Thursday 24 April 2014

Help me name the next Gemini Island book!

It's not too often I ask for help, but as I embark on the next installment of the Gemini Island Shifters series, I've decided to reach out to my readers. I'd like you to help me pick the next title for book 5.

Haven't heard of the Gemini Island Shifters? Well, take a gander at these handsome dudes and their lovely mates!



Does that refresh your memory? (wink wink)

As you can see, I went with a "predator" theme and that theme will continue. We have Ryland and Soren, the bear shifters in books 1 and 2. We have Anton, the tiger in book 3, and Bart the wolf in book 4.

Book 5 will be the story of Killian Moon, jaguar shifter and teen mentor at the Ursa Fishing Lodge and Resort. The last time you saw Killian, he was the hunky blond guy putting the moves on his pal Marci. Well, I decided he needed a happy ending.

I will pair him with a human woman named Nina Suzuki. Nina has an exotic background, like many Canadians. She is part Japanese, part Trinidadian, and also has some European and aboriginal blood. Killian will not be able to resist her charms...well, once he stops disliking her, that is. You see, Nina has just been hired as the new mentor at the Ursa Lodge and her holistic approach to mentoring is somewhat different than her hero's brash physicality. Expect some major fireworks between these two.

As always, I will bring in some juicy external conflicts as well, but I won't give too much away now.

As for titles, I have it narrowed down to the following choices:

1) Predator's Moon (Catch the play on words? Killian Moon?? Wink, wink again.)
2) Predator's Need
3) Predator's Hunger

Let me know which one you prefer by leaving a comment. Share the post with your friends and let me know what they think. I am eager to hear which you prefer, and if you have a completely different suggestion, feel free to let me know as well. I can't promise any decisions just yet as the story is still evolving, but you know I'll keep you posted.

As always, I'm yours in romance,
Rosanna

Monday 14 April 2014

Christy Gissendaner...In Too Deep!

Well, I am always happy to welcome my pub sister and friend Christy Gissendaner to the blog. However, when she brings such a dishy specimen of man, she kicks it up a notch. Please help me welcome Christy as she tells us about In Too Deep!



            Take one bridesmaid. Mix in one sexy alpha wolf. Toss is in a pinch of danger. And voila! You have my latest release, In Too Deep. For this one, I got to combine several of my favorite things. Shifters, weddings, beaches, and mermaids. I know, I know. It seems like an odd mixture, but I had a lot of fun writing it.
            I haven’t publicized the “secret” behind Emma’s (the heroine) background on purpose. It’s even mentioned she’s “human” in the blurb. That isn’t entirely true. As I wrote this book, I noticed I mentioned the ocean and the current quite a bit during Emma’s scenes. So when I came up with the idea to expand on the paranormal nature of the book and explained it to my husband, he gave me the crazy eye. Mermaids? Really? I knew I wanted her ancestry to be a bit of a twist, but even I didn’t expect it to come together like it did.
            Wolves and mermaids do seem an awkward pairing, but trust me. It’s not as simple as it seems. Emma isn’t quite a mermaid, although she does have an affinity for water that is quite awesome, in my humble opinion.
            And check out that cover? Isn’t Drake one sexy hunk of an alpha male? But perhaps even better than the man on the cover, is the little hint of what’s to come that can be found on the left side. See that little fin flipping there? I loved having it included. And no, it’s not a whale. ; )
            Before I go, I would like to thank Rosanna for having me! I’ve been a fan of hers since book one and it’s always a joy being here.
            Happy reading, ya’ll!




In Too Deep
Christy Gissendaner

Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Etopia Press

Number of pages: 274
Word Count: 54,654

Book Description:

He’ll risk everything for the love of one human.
Agreeing to be her good friend’s bridesmaid, Emma Anderson jets off to Tybee Island for the wedding. Her dress is perfect and her shoes are adorable, but her friend’s elegant beachside home hides an ancient secret…one that threatens to expose a secret society of werewolves.
 Drake Randolph has watched his sister’s friend grow into a ravishing woman, but he’s always kept his distance. As the heir to the Randolph fortune and the alpha of the Secret Society of Savannah Lycanthropes, Drake cannot afford to draw the innocent little brunette into the dangerous lycan world.
 Passion between them soon blazes hotter than the Georgia summer. But when the wrong woman is kidnapped to prevent the wedding of a lycan to a mortal, Drake must risk everything to save Emma from the ones who will see the downfall of all he holds dear.
Buy Links:


Short Excerpt
Kicking off her white sandals, she descended a set of wooden stairs and stepped onto the sand. It squished between her toes, damp and still warm from the heat of the afternoon. The moon shone over the water, gleaming in the waves pulling toward the shore.
She stood at the water’s edge. The current sucked at her toes, burying them in sand, and she absorbed the soothing sounds of nature. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes. Perfect.
For a moment, she flashed back to her childhood. Not the endless summers she’d spent with the Randolphs. Earlier than that, long before her father’s death. A memory floated out of her grasp, on the edges of her subconscious but always moving away from her.
The water surrounded her ankles, the tendrils of the tide resembling a caress. As if someone touched her.
She opened her eyes, startled by the sensation.
A particularly large wave crashed around her legs. Thrown off-balance by the unexpected surge, she stumbled a bit until she regained her footing. Whatever memory she’d been chasing fled, replaced by the shock of the water splashing against her knees.
She returned her attention to the water. It eddied around her, the glow of the moonlight reflected in the tiny swirls of liquid. Bending down, she touched the surface and a jolt of energy poured through her. She lurched backward just as another wave crashed against her.
Weird. She moved closer to the shore, not afraid of the ocean but concerned by her reaction to it. Something wasn’t right.
The cry of a seagull jerked her back to the present. She glanced down and grimaced at the soaked bottom half of her dress. She didn’t mind as much as she should. At least the delightfully cool water eased some of the oppressive heat of the day.
The breeze, which had been strong all day, caressed her bare shoulders and ruffled her hair. She lifted her arms and twirled, letting out a tiny sound of pleasure.
At the end of her twirl, she caught sight of a figure standing alone on the patio. The moonlight wasn’t needed for her to recognize Drake. No one else had such a commanding presence. He tugged at her heart like the ocean’s current tugged at her ankles.


About the Author:
Christy Gissendaner is a romantic comedy author and believes that laughter and love should go hand in hand.

Christy lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons. She’s always hard at work on her next novel, but in her spare time she loves blackjack, karaoke, and anything resembling a vacation!

To find out more, please visit http://christygissendaner.webs.com








            

Thursday 10 April 2014

Diane Saxon...Flynn's Kiss!

It is a true pleasure to welcome pub buddy Diane Saxon to the Room today. I'm very eager to hear more about her hot new book.
Welcome Diane!

Thank you so much for having me here today.
I have to tell you I am so excited about Flynn’s Kiss.
I fell in love with this bad boy hero of mine many years ago when I first wrote one scene. I never expected to become an author, but something compelled me to put down on paper the thoughts I had in my head.
It was only when we were moving house last year that I came across a couple of pages of writing. It was smudged and wrinkled and had been in the top drawer of my bedside cabinet for – well, I can’t remember. Certainly at least ten years.
I think his character, for me, was so strong that having discovered him again he edged his way into someone else’s book (Finding Zoe – Atlantic Divide Book 3) and made himself known. I had several enquiries as to whether he was going to have his own story – by that time, it was almost written.
This is a little taster of the scene I wrote all those years ago:

Excerpt
“Flynn.”
She spoke softly, but in the quiet of the early evening, her voice carried clearly, emphasizing the slight wobble to betray her nervousness.
He turned his head and stared at her, his eyes direct and piercing, his chin lowered in what she recognized as a defensive gesture, designed to deter her advance. The dappled light from the fading sun gave his beautiful face an ethereal and almost sinister look, emphasized by his complete stillness, his silent watchfulness.
She took a hesitant step forward and stopped at the slightest movement of his chin raising. She wished she hadn’t come, wanted to run, but she’d trapped herself, and in all honesty, she hadn’t quite expected this response. They were both adults, for heaven’s sake, and one of them should take the initiative and make their meeting less uncomfortable.
She removed the Stetson from her head, no longer in peril of burning her skin as the sun lowered. His gaze flicked down to the pretty yellow hat as a few more of its feathers detached themselves and fluttered to the ground. His wicked eyebrow flicked up briefly, and then his expression returned to deadpan.
“I owe you an apology.”
Silence filled the gap until she huffed out a breath and tried again.
“You’ve been conspicuous by your absence lately. People are missing you and I feel…responsible.” Embarrassment coursed through her. She had no idea she would have to try so hard to reach him. Convinced she simply needed to see him again for everything to be all right, it came as a debasing shock to realize he had indeed been avoiding her.
She tried to keep her hands still, but her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, twisting around the brim of her new hat. She saw his gaze flick down to stare at them and forced herself to drop them back down to her sides, holding her hat in one hand, aware of the shedding of yet more bright feathers. His attention centered on her again as she gave a small cough.
“The other night, when we…” She blew out a disgusted breath at her painful reticence. She was supposed to be the mature one here. “…when we had sex. I thought it was mutual. I know I took the lead and did all the seducing, but maybe I didn’t take into consideration you weren’t interested—you seemed interested at the time, you…” She swallowed a heavy lump in her throat. He’d been as hard as rock, but maybe he’d fantasized about someone else.

Blurb
Severely scarred during a disastrous mission, ex special forces Flynn Swann is home after three years of avoidance. By his own admission, he’s no good with women and the last thing he expects or wants is the attention of a curvy little brunette, who’s just passing through.
With apparently no fear or revulsion of his scarred face, the boisterous woman bounds into his life and destroys all hope of a quiet visit. It is obvious to literally everyone that she wants him—all of him.
Worse still, despite her atrocious taste in fashion and Stetsons, she appears to have won the hearts of the entire town.
Scientist Liberty Sophia Glennon is on a mission to find a man before she has to return to the loneliness of the New Zealand outback where she has already spent eighteen lonely months doing research.
A ticking hormone bomb, Liberty feels time is running away with her. Outwardly she is a bouncing ball of over-confidence, but inside she is still a frightened little girl with horrific memories of her childhood and a desperate need to be liked.
Completely unfazed by his external scars, her seduction of Flynn is not so difficult, but follow-through proves painful as Liberty realizes Flynn’s wounds run further than just skin deep.
With apparently nothing in common but their passionate attraction, how will these two damaged souls deal with each other’s fear of rejection?

About the Author



Diane Saxon lives in the Shropshire countryside with her tall, dark, handsome husband, two gorgeous daughters, a Dalmatian, one-eyed kitten, ginger cat, and four chickens.
After working for years in a demanding job, on-call and travelling great distances, Diane gave it all up when her husband said “follow that dream.”
Having been hidden all too long, her characters have burst forth demanding plot lines of their own and she’s found the more she lets them, the more they’re inclined to run wild.

Flynn’s Kiss Buy Links

Where to Find Diane Saxon




Previous Books:               Loving Lydia -Atlantic Divide Book 1
Bad Girl Bill – Atlantic Divide Book 2
Finding Zoe - Atlantic Divide Book 3
Flight of Her Life
                                                          



Friday 4 April 2014

Haley Whitehall...Soldier in her Lap!

Personally, I'm always excited when Haley Whitehall comes to visit because she always brings me all sorts of historical yumminess. Today is no exception. Haley has an awesome new book, and I'm going to turn the floor over to her right away.

Welcome, Haley!


Soldier in Her Lap - Inspiration

I’d like to thank Rosanna for having me on her blog again. It is always lovely to visit. I’m here to talk about my newest release historical romance release Soldier in Her Lap. Set during the Civil War, Soldier in Her Lap was inspired by an episode of Gunsmoke where a young woman of marrying age was forced to take care of her abusive father and the man tried to keep her from marrying the man who courted her. Of course, I gave it a wartime spin and well a little bit of fairytale flair.

I pictured Sophia Carpenter as the Civil War era Cinderella. She cooks and cleans and tends the garden for her father with nothing in return but spiteful comments and the sting of the back of his hand. She dreamed of Prince Charming rescuing her … or maybe a soldier.

