Please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

Roxie: Thanks for having me! I’m thrilled to be here! My Her Russian Protector series features big, sexy tattooed Russians and the women they vow to protect.
Accountant Erin, bakery owner Benny, PR girl Lena and aspiring artist/waitress Vivian are close friends who love and support one another through some real ups and downs. Erin’s sister is a drug addict mixed up with the Albanian mob. Benny’s teenaged brother plays wannabe gangster with the Hermanos crew. Lena clawed her way out of Houston’s worst neighborhood but her ne’er-do-well cousin and ex-con father might drag her back. And then there’s Vivian whose tragic past ties her to Nikolai forever…

Mixed-martial arts trainer Ivan, security firm owner Dimitri, billionaire oligarch Yuri and mob boss Nikolai grew up together in a Russian orphanage and consider themselves brothers. Their bond is deep and there are some dark secrets they’ve buried and left behind in Russia—secrets that may follow them all the way to Houston.

When was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?

Roxie: Gosh, I’m not sure. It was probably in high school—but I convinced myself that going after a creative writing degree was the surest way to a wasted degree so I enrolled in one of the top biochemistry and genetics programs instead. I woke up one day in my junior year of college and had this moment of clarity. What the heck are you doing? So I started writing again, sold my first novella to Ellora’s Cave the next year and never looked back!

Every writer dreams of getting “the call”. What were you doing when yours came? Who got to hear the good news first?

Roxie: My first “call” was an email from Ellora’s Cave in early 2007. It was an acceptance on a sexy paranormal novella I’d submitted on a whim. My then-boyfriend, now husband heard the good news first because he was in the other room and came running when my excited squeeing started.

Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?

Roxie:Write the stories you want to read. For a long time, I fumbled around trying to write the stories I thought would sell or that the market wanted. When I let thoughts of selling, finding another agent and all that stressful stuff go, I rediscovered my love of writing—and my love of ridiculously sexy alpha males!

Describe the “perfect” hero. What about the “perfect” hero for you?

Roxie:The perfect hero is strong, protective, tender and open to compromise. It’s no coincidence my “perfect” romance novel hero has the same traits as my real-life hero!

What are some of your favorite pastimes? Do you have any hobbies or collections?

Roxie: I love to garden. We’re lucky to have a long growing season in Texas so I do a spring, summer and fall/winter garden. We get probably 70% of our fresh produce from our backyard (hopefully more as our fruit trees mature!) so I spend a lot of time canning and freezing all the yummy goodness we harvest.
Oh and I collect old books, especially first editions. It’s a hobby I inherited from my grandparents and share with my bibliophile husband.

What has been your biggest adventure to date?

Roxie:Hands-down, it’s been motherhood. No 24-year-old newlywed ever expects to hear that she’s infertile (say what?!) so that was an obstacle-filled adventure—and then kiddo was born with multiple severe heart defects. We spent most of her first year at Texas Children’s Hospital and what an adventure that was! But our little family came out of that happier, healthier and stronger than ever. It was an experience that changed me for the better and made me realize there is nothing I can’t overcome.

If your fairy godmother waved her wand and whisked you away to the location of your choice, which place would you choose, and why?

Roxie:I’ve always wanted to visit the Lake District and see the places Jane Austen wrote about so vividly.

When it comes to food, are you the adventurous type who will try anything once, or do you prefer to stick to tried and true foods and recipes?
Roxie: I’m a tried-and-true gal but my husband is very adventurous. When it’s his night to cook, I’m always secretly wondering where the heck the antacids are…

What is your favorite season? What do you love about it?

Roxie: I really love spring in Texas. The bluebonnets and other wildflowers are in full bloom. It’s warm but not oppressively hot yet. The days are longer so there’s plenty of time to relax on the patio in the evenings and the mornings are cool enough to leave the windows open.

What is the one modern convenience that you cannot do without?

Roxie: The internet! I can’t imagine not having answers to every question at my fingertips or the ability to communicate with friends and family flung far and wide.

What is this romance writer’s idea of the “ideal romantic evening”?

Roxie: Right now, my idea of a romantic evening is some place quiet, private and without interruptions!

How do you describe yourself? How would your family and friends describe you?

Roxie: I describe myself as the stereotypical hermit writer. If it wasn’t for kiddo and the husband, I’d never leave the house or my writing cave!

Friends and family would probably describe me as Suzy Homemaker. I garden, can, sew and bake. I’m pretty sure I get labeled as a helicopter parent (okay, okay, I coddle!  ) but I wear that badge of paranoia with honor.

And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?
Roxie: A Whataburger #5 meal! It’s a sinfully delicious cheeseburger with bacon. Many late-night runs have been made to Whataburger for a #5 to fuel my writing all-nighters!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

 Roxie is giving away the following prizes on her tour:

Grand Prize:  $25.00 Amazon Gift Card

Runners-up:  FOUR (4) runners-up will receive BOTH eBooks of IVAN and DIMITRI

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR – SERIES SPOTLIGHT

IVAN

Her Russian Protector, #1

Desperate to find her sister, Erin goes to the only man in Houston who can help her:  Ivan Markovic. The intimidating, tattooed Russian operates one of the most elite mixed-martial arts training centers in the world but it’s his shadowy past and reputed connections with Houston’s underworld that interest her most.

 To find her sister, she’ll need the help of her big, scary Russian protector—but asking for help from a man like Ivan carries a steep price, one that might just include her heart.

 

Available at:

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble |  All Romance Ebooks | Apple | Smashwords |  Kobo

DIMITRI

Her Russian Protector, #2

 Refusing to lose her brother to the violent Hermanos street gang, Benny turns to Dimitri, the dead sexy Russian who lives in the apartment above her family’s bakery. He’s the only man tough enough to get through to Johnny and save him from a life in prison—or worse.There’s nothing Dimitri won’t do for Benny, even if it means dealing with her troublemaking brother. He quickly realizes that it’s not just Johnny and his thug friends that pose a threat to Benny. A shady real estate developer needs to buy her bakery to secure a multi-million dollar deal and he’ll stop at nothing to make her sell.

Threatened from all sides, Benny finds safety in Dimitri’s strong arms — and in his bed. Her big, sexy Russian has no intention of ever letting her go—and he’ll brave the fires of hell before he lets anyone harm her.

 Reader’s Note: Dimitri is an incredibly passionate man with a dominant streak—and Benny is only too happy to indulge his need for a little…restraint.

Available at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Kobo  | Smashwords

ALL ABOUT ROXIE:

When I’m not chasing after my wild preschooler, I like to write super sexy romances and scorching hot erotica. I live in Texas with a husband who could easily snag a job as an extra on History Channel’s new Viking series, a sweet but rowdy three-year-old with Tetralogy of Fallot, and Bosley, our Great Dane with major mommy issues.

I also have another dirty-book writing alter ego, Lolita Lopez, who writes deliciously steamy tales for Ellora’s Cave, Forever Yours/Grand Central, Mischief/Harper Collins UK, Siren Publishing and Cleis Press.

Connect with Roxie:  Website | Facebook | Goodreads

HER RUSSIAN PROTECTOR:  IVAN and DIMITRI – Blog Tour Schedule

 4/29 – Nina’s Literary Escape

http://ninasliteraryescape.blogspot.com/

 4/30 – Riverina Romantics

http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com/

 5/01 – Flirting with Romance

http://flirtingwithromance.blogspot.com/

 5/02 – Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

 5/02 – Literal Addiction

http://www.literaladdiction.com/

 5/04 – Froggarita’s Bookcase

http://www.froggaritasbookcase.com/

 5/05 – Mad Hatter Reads

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

 5/06 – United by Books

http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

 5/08 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com

 5/09 – My Reading Obsession

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com

 5/10 – Books, Books and More Books

http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com

 5/11 -  Offbeat Vagabond

http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/

 5/12 – Romance Junkies

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

 

Please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

Susan: Well, I’m just coming off of finished The Cowboy Rode a Harley (writing) and editing a new series, Naughty Nights Book 1, Taken.

