Happy Hump Day with MARIE ROSE DUFOUR

Liz woke up with the sounds of waves crashing in her ears. Confident of the lack of beachfront property within her condo, she wondered what destiny had in mind for her now. She sat up looking around at her surroundings. Lying under a beautiful canopy tent draped with yards and yards of gauzy royal blue material swaying gently in the breeze, and keeping the rays of the sun from beating down on her body. Liz ran her hands over the bedding beneath her. It felt softer and smoother than the highest count Egyptian cotton sheets bought in Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

The beautiful beach reminded her of pictures of exquisite Caribbean beaches with turquoise waves and miles and miles of powdery white sand. The gentle breezes lightly ruffled her hair as she walked down the beach to the edge of the water which rose up to meet her feet, tickling her toes.

“Well, Dorothy, you’re not in Kansas anymore,” she said looking up at a foreign sky with two moons in the distance.

“I must be dreaming. I read so much information about Serralia I’m dreaming about it in Technicolor. Damn! This is one realistic mother of a dream.”

Suddenly, her senses went on high alert. She didn’t know if the air around her had changed or if her body sensed another person behind her, but she knew she was no longer alone and somehow her mate stood behind her.

Two strong bronze hands slowly encircled her waist, pulling her gently back to into a lean, hard body. Liz sighed. This felt right. She snuggled deeper into the embrace. Nothing ever felt this right before. She could stand here in the safety of his arms forever.

“I’ve been waiting for you. I thought you would never get here,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry it took so long. I never let myself believe you existed.”

“I read your file.” The hands moving on her stomach stilled. “I’m sorry for what you had to go through alone. I would have been there for you if I had known.”

“I wouldn’t have been there if I had faith I would find you someday.” Dragon’s chest expanded letting her love and comfort wash over him. “So you know?”

“About everything that happened to you when you were taken prisoner? Yes, I know. I know you lost an eye and still wear an eye patch. I bet it makes you look rakishly handsome.”

She felt the chuckle in his chest before she heard it. The heat of his body warmed her back and aroused her body.

“I have never been told such a thing.”

“Well, I’m sure it does.”

She stroked the muscular forearms at her waist with light caresses. His body trembled behind her.

“We’ve never met in person, but I already feel connected to you. Is it normal?”

“The bonding happens when we are connected as mates. Normal. I don’t know. Right, yes.”

“Do you know about me?” she whispered.

“I know you are perfect.” He leaned down and sweetly kissed the top of her head.
Liz stilled, she might as well tell him about her marriage. She didn’t want any secrets between them.

“I was married before,” she blurted out nervously. “He was not a nice man. He hurt me, not only physically, but verbally too. It took a long time, but I left him.”

Dragon fully stilled behind her. All the wonderful stroking stopped. Her stomach dropped down to her feet. S@%t! I’ve ruined this already. She knew her mistake of a marriage would follow her around for the rest of her life. She knew it.

“You don’t know how much pain it causes me to know how much pain you had to endure. I would gladly be tortured again if it meant taking it away from you. You never have to be afraid with me. I would sooner cut off my own arm than hurt a hair on this beautiful head.”

Liz nodded, the lump in her throat making any physical speech impossible.

“I realize it might be a while before you believe this, but it is true.”

“I do believe you. I don’t know why, but I do.”

“Good. Now, we can continue what we started here.”

Callused thumbs again stroked her stomach making it quiver and her pulse quicken. If this was what he could do to her body with only his thumbs, she might actually die from pleasure. She smiled thinking about what her obituary would say. Woman dies from having the most intense sexual experience of her life, then her brain stopped working; her body took over and went into overload.

********************BLURB********************
You just read an excerpt from:
FATED MATES
by
Marie Rose Dufour

Buy Link: Secret Cravings Publishing
*********************************************

Linda Kage: It's about time I host another interview. So let's get this week rolling with author MARIE ROSE DUFOUR. Hey, Marie Rose Dufour!!! Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Marie:I am the oldest of four children who always was making up stories growing up. My head is constantly filled with them. I live in Rhode Island with my husband and two very curious cats who think they are people. I write erotica. My first book is a sci-fi erotic romance. My second book is a contemporary/fantasy story set in Ireland.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Marie: The first book I ever wrote was when I was thirteen. It was about a girl who walked into a mirror into an another dimension. I still someday might rewrite that story using a parallel dimensional twist. I don’t know what happened to it. I probably threw it away. The first book I wrote as an adult is Fated Mates which was published by Secret Cravings Publishing.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Marie: My next story Irish Rising is coming out in March. I am currently writing book two in the Fated Mates series.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Marie: Fated Mates is a sci-fi erotic romance. Imagine if Earth had been visited by
ancient aliens and they found out that we were suitable as mates. Some people were taken to colonize a new planet but when suitable mates started to dwindle, they came back to Earth to search for more. This story is about a school teacher named Liz, who doesn’t believe in love anymore afteran abusive marriage and a scarred Serralian warrior who never hoped to find love. It was released on September 19th, from Secret Cravings Publishing.

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*****
by
Marie Rose Dufour

We know that we are no longer alone in the universe. Descendants of Earthly ancestors have returned to find the other halves of themselves, their destined mates.

Dragon, a scarred Serralian warrior drawn to the planet of his ancestors, never believed the Goddess had a mate for him but no matter what he believes, he’s unable to resist the pull of the planet deep within in soul.

Liz, a curvy teacher who escaped an abusive marriage three years earlier is afraid to take another chance on love. Tired of being a
bystander in her own love life, she participates in an ancient ritual to identify Serralian mates. Taking that chance changes her life forever. Can these two people overcome their pasts to become each other’s true Fated Mates?
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Marie: Since I write erotica, if Fated Mates was a movie, it would be rated NC-17..

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Marie: Hmmm…that’s a tough one. I guess I would say, true love exits even if it has to travel across the universe to be found.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit FATED MATES under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Marie: I would say the element of being “fated” or destined to be with a certain someone. In Fated Mates, Sacred Stones determine
if people are meant to be together, almost as if it were destined in the stars.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Marie: The beginning of the story is always the easiest for me to write. The beginning of Fated Mates came to me in a dream. I know it’s going to sound weird but sometimes my characters nag me and won’t leave me alone until I tell their story.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Marie: I like how my main characters are flawed. They are easy to relate to, they are far from perfect. Although the main character Dragon, is near and dear to my heart. Don’t tell my husband but I fell in love with him as I wrote. What I learned is my male characters are usually more formed in my head than my female characters. I find them a lot easier to write. I wonder what that says
about me???

Kage:Marie, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Marie: I just hope people enjoy reading Fated Mates as much as I enjoyed writing it.

If you're still curious about Marie, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website: www.marierosedufour.com

Blog: http://marierosedufour.blogspot.com

Facebook: Marie Rose Dufour

Twitter: Marie_R_Dufour

Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing

Goodreads: Marie Rose Dufour

Start your week with hero, MORGAN BINGHAM!

Linda Kage: Since author Alison Henderson has already visited with us before, we decided to interview a charater in her book instead. Please welcome Morgan Bingham, hero in Alison's newest story, A Man Like That. Well, hello there, Morgan. The burning question is...Who IS Morgan Bingham? Describe yourself to us please.

Morgan:Ex-Confederate guerilla, ex-outlaw. I’m a man of few words, a hard man who’s lived a hard life. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but I aim to put all that behind me and return to my roots in the Ozark Mountains. If only that little red-haired wildcat will let me …

Kage: Give us a peek into your head. What is one happy memory you have?

