Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Interview & Giveaway: Ella Jade - The Lonely Dominant





Welcome to Beck’s Book Picks. I am very excited to have Ella Jade here today.

Tell us a little about yourself?
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. As a child, I often had a notebook and pen with me and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in my head, but I never knew what to do with them. That all changed when I discovered the eBooks industry. I started penning novels at a rapid pace and now I can't be stopped.
I reside in New Jersey with my husband and two young boys. When I'm not chasing after my kids I'm busy writing, attending PTO meetings, kickboxing and scrapbooking.

Tell us a little about your latest release and how you came up with the idea?
The Lonely Dominant is a BDSM Contemporary Romance.  I have a current BDSM story out called Be My Everything and when I started researching the elements of that particular lifestyle, I gathered so much information I really couldn't fit it all into one story, so I decided two separate novels were appropriate.

Blurb
Successful businessman Alec Carter realizes his life is less than fulfilled when he meets beautiful Princeton University senior Clara Whittaker at a local coffee shop. Alec experiments in the BDSM lifestyle but doesn't consider himself hardcore until he crosses paths with the obviously submissive Clara. The more time Alec spends with young Clara, the more his dominant tendencies push to the surface. She could be what has been missing.
After her grandmother's death, Clara ends up a guest in Alec's home until she can finish school. She quickly learns she's a natural submissive and decides she wants to explore this new side of herself with the man of house. Alec shows her a life she never knew existed as they enter into a world of role playing, fantasy, and desire. Alec may be the Master, but Clara holds the key to his heart. 
As the semester comes to an end, so does their arrangement. If Alec doesn't admit his true feelings for Clara, she could walk out of his life forever. But, Alec isn’t sure which she craves more . . . his dominance . . . or his love.

Do you only write this one genre or have you branched out?
I pretty much stick with Romances but the sub-genre changes from time to time. I've done BDSM, m/m and contemporary.

What are you currently working on?
I'm about 20K into what I hope to be a 50k love story. Crossfire of Love is an idea I've been thinking about writing for quite some time. I've finally worked out the kinks and hope to have it submitted to a publisher by the end of the year.

Do you have any writing quirks?
Not really. I kind of just go with the flow. I keep my laptop on the dining room table, so if dialogue or a plot idea strikes me while I'm cleaning, running in from the supermarket or folding laundry, I can write it down. I've completed full chapters throughout the day just by running back and forth to the computer.

What gets you into the mood to write?
When I really get into the writing zone, I need total silence. My kids are in school full-time now so I pretty much have the days to myself. I try to write for at least 5 hours a day.

Favorite snack or drink while you write?
Starbucks Iced Tea! I put the kids on the bus and head to Starbucks before my writing routine begins.

Any words of advice to aspiring authors?
Be patient and write as much as you possibly can. The more work you put into your book, the more it shows. Don't get discourage if you don't get a contract right away. Keep trying. It will happen! Don't give up.

Also, start creating an on-line presence for yourself now. Get to know fellow authors by tweeting and Facebooking. I can't stress enough how important it is to get your name out there.

What are you currently reading?
Sadly, nothing at the moment. My Kindle is sitting lonely. I've recently completed a 75K manuscript and then I jumped right into the next one.

And finally, is there anything you would like to share?
If you’re a fan of the m/m genre, I have a book due out on 12/19/11 with Beachwalk Press. It's called Embracing the Unexpected. Here's the blurb…

Sometimes love can be found where we least expect it.


Successful attorney Parker Phillips has always been straight, but he's having trouble finding the right woman. Failed relationship after failed relationship has proven that.

Brilliant and charismatic Dr. Jace Cross is comfortable in his sexuality, but has been single for some time. He throws himself into his work to fill the lonely void. He's drawn to Parker in ways he knows he shouldn't be.

When one bad decision lands Parker in Jace's court-appointed anger management course, sparks fly. Parker isn't willing to embrace his feelings. Can the sexy doctor help him discover who he truly is?
For more details…

I love making new friends so please connect with me at http://ellajadeauthor.blogspot.com
Thanks for having me!





The Lonely Dominant is currently available at Noble Romance for purchase, but will soon be available on amazon and nook.


 

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Beachwalk Press Holiday Tour: Ella Jade *Giveaway*






Domestic Goddess or Romance Author?
by Ella Jade

Can’t I be both?