When was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?

Susan: When every other door in my life closed. I had neurosurgery that went neuro-wrong!!

I’m highly sensitized to most chemicals. Dryer sheets are my kryptonite. Perfumes, thermo paper, printers, cleaners, you name it.  Imagine the bubble boy from Seinfeld. That’s me.
Every writer dreams of getting “the call”. What were you doing when yours came? Who got to hear the good news first? 

Susan: I entered a query contest and had to calls. The one I submitted, Secret Desire was picked.

Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day? 

Susan: My father and husband gave me the same advice. They said never be afraid to try something new. If I wanted to fear something, it should be fear regret for not having tried.

Describe the “perfect” hero. What about the “perfect” hero for you?

Susan: To describe the perfect hero is really a psychological battery test of sorts. Part of us lurks in what we crave and our fantasy or wounded self calls out. With that said, let’s do it. Definitely commanding. Almost stoic at first. Deep. Dark. On a slow ride. Walls—sure they’re up. Doesn’t let everyone in. Physically: more lean muscle over bulk. I imagine someone who is flexible in all the right ways.

Two necessary attributes: Wit and a square jaw. So much is taken on the chin.

What are some of your favorite pastimes? Do you have any hobbies or collections? 

Susan: Something I’ve not ever talked about before is my annual jam making day. I make enough to last until the next year. Last year was peach. It was sooooo good. This year I’m doing a peach-apricot recipe.

What has been your biggest adventure to date?

My daughter’s wedding. Any parent who has been on that journey “feels” me. If you haven’t, and you’ve a child. Wait. It’s an absolute rainbow of emotions. All good.

If your fairy godmother waved her wand and whisked you away to the location of your choice, which place would you choose, and why?

Susan: So many…choices!! I keep coming back to India. I know things have changed so much recently but I’d go and spend the month with BKS Iyengar doing yoga.

When it comes to food, are you the adventurous type who will try anything once, or do you prefer to stick to tried and true foods and recipes?

Susan: I eat anything and everything.

What is your favorite season? What do you love about it?

Susan: I love fall. Internally it brings a joy every year. I don’t know why.

What is the one modern convenience that you cannot do without?

Susan: A computer. Absolute necessity. I need to be able to type and then go back and correct/edit. I’d lose too much time and don’t think I’d get much done if I had to write by hand.

What is this romance writer’s idea of the “ideal romantic evening”?

Susan: No computer. Candles, balmy breeze, sunset barely visible, music, red wine, and of course, my husband.

How do you describe yourself? How would your family and friends describe you? 

Susan:In the mirror this is what I see: Type-A personality. Others: Who is that nut job?

And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?

Susan:Chai Latte from Starbucks. So good%^)

Romance Junkies this has been a hoot. Thank you so very much!!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

 Susan is offering up a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card and a SWAG Pack (T-Shirt, Notebooks & Pen) to one lucky winner that follows the tour.

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 TEMPTED BY TROUBLE

Author: Susan Arden

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Release Date: April 1, 2013

 When a woman is the magnet for the wrong man, it takes a bad boy to break old habits.

Carolina Rodriguez is a large animal veterinarian on a mission to escape South Florida and her overprotective family. Willing to do just about anything, she accepts a job in Annona, Texas over the Internet from a family connection.

At her cousin’s wedding, she runs into Matt, a handsome Texan in the church parking lot. Matthew McLemore is more than gorgeous, he’s Carolina’s new boss, and needs her help to determine why his cattle keep dying. Matt’s instantaneous attraction to Carolina sorely tempts him to push the boundaries of their work contract, but a roll in the hay may prove too volatile to handle. Until she arrives on his ranch and is too hot to resist.

Carolina refuses to admit Matt’s raw sexuality is more than overpowering or that she’s the least bit tempted by this smooth-talking bad boy. But by the time the pathology lab reports comes back, they’ve explored every inch of each other. All of a sudden, this fiery affair is more than just a fling. And when a past flame threatens to overwhelm their new found romance, Matt must find a way to stake his claim to Carolina’s heart before it’s too late.

Warning: Contains a smoking mess of scorching love scenes.

Ice may be needed for blazing imaginations.

Available Now at Amazon

 

TEMPTED BY TROUBLEExcerpt

“Evermore Ranch,” she read aloud.

“I hope this won’t upset your plans?”

“Would it matter? I signed a service contract that included a non-disclosure agreement. Even if I had a problem, I couldn’t tell a soul and I’ve promised you two weeks of my time.”

He chuckled softly. “Yes, two weeks to do my bidding.”

She almost choked at the thought of doing his bidding. “What the heck have I gotten myself into with you, Mr. McLemore? Exactly what type of office do you run?”

His expression changed. Sharpened. “Strictly business. Look, Dr. Rodriguez, we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”

“Wrong foot … the whole body is a problem, sir,” she hissed.

He smiled broadly, reassuring her. “Let’s discuss this later. This isn’t the correct time or place. Don’t you have to help the bride or something?”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, I do. I don’t know what you think you’ve contracted, but I’ll only supply you with vet services. As long as you understand that fact, there’s nothing more to discuss.”

“Well, there is. In the service agreement, there’s a provision that we need to discuss before you’re allowed access to the ranch barn and stable sites. So, either we can do it later or when you arrive in Texas. But until you and I have a little sit-down and get a few things ironed out, there won’t be any work for you to do directly. I’ve got a ranch to run, and I don’t have time to play games. I’ve already spent enough time finding a vet.” His eyes glittered and dropped to her mouth. “If you think I’m about to waste more time because you’ve got second thoughts, Dr. Rodriguez, the next communication you’ll have from Evermore Ranch will be from my attorneys. Had I known who you were before, believe me, I wouldn’t have … I’d never let the situation get away from me.”

Oh, this was rich. “Away from you. I’d say it got out of control. But that’s on your side of the table. Fine. I’ll honor my service contract. You’re right about one thing. The only thing of interest to me is treating your cattle. Once the job is done, I’ll be only too happy to leave you in peace and we can go our separate ways.”

Up close, his eyes shone sherry-colored. A muscle flexed along his jaw. His masculine scent of leather, smoke, and wood filled her head. The hard set of his mouth didn’t resemble the man from before. He’d done just as he’d promised, shutting one door, and leaving in place a man who didn’t look as if he enjoyed playing games. No this version of Matt McLemore had a locking gaze and if looks could kill, she was a goner.

“I’m glad we understand one another then, Dr. Rodriguez. I expect to meet with you tomorrow at your convenience. Our relationship will be strictly business, if that’s what got you in such a dither.”

ABOUT SUSAN:

Susan Arden is a third generation Floridian. She left the field of education in 2008 pursing her dream of writing romance fiction. Currently, she writes hot love stories within the romance genres of contemporary erotic, western, and fantasy/paranormal.  Susan also writes under the name of Susan D. Taylor.
Susan currently lives in TN along with husband, two cattle dogs, two crazy cats, a gecko and a corn snake. A mother, RYT200 Yoga Alliance (registered yoga teacher), and avid gardener. You can find her on the mat when she’s not writing her next hot romance novel.

CATCH SUSAN HERE:

Website | Twitter | FB | Playlist | Pinterest |Goodreads

 TEMPTED BY TROUBLE

Blog Tour Schedule

 4/29 – Reading Between The Wines

http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

5/01 – Riverina Romantics

http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com/

5/02 – My Reading Obsession

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com

5/04 – Urban Girl Reader

http://www.urbangirlreader.com/

5/05 – The Reading Café

http://thereadingcafe.com/

5/06 – Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

5/07 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com

5/09 – Ramblings From This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

5/10 – Books-n-Kisses

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

5/11 – Romance Junkies

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

5/12 – Manga Maniac Café

http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/

5/12 – Romancing The Book

http://romancing-the-book.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

What His Car Says About Him by Elisabeth Barrett

Some people say that a man’s car is a reflection of his true personality.  There may be some truth to this but I think the jury’s still out. After all, it’s impossible to know why a guy might choose a Prius over a gas-guzzler (is he eco-conscious or merely smug?) or why a man might pick a truck over a sedan (is he showing his rugged side or does he simply have a lot of gear to carry?).  Also, many people for financial and other valid reasons wind up settling for a vehicle that might not be their top pick.