Morgan: I don’t have many good memories of growing up. My family was dirt poor trying to scrape a living out of the rocky hillsides. And my Pa … well, I won’t go into that. Leastwise not with ladies present. Without a doubt, my strongest memory is the first time I saw Miss Jessamine Randall coming down the staircase at her best friend’s house. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. She asked me to escort her to her buggy. As I said, I’m a man of few words, and on that occasion the few I have deserted me completely. Holding Jessy’s hand was like touching a live flame. If I saw her every day for the rest of my life, I’d still never forget that first time.

Kage:Okay, now let’s skip to the stuff I want to hear about…this is a romance writer’s blog, after all! Before going into this story, what was your romance life like

Morgan: There was no such thing as “romance” in my life. Before I left home for the army, life in the hills was lonely. The only time I saw anyone outside the family was when I drove to town for supplies every couple of months. The proper ladies seemed just as scared of me as I was of them, and Camdenton was too small to have the other kind. Of course, I did manage to spend an evening or two with a soiled dove over the years, but I don’t believe you could count that as “romance”.

Kage: And now that your book has begun, who’s the woman starring in your romance? And what’s the trouble with her?

Morgan: Jessy Randall is the daughter of the town judge in Weston, Missouri. She’s beautiful and too spirited by half. A real do-gooder. Always interfering. Always trying to save someone, even if they can’t be saved. She ran the Freedman’s Bureau school until a gang of cowards burned it down, and she was too stubborn to admit defeat even as the flaming rafters crashed down around her. I breathed in so much smoke pulling her out of that fire I ended up spending nigh on to three weeks in bed over at the doc’s. Big mistake. While I was laid up, Jessy got the notion to marry me. Now I couldn’t let her do that—not a fine lady like her and a no-good outlaw like me. As soon as I could draw a full breath, I lit out there fast.

Kage: What do you like most about her? And what do you like least?

Morgan: That’s two sides of the same coin. I admire her determination, but her stubbornness makes my blood boil. She’s big-hearted, but sometimes her generosity looks an awful lot like meddling. I guess you could say she riles me up, for better or worse. She’s a force to be reckoned with, that’s for certain. .

Kage: Thanks for stopping by and gracing us with some eye candy--I mean, with your presence. Was there anything else you'd like to add before getting along on your way?

Morgan: I’d like to thank you for inviting me to visit today. I’ve never been too comfortable in the presence of ladies, but you all were most gracious. I tip my hat to you. If you’d like to understand why Jessy makes me so crazy, you can read a bit of our story below.

********************EXCERPT for********************
A Man Like That
by
Alison Henderson

Buy Link: The Wild Rose Press
*********************************************

Jessy took a step forward and slid her arms beneath his jacket and around his waist. “Now aren’t you going to kiss me?”

He grabbed her wrists and threw her hands off him as if she harbored a dread disease.

“Are you sure you don’t want to kiss me?” she persisted. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” Her seductive tone was pure torture.

Morgan scowled and didn’t answer. He had no intention of answering the first question and wasn’t sure about the second. At the moment, it required every ounce of strength and resolve he had to keep from jerking her into his arms and taking everything she offered and more.

He stared down at Jessy’s face in the flickering firelight. Her sparkling eyes beckoned him. Her moist lips parted in invitation. But the same fresh innocence that had always stopped him held him back again.

He could take what he wanted; he knew it. There was no one around to stop him, and Jessy wouldn’t resist. She was crazy enough to think she loved him.

It would be so easy to give in, so easy to forget the past and the future for a few sweet hours in her arms, to forget their differences and lose himself in the generosity of her love. But he couldn’t do it. To take her and leave her would be to steal something more precious than her virginity. He would be stealing the bright fire that formed the essence of her, the fire that had drawn him from the beginning. As much as he wanted her, he prayed for the strength to resist her.


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If you're still curious about Morgan's author, here are other places to find Alison Henderson on the web:

Website: http://www.alisonhenderson.com/

Blog/Goodreads: Blog on Alison's GOODREADS page.

(A MAN LIKE THAT is a sequel to Alison's first book, HARVEST OF DREAMS)

Start your week with...MOLLY DANIELS / KENZIE MICHAELS

Steve and Angie:

“I’m just going to say this.” His voice was rough. “I love you. You’re the one thing that kept me going, that kept me from going to Prison Tech 101. After I got clean, I decided I was going to do whatever it took to serve my time, and get a respectable job, all so I could win you back.” He cleared his throat. “God, Ange…I swear to you…that one dose of speed fucked up my future, but I’m not going to let it fuck up the rest of my life. I’m staying with Josh; I’ve got my driver’s license; tomorrow I’m buying a car. And my parole officer’s trying to help me get a good job, so I can afford my own place.” His voice dropped to a whisper and one hand stole into Angie’s bright tresses. His head angled toward hers and softly touched his lips to hers. When his tongue nudged her lips open and touched hers, she recoiled and dropped her head on his chest.

“Don’t,” she whispered. “I can’t…”

He lifted her chin with a finger. “It’s okay. I’ve waited nearly two years; I can wait a little longer.” He kissed her eyelids, her nose, and then her lips again before releasing her.“Thanks for the water and for hearing me out.” He stepped around her and left the condo, carefully closing the door behind him.

Once outside, he leaned against the wall by the mailbox, eyes closed. He was surprised Angie hadn’t locked the door. And suddenly she was outside with him, her arms around his neck.

Steve couldn’t speak. He gathered her up and moved into the condo again, pulling the door closed behind them. He kissed her, their tongues exploring and rediscovering each other.

His pent-up desire flared; he tried to keep it in check by remembering he’d never seen her undressed. His lips traveled all over her face; his fingertips traced the contours of her delicate features and the lines of her slender neck. His lips found her earlobe and grazed it with his teeth; he heard her inhale and moan when his tongue touched a sensitive spot just below it.

“I remember how you used to love this.” He gathered her hair in one hand and increased the pressure with his mouth.

“No hickies,” she gasped, clutching at his shoulders.

Steve laughed. Nothing new there. He moved to her jaw and traced her throat with his tongue, moving her backwards toward the couch. One hand slipped under her shirt and slowly skimmed upwards, hesitating before brushing against the gentle swell of her breasts.He eased her down onto the cushions and when she didn’t protest, he tugged her bra aside and closed his hand around her firm, small flesh.

Angie sighed and shifted; it was all the encouragement he needed. Raising her shirt, he bent his head and drew the taunt nipple into his mouth, reaching behind her back to find the bra clasp, Getting it unsnapped, the fabric fell away, and he filled his hand with her other breast, getting to know her all over again.

Panting, Steve worked his own shirt over his head and pressed their torsos together, feeling her breasts burn against his chest. He tongued both nipples, hearing her soft moans and the rush of blood pounding in both his head and his groin. He unsnapped his jeans with the uncomfortable pressure building, and managed to free himself. Holding his swollen cock with one hand, he unfastened Angie’s slacks and tugged them down over her hips, nearly losing it when he saw the transparent underwear and the ginger triangle beneath. He inserted a finger in the waistband. Angie bucked her hips; he peeled the final barrier down and stroked her entrance. She cried out at the contact, and he tugged both slacks and underwear to her ankles.
He brushed his palms over her mound, feeling the tension in her muscles and listening to her increased breathing. He reached behind him for his wallet and withdrew the blue-foiled packet. He waved it in front of her.
“Do I need this?”

