Hey everybody! Cassandra Carr here! I’m pleased to be part of the Romance Junkies blog today.

Just like there are stereotypical hero types (the alpha male, the bad boy, etc), there are also several female types. Read the descriptions below and try to figure out which one you are! Which type of heroine do you most like/identify with in the books you read?

The Eight Female Archetypes

1. The Boss: think Kirstie Alley’s character in Cheers. This is a take-charge kind of woman, which is certainly admirable. Oftentimes, though a “boss” type goes after success to the exclusion of other things like a personal life.

2. The Survivor: think Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind. This woman can withstand anything you throw at her. She’s often distrustful and a cynic. Don’t feel too sorry for her, though. She’s got intelligence and street smarts in spades.

3.    The Spunky Kid: think Meg Ryan’s character in Sleepless in Seattle. Often a tomboy/best friend type, she’s the one who’s hanging out with the guys at the bar or playing on the softball team with them. The guys, naturally, see her as one of them and not as the desirable female she desperately wants to be.

4.    The Free Spirit: think the title character in Ally McBeal. This is a “follow your heart, not your head” type of character. Oftentimes her outwardly ditzy demeanor hides a sharp mind inside.

5.    The Waif: think the title character in Jane Eyre. This one is the classic damsel in distress. These women have seen the worst side of life, but are still inherently trusting. The one thing that separates this character from the survivor is that she usually doesn’t do much to change her own circumstances.

6.    The Librarian: think Shelley Long’s character in Cheers. She’s buttoned up, disapproving, and a know-it-all. But she’s also got passion – once the hero delves into her core and finds it.

7.    The Crusader: think Buffy in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Pretty much every female superhero is a crusader, and they don’t need any help, thank you very much. There are crusaders who aren’t superheroes, though, like Helen Hunt’s character in Twister.

8.    The Nurturer: think Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. If you walk into her house, she’s likely to try to feed you, no matter when you ate last. Everyone depends on her to take care of them and she’s the voice of wisdom and reason.

So which female archetype are you? Which type do you like best in your books, television shows and movies?

By the way, if you’re curious about the 8 male character archetypes, check out this blog post I did yesterday.

BIO:

Cassandra Carr is a multi-published erotic romance writer who lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. Head Games, Buffalo Intimidators book 1, released on November 2, 2011 from Siren Bookstrand, Caught released from Loose Id on December 6, 2011, and Impact is coming in early 2012 from Ellora’s Cave. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com, “like” her Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr.

BUY LINK:

http://www.loose-id.com/Caught.aspx

CAUGHT EXCERPT:

‘They’re really taking this politically correct thing too far.’

Stepping from the foyer into the living room, Callie spied a twinkling Christmas tree in the corner. On the mantel, a lit menorah burned, the candles flickering as the people nearby jostled for position as more and more guests crammed into the room. This was a boisterous crowd; already drinking like it was New Year’s. Advancing further into the room, she noticed the Kwanza decorations and rolled her eyes.

‘Pick a holiday and go with it, people. You can’t please everyone.’

She sought out the host and hostess, old friends from her grad school days, and said hello, handing over the obligatory “Thanks for inviting me” bottle of wine. They chatted for a bit to catch up before she grabbed a cocktail and made her way toward the dining room in search of other former classmates and some food. The smells of the various delicacies wafted by, making her mouth water in anticipation. She had just gotten into town and was starving. Plopping a slice of Cheddar cheese onto a cracker, she stuffed it into her mouth and then looked up — and everything inside her came to a screeching halt.

Jack was there.

With a beer hanging from his long, rough fingers, he leaned against the wall, casual as can be, while her world tilted on its axis. He looked so good– still the same tall, well-muscled body, still the same olive skin, black hair, and full lips. His Italian ancestry lent him an air of exoticness, and she’d always been a sucker for that.

Her stomach roiled. The cracker caught in her throat, choking her. As she began to cough and sputter, he turned to see what the commotion was, and their gazes met. Callie watched as his eyes went dark with heat and recognition. A blush rushed up her chest through her neck and into her face. With suddenly cold fingers, she touched her burning skin.

He brought his beer to his lips and took a long pull, his tongue sneaking out to catch a stray drop from his top lip. Her gaze followed the movement. His own intense gaze never left her face. Even when his companion said something to him, he merely nodded and kept the whole of his attention on her. She took a fortifying sip of her vodka and cranberry juice, then another, longer gulp, trying to dislodge the cracker from her throat. And still he stared.

And she did the same damn thing she’d done three years ago when she’d gotten scared by his demands, his power — she ran. Cursing herself for her cowardice, she nonetheless wove her way through the crowd, setting her drink down on the nearest available surface as she rushed past. But before she made it to the front door, she felt his hand, still chilled from holding the beer bottle, curl around her overheated arm. “Long time no see. Leaving so soon, Callie?”

