straight into the very man she ran out on. Now, it will take a little Irish luck to charm her way around the very man who stole more than just her heart.
Jonas Sutton has a secret, he’s in love with Leighton and absolutely pissed she walked out on him. Things are totally complicated now, she’s his best friend’s sister.
Desperate to spend time and find out why she left him, Jonas rescues her from the airport. They are given a second chance for redemption, both at the airport because they are headed out of town. What are the odds?
Leighton is shocked by his sudden news and forced to face her feelings, will she run again? Can they both have their dreams? Will these two souls desperate for each other finally connect?
This three pepper spicy latte sizzles and is a must read. I sat down to read it and did not get out of my chair till I clicked on the last page. I am in love with this tasty tale.
This story is pretty hot with content for mature readers 18 +.
Excerpt:
The guy leaning on me really needs an Altoid.
I shift to the side as my impromptu airport floor roommate snuggles closer and lets loose a snore that makes my nearby fellow captives look in our direction in alarm. I’m not looking forward to riding out the snowstorm in Terminal D with a man who needs an industrial strength nasal strip but I fought hard for the prime spot along the wall close to an electrical outlet and I’m not moving.
When the airline had begun cancelling flights due to the unexpected blizzard three days before St. Patrick’s Day, the first wave of activity in international departures was to secure a hotel room for the night. Being neither a platinum or some other precious gem level member at one of the big hotel chains had meant I was out of luck in securing any kind of room for the night so I’d wedged my way in between overstuffed carry-ons and whiny kids to grab my piece of prime real estate along the wall.
Two hours later, my phone is fully charged but the answer is clear—there is no room for me in the inn. Or the Marriott. Or the Hilton.
A great way to start my first adventure.
Two and a half months from my college graduation and I’m taking the chances in my life that I should have been taking all along. Finally. I’m beginning to feel like the person I am supposed to be but not everyone is on board with my accelerated program of development. The parentals, my twin brother—they mean well but they worry about me. Too much.
I am the fragile one. The one who needs to be careful. The one they almost lost. You’d think beating childhood leukemia would have made me brave, fierce. Nope. I’d bought into their characterization and worn it like a cloak to protect me from the big bad world until I’d almost suffocated under the weight. And then a few months ago, Brian-the-cheaterface had kicked my ass to the curb two weeks before Christmas for a girl named Silver who had green hair, ear gauges and a tongue stud and blamed it all on my being only slightly less boring than a bag of flour. Actually, his exact words were “if you’d only live with the passion you put into your fucking music I wouldn’t have had to look elsewhere” but it all amounted to the same thing.
And as big a cheating asshole Brian was, he wasn’t wrong.
So, I wallowed in my misery for a week and then grabbed the nearest bottle of champagne and proceeded to spend New Year’s Eve “living with passion” in the bed of a guy I’d wanted for what seemed like forever. I also beat feet out of there before the morning after ruined the memories of the night. A cowardly move, I know.
He must have been on the same page because he avoided me in the weeks following our night of sweaty fun between the sheets. The times when we had to be together were infrequent but held a level of awkward somewhere between catching your parents making out on the couch and leaving the restroom with your skirt stuck in your panties. Good times.
But I am determined to live with passion, so when my music program selected me to go to the Celtic Music Festival in Dublin a month ago, I dusted off my passport, spared a moment to regret the terrible ID photo, and booked my ticket.
And now my flight is cancelled until the snowstorm passes, I’m stuck in the airport with a million other spring breakers, and my folks have lost their minds. It isn’t like taking a spring break trip to Ireland is the height of danger but you’d think I was pledging to marry a death-row inmate or something, the way they are acting.
They finally stopped calling after I let their calls go to voicemail but they weren’t shy about pulling out the big guns and so the next series of calls were from their not-so-secret weapon—my twin brother Landon.
I hit the screen and sigh, making sure a little bit of bitch is added to the overall tone of annoyance. “Landon. I’m going to Dublin. The flights will be back on tomorrow. Stop calling.”
“Number Two.” I bite back the urge to tell him for the eleventy billionth time to stop calling me that childhood nickname. I was three minutes behind him in arriving on this planet and he never lets me forget it. “Mom is shitting a brick because she thinks you’re going to be murdered in your sleep by someone who wants your carry-on.”
I glance at the small backpack at my feet. Yeah, I have the usual electronics in it —iPad, iPod—but the real treasure is in the hard case tucked close to my side. My violin, Wonder Woman, is inside and worth at least a year of tuition according to the insurance papers. She is my best friend, an extension of my body. My heart. We’ve been together since I was sixteen years old.