* * * * * *
Brad and Emma:

Her damp hair was caught up in a silver clip, and dark blonde ringlets cascaded down her back. Her cowboy boots sounded firmly on the wooden floor as she walked toward the men, her slight frame in black jeans and a loose red shirt. Brad felt his mouth go dry when he realized there was no bra under that shirt, and had to keep tearing his eyes away from the glimpse of cleavage when she greeted Gavin. She slid into the chair beside the older man, and Brad shifted uncomfortably every time she leaned forward.

Emma reached for the hot wings Gavin had ordered and told the waitress to bring her a Coors.

“Gavin likes that crap, but I prefer to stick with Busch,” she stated as Brad shifted in his seat again. “Something wrong, Mr. Morrison?”

“No, no. It’s just I’ve had too much good food the past two days,” he lied.

“Don’t they feed you back home?” Emma patted Gavin on the back. Brad swallowed at the sight of her nipples through the fabric and looked away. Keep breathing; remember Angie.…

“Actually, my girlfriend is quite a cook,” Brad managed to get his tongue working. He reached for a wing at the same time she did, and as their fingers brushed, Brad felt an electric jolt all the way to his groin.

“Maybe she doesn’t feed you enough,” Gavin laughed.

Brad was spared by the appearance of the waitress, ready to take their orders. Brad and Gavin ordered the Prime Rib; Emma opted for the shrimp scampi. Brad ordered another beer, and then excused himself, hoping to get his raging hormones under control.
* * *
Emma, for her part, was enjoying Brad’s obvious discomfort. She’d left her bedroom in a cheerful mood and her confidence up, thanks to Bob’s worshipful and masterful handling of her body. Bob liked her without underwear, so she’d dressed for his benefit, not this stranger who thought he knew his way around an invoice.

“Emma, darlin’, what are you doing?” Gavin smiled once Brad was out of earshot.

“Doing what?” She ate the last hot wing and took another sip of her beer.

“You look like you just fell out of bed. And sweetie, I can tell there’s nothing under that shirt.” Gavin coughed. “I can’t believe I’m even having this conversation with you, but I need Brad’s company. And if you cause him to withdraw the deal, I’ll spank you, no matter if you are nearly thirty.
”
“I did. Are you shocked?” Emma had always been straightforward with her old friend.“And don’t worry; I’ll behave myself. I’m not a child anymore, Gavin.”

“Who’s the lucky man?” he frowned. “Do I need to have a talk with him?”

Emma laughed. “Oh Gavin, I love you. I had the same conversation with Nora yesterday, and she approves. Can’t you trust her judgment?”


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You just read an excerpt from:
WILD AT HEART
by
Kenzie Michaels

Buy Link: XOXO Publishing
*********************************************


Linda Kage: Please welcome author, MOLLY DANIELS also known as KENZIE MICHAELS! Hey, Molly/Kenzie. Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Molly/Kenzie: Thanks for having me today, Linda! As Kenzie Michaels I write Adult Contemporary Romance and as Molly Daniels, Women’s Fiction. I live in Indiana with my husband, three children, and two honorary grandchildren who are visiting for the summer. And to the neighborhood kids, I’m ‘Aunt Molly’. I answer to just about anything, lol!

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Molly/Kenzie: LOL! It is still in my filing cabinet, and I’ve cannibalized a few characters. I never did finish that book, so I guess the first one I actually finished was Love Finds A Way. And I think the fifth version is the one I finally published.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Molly/Kenzie: Both Kenzie and Molly have two books out and one arriving in the fall. Kenzie has All She Ever Wanted (published with Freya’s Bower) and Wild At Heart (with XOXO Publishing). I’ve recently signed a contract with Freya’s Bower for the sequel to ASEW, called Class Reunion, which should arrive sometime in 2012. The third book in that series has also been submitted and waiting for approval. Another stand-alone, Teacher’s Pet, is awaiting edits, while Appetite For Desire will be arriving in September from Secret Cravings Publishing. So Kenzie should have two books arriving soon this year (I hope!)

Molly’s first two books, Love Is Sober and Love Finds A Way were self-published through iUniverse and AuthorHouse, and are available in print through amazon.com. The third book in this series, Forbidden Love, is hopefully arriving in October, also from Secret Cravings.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Molly/Kenzie: Wild At Heart is the first Kenzie story I ever wrote. I literally wrote it in four weeks; I’d written the first chapter during a Boy Scout Campout, and began typing it on September 11, 2007. The characters grabbed me and wouldn’t let go until I finished it on October 11th. After many rejections and trying to ‘tone down’ one of my heroes, XOXO offered me a contract for it, and the cover is my favorite (so far). The book was released Nov 29, 2010.

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WILD AT HEART
by
Kenzie Michaels

Angela Clayborn has just discovered Steve Blumenthal, the man she sent to prison nearly two years before, has been granted an early release. Torn between wanting to see him and fearful if she does, sparks fly when Steve Blumenthal appears in her gift shop and later at her condo. Will Angie free her heart from its icy prison? Has Steve really turned his life around, or is it a hoax?

Meanwhile, in Colorado on business, Angie’s current boyfriend, Brad Morrison, is wrestling with his own call of the wild. He’s met unconventional, sexy Emma Nichols, who runs not only her own riding stable, but helps out with her family’s woodworking store in EstesPark. Emma resents Brad’s offer to help during a family crisis, but eventually discovers that Fate sometimes sends people down unexpected paths to love. Can Brad tame a wildcat? Or will Emma settle for the safe path?
*********************************************
Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Molly/Kenzie: Definitely R, with two scenes ending up on the cutting room floor, and one scene rewritten..

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Molly/Kenzie: Angie and Steve’s storyline would be the good girl/bad boy, while Brad and Emma would be a combination of Rebel-Forbidden Love and White Knight (saves the damsel in distress, or in this case, the family business).

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit WILD AT HEART under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Molly/Kenzie: It’s not your typical romance. The story shows how the lives of four people are changed forever in the course of six days. Each chapter follows each character through a certain part of each day. There’s also a blatant plug for author Anny Cook. I was relieved when my editor allowed it to stay in, since Anny writes for Ellora’s Cave!

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Molly/Kenzie: Dialogue is always easy for me, and honestly, this book practically wrote itself. Character names; the setting; action….it all flowed. The only thing I was remotely ‘stuck’ on was when I wrote the scene at Nicky’s Resort and Restaurant. I’ve only eaten there twice, and could not remember what was on the menu, or my father’s favorite beer. I called the restaurant and fortunately talked to the hostess, who was thrilled when I told her I was showcasing the town of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. I also had to call my mother, since she had been to Denver recently, so I could stay true to the downtown area. I remember eating at the Spaghetti Factory when I was twelve, and thrilled we ate in a ‘bed’. I wanted to incorporate that humor, since Brad and Emma are trying to stay out of bed at that point!

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Molly/Kenzie: Angie was a little uptight at first; I originally had Steve sent away for fifteen years, not months, and it took me a while to finally get into her head, to understand her initial fear. Steve is the one who jumped into my head and demanded I write his story. I loved writing his cocky and angry attitude! Brad and Emma were a complete surprise; I didn’t know half my story would take place in Colorado. I would love to write a sequel someday about Gavin and Nora, or even Bob the cowboy and his new lady friend Natalie! I think Emma came off a little juvenile at times; I patterned her spats with her brother Ethan after other siblings I’ve observed, admittedly in their late teens.