He pulled her around to face him, he backed her up against the wall in the foyer. With him this close, with his touch and his smell and his sheer size surrounding her, her body betrayed her, just like it always had where he was concerned. Her nipples tightened, her pussy ached, and her breath quickened. “What are you doing here?” She sighed at her own stupidity for asking something so obvious.

“These are my friends. A better question to ask is — what are you doing here?”

“I came back to town for the holidays, and I wanted to see some of my old grad school buddies. I guess I-I didn’t think about the possibility of you being here.”

“Is me being here a problem?”

“No,” she answered too quickly.

“I miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

‘Dammit! What else am I going to admit to him?’

“I still want you. I want to touch you. I need to touch you. May I?” At her silent nod, he lightly rested his hand around her throat. Not hard enough to choke, but enough to establish his dominance over her.

‘Like he needs to establish that. How could I possibly forget who and what he is?’

Callie shivered. God, she wanted him. She’d never been as scared or as excited or felt as alive as she had during the year and a half she had subbed for Jack. Seeing him again made her want to get down on her knees and give him anything he wanted. If she remembered correctly, that was everything. But could he give it back to her? Before, he’d been unable or unwilling to, and when she hadn’t been able to handle loving him without reciprocation anymore, she’d left.

Her lips were parched, and she darted her tongue out to wet them. His eyes turned black as they blazed back at her. “I want you too.” And it was the truth. She wanted him, and this time, she’d have him. If she ran away again, she knew she’d regret it for the rest of her life.

“Are you collared?”

“No.”

“Seeing anyone?”

She turned the question around. “Are you seeing anyone?” A strange look passed over his face, but Callie couldn’t interpret it before it was gone.

“No. Answer me, Callie — are you seeing anyone?”

“No.”

Letting out a soft growl, Jack cupped the back of her neck in his large hand and kissed her. There was nothing gentle in his kiss — there never had been. This kiss was one of possession, of establishing even more control. He pressed in further, molding his body to hers while he continued to plunder her mouth. He didn’t force his tongue inside; he didn’t have to.

Surrendering, she relaxed and let him take her. He let out a grunt of satisfaction and changed the angle of her head so he could deepen the kiss. He slid a powerful thigh between hers as she moaned from the sensual onslaught.

After long moments he pulled away, grabbed her hand, and led her toward the back of the house. Callie gasped when he pushed her into a bedroom and kicked the door closed. She whirled around to face him but couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye, reverting to the naturally submissive pose of staring at his feet, her hands behind her back. She hadn’t subbed for anyone in the three years she’d been gone and was amazed at how quickly the submissive veil slipped over her again. He chuckled.

“My pet, you’re still a delightful submissive, I see.” He took a gentle hold on her chin and pulled her face up to his. “I want you. I’ve always wanted you, since the moment you walked into my classroom. I know I’m a selfish bastard, but I’m going to ask for this most exquisite Christmas present anyway: will you submit to me again?”

Callie nodded, too overcome with emotion to speak.

“I want to hear the words — I want you to be sure.”

“Yes, I’ll sub for you,” she managed to get out around the lump in her throat.

“Good. Then you’ll be available to me insofar as you’re able to, barring other commitments. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” she answered, the word hardly loud enough to be considered a whisper. She licked her lips again.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“By the way, I’m clean. I was tested a few months ago. You?”

“Yes, Sir, same.”

He stepped forward and shoved her to her knees. She went willingly. Callie wanted this — she wanted to show him she could handle him this time. Keeping her eyes trained on the floor, she waited for his next move. He let her stew for a minute and then pulled her to him, undoing his pants with his other hand. He guided his already-erect cock into her mouth, and she took it, letting his essence wash over her tongue, relearning the contours of the head, the smoothness of the shaft, as he sawed in and out of her mouth with brutal strokes. He’d never been easy on her, and tonight was no exception.

He pulled his still-hard cock out of her mouth, resting just the very tip on her bottom lip. “How long are you in town for?”

Callie drew back enough to answer, “Through the first of the year.”

She looked up in time to see him smile. “Excellent. We have a few weeks, then.” He thrust all the way to the back of her throat, and she struggled not to gag. He held the back of her head with both hands, forcing her to take his dick all the way to the root, and held it there for several seconds. “Where are you staying?” He pulled out again. He had always liked carrying on conversations as Callie sucked him — reinforcing his dominance by repeatedly pulling out and then shoving back into her mouth as he saw fit.

“With Lora,” she answered, naming her oldest friend.

“Ah, not far from me. I still live on Tremont. Is she going to let you play?”

“Lora lets me do whatever I want — she doesn’t judge.”

“I think I’m really going to enjoy the holidays for the first time in a long while.” He went up on tiptoe and pushed back into her mouth, tilting her head until it was at the angle he wanted, and then began ruthlessly plundering her depths. “It’s been a long time since you’ve tasted my cum, my sweet. You’re going to swallow it — every drop, like the gift it is.”