This being said, as I wrote my Star Harbor series (about four brothers living and working on Cape Cod), I actually gave a ton of thought to what kinds of cars each hero drove.  I weighed personality traits such as patience, humility, practicality, and attitude in order to choose each brother’s perfect vehicle.

Long Simmering Spring is the third book in the series, and comes out on May 13^th. It features Cole Grayson, who’s recently returned to Star Harbor to become the town sheriff. He and Julie Kensington, the local physician, have known each other since high school, and she’s less-than-impressed with the bad boy he used to be. But after stints in the military and on Boston’s police force, the question isn’t whether Cole has changed, but how much. It isn’t long before Cole realizes that this sweet, sexy doctor will force him to confront his past and help him to face the future.

In honor of both the book release and the kick-off of my blog tour (thanks for having me!), I thought I’d do something fun and break down each brother and his vehicle, so you can judge for yourself if their personalities fit their rides.

Sebastian – Hero of Deep Autumn Heat

 

Occupation: Chef

Personality: Sebastian is a bit smug, and acts entitled.  This fits with his status as the chef/owner of the popular New York City restaurant, Helena. Extremely talented, both in the kitchen and out, Seb goes after what he wants without worrying what anyone else thinks. This attitude has gotten him very far in life.

Ride: Harley Davidson Motorcycle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

Theo – Hero of Blaze of Winter

 

Occupation: Writer

Personality: Intelligent and introspective, Theo is quieter than his twin, Sebastian, and loves the outdoors.  He’s into ice hockey and (like the rest of his brothers) loves fishing off the Star Harbor piers. He dresses for comfort, and after a long day of writing, he can usually be found in the Rusty Nail, a local tavern.

Ride: Jeep Cherokee

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

Cole – Hero of Long Simmering Spring

 

 

 

Occupation: Sheriff of Star Harbor

Personality: Cole is a war veteran and former officer with the Boston PD, and is as rough and tough as they come. Yet this former bad boy has a softer side, which shows itself in the way he helps senior citizens cross the street and in how he organizes safety demonstrations for Star Harbor’s youth. Cole spends most of his free time figuring out how to further help his community and trying to keep his PTSD under control.

Ride: Dodge Charger

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Val –Hero of Slow Summer Burn

 

Occupation: DEA Agent

Personality: The oldest Grayson brother, Val doesn’t pay much attention to appearances. When he’s not in his office, he usually wears jeans and a worn Henley shirt. He owns an apartment in Boston but lives on a houseboat in Star Harbor.  He enjoys working on the boat when he’s not on the job. Val is extremely loyal and typically quiet, but when he’s with his brothers, he can be pretty lively.

Ride: Vintage Ford pickup truck

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So what do you think? Do the brothers’ personalities fit their rides?

 

About Long Simmering Spring:

Spring comes to Star Harbor, bringing unexpected passion for a sexy sheriff, as the next Grayson brother finds love with the town’s beautiful doctor.

Julie Kensington grew up in the same small town as the Grayson brothers and remembers when the boys were nothing but trouble. As teenagers, Cole’s rugged sex appeal set Julie’s heart ablaze, but she did her best to ignore it. Now a grown woman with a medical degree, Julie still can’t resist her searing attraction to the roughest, toughest Grayson. He’s ex-military, tormented, and sexier than ever, but are his wounds too deep to be healed by her loving, gentle touch?

Even back in high school, straight-arrow Julie had a way of making Cole think twice about his bad-boy lifestyle. When Julie decides she’s finally ready to embrace her wild side, Cole knows he is just the man to show her the way, unleashing years of pent-up desire. Neither of them counted on falling in love, but when Cole’s demons threaten to derail their relationship, it’s up to Julie to show him that together, they can overcome the past . . . and build a future.

Pre-order Long Simmering Spring from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Google | Other Places

About the author:

Elisabeth Barrett lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and spends her days teaching, editing, writing sexy contemporary romance, and enjoying time with her sometimes-bearded husband and three spirited children. She is constantly perfecting her home-work-writing juggling act, but in her free time she loves to hike open space preserves, grow orchids, bake sweet things her husband won’t eat, and sing in grand choruses.

Elisabeth’s Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

GIVEAWAY!

One commenter will be randomly selected to win a NetGalley preview of LONG SIMMERING SPRING. Contest ends May 15th at midnight (EDT).You’ll need a NetGalley account, and to answer the question below:

 

Does your ride fit with your personality? Why or why not?

 

 

I’m in the process of writing a scene from which I’ve actually had to take break, so please excuse if this gets rant-y. If you’ve read my first two books, you know I adore writing about dominant alpha males having their way with my heroines. Not to mention a healthy amount of dirty talk  Right now, though? My current heroine is being a pain in the ass. She doesn’t want to be dominated or told where to put her legs, hands, or mouth. She wants to throw down my hero and make him pay for his overblown ego. And I’m kind of in the mood to let her. The problem is, I don’t have a lot of experience writing “women in charge” scenes. I write a sentence, decide she sounds to dominatrix-y (somewhere I don’t quite want to go) and promptly delete the sentence.

I’m going to get this scene right if it kills me. Or the hero, for that matter. Because I know once I get it right, it’s going to be super-hot. The hero and heroine are sworn enemies, further sweetening the pot. Plus, I’m going to take it as a good sign that my heroine is a strong-willed bad ass because I think she’ll connect with readers  Look for this one in October!

Time Changes Everything will be available May 13 through Entranced Publishing.

Amanda Larson is dedicated to her job and doesn’t want to make time for anything else. Until she runs into Jake Edwards. He used to be the cute boy next door; now he’s a sexy, big shot lawyer.

Jake Edwards isn’t interested in commitment. He’s successful, sexy, and single–and that’s how he likes it. When he reconnects with Amanda, Jake realizes he might have to rethink his philosophy on the carefree, bachelor lifestyle.

But, is it too late for them? Or can he convince her that he’s ready to give her his heart?

Purchase links: http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints/entranced/time-changes-everything/

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzKh1B21Z5w&feature=g-high-f&list=FL5KvXdEur-muCY2C8YBXBYQ

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15990302-time-changes-everything

Author Bio (photo attached)

Reading romance has always been at the top of Melinda’s favorite past times. After hectic days of teaching English to middle school students, Melinda finds time to write and read in the evenings. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband, three boys and German Sheppard. She enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her boys once they are grown. Melinda loves reality TV, traveling, blogging and playing Words With Friends.

Website: www.melindadozier.com
Blog: http://melindadozier.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/melindadozier

Blog Tour Giveaway
Melinda will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift certificate and an ecopy of Time Changes Everything. Winner will be announced on Melinda’s blog May 25. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Bio

Reading romance has always been at the top of Melinda’s favorite past times. After hectic days of teaching English to middle school students, Melinda finds time to write and read in the evenings. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband, three boys and German Sheppard. She enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her boys once they are grown. Melinda loves reality TV, traveling, blogging and playing Words With Friends.

The Boy Next Door, a free novella by Melinda Dozier is available now at Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/310848

I  am so glad you could join us here at RomanceJunkies. When was the moment that  you knew you had to be a writer? 

Lori: There was no one defining moment. It sort of crept up on me, at first telling me I was a daydreamer, and later telling me I was too introspective, and maybe fanciful. I started by creating stories in my head. Yeah, you can imagine what most thought of that. And then I wrote a few longhand, just for my own entertainment with no real thought of ever trying to sell.