Hello everyone. My name is Ella Jade and I’m thrilled to be here during this magical time of year. The holiday season is upon us and there’s so much to do. There are cookies to be baked, presents to be bought and wrapped, a house to be decorated, and stockings to hang by the chimney.

Geesh…looks like I’ll be a busy girl. I don’t mind because I like this kind of busy. The holidays can often be stressful, but I try to take a step back and relax. I want to do as many fun and exciting things as I can with my family during the month of December. One of my favorite things to do is working the Holiday shop at the kids’ school. I love seeing kids’ little faces light up when they’re buying a little trinket for their mom, dad, aunts, uncles, or pets. They’re so cute and innocent. Another special thing I like to do is bake cookies with my mom and kids. We dedicate an entire Sunday to making all sorts of cookies. It’s messy, but fun! And I think we eat more than we should!

Watching holiday movies and specials are also a big tradition in my house. We even start with Elf the weekend before Thanksgiving so we can squeeze them all in throughout the season. Some of our must-sees are Jingle All the Way, Christmas Vacation, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Miracle on 34th Street. We light a fire, make popcorn, and just snuggle under the blankets. The rest of the year is always so crazy with school, homework, sports and anything else that pops up, so we try to schedule as much family time as possible during these few special weeks. I want my kids to have memories that will last a lifetime.

I’m also hosting Christmas dinner this year. I’m cooking for twenty guests! I’ve just finished cleaning up from the massive Thanksgiving dinner I cooked, but the wheels are already turning. What delicious concoction can I come up with? What will my centerpiece be? How will I dress the table? My husband says we don’t have time for me to have a “Martha moment” because we’re busy enough. But I LOVE to entertain and make people feel welcome in my home. Hmm…I’m thinking some sort of white chocolate, raspberry cheesecake will need to be created, and I really can’t forget the Pomegranate martinis, can I?

With all of the planning, organizing, and creating during this time of year, I still make an effort to write. I’m a romance author after all, and so much inspiration can be found around these next few weeks. The smell of a fresh Pine wreath, mistletoe hanging from a doorway, a cup of hot chocolate by the fire, or even the reflection of the lights from the tree all serves as wonderful writing prompts for me. So, as busy as I am, I always make time when everyone else is asleep and the house is quiet to sneak downstairs, turn on the lights to the tree and mantle, and let the season get my creative juices flowing.

I hope you find inspiration this holiday season in every aspect of your life. I wish you all a happy and safe holiday.
And if you’re looking for something naughty to read on these cold nights, check out my newest release, Embracing the Unexpected.

It’ll be out just in time for Christmas.

You can find it at http://beachwalkpress.com/embracing-the-unexpected/ on December 19, 2011.






__________________________________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed about two years ago when she found a fan fiction website and decided to spin her own version of a popular vampire series. That experience gave her the courage to start submitting her own original stories to publishers.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two young boys. When she’s not chasing after her kids, she’s busy writing, kickboxing and scrapbooking.
She also loves making new friends and would love to connect with you. You can find her on the web at the following places:
Spicin’ It Up Blog: http://spicyauthors.blogspot.com/

__________________________________________________________________

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY:
Beachwalk Press will be sponsoring giveaways at the end of this blog tour. Everyone who comments on a post will have their name placed in a drawing (be sure to include an email address so we have a way to contact you). On Monday, December 19th we will randomly choose four people who will win a Beachwalk Press eBook of their choice from any of the authors who participated on the tour. The more blogs you comment on, the more times you are entered to win! For a list of all the blogs we will be visiting on this tour, click here: http://beachwalkpress.com/2011/11/beachwalk-press-holiday-blog-tour/

BEACHWALK PRESS HOLIDAY SCAVENGER HUNT:
During the month of December, Beachwalk Press will be hosting a Holiday Scavenger Hunt. There will be multiple winners, and the prizes will include gift certificates, Godiva chocolates, and a Kindle Fire! Visit our website for more information. http://beachwalkpress.com/





  http://beachwalkpress.com/2011/11/beachwalk-press-holiday-blog-tour/

Tall, Dark, and Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy



Publication Date: November 1st 2011
Genre: Western Romance
Heat level: R
Reviewed For: Sourcebooks

Blurb: SHE'S LOOKING FOR AN OLD FRIEND... 
In the wake of a nasty divorce, Lacey Bradford heads for Wyoming where she's sure her old friend will take her in. But her high school pal Chase Caldwell is no longer the gangly boy who would follow her anywhere. For one thing, he's now incredibly buff and handsome, but that's not all that's changed... 