A scant few seconds later, Callie felt his cock swelling even larger, growing even longer, and then after pulling back until only his cockhead remained inside her mouth, he was coming; straining, as jet after jet of warm, salty liquid shot onto her tongue and slid down her throat. When he was finally spent, he withdrew completely and put himself back together. She remained on her knees, the denim of her jeans little protection from the hardwood floor.

Some might say she gave in too easily, but as Callie considered the man before her who’d turned her world upside down now for the second time, she knew that wasn’t true. Not at all. Her soul was at peace for the first time in years. She was a different person than she’d been all those years ago. Callie was what and where she needed to be: she just had to figure out how to hold on to the fragile sense of contentment she’d discovered tonight.

He briefly stroked the side of her face, then leaned down to touch his lips to hers. “Give me your number.” She started to reach into the purse that had fallen beside her on the floor. He chuckled. “You may rise.” Standing up with her purse, she pulled a small sheet from the memo pad she always kept with her. “Still jotting notes, I see.”

“Yes, you never know where or when you’ll find inspiration,” she answered, quoting one of his own mantras back to him. After writing down her cell phone number, she handed him the paper.

He held up it and kissed it. “I’ll be in touch.” After taking one last look at her, he left the room.

She sat down on the bed, touching the tips of her fingers to her lips. Undoubtedly he thought he’d scored a great coup, bringing her back into his fold. Little did he realize, though… Sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted.

Copyright 2011, Cassandra Carr

Long ago in a distant galaxy . . . or it seems . . . driving my parents station wagon to pick up my wedding gown, I heard Pat Boone sing Thee, I Love, the theme song from Friendly Persuasion—Dimitri Tiomkin composer, Paul Francis lyrics.  “Put on your bonnet, your cape and your glove, and come with me, for thee, I love.”  Are those not the most romantic words?  I got a picture in my mind at the time of a woman in a black cape, putting on her bonnet and following the man she loved, and I thought “that would make a great story.”

Fast forward twenty-plus years, and I’m a wannabe writer working on my third novel.  The first two are Regency Historicals.  Now I want to write an Amish Historical.  Yes, I’d seen the movie WITNESS.  I had also read SUNSHINE AND SHADOW by Tom and Sharon Curtis and A CRIME OF THE HEART by Cheryl Reavis.  I was in love with a way of life.

As soon as I chose the prodigal son theme, I started writing and researching with a vengeance.  We visited Lancaster Pennsylvania a dozen times, at least, then added Ohio Amish Country, like Winesburg and Sugarcreek, to our travels.  Looking for research material on the Amish, I scoured bookstores in those areas.  I now own 182 books on the history of the Amish.  Yes, I just counted them, and of course, I’ve read them.  Why so many?  The internet had not yet come to life.  (It became the world wide web consortium in 1994.  Microsoft came onboard in 1998.)  I found that on the Web.

In my travels, I spoke to a number of Amish men and women who were happy to answer my questions.  I also spoke to several people who grew up Amish and had left the Amish way of life.  (This was more than 20 years ago, don’t forget.  The Amish were more forthcoming back then, I think.) 

One morning, we got tickets for a buggy ride.  I sat beside the Amish driver in the box buggy to get the perspective of a driver and started asking questions.  He cocked his head quizzically.  “Well,” he said, “you know so much, you drive,” and he handed me the braided leather reigns.  I drove all around that farm—no one else waited in line for a ride, so he gave us all the time we wanted—and I fell in love with that one-horse buggy, not to mention the dear old Amish grandfather beside me.

My intrepid husband sat in the backseat, speechless, and maybe a little scared but with a camera in his hands.  Now that’s a hero.  I tipped us nearly into a stream trying to turn onto a flat bridge, no sides.  But with my mentor’s gentle guidance, I worked that horse, backed us up, unwedged the wheel between land and bridge, as it hung over nothing but water.  And after I untipped us, I turned onto the bridge successfully and drove over it. 

All the time I spent with those reigns in my hands, during easy and scary buggy-driving, that unruffled old Amishman gave the occasional soft-spoken direction and told me all about himself and his family.  My clearest memory is that he had 72 grandchildren.  But I’d never gotten a better character lesson.  I think he’s part of every Amishman I ever wrote or will write.  Strong, gentle, stoic, caring, kind, soft-spoken, bit of a twinkle in his eye, like God was telling a joke that only he could hear, and he listened and got the joke, no matter what else he was doing.