I think it was when I attended a small local writer’s conference. At that time I’d written about 4 books. They were terrible – definitely not something I’d want in print. But without realizing it I was teaching myself to write. Anyway, at this conference I talked to some unpublished writers – several who had been working on a single book for years.  I had that “wow” moment, and thought maybe I had what it took.

 Who  gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?

Lori: Stella Cameron has been an angel on earth, giving me wonderful advice whenever I needed it. She will always be my hero.

At a local conference, before I’d ever sold, I met Stella. We hit it off and she was so kind that she offered to look at my work. I drove home (squealing all the way) and snatched up a manuscript, then drove back to the conference hotel. Stella sat on the bed in her room and read through several pages with me anxiously watching, my stomach in knots. And she said something life-altering. I don’t remember the exact words, but she told me I would definitely sell, that my voice was special, and that she was impressed.

That was really welcome praise, considering I’d been working on selling a book for 2 years. It had been revised, then revised again… and each time I sent it off I had to wait another 6 to 9 months.
Later that same day she sort of trapped a Harlequin editor in the elevator and asked if she was going to buy my book. (At that point the editor had had the revised manuscript for over 8 months.) When the editor waffled, unsure, Stella said she would just give my manuscript to her own editor with her recommendation – and the Harlequin editor said, “No, I’m buying her.”

I still smile when thinking of that. After waiting all that time, Stella got an editor to commit to me in an elevator at a conference hotel.

How could I not revere that woman?

Oh, and besides all that, Stella is an AMAZING author! I still love her work.

Describe the qualities in your “perfect” hero.

Lori: Well first off, he has to be imperfect. I can’t imagine anything more boring that perfection.

He has to be a man. A man’s man. I’m totally not into the metrosexual guy. If he paints his toenails… yeah, he won’t be in my book. Oh, and if he waxes his chest? Bleh. My guys are too busy kicking butt and saving mankind to groom their chests.

He has to be strong – physically strong is nice, but more important than that is mental and emotional strength. If he’s going to cry, it better be for a really good reason. Not because he lost a sporting event or watched a sad movie.

He has to be respectful to everyone who deserves it – which means unless someone has given him real reason to be disrespectful, he’ll be polite.

He has to be capable. It drives me INSANE when someone writes a hero who can’t change a diaper. I mean, that’s pretty basic. If you can’t do that, how can you possibly master anything complicated like driving a car or shaving?

He should be kind, with a sense of humor.

And he absolutely MUST love animals and feel protective toward children.

Being a stallion in bed doesn’t hurt either.

What  are some of your favorite pastimes? Do you have any hobbies or  collections?

I don’t actually collect anything, but I love anything with birds or windchimes. My kids have gotten me adorable little bird statues that are so cute for decorating. And windchimes… I love hearing them. The more the merrier.

My favorite pastime is anything with family. We have big family parties at my house. I look for reasons to invite all 60+ people over.
I also love, love, love going to movies. Horror and action are my favorite movie genres, but I can comedy and romance in a pinch. Drama… almost never. Who needs more drama? How is that entertainment?

Also really love the outdoors for relaxing. Hubby and I love to go to Hocking Hills (Fantastic place! Look it up!) or Cumberland Falls or The Natural Bridge. We have a small lake house and I spend much of the summer there. Boating, swimming, skiing… just being outside and seeing the birds and fish and hearing the breeze in the trees and feeling the sun on my skin… Love it.

What  has been your biggest adventure to date?

In writing? Or in life? If you mean in writing, then that would definitely be I wrote Joe Winston (Say No to Joe?) and both Kensington and Berkley wanted the book. To call it an adventure would be an understatement. I doubt anything writing-wise can ever equal the excitement of being wanted by two publishers who kept upping the ante. Fun, fun, fun!

In life, well you know, having kids are adventures that never ends. Lol.

We love the outdoors so we’ve visited lots of local caves and rock bridges, etc… But topping it all was the underground river during a lot of rain. The river was high enough that we had to duck our heads in places to fit through the caves. And it was so dark! Not for claustrophobic people, that’s for sure. For anyone who’s a real adrenaline junkie, though, I’m sure it would seem pretty tame.

 If  your fairy godmother waved her wand and whisked you away to the location      of your choice, which place would you choose, and why?

Lori: I’m going to be so lousy at this question because honestly, I’m so disgustingly happy right where I’m at! I love my home and I love my lake house. Between the two of those places, I can always be where I want. But if we’re talking about just for a visit… I love the beach. (Don’t want to swim in that “big water” but I love walking along the shore. I’ve never been to Hawaii so I’d love to visit there someday. I can’t go now because my little dog doesn’t travel well and I wouldn’t even think of leaving her behind.

 When it comes to food, are you the adventurous type who will try anything once,      or do you prefer to stick to tried and true foods and recipes?

Lori: Tried and true! Nothing with eyeballs.  Nothing that looks like a bug. (shrimp = grub worms. Lobsters = insects. Whole fish that are looking at me… shudders.) I love roast and mashed potatoes, stuffed pork chops, beef stew and bean soup and sauerkraut with ribs… I’m a country girl.

And I’ve never met a dessert I didn’t like!

What is the one modern convenience that you cannot do without?

Lori: How modern are we talking? I mean, indoor plumbing is waaaaay up on the list, but it’s been around a while. If we’re talking recent modern convenience, I’m pretty addicted to my internet. My friends are on Facebook! We have coffee together every morning. J I always prefer to connect via email than to be stuck on the phone. And all my photos are stored in cyber space.

 As a romance writer, what is your idea of  the “ideal romantic evening”?

Lori: My husband and I are not, and never have been, party people – unless it’s an afternoon family party. When we go to the movies, it’s usually a matinee. So with that in mind, I like easy, slow evenings where he cooks me something delicious for dinner (he’s turned into an amazing cook!) and then either the theater (not too late) or a good movie on the television, dressed in our comfortable clothes. J  Just us, quiet time, being together.

How would your family and friends describe you?

Lori: Hmmm… I actually just asked them, and here’s what they said:

Compassionate, considerate, kind, animal lover, grounded and organized, and from one of my sons: Small and Feisty, but also faithful and considerate.

Awww… I have such wonderful family and friends!

What is your favorite comfort food?

Lori: I have many comfort foods, but my favorite is probably stuffed pork chops. It’s a special meal, super fattening I’m sure, but oh-so-delicious! Mashed potatoes and gravy with that please.

What  is your favorite season? What do you love about it?

Lori: I kind of like all the seasons for different reasons – I like summer longer than the others. I mean, I love winter because it brings Christmas. But once the holidays are over, I want winter to go away. I love spring after the cold weather, but I get tired of the rain. Fall is nice, but it means the end of summer,  so… summer is my favorite! I love being outdoors, hiking, boating, skiing and swimming. Living in shorts and going barefoot. I love watching the birds and the squirrels and seeing fish jump in the lake. And as anyone who follows me on Facebook knows, I love the big bright sunrises and sunsets!

What project are you working on next?

Lori: That depends on how long it takes me to finish my current manuscript – which will be book 4 in the “Love Undercover” series. If I finish it early enough, I’ll start a new L. L. book, meaning more urban fantasy and more graphic gore. If it takes longer to finish, then I’ll jump into the next romance single title.

Any  place we can find you in person or on the net this month or next?

Lori:I have an event schedule to make it easier for readers to locate me! http://lorifoster.com/bio/loris-events/

I’m all over the net, too. Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, PushPage, and I have a really useful once-a-month newsletter that keeps readers caught up on all the happenings. J

June of every year I organize the “Reader & Author Get Together” with my good friend Duffy Brown. 500 romance readers, authors, editors, and editors getting together for fun, food, games, raffles and book signings. We’ve sold out already, but the booksignings are open to the public! Check out the deets on that here: http://lorifoster.com/connect-with-lori-online/readerauthor-get-together/

4 Ribbons from Romance Junkies “BARE IT ALL is an exciting, high octane, roller coaster ride.  It is full of all kinds of lusty interaction between the two main protagonists. The subplot nicely sets up the next book in the series, and gives readers a chance to get to know the secondary characters really well.  Lori Foster delivers a high wattage tale that you will not want to miss!”–Chris Mead, Romance Junkies – click here to read the rest of the review.