“If someone wants her they’ll have to pry her out of my cold, dead hands.”
He laughs. “And that is exactly what mom’s having a cow about.”
“Landon,” I sigh.
“Number Two.”
Did I mention how much I hate that nickname?
“I wish everyone would stop treating me like I am helpless or something. I’m not going to break or have a breakdown because I have to sleep at the airport.”
“We worry about you,” he says and then mumbles something to himself I can’t make out.
“What? What did you say?”
“Look. I sent the cavalry,” he rushes in and I let out a groan that catches the attention of several of my fellow strandees. I smile, trying to reassure them that I’m not the wacko they need to worry about as he keeps talking. “It was either this or mom was going to call airport security.”
“She didn’t.” If she did I was going to die on the spot. Melt into a pile of embarrassed goo and be nothing but a dark stain on the disgusting industrial carpet.
“She didn’t because I offered a compromise.”
“What kind of compromise?” But I knew. I knew because I saw it walking towards me with a slow grin and six feet three inches of lanky, sexy, muscled body. I can’t help the way my mouth drops open on a whispered, “oh my God” as I end the call. Hell, I’m glad I can still form a sentence at this point in time since the last person I want to see and the one person I’m desperate to have saunters towards me.
Jonas Sutton.
The guy I spent the night with on New Year’s Eve and then ditched before the sun came up. My brother’s roommate and best friend.
He stops right in front of me, forcing me to look up to see his face. He stares down at me, not missing a damn thing and barely hiding the smirk teasing at his lips.
“Who’s your boyfriend?”
I glance at the dude still leaning against my shoulder and lightly shove him away. He sways in the opposite direction for a nanosecond but then falls back against me, a loud snuffly snore joining the waft of bad breath he aims in my direction. I shudder and try to breathe through my mouth.
Jonas shoves his hands in his pockets but I’m not fooled by the casual manner, the zinger is coming. He’ll never let a moment like this pass him by.
“You gonna ditch him in the morning too?
Get your own copy here – 
One Little Kiss – $0.99
Be sure to check out my post tomorrow – I’m having Coffee With Robin! Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and the blog so you don’t miss out on all the fun!
** Excerpt and photos provided by author
Author Info:
Bestselling author Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her bestselling books. When she’s not writing sexy, sizzling romance she is collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, and stalking Joe Manganiello.
You can find Robin at her website (robincovingtonromance.com), Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Don’t send chocolate . . . send eye candy!
Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children (they get it from her, of course!) and her beloved furbabies.
Apr 25, 2016 | April 2016, Blog, Scarlett Cole
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte with Coconut Milk and a drizzle of caramel and chocolate:) What would you order?
Usually, it’s an extra large, extra hot, decaf, skinny latte … but if I am hungover, then it has to be a decaf double double from Tim Hortons (usually with a sour cream glaze donut!).
Thanks so much for hanging out with me today.
Thank you so much for inviting me over. I love your blog and am delighted to be here.
Congratulations on your RITA nomination in the Best First Book category for The Strongest Steel. Super exciting and what an honor. Where were you when you got the call?
Thank you so much. I am still in a state of shock at receiving such a tremendous honor. I live in a green home, which is massively environmentally friendly, but has the most horrid cellphone reception. There are only two places where we can get a signal. So I made sure my phone was in one of those spots all day … except for two minutes when I walked to the kitchen to make soup for lunch. And by the time I got to the other reception spot, I noticed I missed a call. At that point I was frantic, because I rarely get calls from the US. I ran upstairs and called the number back, and sure enough the amazing Julie Kenner answered and told me that I had been nominated for two RITAs – Best First Book and Romantic Suspense. I’m not ashamed to say I cried, and Julie had to remind me to breath!!
For those who are not familiar with your work can you tell us a little bit about your books in the Second Circle series. How many books can we expect? Any future standalone reads?
The Second Circle Tattoos series is set in the Second Circle Tattoo studio in the vibrant neighborhood of Miami Beach. Each book in the series centers on a character who works there. Trent Andrews, owner and local “rock star” of tattooing, prides himself on being the best there is at everything that matters. Cujo, Trent’s best friend since kindergarten, is a walking paradox (that he’s scared of maniacal dogs is just the beginning of his self-contradictions) who can’t wait to ink every beauty who steps in the studio. Pixie, their studio manager, thanks her lucky stars daily that the doorway she chose to sleep in when she moved to Miami belonged to two of the most amazing men ever. Lia, who idolizes Bettie Page and appreciates a rockin’ pair of heels, loves men who get their hands dirty (almost as much as she hates the cocktail-party-and-pearls scene she grew up in). Together, they’re a team. A family of sorts.