In June of 1998, the late, great Kate Duffy bought JACOB’S RETURN for Kensington Books as part of my first sale. They renamed it THEE, I LOVE and gave it a cover on which the “Amish schoolteacher” is so historically inaccurate as to . . . well . . . have cleavage.  (See attached cover.)  It sold out within the month, and never went back to print.  Back then, publishers said, “Nobody wants to read about the Amish.”  Despite that, as THEE, I LOVE, it made its mark:

2000 Blue Boa Award of Excellence Winner, Peninsular Chapter RWA 1999 Francis Awards Triple Nominee, The Romance Journal Best American Historical Best New Author Story You Need the Most Tissues to Get Through 1999 Reviewers Choice Award Double Nominee, Romance Communications 1999 Winter Wish List of Favorite Authors, The Regency Lover’s Cafe 1999 Readers All Time Favorite, Most Hanky Read, All About Romance 1998 RWA Golden Heart Finalist  

In 2011, thirty-two books later, LeeAnn Lessard at Lachesis Publishing knew that people wanted to read about the Amish, and she wanted JACOB’S RETURN.  I revised it and made it better, Lachesis copyedited it, I revised it again, and they gave it the cover it deserves. 

I hope you cry and laugh and cry again, and enjoy reading JACOB’S RETURN as much as I enjoyed researching, writing, and re-writing it. 

2011 #1 Kindle Bestseller, Amish Historical Romance, all formats. 2011 #1 Lachesis Bestseller, Fictionwise 2011 A Kindle Top 100 Bestseller
US 2011 A Kindle Top 100 Bestseller
UK 2011 An Amazon
US Bestseller 2011 An Amazon
UK Bestseller  

Check out www.annetteblair.com for an excerpt of JACOB’S RETURN, and check out the first chapter of THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN http://www.annetteblair.com/excerpt_butterfly.htm Another Amish Historical, this one set in Ohio Amish Country, coming soon from Lachesis Publishing.

Coming in 10 days: SKIRTING THE GRAVE, the 4^th book in my Vintage Magic Mystery Series from Berkley Prime Crime, is being released on July 5^th, and is available now in paperback from Barnes & Noble.

To buy SKIRTING THE GRAVE:  Amazon  Kindle  B&N  NOOK Borders

To buy JACOB’S RETURN:  Amazon  Kindle  NOOK  Lachesis Smashwords  Fictionwise

If you leave a comment, you have an opportunity to win a copy of JACOB’S RETURN or SKIRTING THE GRAVE.  A winner for one of each will be chosen at random from your replies.  Please leave your email addy.

I’d like to thank Romance Junkies for inviting me, today.

Happy Reading,

Annette

http://www.facebook.com/annette.blair.author

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http://www.myspace.com/annetteblair

http://www.annetteblair.com

 

 

 

Writing About Veterans 

     Veterans are close to my heart.  My father-in-law served in World War II and was a soldier in Patton’s army.  We miss him and I dedicated my December release, TWINS UNDER HIS TREE, to him to honor what he meant to our lives.

     My dad was also a soldier in World War II.  In addition, my college years were impacted by the Vietnam War and many of my high school and college classmates served.  I wrote to a serviceman in

Vietnam for two years and still have his letters with the details of his service there.  A few years ago I wrote about a veteran hero in THE BRACELET and beforehand read diaries that one of our community colleges had collected—oral transcripts of servicemen’s lives in

Vietnam.

     In all my research, one thing was clear.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was ignored for years, although these men and their families recognized the symptoms all too well.  I wanted to bring it to the forefront now because it’s important to remember what our soldiers face after they come home.

     When I began my research for my hero in TWINS UNDER HIS TREE, I was interested in learning more about the National Guard…about men who didn’t realize they’d be called to war and multiple tours of duty.  The public information officer at a nearby Guard headquarters was instrumental in helping me develop my hero—from his career to his discharge.  As the months went by, he was deployed to

Iraq and answered many of my questions from there.  In TWINS UNDER HIS TREE I wanted to deal with the scars that are deeper than physical wounds and the power of love that can help heal them.  My family members, classmates and servicemen I interviewed were honorable men, brave and quiet about what they’d experienced.

     This holiday season I want to give tribute to all who serve…and pray that they are uplifted by the power of love.

     Karen Rose Smith’s 71st published romance, TWINS UNDER HIS TREE, is the sixth book in her Baby Experts series for Silhouette Special Edition and is available now.

 

 

About TWINS UNDER HIS TREE, Silhouette Special Edition #2087, December 2010 

She’d just gone in to labor…seven weeks early!  Now Dr. Lily Wescott was the proud mother of twin baby girls.  But she couldn’t have done it without Mitch Cortega.  The decorated combat surgeon was with her every step of the way.  And the young widow was finding it awfully hard to resist Mitch’s overpowering masculinity…

Spending time with Lily and her infant daughters was making Mitch yearn for something he’d never known was missing.  The wounded combat surgeon knew they both needed time to heal.

But how much longer could they fight their attraction?  With Christmas just around the corner, it was time to move on and trust in a love that could transform the past into a future filled with the true joy of giving!