Kage:Molly, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Molly/Kenzie: As always, I love hearing from readers! If you like my books, please let me know. If you hate something in a story, let me know. If you have a suggestion, please let me know. And start a ‘whispering campaign’ to Freya’s Bower, asking for Teacher’s Pet? I’ve now been waiting an entire year for my edits, and would like to see that book out soon!

If you're still curious about Molly/Kenzie, here are other places to find her on the web:

Molly's Blog: http://www.mjdaniels.blogspot.com/

Kenzie's Blog: http://kenziemichaels.blogspot.com/

Romance Books R Us: Molly/Kenzie posts every 19th of the month

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/KenzieMichaels

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/891253

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mollyjdaniels

Start your week with Miranda Stowe

Shaw Griffin jerked awake as the alarm sounded through the dim compound. He snatched his combat boots off the tabletop and pushed out of the old office chair, ignoring the sore muscles that shrieked at him for falling asleep at his desk again.

He didn’t pause to roll his thick shoulders for a nice, relaxing stretch. There was no time.

One of his traps had been sprung.

After slapping off the alarm, he grabbed his shotgun from the peg where it hung on the wall and strode toward the door as he opened the action to make sure it was still loaded. When he spied a shell resting where it should be, he slung the gun’s strap over his shoulder. Grabbing a spotlight on his way, he pulled open the door. He didn’t turn on the light but found the ladder’s railing by feel.

Grasping the sides, he hoisted himself up by his arms and began to climb. Twenty feet later, he reached the ceiling, where he grunted as he cranked on a lever and pressed open the round hatch before shoving it out of his way. After doing a chin-up to pull himself from the earth, he pushed through the hole, hefted his jean-clad @#$! onto the ground beside the opening and then swung his feet up after him. By the time he had the hatch replaced, he was already panting with exhaustion. Hot, moist marshy air pressed against his lungs, sucking away even more of his oxygen. Using the tail of his black t-shirt, he wiped at the sweat beaded on his brow.

All that work and he still had to hike through the thickest part of the woods to check the trap.

If he’d caught another opossum or raccoon, he was going to be good and @#$!.

Unable to see @#$! in this darkness, he itched to turn on his light but resisted the urge. There was no reason to bring any more attention to himself than necessary. He already knew these @#$! would be able to smell and hear him coming a mile away.

Their fine-tuned animal senses put his pathetic human instincts to shame. Not that such a frightening fact was going to make him stop his pursuit. Clutching the darkened spotlight and patting the shotgun to reassure himself it was still there, he started his hike. Breathing evenly so his panting wouldn’t echo too far ahead of him, he paused every few steps to listen.

It took him ten minutes to reach the spot. Before approaching the clearing where he’d set the trap, he stopped and crouched into the underbrush. Waiting until the forest returned to its usual rustle from him disturbing its environment, he lifted his ear toward the direction of the trap.

Finally, he heard the faint sound of something struggling to break free. It wheezed in anxious exertion. It didn’t sound like a coon.

His lips spread. Maybe he’d caught one, after all.



****************************************
You just read an excerpt from:
CAUGHT IN HEAT

by

Miranda Stowe

Buy Link: Cobblestone Press, LLC
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Please welcome erotic romance author, MIRANDA STOWE! Miranda wants to take a five-word challenge and see if she can answer every question in five words or less. Let's see if she can accomplish it!! Hey, Miranda. Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Miranda: White, thirty-something, erotic-romance American novelist. (Dashes totally make two words count as one, right?!)

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Miranda: Dunno. Lost it. Bad Miranda.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Miranda: Out Now:
Best Friends Share Everything (from Whispers Publishing)
Caught in Heat (from Cobblestone Press)

Coming Soon:
Mile High Service (from Whispers)
Dreams of Wolf (from Cobblestone)
Take by a Killer (from Liquid Silver Books)

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Miranda: CAUGHT IN HEAT (Ha! That only took three words. Wait! Phrases in parentheses don't count, do they??)

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Fearful of how she’ll react during her first mating heat, Riley Bane flees toward a sanctuary, hoping to arrive before her fever hits. But she’s caught in an animal trap set by hunter Shaw Griffin, and her fever begins, consuming her with lust.

Determined to wipe out the entire shape shifting race after a wolf pack murdered his family, Shaw snares his first shifter, only to capture Riley begging him to fulfill every wicked desire pounding through her. As things turn hot and heavy, the scent of their mating attracts nearby shifters and soon brings Shaw’s monstrous past to their doorstep.

*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Miranda: It's an *EROTIC* romance. Hello! That would be an R rating if not NC-17!.

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Miranda: Opposites attract meets Survivors Hooking-up. (kind of but not really)

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit CAUGHT IN HEAT under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Miranda: Shapeshifter heroine, human hero.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Miranda: Action & Dialogue. There were lots of witty talk and characters doing lots of wild things!!

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Miranda: Most - What they learned about each other and themselves. Oh and the hero is totally hot.

Least - Like me, the heroine is afraid of spiders. WIMP. (okay, she's not really; honestly, she can kick butt like you wouldn't believe)
Learn - Don't be so quick to judge something you know nothing about.

Kage: Miranda, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Miranda: Okay, so I bombed my self-imposed five-word challenge. To pay you all back for listening to my wordy interview, I'll gift one commenter with a free ebook copy of CAUGHT IN HEAT. It's nice to meet everyone.

If you're still curious about Miranda, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website / Blog : http://mirandastowe.blogspot.com/

Good Reads : Miranda Stowe

Twitter : MirandaStoweBks

Facebook : Miranda Stowe

Start the week with HOLLY HUNT

I shook my head, kissing her on the cheek. "Relax. Cooking should be fun."

She laughed, her blush visibly darkening, and tried to relax. She didn't do very well.

I laughed, taking the knife from her hand and put it on the counter. She turned her head to frown at me, and I kissed her on the lips. I pulled back when I felt her relax again, laughing as one of my favorite songs echoed around the kitchen.

"Come on!"

"What—? But, dinner—"

I laughed, spinning her around. "Forget dinner. You can't cook when you're tense. It ruins the flavor."

Clarissa looked at me as though I'd lost my mind. It probably seemed that way. "What?"

I laughed, spinning her around and dancing to the song. "Dance, Clarissa!"

I heard her bastard cat object from the bathroom, but I ignored him.

Clarissa turned red again. "I can't!" she cried, her body following my silent motions and dancing anyway.

"Nonsense!" I laughed, pulling her into my arms and doing a fake waltz with her, too fast for the music. "Have some fun!"

"No, really, Lucifer, I can't." She tried to pull away from me, but I didn't let her go, holding onto her hand.

"Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong," I sang along to the up-beat recording of the famous song. "Under the shade of a Coolibah tree..."

Clarissa laughed at my horrible singing, starting to relax, though she was still blushing. "That's terrible!"

"I bet you can't do better!" I retorted, spinning her around the small space between the living room and kitchen.

"I can too!" she answered, laughing. The chorus started up and she sang along with it. "Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda my darling, who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me..."

