My inspiration for Sunburn!

Hi friends!

As my new paranormal romance Sunburn has launched, I thought it might be fun to share my inspiration for this sexy mythological romp. Of course, my main inspiration is my love of Greek mythology and my dire need to make Apollo one of my heroes.

However there is another inspiration.

Mexico. I have been traveling to Mexico with my family for about 7 years now. Specifically, we visit the Mayan Riviera area, and have fallen in love with the beaches and pools and food and people. Okay, the beverages at the resort are awesome too!

The last time I visited Mexico, I decided it would be the perfect location in which to set Sunburn. And I used a few spots in the book that I had visited in real life. I'd like to share them with you here.

One of the first times Apollo sees his heroine Patience is at poolside. He glimpses her walking into the area, clad only in a bright orange bikini, and his heart stars thumping. It takes place by a pool much like this one.

 

There is also a tense moment for Apollo and Patience at the hotel's alligator pen. It is a pivotal moment for Apollo:  one in which he realizes he has to help Patience and cannot help but keep her safe from harm. Soon after that, it becomes his main goal.

 

 

 

Another important scene occurs at the beautiful Tulum beach. This has been lauded as one of the world's most magnificent beaches, and is a personal fave of mine. Apollo and Patience share several tender moments there, as well as some decidedly sexy ones, and I was thrilled to find an excuse to include it in my book.

 

 

 

So there you have it. Sunburn is my love letter to Mexico and I hope you've gotten a glimpse of my passion for it in these pictures, ones I took myself. If you'd like to explore this exotic locale even further, feel free to pick up a copy of Sunburn at http://www.lsbooks.com/sunburn-p743.php

 

I dare you not to fall in love with it yourself.

TRS 10th Anniversary Celebration!

I'm part of the TRS 10th Anniversary Celebration! Join me and a host of wonderful authors at the party page. We're doing excerpts and you may even find some great giveaways!

I'll be talking about Sunburn and The Selkie and all my books, so I hope you'll come for the excerpts and stay for the giveaways!

Just click on the pic here or go to the party site at http://trsparties.com/



Have fun, and congrats to the wonderful folks at TRS!

Rosanna

Vote for The Selkie at TRS!

I am so pleased to announce my paranormal romance The Selkie is up for favorite 5 star romance review of the week at The Romance Studio! What a thrill and an honor.



If you enjoyed Calan and Maggie's story, I would appreciate a vote from you! You just have to visit this link: http://www.theromancestudio.com/5heart_form.php

Thank you very much!

Rosanna

Sunburn- release day!

Squee! Sunburn is available today!

Hope you'll check it out at http://www.lsbooks.com/sunburn-p743.php

 

Excerpt:

Her eyes grew even wider. He could just tell from the startled roundness of her eyes she was remembering the scene at the buffet. Clearly, he’d neglected to place the forgetfulness spell on her too. She stared at her healed wrist. “Oh my God…” And then she stared at him. “How…?”

By Father Zeus, this was one of those moments he really wished he could lie. Just one, teeny white lie was all he asked.

He clenched his jaw and grasped at the best possible explanation. “Um. I’m really good at first aid. Like, the best.”He was the god of healing, after all. He’d better be good at fucking first aid!

She sat up and touched her wrist. “First aid wouldn’t have helped. It wasn’t just a little cut, Apollo. My vein was severed. I could have died.”

He bit his lip. “You were very groggy. You might have trouble remembering everything.” No lie there. “I took care of it. You’re fine.”

Patience gaped, obviously unconvinced. And then her gaze traveled down his neck and chest, stopping in the vicinity of his crotch.

As if on cue, his cock throbbed. Visibly.

She looked away quickly. Blinking furiously, she scrambled to get off the bed. “I should go.” However, she was hit by an obvious head rush that made her look even paler. “Oh dear.”

She swayed, and he gathered her against his chest, running his hand over her hair to soothe her. “Don’t move. You’re light-headed. You’re safe here. Just relax for a minute.”

She leaned against him but was stiff in his arms, apparently doing her best impression of a two-by-four.

He moved his hand under the veil of her hair, gods help him, and massaged the back of her neck until she became more pliable in his hands. He chuckled. “You have trouble relaxing, don’t you?”

She closed her eyes as he hit a pressure point in her neck, and she sighed. “I’ve never been much of a relaxer.”

“No kidding?” he teased.