WHAT SHE FINDS IS ONE HOT COWBOY... 
Chase has been through tough times and is less than thrilled to see the girl who once broke his heart. But try as he might to resist her, while Lacey's putting her life back together, he's finding new ways to be a part of it.



My Thoughts: This was a fun read. In the beginning I was a little unsure if I liked Lacey or not. But, I love Joanne Kennedy and I knew she wouldn't fail me. And she didn't. A few chapters in, I started to understand Lacey and was rooting for her to find herself and love all at the same time. Chase also starts out a little unliked. But, I can see why he reacted to Lacey the way he did. But don't worry, it doesn't take these two very long at all to get lip locked and realize they want each other very much.

Besides the hot and steamy romance, there is a lower lining plot. Lacey has left home because her ex-husband has taken advantage of a lot of people. Since he's disappeared, they are coming after her. One man inperticular is after her, and he has a history of hurting her in the past.

This is a book you can easily read in an afternoon. You will be sucked in and when its over, your going to be wishing for more.



 

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Cruising Toward Love by Christi Barth



Publication Date: August 30, 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: E-book
Heat Level: PG-13
Reviewed For: the author

Blurb: Can an unexplained breakup and ten years of heartache be cured by the romance - and endless buffets - of a tropical cruise? When her sister is left at the altar, small town librarian Zoe Balis jumps at the chance to take the bride’s unused ticket for the honeymoon cruise. But she didn't count on sharing a cabin with the man who broke her heart ten years ago! 

Army medic Nate Hyatt never told Zoe goodbye when he enlisted - or the real reason why he dumped her on prom night after a year as high school sweethearts. And he never stopped dreaming about the girl he left behind. Could this voyage be his chance to fix the worst mistake he ever made? After all, a Caribbean cruise should be romantic… if he can convince her to move past ten years of bitterness and hurt. 

Once aboard the luxury liner, Zoe befriends a bored Internet mogul with more heart than tact. Nate vents his problems to a ship’s photographer battling PTSD. The four team up on an island hopping treasure hunt. The stakes grow higher with each of Zoe’s mysterious brushes with death. They race to discover why she's a target and who's behind it, while still competing in the treasure hunt. 

Zoe’s never gotten over her first love, and is tempted to let Nate back into her life. But she already lost him once. She’s not willing to risk loving a man whose career keeps him in a combat zone. Can Nate breach her defenses and suture her broken heart? Grab a deck chair and see if they survive the stormy relationship seas as they cruise toward love!



My Thoughts: This story is a fun story. It grabs a hold of you from the beginning and when your not reading it, your ready to get your hands back on it and read some more. Zoe and Nate have a history and it ends badly. Nate who thinks he did the right thing had no idea he left Zoe so bitter. But she is. There is so much flirting and chemistry in this book you often find yourself just sitting there smiling as you read it. After Zoe's sister gets left at the alter, she takes her sisters honeymoon ticket and goes on a cruise. Nate gets the grooms ticket. And the whirlwind romance starts.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes romance and wants to get swept away in a story that will steal your heart. This is a long book and when I read the last two words, The End, I wasn't ready! I'd love a follow up on these two. Maybe a short novella...hint hint :)

To learn more about this book and the author, check out her website http://www.christibarth.com/




 

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Review: Live Out Loud by Heather Wardell




Publication Date: August 31, 2011
Genre: Fiction/ chick-lit
Format: E-book
Heat Rating: G
Reviewed For: The Author



Blurb: Amy's a hobbyist songwriter with big dreams, but not the usual 'making it as a musician' kind. No, Amy wants to honor her late best friend by finally starting the support center for teenage girls they'd dreamed of when they were just girls themselves. She doesn't know where to start, but when one of her songs becomes an overnight internet sensation she sees a quick path to the money she'll need to make the center a reality.

As white-hot pop sensation Misty Will, Amy finds a whole new world opening to her and realizes she loves being on stage holding an audience spellbound. She also loves how her young fans look up to her and draw strength from her songs, but of course they don't know the awful thing she did after her friend died and how badly she could have used a support center herself. She knows, though, and also knows that she simply has to leave her new pop princess identity behind and become Amy the center director as she's dreamed of for eight years.

Doesn't she?