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You just read an extract from:
The DEVIL'S WIFE
by
Holly Hunt

Buy Link: Champagne Books
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Today it's all about author, HOLLY HUNT. Hey, Holly. Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Holly:Well, I'm Holly Hunt, known around the erotica bookshelves as Jophrael L. Avario, and I'm... well, I'm a writing addict. I write in many genres, and refuse to stop writing, even for small things like sleep, school and work.

I have horror, urban fantasy, erotica, teen fiction, sci-fi, comedy, romance, pirate, historical and fantasy stories sitting in my files, as well as a few plays and poems, waiting for me to get back to them, either to finish, rewrite or edit, whatever the case may be. I'm very adaptive in that regard.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

HOLLY: Well, the first story I ever wrote was thrown out of everywhere but my mind when I was 10. The first book I wrote was 180,000 words long, so my high school librarian helped me cut it into three books, edited and critiqued it for me, then convinced me to give the first one to my Deputy Principal! Boy was I surprised at their enthusiasm for it.

It's now a series of four or five (depending on if I write the Asian arm of the epic or not) books that I'm rewriting heavily for resubmission (submission #15 ought to do it!). It's basically a rewrite of the Earth's history, if the Gods were as present as the ancient Legends say they were - and if they had a reason to be around, like preventing World War 3!

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

HOLLY:My backlist is incredibly short.

The Devil's Wife is an urban fantasy that follows the Devil as he realises that the torture of his own existence is nothing to some peoples' lives, was released in March at Champagne Books.

Blood Lovers, written under my alter-ego, the fabulous Mister Jophrael L Avario, is an erotic gay vampire novel that was released at the beginning of April. It has a sequel I'm finishing now, Dust to Dust, which will eventually land in the lap of the fabulous Ellen at Carnal Passions to suffer through—I mean, read.

Blood Moon, my 'coming soon' book, is hidden away on my editor's desk at Wild Child Publishing, where it will soon go under the knife. And considering that it shares enough elements with Blood Lovers and Dust to Dust for the three to be considered a trilogy, that's going to be a bit hard to navigate.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Holly: The Devils' Wife, with Champagne Books, is my most favourite story so far. It's basically a retelling of Lucifer's fall from Heaven, but from his side - And, as he says, "Yes, God and I fought, I fell, and became the Devil. But history is written by the winning side. What God has told you humans through the Bible was never how it went down. There was so much more to the story than that..." So far, everyone who's read it has either loved Lucifer or fallen in love with Aspen, the heroine's talking cat (and Lucifer's ex-brother-in-law, so you can tell whose side he's on!)

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THE DEVIL's WIFE
by
Holly Hunt

Lucifer Morningstar is a law-abiding, upstanding gentleman of New York City.

Lucifer Morningstar is the Devil.

The owner of powerful magic, Lucifer could have the world at his feet, if not for his apathy and loneliness. Deprived of the ability to understand the emotions of others and his power depleted, Lucifer is no longer able to help even his houseplants.

But there’s a problem with God’s plan to eliminate the Devil forever: Lucifer is fighting Her more than he ever did. He’s found a reason to survive, someone to stand by him through the rough and smooth of his life.

He’s found a new wife.

Clarissa Avario opens Lucifer’s eyes to the darkest side of the real world, full of paedophiles, murderers, rapists and thieves.

Can Clarissa convince Lucifer to do more than stand back and watch the city fall apart? The Devil will do anything to fix Clarissa’s world, including take on Heaven.

And he will kill anything, God, Demon or Angel, that gets in his way.

Buy Link: Champagne Books
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Holly: Definitely PG-13 for language and the darkest side of humanity – rape, torture, kidnapping, etc. But the romance between Lucifer (the Devil) and Clarissa (his wife) is so strong that everything else fades to the background – which is why it's being marketed as a Paranormal Romance, rather than an Urban Fantasy.

Then again, it's devil-sympathising would probably have it playing only at selected cinemas and banned in over 50 countries. Because that's a rational response to going against the norm.

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Holly: Forbidden love, complete with a knight-in-shining-armour introduction for Lucifer.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit these two books under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Holly: The Devil's Wife was originally written in only 2 weeks, including preliminary editing (ie, spell-check) which was all that was edited before being sent out to publishing houses. I ended up receiving two acceptances for it, 12 months apart. Thankfully, I settled on Champagne Books as the right home for it!

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Holly: The easiest part, for me, is always the action. With Lucifer's ch apters, there's always a lot of action. He's also the only character that just flowed when I was writing it. He's a lovely man, and I look forward to writing about him again sometime – after all, his son Jophrael and daughter Chelsea have to have their say sometime.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Holly: If you take each viewpoint character as being a main, there's 7 main characters in The Devil's Wife. But if you keep the main characters as being God and the Devil (even if God only gets a few viewpoint chapters), then it's a lot easier.

Lucifer is... charismatic. You'd think he's a charmer, being the devil, and he is, but he's also sweet, protective, a good cook, loyal and willing to go to the ends of the Earth – or take on heaven – for the woman he loves. What did I learn from him? That no man could ever be like that. I also learned from him how to be a better cook, and I've been improving lately.

What did I like least about the main characters? Well, for one, God is a bitchy OCD sufferer who needs a good slap (I think so, anyway). She's compulsive, antagonistic, arrogant and runs the world the way a CEO runs a Fortune-500 company – no heart, no care, just an eye on the money. What did I learn from her? That I'd rather spend the afterlife in Club Hell than Heaven Inc. Because if I go to Heaven, I'd have to knock her out, at least once.

Kage:Holly, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Holly: It was wonderful being asked to come and guest here, Linda, and thank you so much for having me.

If you're still curious about Holly, here are other places to find her on the web:


Website / Blog: http://rhythempoets.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Devils-Wife/111905542194012


Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/hollyleighhunt

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4717881.Holly_Hunt or http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4770283.Jophrael_L_Avario

Amazon: The Devil's Wife

Start your week with...Jake Lindsay-Sullivan

One thick palm framed the side of her face. His eyes searched hers, emotion flickering behind their sky blue depths. Sorrow, regret, and affection stared back at her as his thumb caressed her cheek. “Be safe, Gabrielle,” he whispered.

She closed her eyes against a storm of sorrow. Instinct filtered through her hope, and in the half-second of time that passed before his other hand came up to join the first, she knew. This wasn’t a temporary goodbye. Jake intended on driving away forever. A sob bubbled in the back of her throat, threatening to strangle her.

Before it tore free, Jake’s mouth settled against hers. He nudged her lips apart, inviting himself inside. Softly, slowly, he explored. Roused her awareness until the reality of his departure gave way to striking tenderness. She responded to the familiar feeling he awakened, her body tightening with an anxious surge of energy.

He held her in place, seemingly content to kiss her until time stood still. In the quiet, she caught the hard fall of his breath. Beneath her fingertips, his heart hammered fierce. His mouth took on a more demanding quality as he slid one hand into her hair and curled his fingers against her scalp.

A sound of pleasure vibrated in his throat, and Jake drew the kiss to a lingering close. He touched his forehead to hers, then sucked in a deep breath. “Win for me, sugar.”

Before she could gather her senses and respond, the passenger’s door slammed shut. Panic flooded her. He couldn’t walk away. That kiss alone said things she’d longed to hear. He cared for her. She loved him. He couldn’t just turn his back on all that.

Jamming her hand against the handle, she shoved open the door and jumped out. “Jake!”