Patience opened her eyes and looked at him. Her brows were still knit together in a frown, but the corners of her pink lips turned up. “Yeah. I failed R&R in school. I was too busy studying for my anal retention classes.”

He burst into laughter. Then she giggled.

And for some reason, to hear their two laughs echoing off the same walls together made him feel a bliss that was immeasurable.

http://www.lsbooks.com/sunburn-p743.php

Danica Winters...The Nymph's Labyrinth!

Hello everyone!

Well, anyone who knows me understands I love mythology and all things paranormal. It is always a treat to meet another author who feels the same way. I am delighted to bring you Danica Winters today. She's here to tell us about her new book The Nymph's Labyrinth, something that is going on my TBR list right now! Please welcome Danica to my room.

Happy New Year! 

This week is the week for resolutions and new beginnings.  I have a series of resolutions (as I always do) I will write more, weigh less (writing is not easy on the waist line), and I will spend more quality time with the family.  I am like every other woman—filled with goals, aspirations and dreams to be the most perfect version of myself (and men wonder why we are so hard on ourselves). 

I know I will fail at some of my goals, I tend to allocate for a little regression.  I may not lose the five (alright, fifteen) pounds I would like to lose, but I have accomplished one of my dreams.  It has taken years and there has been hidden pits filled with self-doubt and self-pity.  There have been days filled with so much greatness it’s hard to believe it is my life.  In the last few years I have become a published, and somewhat well-known, author. 

And it all started with a simple goal—one little resolution changed my entire life.  It was simple, write a little bit every day and see if I could write a book.  I wasn’t an English major, a librarian, or a teacher (though I envy all of those educational backgrounds); instead I have my degree in Anthropology (with an emphasis in Archeology).  I was just a normal woman, looking for a change, and filled with a dream. 

This has in no way been an easy undertaking (like I said it has taken years—and will take many years to come).  There have been many more rejection letters than fan letters and acceptance letters combined. 

This week marks a momentous occasion in the life of an author—this week (December 31^st) my sixth book was published entitled, The Nymph’s Labyrinth through Crimson Romance.  I couldn’t be happier.  This book is the first in The Nymph Series, a three+ book collection.  I am in the editing stages of the second book entitled, Montana Mustangs, which will be available later this year. 

The Nymph’s Labyrinth is the book that was in my heart.  The book I had to write because of my Archeology-loving background.  To me there are few things more fun than sitting in the bottom of a hole, dirty, sweat-covered, and searching for things that haven’t been seen or touched for thousands of years. 

Blurb: A world shrouded in mystery and intrigue, the Sisterhood of Epione must not be exposed.

Shape-shifting nymph Ariadne Papadakis is tasked with keeping the truth of the group’s existence and their ancient mysteries far out of reach of the American archeologist, Beau Morris and his troublemaking son, Kaden. When forgotten and forbidden passions are awakened, Ariadne is forced make a choice - fall in line and continue to be overrun and pushed down by the sisterhood, or follow her heart and put Beau and Kaden’s lives in danger.

Can she have the man she loves or will the pressure and secrets of her past keep her from her heart’s desire?

Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | and soon to Book Stores near you (will be available in paperback Spring 2013)

It is my hope for you that if you have a New Year’s resolution that you will see it to fruition (at least the most important of them).  That simple decision to try something new can change your life in ways you never thought possible.  The path won’t be easy, but keep in mind the possibilities that can be awakened when you make a little change in your life—your dreams can come true.

Happy New Year!

Danica Winters

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Blog

 

Other Books by Danica Winters:

Love Under the Christmas Tree

A Christmas Miracle

The Vampire’s Hope

Curse of the Wolf

An Angel’s Justice

 

Coming Soon from Danica Winters (2013):

Montana Mustangs (Crimson Romance)

Winter Swans (Crimson Romance)

 

About Danica Winters: Danica Winters is a best-selling author who is known for writing award-winning books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and often a touch of magic. When she’s not working, she can be found in the wilds of Montana testing her patience while she tries to understand the allure of various crafts (quilting, pottery and painting are not her thing).  She always believes the cup is neither half-full nor half-empty, but it better be filled with wine.

 

New Year's Blog Hop!

Happy New Year!
Thanks once again to Carrie Ann Ryan for her help and support all year! You are wonderful. :)

There are so many exciting authors and prizes involved in this hop. And all you need do is sit back, grab a coffee and read. It's that easy. You'll learn about all kinds of new goodies for your TBR list.