Excerpt:

Chapter OneLate February

Dr. Lily Wescott stood at the podium, peering through the spotlight into the sea of faces in the hotel ballroom. Many grinned and waved as she prepared to accept the Medical Professional Woman of the Year Award.

She brushed tears away, stunned and totally overwhelmed. These days, she blamed the rise and fall of her emotions on her pregnancy, though memories of the husband she’d lost in Afghanistan were never far from her heart.

Suddenly an odd sensation gripped her back and a cramp rippled through her stomach. As best she could, she fought to keep her shoulders back and a smile on her face. She couldn’t go into labor now! She was only at thirty-three weeks.

But she was an ob/gynBand she knew all too well that her twins would come when they were ready. Lily could only hope for the best…

“Thank you,” she said into the microphone. “I never imagined I’d win this award.” She’d really expected one of her friends at the table to win. After all, they were all baby experts at the Family Tree Health Center in Lubbock, Texas. She went on, “At the Family Tree Fertility Center, we strive to help women whoC”

A second cramp squeezed Lily’s side and she caught the wooden podium for support. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her friend and colleague, Dr. Mitch Cortega jump to his feet, concern on his face. He rushed to the stage and up the steps!

As she managed to suck in a gulp of air, hot liquid washed down her leg. Oh, GodBI am in labor!

She was not going to panic. She was not going to crumple to the floor. She was not going to be embarrassed.

At her side now, Mitch’s arm curled around her waist…his injured arm. The one he never let anyone see, she thought, needing something other than the pain to concentrate on. It was always covered, tonight by a well-cut black tuxedo that made his shoulders seem even broader than usual. She’d noticed that tonight…and it wasn’t the first time…

“Can you walk?” he asked, his breath warm at her ear.

A murmur swept through the audience.

She turned, the side of her cheek brushing his chin. “I’m not sure.”

Mitch’s angular jaw tightened, his almost-black gaze held hers with…something she couldn’t define. But then it was replaced by the empathy and compassion she’d felt from him many times before. “The twins are our main priority. Hold on to me if you can’t stand on your own.”

She really thought she could. The cramp faded away. If it weren’t for the wetness between her legs, she could deny what was happening.

With Mitch’s arm still around her, she took a couple of steps. Maybe she could even give the rest of her acceptance speechC

The lance of pain that pierced her back stole her breath and weakened her knees. She breathed, “Mitch.”

And he was there…lifting her into his arms…carrying her down the dais steps.

“I’m driving her to the hospital myself,” Mitch said, as Lily’s friends and colleagues rushed toward him. “It will be quicker than waiting for an ambulance.”

“And more economical,” Lily realized aloud, trying to think practically. But that was difficult with Mitch’s cologne reminding her of the last time he’d held her so close, on the day she’d discovered she was having twins. His grip felt safe now as it had then…as if no harm could come to her while she was in his arms.

She must be delusional.

“I’ll ride with you,” Jared Madison offered as he jogged alongside Mitch and pushed open the ballroom door.

“I’ll be handy if the twins won’t wait since Lily’s doc is at a conference.”

Jared had his own obstetrical practice at Family Tree but took turns covering with the doctors in her practice. Lily knew and liked Jared and felt comfortable with him. Still, she murmured, “They’d darn well better wait. It’s too early. They’ll be too small!” Her last words almost caught in her throat and her bravado deflated.

In the middle of the hotel lobby, Mitch stopped. Turning to face her, he looked her directly in the eye. He said, “If you panic, Lily, you won’t help the babies. Take calming breaths. You can do this.”

Her heart felt lighter, as if Mitch was really part of this pregnancy, too. Not just because her husband had assigned him to watch over her, but because he cared. “If I’d taken the childbirth classes this month instead of nextC” She’d been putting them off, maybe trying to deny the inevitableBthat yet again, her life would be altered in an earth-shattering way.

“The twins would still come early,” he reminded her. “They apparently want to meet their mom now.”

Yes, they did. And she wanted to meet them. She couldn’t wait to hold them and tell them how much she loved them. How much their daddy would have loved them…

Mitch’s expression was gentle, as if he could ready her thoughts, but his gaze didn’t waver. His arms were so strong. For a moment, she felt a little trill of excitement in her chest. But that was because of the babies coming, wasn’t it?

“Let’s go,” she whispered, shaken by the emotions she didn’t understand.

To read more excerpt go to:  http://karenrosesmith.com/tuht_excerpt.html 

Contact Information

     You can email Karen or visit her at www.karenrosesmith.com for excerpts and the latest info about her books.  You can also find her on Facebook where she is posting weekly photos from her recent research trip for her new series, REUNION BRIDES, that begins in February.

As defined by me, the author  . . .