About the book: A cop’s craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal in the steamy new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster.

As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it…until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice’s secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire….

Click here to read an excerpt / Click here to buy your copy today!

 

Catch Me If You Can…

Ah, the capture fantasy. This is one of those romance tropes that’s always done it for me. It’s the mix of alpha males, heavy seduction and wickedly sexy scenes that stoke my fire. But I realize that it’s a huge turn-off for some readers. Different strokes, right?

For me the appeal is fairly primal. There’s something hot about being snatched up by some sinfully sexy guy. Don’t we all want to be so tempting, so alluring, that a man just has to have us?

Because I’m a sucker for romances with high stakes, I always enjoy the journey the couples take. There are a lot of emotional punches in these kinds of tales. From learning to live in alien surroundings to understanding the nuances of a new culture, there are emotional highs and lows as the couples navigate these tricky waters and discover more about one another.

I always shied away from writing one of these super sexy tales because these books were sort of my guilty pleasure. Then, finally, I thought screw it. I’m writing me some ridiculously hot capture romance—and the Grabbed series was born.

In this series, descendants of Earth humans who left our planet on generational ships have settled on a small, quarantined planet given to them by the Harcos, dominant race in their new solar system. These technologically advanced, hulking warriors offer their protection to the people of Calyx in exchange for food, natural resources—and women.

***Grabbed By Vicious Excerpt***

She’d never run so fast in her life. Lungs burning and ribs aching, Hallie leapt over a downed log and hit the mossy ground running. Her heart raced as she sprinted through the woods.

She couldn’t get caught. She had to evade the wild-eyed, vicious-looking man hot on her tail.

Her gaze darted around the forest for natural markers. She’d studied the grid all morning and had mentally mapped out various routes through the woods, all of them leading her straight to the safe zone. If she reached that space of refuge first, she couldn’t be Grabbed, couldn’t be claimed by one of those fearsome warriors from the sky ships.

Panic gripped her belly at the sound of snapping twigs and rustling brush behind her. She kicked up her pace, bare feet pounding the ground even quicker. Though her thighs and calves were on fire, she had to go faster. She might collapse when she reached the safe zone but that was better than being captured by that blue-eyed devil.

They were a strange people, these Harcos warriors. Unlike her ancestors who had arrived in this star system aboard a generational ship from Earth, the Harcos people were native to this sector. They were a warrior race of incredibly technologically advanced humans. They were larger than the average Earth descendant and ascribed to a rigid, militaristic society.

But they’d given Hallie’s ancestors this small planet named Calyx. Instead of firing upon the generational ship that had limped into their solar system, they’d rendered aid and brought her ancestors here to this beautiful, wild place. They’d established a sort of quarantine around the planet and viewed those Earth pioneers as an endangered species of sorts. No one came on to the planet, and no one got off, for nearly four hundred years.

Until the war raging in the system spilled on to Calyx and the insurgents came…

Hallie’s ears perked to the crunch of twigs and ground cover under heavy boots. She gulped but kept running. The image of the massive warrior made her belly tremble.

She’d noticed him watching her from the dais before the Grab began. One glimpse of the white-haired man who towered over the others had struck fear in her heart. She’d never seen a shade of hair that pale on a man in his prime, nor had she ever seen arms so thick and corded. The all-black military garb didn’t do much to soften his intimidating image. She’d noticed the insignia on the left side of his chest. He wasn’t a mere soldier. The man was an officer, which meant he was the most ruthless of the ruthless, one so brutal and vicious he’d managed to survive countless battles and proved himself more merciless than the other men.

And he wanted her.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

 Lo is giving away the following prizes on her tour:

 Grand Prize:  $25 gift card to Amazon to ONE lucky winner

 Runners-Up:  FOUR(4) runners-up will receive winners choice of GRABBED BY VICIOUS or CAUGHT BY MENACE (winners that would like CAUGHT BY MENACE will have a few weeks wait until the books is realeased).

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

SERIES SPOTLIGHT INFO:

 

GRABBED BY VICIOUS

Grabbed Series, Book 1

Hallie has never run so fast in her life. One of the frightening sky warriors from the warship Valiant is hot on her heels and intent on capturing her as his new bride. He takes her down and places his collar around her neck. With one word, he claims her.

Mine.

Born and bred for the military, Vicious has spent the last twenty-four years rising through the ranks. This dark-haired sprite ensnared him with one glance. Now she is his reward.

Despite her fear of Vicious, Hallie surrenders under his skillful hands and mouth. Vicious makes a promise to her. If she’ll submit to him, she’ll know only pleasure and comfort. After a lifetime of hardship, his offer tempts her greatly.

One night with Hallie and Vicious feels his protective instincts flaring. He’ll do anything to make her happy and keep her safe, even if that means surrendering his heart. Though he intended to master her, Vicious realizes it may be his sweet Hallie who masters him.

Available Now:
Ellora’s Cave | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance Ebooks | Kobo

 CAUGHT BY MENACE

Grabbed Series, Book 2

Menace’s plan to catch a sweet, docile woman is shot to hell when he’s tackled by a dark-haired beauty who wants to save her friend from being Grabbed. Refusing to leave the planet’s surface empty handed, Menace claims the spitfire with his collar.

Naya clawed her way off the streets of Connor’s Run and vowed to never let any man have control over her. She plans to make Menace so miserable he’ll set her free but the ruggedly sexy warrior disarms her with his unexpected patience and kindness.

Against her better judgment, Naya surrenders to Menace’s masterful hands and mouth. Submitting to her new husband brings her more pleasure and happiness than she’d ever imagined possible. For the first time in her life, she willingly trusts a man to protect her.

But when her past misdeeds catch up with her, Naya puts the depth and strength of that love to the test. Determined to show her he’s worthy of her trust, Menace will stop at nothing to save her.

Release Date TBA

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

While browsing bookstore shelves as a teenager, Lo discovered the erotic writings of Anaïs Nin and A.N. Roquelaure. Certain her mother would not approve, Lo smuggled the books home and squirreled them away in the most likely of places: under her bed. Late at night, she delved into the sensual worlds both writers created.

As a co-ed studying biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University, Lo dabbled in creating naughty tales to entertain her friends. Study for a midterm or pen a deliciously dirty story to delight her small band of fans? Not surprisingly, Lo is now on an extended sabbatical from college.

Luckily, Lo stumbled onto the world of erotic romance publishers. She realized there were other readers and writers who loved and craved breathtaking romance with the spiciest of love scenes. She took a chance and submitted her first novella. The rest is history.

Lo lives in Texas with her husband, daughter and big blubbering Great Dane with mommy issues. She also writes super sexy romances and scorching hot erotica with a New Adult flavor under the pen name Roxie Rivera.

 

Connect with Lolita:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Lolita Lopez’s GRABBED Series Blog Tour

5/06 – 5/19

 5/06 – Romance Junkies

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

 

5/07 – Book Lovin Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com//

 

5/09 – United by Books

http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

 

5/10 – My Reading Obsession

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/

 

5/11 – Tiffy-Fit’s 

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

 

5/13 – Salacious Reads

http://www.salaciousreads.com/

 

5/13 – Riverina Romantics

http://riverinaromantics.blogspot.com/

 

5/14 – Wicked Readings

http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

 

5/15 – Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

 

5/16 – Close Encounters

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

 

5/17 – Larissa’s Bookish Life

http://www.larissaslife.com/

 

5/17 – Salacious Reads

http://www.salaciousreads.com/

 

5/18 -Ramblings From This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

 

5/19 – Reading Between The Wines

http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

 

Elsker by ST Bende
Book I of The Elsker Saga
Release: April 22, 2013
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Length: 61,000 words
Publisher: Entranced Publishing, Blush

Blurb:
Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest-to-goodness Norse God — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.
Her orderly life just got very messy.

Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MaJIgkk-CI

Buy Links:

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Elsker/book-h7Bk69_5n06_14jqUhk-Cg/page1.html?s=MDjO03uxek-K4vwciTWJxA&r=1

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Elsker-The-Saga-ebook/dp/B00CGL33S2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366782935&sr=8-1&keywords=elsker

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elsker-st-bende/1115161284?ean=2940016665375

Entranced: http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints/blush/elsker/

About the Author:
Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the ELSKER series. She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.

You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail to stbende@gmail.com.

Author social media links

Blog: http://stbende.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/stbende
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stbende or @stbende
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/stbende/

Excerpt:

ELSKER – Book 1, THE ELSKER SAGA

At eight o’clock, a firm knock interrupted my reading. I picked my way through the flower shop that our living room had become and opened the door.
“Oh good, you kept my peace offerings.” Ull treated me to a rakish grin.
“Just a few of them,” I muttered. “Come on in.”
“Oh, no. You must come with me.”
“Why?” I challenged. Ull sighed.
“Are you going to fight me at every turn?”
“Probably.”
“Please come.” He looked so adorable standing on my stoop, his scarf casually thrown across the grey sweater under his coat. I gave in quicker than I meant to.
“Fine.” I grabbed my coat from the closet by the door and shoved my keys and wallet into the pocket. “Where are we off to?” I closed the door behind me and followed Ull into the brisk night, waiting for his promised explanation.
But he didn’t say anything. Instead, he put his hand on the small of my back and guided me away from campus. I shivered and noticed that Ull wore his jacket open, at ease in the chill. As we rounded the corner, Ull dropped his hand to clasp mine. It was so warm, so strong, and for a moment I forgot to be mad at him. We walked in silence as he led me down the main road. After two right turns, I found myself standing in a quiet garden.
Ull had brought me to a church.

Author Interview:

1. Please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

Thanks so much for having me on to celebrate ELSKER’s release day!  I’m spending most of my writing time in Asgard these days, working on The Elsker Saga.  The books follow twenty-year-old Kristia Tostenson as she meets and falls in love with Ull Myhr, the Norse God of Winter. 

 TUR, the ELSKER prequel, introduces us to Ull, Inga and Gunnar, and explains why a trio of Norse Gods would decide to leave Asgard for Cardiff University, Wales.

 In ELSKER, Book 1, Ull meets Kristia Tostenson, and brings some chaos to her predictable existence.  Kristia’s a twenty-year-old girl who prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University she falls for Ull. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. He’s an honest-to-goodness Norse God — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. And since Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms, her orderly life is about to get messy.

 Right now, my fabulous editor Eden Plantz and I are working through content edits on ENDRE, Book 2.  In ENDRE, Kristia deals with the realities of dating a Norse God.  She explores the role she’s fated to play in the mythology, and it’s not necessarily pleasant.  There’s plenty of romance between Kristia and Ull, but there’s also more action in this book.  Kristia’s finding her place in Ull’s world, and learning a lot about herself in the process.

 I’m slowly working on TRO, a third book in The Elsker Saga.  And my awesome critique partner, Jacqueline Gardner, and I just finished writing a YA Norse Mythology Adventure together.  Lots of Asgard, lots of fun!

 2.  When was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?

ELSKER started as a story I wrote in my journal, just for fun.  It was never meant to leave my computer, but I kept coming back to it until one day I realized it was book-length.  I lucked into an amazing critique partner, who encouraged me to submit it.   And now that I know how much fun it is to tell stories, it’s hard to stop! 

3. Describe the “perfect” hero. What about the “perfect” hero for you?

I’m sure all writers do this with their heroes, but Ull from The Elsker Saga is sort of a “perfect” hero to me.  He’s got those classic Nordic looks, and a sensitive soul buried deep, way deep, under layers of masculinity.  He’d do anything to protect the people he loves, and he’s tasked with saving the entire universe.  Plus he’s a great skier.  There’s lots to like. 

4. What are some of your favorite pastimes? Do you have any hobbies or collections?

I’m a huge IndyCar fan, which I transferred onto my character, Inga.  (I waver between Team Helio and Team Ryan Hunter-Reay, though I may be guilty of skewing my loyalties toward some of the newer drivers from time to time.)  I’m a lifelong skier, and I love to bake.  Norwegian waffles are my specialty, and I share my recipe at the end of ELSKER!

5. If your fairy godmother waved her wand and whisked you away to the location of your choice, which place would you choose, and why?

Ooh, that’s tough.  My answer would probably change from day to day.  I’d love to ski in Chile, or anywhere in the southern hemisphere in the middle of ‘summer’, really.  I’d love to lay on pretty much any white (or pink!) sand beach in the Caribbean.  I’d love to go to the Indianapolis 500.  But I think if I had to choose a place today, I’d ask Fairy Godmother to take me to the Cotswolds.  I’d sit in a field, sipping tea, staring at all the green and getting lots of writerly inspiration.

6. When it comes to food, are you the adventurous type who will try anything once, or do you prefer to stick to tried and true foods and recipes?

I am not a culinary adventurer.  I pretty much eat like a toddler. 

7. What is this romance writer’s idea of the “ideal romantic evening”?

Great food, great conversation, a beautiful walk (I’m partial to forests at the moment), and a chocolaty dessert in front of a roaring fire. 

8. What is your favorite comfort food?

Norwegian waffles.  Those things are amazing.  They work as a dessert, as a breakfast food, they’re great at tea time.  Mix them up by going non-traditional and using Nutella instead of a tart jam.  They’re the perfect anytime snack. 

9. What is your favorite season? What do you love about it?

One of my favorite times of the year is spotting the first daffodils in spring.  I spent some time in London, and I loved seeing the parks absolutely covered in daffodils in the springtime.  The bright yellow against the green grass was such a happy image; every time I see a daffodil I remember those parks and smile.

10. What is the one modern convenience that you cannot do without?

SpeedTV.  How else is a girl supposed to follow IndyCar?  Also, my laptop, on which I am entirely too dependent for too many things.

Thanks again for blogging with us!

Thank you so much for having me.  Be sure to stop by my blog today – we’re having a release day party, with a fun giveaway! http://stbende.blogspot.com/

TUR, the ELSKER SAGA prequel, is available to download for free from the Entranced Publishing website, (http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints-2/blush/elsker/), Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

ELSKER is available starting today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Entranced (http://www.entrancedpublishing.com/imprints-2/blush/elsker/ ).

Please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

JO: Thank you so much for having me here today! These days I’m busy writing my new Sugarland Blue series and my Alpha Pack series as J.D. Tyler. I’m enjoying every minute of it!

Sugarland Blue is a spinoff of my Firefighters of Station Five series. It centers on the Sugarland Police Department and begins with Detective Shane Ford’s long-awaited story, SWORN TO PROTECT, which comes out May 7. There’s also an e-novella that’s a prequel to SWORN titled ARMED AND DANGEROUS that’s out now. You don’t have to read it to enjoy Shane’s full-length book.

Here’s the blurb for SWORNT TO PROTECT:

Detective Shane Ford, Sugarland’s favorite cop, has been blindsided by the sudden death of his best friend, NFL star Brad Cooper, and becoming the legal guardian of Brad’s son, Drew—a bitter, angry sixteen-year-old with a dangerous secret. Shane is determined to pry the truth from Drew, but only manages to alienate him—and winds up going head to head with Juvenile Detective Daisy Callahan, whose job is to protect the teen’s best interests.