Just remember: in order to win prizes, whether individual blog prizes or the grand prizes, YOU MUST COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.  We don't want to miss you! For the grand prize, you must visit and comment on each blog. Please note: the swag pack is not an international prize.

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $300 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

The new year is a symbol of new beginnings, a fresh start. Have you ever wanted to just start over? I think we've all had that moment in our lives. Sometimes a fresh start is thrust upon us, as in the case of my heroine Josie from Sweet Hell. When a curious, sinister character arrives in her bakery, spinning a terrible tale, she's forced to embark on a dangerous journey. Luckily, she happens to have hero Dionysus Iros at her side. Oh, and did I mention he's a Greek god?

Hubba hubba.

Tell me about a time when you needed a "do-over" and you might win Sweet Hell! Remember that email address. :)

In the mean time, cozy up and check out a blurb and sexy excerpt from Sweet Hell. Best wishes for a safe and happy new year, and thank you all for reading!

Rosanna Leo

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

Sweet Hell Blurb:

Dionysus, Greek god of wine and theater, is the world’s original playboy. But lately, he has been restless, moody, and he knows something is wrong. His carefree and bacchanalian lifestyle is starting to feel like one long string of meaningless sexual escapades. Even worse, he is suddenly aroused by the idea of marriage. To top it all off, Josie Marino, the mouthy, disheveled, and eternally annoying woman who serves him coffee at the local bakery, sets him on fire.

 

Josie, a Toronto baker of Italian heritage, is not looking for love or lust. Especially not with Dionysus Iros, the most aggravating, demanding customer she'd ever had to serve. With his rippling muscles and sexy, knowing eyes, he's obviously trouble with a capital T. Unfortunately, he's also the star of her every X-rated dream. She’s known players like Dionysus before, and one of them almost got the better of her. Josie determines she will not fall for his considerable physical charms, come hell or high water.

 

But Dionysus turns strangely protective when a sinister character arrives at Josie’s bakery, and they can no longer deny their unwanted feelings for one another. They are forced to embark on a bizarre, sexually-charged journey to hell itself, which threatens to either change them for the better, or destroy them.

Sweet Hell Excerpt:

Coffee. He smelled strong coffee.

Determining the source of the gorgeous fragrance, he turned toward a little bakery, taking note of the name on the battered awning. Marino Brothers Bakery. Tempted, he walked inside and took a good look at the place. It was cute, kitschy, with salamis and breads ready for slicing, and row upon row of sinful-looking pastries behind the glass counter. There was a hot table with slabs of tender veal warming in homemade sauce. And, with a grin, he noticed a huge espresso machine at the other end of the counter.

Practically paradise. Eryx and Maia could wait a few minutes.

He paused before one counter, where a couple of beefy men were arguing over who was supposed to serve the next customer. But when they didn’t bother looking up, Dionysus just sat at the counter before the coffee machine.

Instantly, a female employee appeared before him. “Can I help you?”

He looked up at her. His cock soared, doing a rowdy dance of happiness.

What the…?

He looked at her again. He didn’t know why he’d have such an intense reaction to her. By the gods, she looked … dirty. Well, not truly dirty, just very floury, as if she’d been baking all day. But underneath the layer of flour smudges was indeed a woman. One with lush curves and shiny, tawny hair and hazel eyes that were so keen they seemed to recognize him…

Her eyebrows rose when he didn’t answer. “Would you like a sandwich? A coffee, maybe? Anything?”

Say something, you idiot!

And yet he couldn’t make his lips work.

The tip of her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip while she waited for his response. Once again, his penis thumped against the inside of his pants, more erect than the soldiers outside Buckingham Palace.

Talk to her, it seemed to say.

She looked around. Other customers were filing in, and the two men behind the counter were still arguing, ignoring the lineup. A small noise of exasperation escaped from between her wet lips. “Maybe I should just give you a minute.”

The woman turned away.

“No,” he called and then cursed himself for sounding so eager. “I, uh, coffee would be outstanding.”

He could tell she was trying hard not to look at him as if he were simple. “Coffee it is,” she said. It seemed as if she grinned—not because she wanted to grin at him, but because customer service dictated she should. And then she escaped to prepare said coffee.

Dionysus sat in shock. What the hell was wrong with him? There had never been one moment in his life when he hadn’t been smooth and disarming. Yet with one glance, this coffee girl had completely disarmed him!

Sweet Hell is available at http://www.lsbooks.com/sweet-hell-p535.php and all ebooksellers.