I thought it would be fun to share the 5 questions I wish interviewers would ask…because they’d be so easy to answer.  Yep, sometimes, you just want easy. LOL

1.  What did you have for dinner last night?

You notice I did not ask what we planned for dinner tonight, because that?  Is a hard question.  But in fact, it took me a few seconds to remember what we ate last night because my brain was flying along the African Savannah.  Oh, did I mention my current WIP (Close Quarters) is set in Zimbabwe?  Anyway, dinner last night…oh, right grilled steak (yes, Hubcap is so macho he grills in the middle of winter).

2.  How many children do you have?

Oh…hmm…okay, not so easy.  Three, but we have two Koren young men that lived with us for three years we consider our sons, though they have wonderful family back in South Korea.

3.  What’s your favorite color?

Yellow, for everything but what I wear.  It makes me look like my liver is failing.  Sigh…but I love the color of sunshine.

4.  Who is the last author you read?

See how this is not the favorite author question, because the answer to that one is too long.  Last author I read?  Josh Lanyon.  Current top of my TBR pile is Christine Feehan.  There, two answers for the price of one.

5.  How many pairs of socks do you have?

Oh, wait, that’s a hard one…it’s almost as bad as asking how many pens are on my desk.

5.  What color are the walls in your office?

Yellow.  Okay, so maybe that was cheating, but easy, see?

LOL, sometimes my brain just doesn’t want to think.

5.  Can we see the book trailer for Moon Awakening, your Feb 2nd release?  Those medieval Scottish werewolves are just so sexy!

Why sure!  Here it is: 

So, wanna know the hardest interview questions to answer?

Who is your favorite character from one of your books?

This is like asking which of my children is my favorite.  I’m not stupid, if I say the wrong one I’m going to end up with baking soda in my chamomile tea.  Okay, maybe not that drastic, but seriously, how could I possibly choose?

Second only to, which book is your personal favorite?

I do have favorites from time to time, but I love all my stories and picking a favorite makes me feel like I have to say I love one more than the others and what does that say about the other story?  Paranoid, much?  Maybe a little.

Can you dance the Mamba?

Sadly, no.  Wich I could.  I do love that show, “Dancy Your A$$ Off,” though.  Which is really surprising considering how much I don’t like reality TV.

So, what are your favorite questions to ask authors?  Here’s my one time offer to answer them, no matter what they may be.

Hugs and happy reading,
Lucy
–
Moon Craving – Feb 2, 2010 – Berkley
http://lucymonroe.com

As a special thank you to readers, Lucy is giving away a prize pack of pamper yourself products and paranormal romance.  All you have to do to enter is send an email with Moon Craving Contest in the subject line to moon_craving at yahoo dot com before February 28th, 2010.  The drawing will be held March 1st and the winner will be announced on her blog at http://www.lucymonroeblog.blogspot.com.

SteamyDarcy is inviting you to a date with angels.

Come by on 19 January 2010 for the hot date and a chance to win a copy of Enid Wilson’s latest novel, Really Angelic: Pride and Prejudice with a steamy paranormal twist.

SteamyDarcy.com invites you to a date at Romance Junkies Blog on Monday 10 August 2009.

Enid Wilson, author of Bargain with the Devil: A Spicy retelling of Pride and Prejudice, will share with you an ancient recipe of Mr. Darcy’s favorite dish.

And she will give out a copy of the book and the following two beautiful gifts from Australia.

In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Fitzwilliam Darcy learns of the debacle involving Elizabeth Bennet’s sister several months after he was rejected by Elizabeth, and volunteers to help find her sister, of his own accord.

But what if Miss Elizabeth had requested Mr. Darcy’s aid in just a few days after the disastrous proposal at Hunsford, and he was still very angry with her refusal? What if he decided to be ngentlemanly, and demanded a very particular reward from her in exchange for his assistance?

This steamy, funny Pride and Prejudice what-if short story explores that scenario with wit, emotion and intriguing plot twists that take this perennial favorite to another direction.

So it’s a dinner date on Monday 10 August but you have to do the cooking!

Meet the heroine of Eve Summers’ romance, “Safe Sex Incorporated” (Red Rose Publishing, 23 April 2009). Skyla is a PR official for a 22nd century company that makes a special kind of condom: one that protects the user from the 21st century disease called love. In Skyla’s world, love is an obscene word and a banned emotion.

But of course, as with all prohibitions, the love prohibition has given rise to a pro-love group, a group whose actions may jeopardize Skyla’s dream of a promotion.

Jin is a school teacher – or is he something more? Skyla is instantly drawn to him and when he suggests not bothering to use Love Condoms….

So much for the book.  The idea first came to me when I realised that some people mistake the intimacy resulting from good sex… for love. In fact, I know women who’ve fallen in love with their one-night stands because of the psychological makeup of the sexual act. And, naturally, I thought: 

Wouldn’t it be great to have a condom that stops more than STD? 