Blurb:

Trapped by her alcoholic, abusive father, Sophia Carpenter longs to escape her life of drudgery on her father’s dirt farm in Clark Springs, Georgia. Making matters worse, her father’s scared off every man who tried to call on her. She longs for freedom, but with the Civil War raging, even fewer men are available to fulfill her dreams—unless a soldier landed in her lap.

Conscripted into a war he never wanted to fight, Lucas Grady is tired of battle and refuses to lay his life down for a lost cause. After a musket ball tears through his leg, he deserts from the ambulance wagon rather than risk a field surgeon’s saw. He barely makes it to Sophia’s farm before collapsing.

The wounded soldier’s arrival seems like a dream come true, but first she must save him from his injuries—and her father. As forbidden attraction blooms between them, they will have to struggle to survive. Can their love overcome so many obstacles or will they become another casualty of the War Between the States?


Excerpt:

Excitement threaded through her. Was she finally getting a man? A handsome, caring and courageous man at that. God had outdone himself when he’d answered her prayer.

“We have to keep this from Papa,” she said, her eyes widening. Mr. Grady hadn’t taken the musket with him to the barn. Her old man could come out here and shoot him at any time.

“We can for now. If that is what you wish, Miss Carpenter.”

Sophia exhaled. “That is what I want.” She shifted her weight. If they were going to court they needed to know more about each other. One question had been plaguing her since the evening she’d sewn up his leg. “I’d like to know about the battle.”

His eyebrows knitted together and he tipped his upper body back. “What would you like to know? War isn’t a ladylike subject.”

She didn’t care whether it was proper or not. Papa had never treated her like a lady. “How did you get shot?”

“Charging the Yankees,” he replied, a playful undertone to his voice.

He wasn’t much of a talker. She’d learned that very quickly. But she wanted a better answer than that. Maybe she should start with a more direct question. “What regiment are you from?”

“The 4th Georgia Infantry.”

Good. She could work off that. “So you’re from Georgia then?”

“No, ma’am. Tennessee. But I transferred to this regiment.”

“Oh. All right, but why did you end up on my doorstep instead of with your regiment?”

“Not much left of my regiment, ma’am,” he replied curtly. Color drained from his face, his eyes taking on a haunted look.

She swallowed hard. She didn’t need to bring it up the difficult subject now. They’d talk more about this later, when he was ready.

“I understand,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.”

“One good thing came out of that battle,” he said, his gaze lifting to hers. “I met you.”

Her heart flipped. Yes, she was Cinderella, and he was the nobleman coming to her rescue. Talk like that would charm her silly. She already had a hard time keeping him off her mind. She’d pause in the middle of working in the garden and glance over at the barn.

One thing continued to bother her though. He seemed to be holding something back. Why hide something unless you were ashamed or worried or afraid? Maybe all three. Except Mr. Grady didn’t seem the type of man to do something wrong. He acted the perfect gentleman. “Mr. Grady seeing as how we’re courting I think it would be all right if you called me Sophia.”

Mr. Grady grinned; his eyes no longer looked haunted. “In private of course, Sophia,” he said. “And you may call me Lucas.”

“I look forward to getting to know you better, Lucas.” She had so many questions. Hopefully their next conversation went smoother. This one had been as bumpy as a toad’s back.
When the clock struck twelve would her dream come true or fade away?

Buy Soldier in Her Lap

Decadent Publishing: http://tinyurl.com/k5y3ota


About Haley:

Haley Whitehall lives in Washington State where she enjoys all four seasons and the surrounding wildlife. She writes historical romance set in the 19th century U.S. When she is not researching or writing, she plays with her cats, watches the Western and History Channels, and goes antiquing. She is hoping to build a time machine so she can go in search of her prince charming. A good book, a cup of coffee, and a view of the mountains make her happy.

Haley loves to connect with readers. You can find her here:



Thursday 3 April 2014

Daisy Banks...Timeless!

Hi everyone! It is always a pleasure to hear about my pal Daisy Banks and her wonderful romances. I'm so glad she's here to tell us a bit about her newest.

Welcome, Daisy!