Shane has always been drawn to Daisy’s beauty and strength, but he’s determined not to allow their intense attraction to interfere with his duty ever again. It’s a vow that will prove difficult to keep, as the realities of Shane and Daisy’s blossoming love and their growing bond with the grieving teen propel Shane headlong into danger for the new family he’s sworn to protect.
When was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?

JO: I’ve always wanted to be a writer since I was a kid. But the moment I knew I *had* to do it was when I turned 35 and I still hadn’t followed my dream. It was one of those epiphanies where I told myself, “It’s now or never!” I started working hard at it and eventually achieved my dream.

Every writer dreams of getting “the call”. What were you doing when yours came? Who got to hear the good news first? 

JO: I was sitting at the computer when my agent called to tell me that my first book had sold, and I was over the moon! I’m now on my 20^th project as a published author. My how time flies!

Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day? 

JO: There have been so many who have helped me, it’s hard to chose one. But one I remember was hearing the wonderful Linda Castillo speak when I was an aspiring author. She said, “I sold my first book when I remembered I was supposed to be writing a romance.” Now, Linda has gone on to write bestselling mainstream thrillers, but I think the lesson there was to know your audience and what you want to write. Great advice that I’ve followed ever since.

Describe the “perfect” hero. What about the “perfect” hero for you?

JO: The perfect hero? Hmm. He’s honest, loyal, hardworking, has integrity, doesn’t mind getting dirty, and will walk through hell to keep his woman and children safe. A pretty tall order. I haven’t managed to find my own real-life hero, but I’m ever hopeful!

What are some of your favorite pastimes? Do you have any hobbies or collections? 

JO: I love to get massages to unwind after turning in a book. I also love to read, walk, shop, and lunch with the girlfriends. I collect blown glass, and frogs. Yes, frogs! Not real ones, but the cute ceramic ones, stone, and other kinds.

What has been your biggest adventure to date?

JO: I don’t know that I’ve had my big, grand adventure yet. But when I do, I’m sure it will be my trip to Italy and Greece, which is number one on my bucket list! I want to eat pasta and sip wine in some quaint, beautiful town and be pampered by equally beautiful Italian waiters.

If your fairy godmother waved her wand and whisked you away to the location of your choice, which place would you choose, and why?

JO: Italy! See above. J

When it comes to food, are you the adventurous type who will try anything once, or do you prefer to stick to tried and true foods and recipes?

JO: I’m not super picky on food, but I have limits and won’t try just anything. I’m not like that host on Bizarre Foods! LoL. I love Italian, Mexican, seafood, burgers… you know, “normal” stuff.

What is the one modern convenience that you cannot do without?

JO: Hot water! I must have a nice hot shower or bath to soothe away the tension.

How do you describe yourself? How would your family and friends describe you? 

JO: I think I’m quiet until you get to know me, then I’m really not quiet at all. I’m loyal, honest, and I’d do just about anything for my true friends. I think the people I love would say the same.

And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?

JO: Definitely, ice cream! A Braum’s brownie fudge sundae will go a long way toward restoring my good attitude!

What is your favorite season? What do you love about it?

JO: I love fall, especially October. I love when the weather begins to cool off and being able to sit on my patio again in comfort, and lighting my chiminea pot. There’s something about those quiet fall days just before the rush of the holidays that is special to me.

What is this romance writer’s idea of the “ideal romantic evening”?

JO: The ideal romantic evening is the company of that perfect hero mentioned above, just about anywhere! A quiet dinner at a nice restaurant with wine comes to mind…

 TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS

 Jo is giving away the following prizes on her tour:

 Grand Prize: 

$25.00 Gift Card to Amazon or B&N and an autographed paperback of SWORN TO PROTECT

 Runners-up:

Eight (8) runners-up will receive an autographed paperback of SWORN TO PROTECT

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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SERIES SPOTLIGHT INFO:

 ARMED AND DANGEROUS

 A Sugarland Blue Novella, Book 0.5

April 2, 2013

 From the author of the popular Firefighters of Station Five series comes a sizzling new novella about Sugarland’s favorite cop—and the courageous woman destined to steal his heart…

When Detective Shane Ford, Sugarland’s favorite man in blue, and Juvenile Detective Daisy Callahan work together on a dangerous case, they find themselves ignoring their professional instincts and falling hard. But when their romance gets in the way of their job—and puts both their lives in jeopardy—Shane vows to break things off. But as they’re about to discover, this kind of steamy passion is impossible to deny…

Includes a preview of the first book in Jo Davis’ new Sugarland Blue series, Sworn to Protect.  

Available at:
Amazon | B&N | Kobo

 

SWORN TO PROTECT

 Sugarland Blue, Book 1

May 7, 2013

 

Sugarland loves their men in blue, especially Detective Shane Ford. But Shane’s mission to protect and to serve has just gotten personal…. 

Detective Shane Ford, Sugarland’s favorite cop, has been blindsided by the sudden death of his best friend, NFL star Brad Cooper, and by becoming the legal guardian of Brad’s son, Drew—a bitter, angry sixteen-year-old with a dangerous secret. Shane is determined to pry the truth from Drew, but he manages only to alienate him—and winds up going head-to-head with Juvenile Officer Daisy Callahan, whose job is to protect the teen’s best interests.

Shane has always been drawn to Daisy’s beauty and strength, but he’s determined not to allow their intense attraction to interfere with his duty ever again. It’s a vow that will prove difficult to keep, as the realities of Shane and Daisy’s blossoming love and their growing bond with the grieving teen propel Shane headlong into danger for the new family he has sworn to protect.

Available at:
Amazon | B&N | Kobo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

National Bestselling author Jo Davis is best known for her popular Firefighters of Station Five series written as Jo Davis, and her dark, sexy paranormal series Alpha Pack, written as J.D. Tyler. PRIMAL LAW, the first book in her Alpha Pack series, is the winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award in Paranormal. She’s also been a multiple finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, a finalist for the Bookseller’s Best Award, has captured the HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, and has been a two-time nominee for the Australian Romance Readers Award in romantic suspense.

Jo’s books regularly appear on the Neilson Bookscan, Barnes and Noble, BooksOnBoard, and Amazon bestseller lists, among others.

Jo is currently at work on a new contemporary romance series titled SUGARLAND BLUE for NAL/Signet Eclipse, a spin-off of her Firefighters of Station Five series scheduled to debut in April 2013 with the kick-off novella ARMED AND DANGEROUS. Book 1, SWORN TO PROTECT, is being released May 7, 2013. She’s also publishing a new FBI series, ARMED AND DEADLY, set to debut in April 2013 with ONE LAST KISS. Jo lives in Texas with her two kids and a cute Boston terrier.

Connect with Jo:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Jo Davis’ SWORN TO PROTECT Blog Tour Schedule

5/03 – 5/13

5/03 – Book Lovin’ Mamas

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com//

5/03 – Buffy’s Ramblings

http://buffy-kennedy.blogspot.com/

5/03 – Flirting with Romance

http://flirtingwithromance.blogspot.com/

5/04 – Romance Junkies

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

5/04 – Cocktails and Books

http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

5/05 – Reading Between The Wines

http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/

5/05 – Darkest Addictions

http://darkestaddictions.blogspot.com/

5/06 – Books-n-Kisses

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

5/06 – United by Books

http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

5/07 – Confessions of the Paranormal

http://confessionsoftheparanormal.blogspot.com/

5/07 – Nina’s Literary Escape

http://ninasliteraryescape.blogspot.com/

5/08 – Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

5/08 – Page Flipperz

http://pageflipperz.blogspot.com/

5/09 – Books, Books and More Books

http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

5/09 – Toot’s Book Reviews

http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com/

5/10 – The Reading Café

http://thereadingcafe.com/

5/10 – Ramblings From This Chick

http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/

5/11 – Under the Covers

http://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/

5/11 – Mimmi’s Musings

http://mimmismusings.blogspot.com/

5/12 – Love in A Book

http://loveinabook.com/

5/12 – Night Owl Reviews

http://www.nightowlreviews.com/V5/

5/13 – GraveTells

http://gravetells.com/

5/13 – Bookin’ It Reviews

http://www.bookinitreviews.com/

Thank you for inviting me to the blog for the release of The Last Time, my latest contemporary, erotic romance. Available May 1, 2013, from Eternal Press

Just a little about me to let your readers know who I am.