The series is currently four books, but there may be more in the future. The Strongest Steel and The Fractured Heart are already available. The Purest Hook is out on May 3rd, and the fourth book will be out in the fall.
What was it like to write in the Kindle Worlds – World of de Wolfe Pack? How did that evolve?
Oh my gosh. Seriously one of the best experiences of my life. I was incredibly honored to be asked by the incredible Kathryn Le Veque to write a story for the contemporary couple featured in the epilogue of The Wolfe, the historical romance story the world is based on. TOGETHER AGAIN is the story of Navy SEAL Wade Wolfe, and nurse Jeremy Scatler (named for the boy she was meant to be). A common dream of an ancient warrior pulls them together in a way neither of them wants or needs, until trouble from a mission in Colombia follows Wade home, putting them both in danger.
Kathryn is one of my idols. She is so prolific, yet writes such amazing quality stories. I want to be the contemporary romance version of her when I grow up. She’s a wonderful friend and mentor. But more than just writing Together Again, I got to meet a fabulous group of ladies who also helped Kathryn launch this world. Some of the very best historical and contemporary romance writers there are who I have read and admired for years. I chat with most of them on a near daily basis. It’s a great sisterhood that is so supportive.
Where do you draw your inspiration?
Inspiration is elusive and constant, which I know sounds like a contradiction. What I mean is, I don’t know where or when I am going to find it, but it happens everywhere. Sometimes it’s in the lines of a song, or written in a newspaper article. Sometimes it just pops into my head while I am standing in the queue at the grocery store or while I am having a drink with friends. What I do know, is that when I deliberately go looking for it, I rarely find it.
Do you get to travel to any fun places in the name of research?
I am very fortunate that in my former career, I travelled around the world extensively. I worked in Miami, where the Second Circle Tattoos series is set, for a number of months, and it’s one of my favorite cities in the world. And my next series, Preload, which is a spin off of The Purest Hook, featuring the rest of Dred’s band, is set in Toronto, where I lived for nearly fifteen years.
Can you tell us when and where you will be in the upcoming months?
I am so excited to go to RWA Annual Conference in San Diego in the summer (July 13-16) so I look forward to meeting some of the people who have been wonderful enough to read my stories. Please come up and say hi if you see me wandering around the hotel… actually please, come up and say hi, because I have the worst sense of direction, ever, and am very likely lost!
Congratulations again and I’ll be watching the #RITAGHs award ceremony via computer this summer.
Thank you so much. It’s going to be a wonderful evening, regardless of the outcome. And thank you for letting me stop by.
***** 8 Tantalizing Tidbits *****
1. What is a must read book and why?
If Tomorrow Comes – Sidney Sheldon – a gripping mix of suspense, high stakes, and romance.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?
Wigan Pier – it’s not as grim as George Orwell made out.
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you?
That I hold a 1st Class Honors degree in Engineering.
4. What is your guilty pleasure?
Sour candy
5. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one?
Tats – my first one was a combination of mine and my husbands astrological symbols, and our children’s birthstones.
6. If you could pick a book you’ve read and make it into a movie, which book would it be (besides yours 🙂 )?
Kathryn Le Veque’s historical romance L’Espada
7. What’s your favorite movie of all time and why?
It’s a Wonderful Life – the message, the actors, Bedford Falls, lassoing the moon … all of it. I watch it several times every Christmas.
8. Name one thing you can’t live without?
My phone – I’d be lost without it.
Thanks again for hanging out! Time for another Latte 🙂
Happy Reading Dear Readers
Happy Writing Scarlett!
Author Info:
Scarlett Cole is a writer of contemporary romance and a two-time RITA finalist. Her debut, THE STRONGEST STEEL, has already become an Amazon best seller in romantic suspense, was a Best Debut Goodreads Author Finalist 2015, and Authors On The Air Global Radio Network Contemporary Romance Pick of 2015.
When Scarlett isn’t writing, she spends her time reading, hoarding mason jars, and working out to off-set an epic sour candy habit. She likes hot men, cold beer, and expensive shoes.
Having travelled the world for work and fun, Scarlett is a citizen of both Britain and Canada. A true city-dweller, she considers Toronto and Manchester home and likes to set her books in vibrant locations such as Miami and Los Angeles.