****************************************
You just read an excerpt from:
Waiting for Yes
by
Claire Ashgrove

Buy Link: The Wild Rose Press (coming 4/20/2011)
*********************************************


Linda Kage: Today, we're going to mix things up a little. Since author Claire Ashgrove has already visited with us before, we decided to interview a charater in her book instead this time around. Please welcome Jake Lindsay-Sullivan, hero in Claire’s newest story, WAITING FOR YES. Well, hello there, Jake. The burning question is...who IS Jake Lindsay-Sullivan? Describe yourself in 100 words or less please.

Jake:I’m just a pretty average guy. I drive a truck for a living—well I used to. I guess you could say I’m redefining myself now. Gabby threw me for a whirlwind and the dust is still settling. Ah, let’s see. I’m six foot tall, give or take, I’ve got black hair, blue eyes, I work out now and then, and I go pretty nuts for brownies. I used to drive over the road, now… well now, let’s just say at this point in my life, I’ve got it made, and it only seems to be getting better… but it took a long time to get here. Too long.

Kage: Give us a peek into your head. What is one happy memory you have?

Jake:One happy memory, huh? I suppose this shouldn’t relate to the events that happened with Gabrielle. Hm. Well. That makes it tough. Most of my memories before her are pretty dark.

Let’s see… I remember when I was little – the first time I can remember my Mom putting me on a horse she had in training. A little pony named Sam.

He couldn’t have been much bigger than a St. Bernard. It was about a month after my fourth birthday, which we’d spent at a horse show. She put me up on his back, led me around the barn for what must have been a good hour, and then handed me a brush. “Jake,” she said, “If you’re going to have a horse, you have to take care of him.” With this beautiful smile she rumpled my hair. I didn’t get it until she added, “Happy birthday, buddy.”

I kept that pony until she died. I outgrew him, moved on to bigger more exciting horses, but I had Sam. Always had Sam and Mom.

Kage:Okay, now let’s skip to the stuff I want to hear about…this is a romance writer’s blog, after all! Before going into this story, what was your romance life like

Jake: Ah, man… You’re going to get me in trouble here.

Women came and went. There was almost Amy… but that’s about as close as it came to anything worthwhile. I was too busy, too hungry for the win in the competition ring for the distraction of anything substantial. Then when I took up driving – yeah that was more or less strangers in the night.

More often I spent the nights alone. Didn’t really want to get tangled up in any roots. And that’s pretty much my mindset when I met Gabby too.

Shh. Let’s keep that between us. I’ve already spent time on the roof in a snowstorm and I’d rather not do it again.

Kage: And now that your book has begun, who’s the woman starring in your romance? And what’s the trouble with her?

Jake: Gabrielle Warrenton. The most beautiful redhead I’ve ever laid eyes on… and the most stubborn. She’s got this dream of building an Egyptian Arabian Breeding farm out here in the middle of nowhere Kansas . Only the stallion she bought to found this dream… well… he’s got some serious issues. And somehow she’s got it in her head I’m the one to help her.

Kage: What do you like most about her? And what do you like least?

Jake: What do I like the most about Gabby… Yes, well,
there are some things a man shouldn’t tell. But that night in her kitchen?

(Whistles).

Anyway, her determination is amazing. She took the hard road and stuck to it. I can’t help but admire her for that. That same determination frustrates the hell out of me. She doesn’t know the meaning of quit. Hell, she should have quit on me. But she just simply won’t, even when she should. That she can get me to agree to her crazy schemes is annoying as all get out too.

But as you’ll see… she’s got a certain charm. Read our story. We went through some pretty amazing stuff. It’s a wonder things didn’t end up drastically differently – Lord knows they could have turned to hell in a hand-basket easily. And this woman who took the time to document our lives, this Claire Ashgrove… I hear she’s more than willing to answer questions and would love to know what you all think. She even had the perfect replica of Mamoon in her back yard and stuck him on the cover. Can’t think of anything much more fitting. Though how she got that photo of Gabby and I in front of the fire….

Thanks for stopping by and gracing us with some eye candy--I mean, with your presence. Was there anything else you'd like to add before

getting along on your way?

Jake: Yeah well. Read our story! I’ll be here all day

if you have questions for me.

*********************************************

If you're curious about Jake's author, here are other places to find Claire Ashgrove on the web:

Website: http://www.claireashgrove.com/

Blog: http://claireashgrove.blogspot.com/

Facebook: Claire Ashgrove

Twitter: ClaireAshgrove

Start your week with DREA BECRAFT

Linda Kage: Today we're here with author, Drea Becraft. Hi Drea!! Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Drea Becraft: I write mostly contemporaries and paranormal.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Drea Becraft: It coming out on the 20th of this month lol. It needed a bit of work but I am happy to have it picked up.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Drea Becraft: Its rather short at the moment actually
Live For The Todays - Is now available
The Thrice Princess - Coming 4-20-11
True Fireworks Never Fade - Coming 6-22-11

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Drea Becraft: The Thrice Princess comes out 4-20-11

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THE THRICE PRINCESS
by
Drea Becraft

While her fate was set during the previous great wars of immortals,
Anastasia Gruff is nothing but mortal until the night she stumbles upon a
scene that turns her world upside down. Now, she struggles to adjust to
a world where nothing is what it seems, and feels more at home than
ever before.

Devlin Miconis, heir to the vampire throne, is facing certain death. When
a mortal woman saves his life, and gives him back his soul, he must
figure out how to repay her. Now that she has given him something to
live for, can he protect her from those who mean her harm?

Buy Link: Secret Cravings Publishing (Coming 4/20/11)
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Drea Becraft: Rated R.

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Drea Becraft: Vampire finds mate.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit THE THRICE PRINCESS under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Drea Becraft: I think the mating marks make it unique in its own way. I don't know anything other then that.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Drea Becraft: I am a panster i don't plot other then I know just about the basic of where I want the story to go. I am going to have to go with the dialog.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Drea Becraft: I love their sense of loyalty I really don't know what I like the least though.

Kage:Drea, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Drea Becraft: Thank you for having me on you blog today!

If you're still curious about Drea Becraft, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website: http://www.dreabecraft.webs.com

Blog: http://www.dreabecraft.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/andreabecraft

Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/andreabecraft

Wickedly Sexy: Yahoo Loop
Wickedly Sexy: Facebook

Start the week with PAMELA HEARON

**Warning...hot topic following.**

“What you need, Chickie-boom, is a good old-fashioned, head-banging, sheet-fisting, toe-curling orgasm.” Gram snatched up the journal with the worn, floral cover and waved it toward the nightstand. “And by old-fashioned, I mean one that involves a man, not one that requires a battery-pack and a warranty.”

Jade closed her laptop on the Regency she was editing. “What I need is a job with a great publisher, so I can quit sponging off my precious-but-nosey grandmother.” With her toe, she nudged her closet door closed before Gram could see the empty spaces that once housed her vast collection of Pradas and Guccis. She slid the check from the consignment shop into her desk drawer and raised a questioning eyebrow toward Gram. “How did you know where I keep my, um, toys?”

Gram shrugged. “Lucky guess. And it’s the same place I keep mine.”