#423 LETHAL EXPOSURE  by  Lori Wilde
Perfect Anatomy, Bk. 3
Wanting to expand her sexual IQ, Julie DeMarco selects Sebastian Black—hot shot PR exec—to participate in a no-strings fling. The playboy should be an easygoing love ‘em and leave ‘em type, but what if there’s more to the man than just his good looks? Pre-order Book

#424 MS. MATCH by Jo Leigh
The Wrong Bed
Oops! It’s the wrong sister! Paul Bennet only agrees to take plain-Jane Gwen Christopher on a charity date to score points with her gorgeous sister. So what is he thinking when he wakes up beside Gwen the very next morning? Pre-order Book

#425 AMOROUS LIAISONS by  Sarah Mayberry
Lust in Translation
Max Laurent thought he was over his attraction to Maddy Green. But when she shows up on the doorstep of his Paris flat, turns out the lust never went away. He’s determined to stay silent so as not to ruin their friendship…until the night she seduces him, that is. Pre-order book 

#426 GOOD TO THE LAST BITE by Crystal Green
Vampire Edward Marburn has only one goal left—to take vengeance on Gisele, the female vamp who’d stolen his humanity. Before long, Edward has Gisele right where he wants her.  And he learns that the joys of sexual revenge can last an eternity…. Pre-order book

#427 HER SECRET TREASURE by Cindi Myers
Adam Carroway never thought he’d agree to work with Sandra Newman. Hit the sheets with her…absolutely. But work together? Still, his expedition needs the publicity her TV show will bring. Besides, what could be sexier than working out their differences in bed? Pre-order Book

#428 WATCH AND LEARN by Stephanie Bond
Sex for Beginners, Bk. 1
When recently divorced Gemma Jacobs receives a letter she’d written to herself ten years ago in college, she never guesses the contents will inspire her to take charge of her sexuality, to unleash her forbidden exhibitionist tendencies…and to seduce her totally hot, voyeuristic new neighbor…. Pre-order Book

The ultimate destination for red-hot reads
Available now:

#417 ALL OR NOTHING  by Debbi Rawlins Buy your copy today!

#418 RISQUÉ BUSINESS  by Tawny Weber Buy your copy today!

#419 AT HER PLEASURE  by Cindi Myers Buy your copy today!

#420 Seducing a  S.E.A.L.  by Jamie Sobrato Buy your copy today!

#421 LIVE AND YEARN  by Kelley St. John Buy your copy today!

#422 OVERNIGHT SENSATION  by Karen Foley Buy your copy today!

Before I talk about my upcoming release from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, a hot paranormal erotic romance called Animal Attraction, I have to say thank you to Romance Junkies for asking me to guest blog!   I’m so flattered!

Now onto Animal Attraction!  When I first read that Whiskey Creek Press Torrid was coming out with a new line of books called the Men of Alaska Series, I totally knew I had to write a book for it.  I mean, what’s more exciting than a hot, hunky, outdoorsy hero, right?!

I played around with a lot of different storylines, but I kept coming back to the idea of werewolves.  Wolves just seemed to fit so well into the Alaskan theme, so I decided to go for it.  Once I did a little bit of research on Fairbanks, the story just started to write itself. 

I thought it would be more fun for my heroine to be a skeptic, so I made her a reluctant reporter for a paranormal magazine.  I figured that would lead to lots of amusing interaction with the hunky hero, who just happens to be a werewolf, of course!  Take a look at the blurb and excerpt below, and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.

To all the paranormal romance fans out there, I hope you really enjoy the read, and to Romance Junkies, once again, thanks a million for asking me to guest blog!

Animal Attraction

5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies Reviews!

Blurb:

Frustrated when none of the real newspapers will hire her as a reporter, Eliza Bradley takes the only job she can get – at a paranormal magazine. Her first assignment takes her to Fairbanks , Alaska to investigate the possibility that a werewolf has killed two local hikers.

She forgets about the story, however, when she meets Hunter McCall, a local college professor and an expert on wolves. The man is an absolute hunk, and she finds herself spending more time in his bed than worrying about werewolves. That  is, until Eliza finds out that Hunter isn’t just an animal in the sack, he’s an animal out of it, too – of the werewolf variety! Talk about a complicated relationship!

But Eliza can’t dwell on Hunter’s little shapeshifting issues. There’s another werewolf out there with a taste for human blood, and she and Hunter are the only ones who can stop him.

Excerpt:

“Anything else I can get for you folks?” the waitress asked.

Eliza glanced down at the table before looking up at the waitress again. “Ketchup?”

The woman nodded. “There’s a bottle on the table right behind you, sugar. Enjoy your dinner.”