 

I live in rural England, United Kingdom and I work in an antiques shop as well as writing. I have two dogs that keep me fit with their need for walks. Love the countryside and the coast.

I write romance, contemporary, and erotic with a twist of mystery, suspense, or the paranormal, now and then. I like to make the story unusual in some way, by a quirk in the tale.

I started writing when I was seventeen. Life intervened in my writing time and I stopped serious writing for some time. I started writing again seriously a couple of years ago, because I had so many stories in my head.

My work includes,

Millie Reinvented, which is a book for women, a love story, an uplifting story for the lonely, there’s a little humor in it and lots of yummy sex.

Two of Them, a contemporary erotic romance that men might like because the two principal characters are men looking for love, lots of secrets and sex in this.

The Horoscope Writer, A deeply romantic, sexy romance, full of delicious sex, that shows the lovely character of the main male lead, Dominic. He’s my ‘wish he was real guy’, touch of paranormal in this.

The Last Time, from Eternal Press release May 1. This is erotic romance.

I’ve also written a short (14,000 word story) The Picnic, for an erotic romance anthology called A Celtic Anthology published by Moon Rose.

Just had my latest manuscript, The Winter Girl contracted by Hot Ink Press. This is erotic romance again with a twist of magic. That’s a summer release.

I do love to write.

People and emotions inspire me to write. The complexity of life spurs me to write. I see emotions in people around me all the time, and often they remain unspoken. I think we don’t share ourselves enough, and are encouraged to hide our true selves.

Lots of my characters have some foundation from real people who have passed through my life. They are composites of those glimpses of people and my imagination. Even places can inspire me, for instance The Horoscope Writer was inspired by a To Let sign on a country lane.

I don’t have family and amongst my friends. No one knows what I write. Just one friend knows I write something (smiles). I seriously doubt anyone I actually know has read any of my books. That’s okay.

Why is that? Well my books fall into the category of erotic romance because of the graphic love scenes. I could have said sex scenes, but for me it’s always about the love my characters feel for each other, even if sometimes they are afraid to say it.

My female lead characters are intelligent and strong, yet have hidden vulnerabilities, or life happenings that are harsh. They know what it is like to be lonely and they are not afraid to go after love if it presents itself.

My male lead characters are deep, gentle, sexy, sometimes afraid of their feelings, sometimes so desperately in love they lay themselves open. They are intelligent and giving. The male leads in my stories with paranormal themes are different. They can be alphas, mysterious, and have strange things in their lives, but they will love their woman forever if they fall in love.

 

I’ve brought along my latest release The Last Time, which is contemporary, erotic romance with a twist of mystery.

The Last Time

Actor Seth Carbery swears he will never fall in love again, that is until he meets private detective Bethany Snow.

Something strange is going on. Seth and other members of the movie cast and crew are receiving threatening letters, but no threat has ever been carried out... yet. Bethany Snow is sent on location by the Black Agency to investigate, and guard Seth Carbery against danger.

The case is not what it first seems and even when Bethany thinks it could be over, a new twist means she becomes a target.

Seth and Bethany find they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Who is sending the letters and why? Does Seth have a secret admirer or stalker?

 

With steamy romance, graphic love scenes, and a quirky story of what people do for love this erotic romance is for adults only.

 

Excerpt 18+

 

He was holding her tightly against him. She felt the slight rasp of his unshaven face against her cheek as he transferred his kiss to the soft part of her shoulder, and began to suck, sending waves of sensation down her body. She traced the lines of his back muscles down to his hard bottom, and then, as they rolled onto their sides, she felt for him, hoping to curl her fingers around his erection. She wanted him inside her, and she moved her thigh to rest over his hip.

As she ached for more of the soft, wet kisses he now trailed across her breasts, she whispered, “Please put your fingers in me. Feel how much I need you.” He smiled, his mouth now against hers, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips. She felt his fingers tease her wetness and she tightened her hold on him.

 

****

 

Bethany could suddenly hear the sound of bells. They were far away and a nuisance because she was in the middle of a lovely dream. ‘What was that,’ she thought, as she surfaced from sleep? She blinked in the bright sunlight coming through her bedroom window, and knew that it could only be very early in the morning.

The doorbell was still ringing. Bethany sat up in bed and put her feet gingerly on the floor. She still felt unwell, and she walked to answer the door to her apartment reluctantly. ‘Couldn’t they just leave her alone for a couple of days?’

She opened her door.

Jake stood there looking frantic. “Bethany, I was really worried. It’s taken you ages to answer the door. You’re not still sick?” He strode into the apartment behind Bethany who was silent as she considered her answer.

She managed not to curse. “Jake, I have a really nasty virus. I’ve only been ill a day. What’s going on?” She started to make coffee.

Jake opened her fridge taking out a carton of orange juice. He found clean glasses in the dishwasher where Bethany had left them, and poured them both a glass of juice.

“Vitamin C will help. I had that same virus a couple of weeks ago and shook it off after a day.”

Bethany took the glass of orange juice from him, drinking some, before she poured boiling water on the instant coffee granules in the cups.

“Two days, Jake, if I recall correctly. What the hell are you here for anyway?”

Jake gave her a sympathetic look.

“We’ve got a job. Brandt is sending us to a movie set, well you actually, although I will come to the initial meeting for assessment of the situation.”

Bethany sighed and sneezed. She sat down on a stool at her kitchen table and looked at Jake menacingly.

“And you couldn’t have told him I was sick, you couldn’t have said you’d go on your own and I could catch up with you in a couple of days?”

Jake looked pained. “Who talks back to Brandt?”

 

****

Find Elodie online:

http://elodieparkes.blogspot.com            where you can read lots of snippets from my erotic romance novels, meet other authors and read snippets from their books.

http://www.facebook.com/ElodieParkes

http://www.goodreads.com/elodieparkes

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6448944.Elodie_Parkes/blog

https://twitter.com/ElodieParkes

http://www.manicreaders.com/ElodieParkes/

http://www.theromancereviews.com/EllieP

https://plus.google.com/u/0/114681167004175190514/posts

 

Find Elodie’s books:

http://www.amazon.com/Millie-Reinvented-ebook/dp/B008H5IF7U

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Millie-Reinvented-ebook/dp/B008H5IF7U

http://www.amazon.com/Two-of-Them-ebook/dp/B008RBJXOI

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-of-Them-ebook/dp/B008RBJXOI

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Horoscope-Writer-ebook/dp/B0094JIIVQ

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0094JIIVQ

Amazon, Bookiejar,

Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, KOBO, Apple iBooks, and Diesel ebooks

http://www.amazon.com/A-Celtic-Tapestryebook/dp/B00BXPHSA6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Celtic-Tapestry-ebook/dp/B00BXPHSA6

http://www.amazon.ca/A-Celtic-Tapestry-ebook/dp/B00BXPHSA6

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/A-Celtic-Tapestry/book-BJ_406GiXEebWjWdV6dWag/page1.html

 

 

Enter the rafflecopter draw to win $25 US, or £25 GB Amazon gift card and an ebook basket, of all five of Elodie’s erotic romance books released to date.

Millie Reinvented, Two of them, The Horoscope Writer,  A Celtic Tapestry in which Elodie has a short, The Picnic, and The Last Time.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The prize winner will be announced on June 1 on Elodie’s blog and each rafflecopter, Facebook, and twitter. The prize winner will be emailed to let them know.