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You just read an excerpt from:
HIS HOTNESS
by
Pamela Hearon

Buy Link: The Wild Rose Press
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Today, we're here with published romance author, Pamela Hearon. Hi, Pamela! Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Pamela: I’ve been writing for several years, cutting my teeth on poetry and short stories before moving into novels. I write several different sub-genres—all with elements of romance. I’m published in romantic fantasy and romantic comedy, but my work-in-progress is straight romance. I belong to the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and several of its chapters.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Pamela: My first book is The Timestone Key, a romantic fantasy. It was released by Lyrical Press in October 2009 in ebook format and is still available at their website and retail websites like Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com for both Kindle and Nook.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Pamela: I don’t have a backlist yet as both of my books are currently available. I’m working on a single-title contemporary series , which is with my agent. Keep your fingers crossed that she’ll find the right home for it soon!

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Pamela: His Hotness is a romantic comedy. Jade Bartholomew has worked for ten years to develop a one-hundred point scale that will help her find the ideal man for her—His Hotness. But scales have been known to lie … and so have men!
His Hotness was released a year ago this month by The Wild Rose Press in both ebook and print. It’s available at their website as well as the on-line distributors such as Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com.

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HIS HOTNESS
by
Pamela Hearon

Jade Bartholomew spent ten years perfecting her 100-point scale that will determine the ideal man for her — His Hotness. Although reality has her re-evaluating some of her dreams, she refuses to give up on two: financial independence and the existence of His Hotness.
Kai Malone lives the American dream. From a middle-class upbringing, he has reached the pinnacle of success as the CEO of a software company which is about to sell for millions. But success has a downside that brings out Kai’s greatest faults: he’s too honest, gives too much of himself, and is too indulgent with the women in his life. Things have got to change; Techtron’s sale may depend on it.

Jade and Kai meet when she shanks a golf ball into his most vulnerable spot. Not the ideal way to start a relationship — but no one ever said attaining the title His Hotness would be easy.
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Pamela: His Hotness would be rated R if it were a movie. It’s a modern story about a contemporary relationship..

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Pamela: Well, I’ve mentioned that it’s a romantic comedy. It might also be classified as a comedy of errors. Jade has to learn (the hard way) that love can’t be experienced in an objective model. In its best form, love breaks down our defenses and makes us look at it (and ourselves) in new ways.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit HIS HOTNESS under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Pamela: The secondary characters in His Hotness give the book its unique flair. Romances guarantee a HEA, so the reader knows that the hero and heroine are going to get together eventually. But two conniving exes and an over-sexed grandmother send things in this book unexpected directions. I love when an author surprises me, and I hope my readers do, too!

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Pamela: The characters were the easiest part to write because they all came alive for me as soon as I started putting them on paper. Their dialogue flowed; I could hear their conversations in my head and each character had a unique voice. I almost felt like I was eavesdropping at times.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Pamela: Jade Bartholomew comes from a well-to-do family, so it was very hard to make her sympathetic. What I adore about Jade is that she doesn’t want to rely on her family’s money. She wants to make her own way in this world and be an independent woman. And then she falls for a wealthy guy who is used to taking care of the people he loves right at the time in her life when she doesn’t want to be taken care of. In order to make the money-can’t-buy-happiness theme ring true, I had to come up with believable, deep conflicts and yet keep the light, humorous touch I wanted the book to have. That was a challenge and it stretched me as a writer and made me grow in my skill.

Kage: Pamela, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Pamela: I’d like to thank you for sharing your space with me. I hope the readers will check out both of my books and continue to follow my writing.

If you're still curious about Pamela, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website: http://www.pamelahearon.com/

The Timestone Key Buy Link: Lyrical Press

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pamelahearon


Goodreads: Pamela Hearon

Start the week with...Bernadine Darcy

I stopped breathing as he knelt down before me and cleaned the dirt from my face. It stung like crazy, but I gritted my teeth and bore the pain. He held my chin with one hand as he worked. I could feel his eyes on my face. I stared at the wall as tears leaked from my eyes.


“Hey,” he gently turned my face to his, “I’m sorry I’m hurting you.”


“Men have a tendency to do that,” I replied with a nervous laugh. He was too close again, his breath rushed over my skin like a breeze.


“I feel your pain. Women are the bane of my existence.” He wiped away my tears with a thumb.


“And elusive men are the bane of mine.” I tried to smile back, but I could only think about kissing him.


“Adam might eventually be available. You could hang out for ten years and wait for him.” He dragged his eyes away from mine and rinsed the hand towel. He turned my face away and cleaned my wound one more time, then dabbed Neosporin over it.


“You think I’m talking about Adam? I told you it was a one time thing and it’s over.” I laughed bitterly. How stupid was he?


“That’s what they all say.” He sat back on his heels, his face a tight mask.


“Are you jealous?” I finally completed the sentence that had been lost in my humiliating display of lack of coordination.


He laughed as if my words were outrageous. “Why would I be jealous? Okay, let’s see the other one.” He reached for the hem of my shirt. I couldn’t move a muscle as he slowly lifted my shirt. I wondered if he could hear my heart pounding in my chest, and I thanked all that was good and holy for steering me toward my pink lace bra that morning. My nipples hardened as his knuckles brushed over the flesh on my stomach. His face remained impassive as he tried to peer under my shirt without seeing any of my goods.

********************BLURB********************
You just read an excerpt from:
My Love Life & Other Disasters
by
Bernadine Darcy

Buy Link: Champagne Books
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Today we're here with published author, BERNADINE DARCY. Hi, Bernadine! Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Bernadine Darcy:I have a great life. I am the mother of a wonderful girl who is growing up way too fast. I have been writing since I was a little girl. I have always wanted to be a published novelist, but didn't really try to achieve this goal until recently. I have been told by several agents that I don't fit into a certain genre. I love to write in the contemporary romantic / comedy genre with some chick lit thrown in. As a reader, I get the most pleasure from books that make me laugh and I enjoy feeling like I dropped in on someone's life for a short while. I try to write the same way.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Bernadine Darcy: The first book I ever wrote is in a closet among my many journals. I cringe every time I take it out. It's really, really bad.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Bernadine Darcy: My backlist is a small group of mediocre novels that should never see the light of day. I have developed and strengthened my skills as a writer with those mediocre novels. My newest work is tentatively titled, Temporary Insanity. It is original and very funny. Renee is a single mother working for an environmental contractor, which is a male dominated field of employment. She's dealing with things like, the death of a close friend, an attraction to a co-worker, sewage and diesel fuel spills, and a sister who's losing her mind.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Bernadine Darcy: My Love Life and Other Disasters. It was released in July in electronic format and is soon to be released in paperback. This novel is about Shawn, a thirty-one year old woman who is struggling to break free from three over-protective brothers while falling in love with the best friend of one of her brothers.

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My Love Life & Other Disasters
by
Bernadine Darcy

Payback is the only thing on Shawn’s mind when she takes a baseball bat to her ex-fiancé’s brand new Mustang. He deserves it after leaving her standing at the altar before pulling a two-year disappearing act. To complicate matters, her high school sweetheart, Adam, is the arresting officer; and Bryan, her adolescent crush, turns up in time to spring her from jail.


Life has never been easy for Shawn. Three domineering older brothers block her at every turn, and Bryan still treats her like his own pesky little sister. Armed with her shock jock personality and dubious advice from her best friend Suzie, Shawn sets her sights on Bryan’s elusive heart.
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Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Bernadine Darcy: My Love Life and Other Disasters would definitely be rated R, maybe even NC 17. I love the bawdy and crude things in life.