Eliza had expected the woman to bring her a new bottle of ketchup, or at least grab the one off the other table for them, like waitresses in most restaurants would usually do. Maybe it was a diner thing, Eliza thought. Or an Alaska thing. Either way, it seemed she would be going to get her own bottle of ketchup. Taking her napkin off her lap and placing it on the table, Eliza pushed back her chair and got to her feet. When the waitress had told her that there was a bottle of ketchup on the table behind theirs, she had naturally assumed it was unoccupied, so she was surprised to see a man sitting there. And not just the average, run-of-the-mill guy she’d expect to find in a diner either, but a mouth-watering specimen of a man. Her breath caught as she found herself stopping right there in the middle of the diner to stare at him She had read in Cosmo once that there was something different about Alaskan men, that living in the great white north made them more masculine and sexy. Staring at the man seated at the table, she could well believe it.

Thank goodness he was intent on whatever he was reading on the laptop in front of him, because he would surely think she was a freak standing there staring at him with her mouth hanging open. But good heavens, with that thick, dark hair, chiseled, hair-roughened jaw, and wide, sensual mouth, how could any woman not be mesmerized? Abruptly realizing how idiotic she must look just standing there, Eliza finally forced her feet to move. As she neared his table, the man looked up from his laptop and she felt her breath hitch as his gaze met hers. She’d never seen eyes like his before. Not quite brown, but not really hazel, either, the only way she could think to describe them was gold. And the sexiest pair of eyes she’d ever seen. The heat from them mesmerized her, pulling her into their depths, and suddenly she found it very hard to breathe.

When he lifted a brow in question, she finally managed to break out of her trance. “I, um, was wondering if I could steal your ketchup,” Eliza stammered, her face coloring. “We don’t have any,” she added, glancing back at her table.

The man followed the direction of her gaze, his gold eyes settling on the photographer for a moment before he gave her a smile. “Sure.”

Picking up the bottle, he held it out to her. As she reached for it, her fingers brushed his and she almost gasped as the most amazing sensation swept through her. It was like she’d just gotten completely and thoroughly kissed. Her knees felt weak and there was a delicious little flutter in her tummy that left her breathless.It was then that she realized she hadn’t actually taken the bottle of ketchup yet. She was just standing there touching him like a dufus. She tried to cover her bizarre behavior by grabbing the bottle, but all she did was almost knock it out of his hand. They both fumbled with the thing for a moment before she finally gained control of it.

Could she be any more lame? She could already feel the heat rushing to her face.

“I think your boyfriend’s waiting for the ketchup,” he said when she continued to just stand there.

Eliza’s brow furrowed in confusion at the word “boyfriend,” but then she realized he must be referring to the photographer. She forced her attention away from the pleasant warmth that still swirled between her thighs and gave him a smile. “Oh, you mean Andy. He’s not my boyfriend. We just work together.”

One eyebrow rose. “Really.”

Oh God. Did he think she was trying to come on to him? Crap, she really needed to go back to her table before she did something else to embarrass herself. But she couldn’t seem to make her feet move. She had a crazy urge to reach out and touch him again to see if that same sexual spark would happen. Resisting the impulse, she instead reached up to tuck her long, dark hair behind her ear. “But you’re right. He is probably waiting for the ketchup.”

Giving the man another smile, she forced her-self to turn and walk back to her table. Halfway there, however, she couldn’t resist glancing over her shoulder to take one more look at him. He was regarding her with those incredible golden eyes of his, and her pulse fluttered wildly at the intensity in his gaze.

What was going on with her? She’d never experienced anything like this in her life. She had to get control of herself. Giving him one more look over her shoulder, she turned and stumbled back to her seat in a daze, clutching the bottle of ketchup in her hand.

Across from her, Andy lifted a brow as if to ask, what the hell is wrong with you? When she didn’t say anything he prompted, “You just going to sit there and hold that all night or can I use the ketchup?”

She blinked. “What? Oh, yeah. Sorry,” she mumbled, handing it to him.

Eliza watched as the photographer dumped ketchup on his onion rings, and then began to dig into his meal. She knew she should be doing the same, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what had just happened. Her heart was still racing as if she’d just come back from a run. Or had just gotten done having some really great sex. Good heavens, and all of that was from a mere brush of the fingers. She couldn’t keep herself from wondering what it would have been like if he really had kissed her.It was a long time before Eliza could focus on her food, and by then, she realized she wasn’t really hungry anymore, at least not for food anyway.  

Animal Attraction is available September 15th from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid!

From Romance Junkies Reviews:

“ANIMAL ATTRACTION is one hot read.  Ms. Tyler knows how to mesmerize an audience, she certainly kept mine.  I’d love to have this in print so I could keep it always.  My favorite paranormal subject housed perfectly.  Scene changes were as smooth as silk.  The characters richly defined.  I find nothing to complain about!”

Click here to read the entire review!

 

For more of my sexy erotic fiction, visit my website at http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com

And to get the scoop on all my new releases, as well as what I’m currently working on, just email me at paigetyler@paigetylertheauthor.com with “add me to your mailing list” in the subject line!

Oh, and by the way, I’m already working on the sequel to Animal Attraction, so keep checking my website for details!

*hugs*

Paige

“Stories so hot, they’ll make your cheeks blush!”