Many thanks for inviting me onto your Blog Rosanna, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Hello everyone.
 One of the things I am concentrating on, in my writing, is developing the sensuality aspect of my characters. My challenge is using all of the senses. I am working on describing for the reader the impact made by the impossibly attractive person my hero or heroine are about to fall in love with. Their discovery of one individual they are unable to resist prompts a range of responses, and I want the reader to experience these with the characters.
This attraction and reaction is a known sensation and often, though not always, begins at first sight. Sometimes the effect can be so dramatic it is uncomfortable, sometimes people get prickly because they no longer feel in control, and at other times people stare awestruck and become embarrassed at showing such a focus. There are other reactions too. People can suffer sweaty palms, a dry mouth; find speaking difficult, queasy stomach and even physical shakes. Some of these reactions are unpleasant, and can cause grouchiness and anger too.
From there in my story I might move on to the first touch of someone’s hand. People do shake hands in greeting in formal situations, and I wonder how that might feel for someone deeply attracted to another, in a business situation, or a legal situation, or a medical situation. Perhaps the first touch might be accidental, or it could be quite deliberate. There is a great deal to consider about the impact of the first touch.
From the first touch the story moves on, perhaps to a date, or any other opportunity for characters to become more intimate. The situation will develop into the drama of the couple’s first kiss.
I read somewhere if the first kiss in a story is not satisfying for the reader; it is at that point they may put your book down, and no writer wants that to happen. Who really wants a boring kiss? Below I’ve put two examples of kisses from two of my stories.
I hope you enjoy these kisses and find them…satisfying. I would also like to invite you to follow my blog http://daisybanks.wordpress.com/ where there will be more examples of kisses in the next few weeks as other authors demo kisses for readers.

This example kiss is from A Perfect Match, due out this summer with Taliesin Publishing. I am awaiting the artwork for this book and will share it with you soon.
This is the heroine’s first ever kiss.

“Oh.” The sound escaped Anwell as he brushed his lips against hers. “I’ll not be afraid, Varon.” She touched her lips to his. “I think I’d like it if you kissed me.”
His smile appeared again. He covered her lips with his. Warm, smooth and gentle they captured hers and the tip of his tongue teased until she opened her mouth with a sigh.
Yes, I do like this, very much.
Sparks of tingling awareness rose. She edged closer and leaned in to him. The warmth of his palm cupped her buttock, and his tongue entered her mouth, sending a thrill deep into her. Should his kiss make her feel like this? A soft moan she couldn’t stifle rose and she lifted her arms around his neck.
How was it his mouth on hers could create such a need to be closer still?

I hope you felt the sense of discovery of Anwell and Varon’s kiss.

The next kiss is from Timeless. Available now from Lyrical Press, A Kensington Imprint. You can meet these characters again in the sequel To Eternity coming soon.
Sian and Magnus share their kiss in the garden.



Soft, delicate as a flower, she opened her lips under the caress of his, and she tasted sweet, minty fresh. His rising need deepened with their kiss, so he took command of her mouth, instructed her with exquisite precision in exactly what he hoped for from her. The increase in her breathing rate and her sighed responses promised him her participation would be all he could wish.
The force of her will astonished him. For two nights she’d fought him off, banished him from her dreams with ease. Even when he’d managed to sneak in, she’d caged him. Today, she’d held him off every step of the way to the lake. She wanted him, he was certain, but didn’t want to give in, not this soon. She’d tested him and all his skills. But now, at last, he’d managed to slip through her defenses because she embraced him to her, nestled against him in the place she belonged. Her love of beauty, no less than his, left her vulnerable.
The sound of her breathy moans encouraged him to slide and roll his tongue with hers. Desire flashed deep in his gut.
Dreams would live. They throbbed through him.

I hope you found the sense of how lucky Magnus feels to be able to enjoy this kiss. There is a buy link in the image above.


Today I am also talking about sensual kisses at The Silken Sheets and Seduction blog. If you’re over 18 do drop by.

You can find me on the web here.
Twitter @DaisyBanks12

Daisy Banks.
An obsessive writer Daisy is passionate about her stories. Her wish is to always offer the best tale she can to readers. Daisy is married, with two grown up sons. She lives with her husband in a converted chapel in Shropshire, England. Antiques and collecting entertain Daisy when she isn’t writing, she has also occasionally been known to make a meal that doesn’t stick to the pan.