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Bernadine Darcy:

If I had to fit this into a cliche, I think it would be more of a Cinderella story where the brothers are the evil stepsisters.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit My Love Life & Other Disasters under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Bernadine: The dialogue is something that sets the story apart. I also have a very strong and likable heroine that my readers seem to identify with.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Bernadine Darcy: The dialogue is always the easiest thing to write for me. It's difficult for me to go back and flesh out a scene, giving my characters stage directions and actions. I'll pace back and forth across my house, trying to get one scene written.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Bernadine Darcy: I like Shawn a great deal. She's down to earth, funny, and strong. The thing I like least about her is how long it took for her to take control over her life. But I guess we all get to that point in our own time.

Kage:Bernadine, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Bernadine Darcy: Writing is something I really love to do and its great to hear back from happy readers. It has been a long journey with many missteps along the way, but I am very proud of how far I've come.

If you're still curious about Bernadine Darcy, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website: http://www.bernadinedarcy.com/

Facebook: Bernadine Darcy

Amazon: Bernadine Darcy

Start the week with...KAYLIN McFARREN

Bile rose in Kate’s throat. Her eyelids became as heavy as velvet curtains preparing to drop at the end of a show. Holding the edge of her dresser to steady her balance, she focused on the necklace she’d laid out before showering. She picked up the thin gold chain and clasped the locket in her hand, tighter and tighter, as if meshing the keepsake into her skin could bring her mother back to help her through this.

“Kate?”

She heard Drew calling, his voice distant, searching for her in a deep mineshaft. Her mouth opened to answer, but no sound followed. Perhaps she didn’t want to be found.

She tried again to speak, but the sensation of hot tears streaking her face intruded on her effort. The protective wall surrounding her soul had split in two. A lifetime of denied emotion had broken through the dam, and there was no holding back the flood.

“Daddy, please, not yet,” she whispered then crumpled to the floor, wilting like a rose in her mother’s forsaken garden.
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You just read an excerpt from:
FLAHERTY'S CROSSING
by
Kaylin McFarren

Buy Link: Champagne Books
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Linda Kage: Today, we're visiting with publishing author, Kaylin McFarren. Hey, Kaylin! Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Kaylin: Thanks for asking, Linda. I've had many career opportunities and adventures - modeling, interior design, real estate sales, business and personal writing projects - even the role of director for a fine art gallery, where I assisted many visual artists in furthering their careers and gaining recognition. But after spending many years in public relations and fulfilling the needs of my growing children, I decided it was time to focus my creative energy toward writing inspirational and romantic suspense novels, and in the process assumed the name of Kaylin McFarren.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Kaylin: Well fortunately, Flaherty's Crossing was published...but not without an upward battle. It crossed a few genres – making it a difficult book to place with a large house. At first I took the rejections as reflections on my writing skills, then I realized although they didn’t accept it, I was receiving a great deal of praise from publishers via personal notes and emails.

Rather than hold back to see what might happen way down the road or completely reinvent the novel based on suggestions I didn’t feel were true to the core of my story, my daughter Kristina McMorris encouraged me to take hold of the reins. I pursued smaller houses, where they are more open to books that are out-of-the-box. Fortunately, Flaherty’s Crossing found a wonderful home at Champagne Books.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Kaylin: My most recent release is titled Flaherty's Crossing - a highly-acclaimed, roller-coaster kind of story with fun twists and turns and the most-unexpected ending.

I'm also completing an action-filled trilogy with the first book titled Severed Threads, and should anyone be interested, here's the jest of this story: Believing herself responsible for her father's fatal diving accident, Rachel Lyons has withdrawn from the world and assumed a safe position at a foundation office. When called upon by a museum director to assist her former love interest with the recovery of a priceless artifact from a sunken galleon, she has no intention of cooperating - until her brother is kidnapped by a drug-dealing gangster. In order to save him and gain control over her own life, Rachel must not only overcome her greatest fears, but also relive the circumstances that lead to her father's death.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Kaylin: Flaherty's Crossing, which was published by Champagne Books in February 2010, is about a woman's journey to find faith and forgiveness. In short, an estranged father's dying confession opens a vault of dark family secrets, shocking revelations that threaten all his daughter holds dear.

This book has earned more than a dozen literary awards and was a 2008 finalist in the prestigious RWA® Golden Heart contest. In addition, all proceeds earned from the sale of this book go directly to cancer research at Providence Medical Center. So anyone can make a difference.

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FLAHERTY'S CROSSING
by
Kaylin McFarren

Successful yet emotionally stifled artist Kate Flaherty stands at the deathbed of her estranged father, conflicted by his morphine-induced confession of his part in her mother’s death. While racing home, Kate’s car mishap leads her to a soul-searching discussion with a lone diner employee, prompting Kate to confront the true reasons her marriage hangs in the balance. When her night takes an expected turn, however, she flees for her life, a life desperate for faith that can only be found through her ability to forgive.
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Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Kaylin: I would venture to say PG-13, although Hollywood could easily turn it into an R. :D And by the way, a great screenplay for Flaherty's Crossing has already been completed by an award-winning screenwriter in L.A. Several producers have expressed interest, so fingers crossed....

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Kaylin: Hmm...Flaherty's Crossing is a bit unusual, so I guess I'd have to take a stab in the dark and say secret romance meets whodunit.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit FLAHERTY'S CROSSING under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Kaylin: In actuality, Flaherty's Crossing was based on my personal account. Eighteen years ago, following my father’s death, I found myself obsessed with sitting in front of a typewriter, coming to terms with unresolved issues by banging on keys. This silent venting became a sort of “therapy through writing” exercise. However, this exercise slowly evolved, taking on a life of its own. I began creating a related fictional story about a woman’s personal journey, and in the process of exploring my main character’s growth, I found myself learning and growing as well.

Eventually, I came to believe I had a meaningful story to tell, one through which I could possibly touch other people who shared the same complicated family relationships – and maybe even make a difference in their lives. Yet I still struggled with bringing this tale to a close. It wasn’t until my eldest daughter provided her amazing writing insight that I finally came to realize why I struggled with the ending, for both the book and my father’s passing: the true resolution didn’t rest in holding onto the past; it came from opening my mind to future possibilities and honoring him – not only by setting this story free, but by becoming the professional storyteller that had been hiding in my genes.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Kaylin: I love voices, so I would have to say dialog. I love growing characters and bringing them to life and have discovered that personal exchanges and inner conversations often reveal more than the action taking place in the story.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Kaylin: Kate Flaherty is a complex character - an attractive 30ish artist, whose talent has brought her success and national acclaim. Her inner strength, determination and resilience are her greatest assets. In other words, her ability to hang on when everything in her life is falling apart. But Kate is also emotionally stunted and her damaged past is affecting her relationships and any future she hopes to have with her husband. Her personal journey in this book taught me to recognize that there are two sides to every story. That we can't move on in our lives unless we let go of the baggage we carry and finally, the importance of resolving issues before it’s too late.

Kage: Kaylin, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Kaylin: It is my hope that anyone who has experienced relationship problems or has lost a loved one will consider picking up a copy of Flaherty's Crossing. I guarantee that this suspenseful story will touch your heart, and as USA Today best-selling author Joy Nash has written... ultimately soul-satisfying.

If you're still curious about Kaylin, here are other places to find heron the web:

Website: http://www.kaylinmcfarren.com/entry.php

Blog: http://kaylinmcfarren.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kaylin.mcfarren

Twitter: http://twitter.com/4kaylin

Goodreads: Kaylin McFarren

Amazon: Kaylin McFarren's Amazon Author Page