My Thoughts: This is one of those books that in each sitting you get completely caught up in what is going on. Amy is a singer in the beginning and only sings locally. One night she dresses in a pink mini-skirt and matching wig and makes it big. Over night she goes from Amy to Misty Will. She gets a new home, a trainer, someone to help her write her songs, and more. Its a dream come true. As a reader you wonder, okay she got what she wanted, now what. Well, it isn't all Amy thought it would be. You get an inside look on how the fame isn't what she wants. She wants to be making a difference in the lives of her listeners. While her life looks glamorous, its actually falling apart all around her. Her boyfriend-who I thought was the biggest jerk-leaves her. She really wants Tim, the song writer, but that just isn't working. Her friends are fake, and on top of that, she is being stalked by someone sending her letters.

Like I mentioned above, this book is going to suck you in. When you lay your e-reader down, your thoughts are going to be drifting back to this one. So before you start it, make sure you have to time to devote to it.

To learn more about the fantastic Heather Wardell, visit her website http://www.heatherwardell.com/ . There hasn't been a book by her yet that I haven't liked.




 

Friday, November 18, 2011

Keri Ford: Apple Trail - Small Town and Sexy!


I'm very excited to have Keri Ford on the blog today. The last book (#6) in the Apple Trail Series just released. But don't worry, Keri has another series already lined up for her eager followers. Be sure to visit her blog at  www.keriford.com to get a sneak peak at the HOT book covers.

If your a fan of hers or even if you haven't read one (which is just crazy), sit back and enjoy this post as she rounds up the series. Best of all, Keri is offering a giveaway to a lucky commenter.



Small Town And Sexy!

When I started the Apple Trail series, I envisioned a small town like mine. While Apple Trail is way smaller (2-3k) than my home town (18k), I mirrored the town square off my home town. Take the tiny picture of the courthouse here for example. Look familiar? I loosely based Apple Trail’s courthouse from Making Her Nights off it. I spoke of the trees, the white building and long sad eyes. I added the engraved apples on the building. And the vulture. Or maybe the vulture. I’m sure there’s been a couple those around our court house too. Lord knows they’re flying over my house enough (No one dead here birds!).

But it’s the town shops along the square that brings Henry, hero of Chasing Her Trail, to Apple Trail and to the heroine, Jessie. Henry’s grandfather raised him and his grandfather was raised in a small town, with a small square just like this one.One with trees along the sidewalk, overhang things and shops next to one another. In Apple Trail there’s men drinking coffee at a picnic table outside a diner during the day and a beauty parlor a couple shops over where you know the women gather.

Apple Trail’s town square is very contained. If you read In The Hay, you got to ride around with the hero as he drove past the courthouse, the few shops and then…that’s pretty much it before he entered the surrounding neighborhood. Beyond that are the train tracks and fields (a big grin here. For those who’ve read In The Hay, you know why I’m grinning).

If you were flying overhead and looked down, you’d see Riley Hamilton’s farm along one side (On The Fence) and the town square in the center. The Iverson property would be just outside of town and wrapping around behind it. Beyond that you’d find Jessie’s land and Mike and Tiffany next to her.

The town population is small. The land often sprawling at times. And the people like to get dirty in their backyards when no one is looking.

 Leave me a comment and be entered for a chance to win your pick of any of the Apple Trail stories!

***
Jessie McBride barely survived the unexpected death of her loving parents. Forced to fend for herself with few people to depend on while raising her younger cousin, Jessie learned to be self-sufficient. She kept a few friends close and pushed the rest of the world away, along with that helpless, dependent girl she was once. Been there, done that, never again.

It works until Henry Green enters her life, with sentimental tales of his grandpa and family. Jessie is drawn in as Henry strives to take care of the man who raised him. But while Henry is putting things in place for his grandpa to retire, his well-intended controlling ways are smothering Jessie. 

Can Henry’s invitation back to life and love tempt Jessie to drop the emotional wall, or will Henry give up on chasing the girl she once was?





Keri Ford is the author of six sexy contemporary novellas set in the small town of Apple Trail, Arkansas. She’s got 3 more novellas currently scheduled for 2012 and a series of single-title romantic mysteries coming 2013.

Her latest release is Chasing Her Trail and is available at TMP | Amazon | Smashwords | AllRomanceEbooks | Bookstrand (will be available in more places soon! distribution times and all that)

To keep with the latest on Keri, check out her website (http://KeriFord.com).



 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Interview: Wife by Wednesday by Cathrine Bybee




Welcome to Beck’s Book Picks. I am very excited to have Cathrine Bybee here today, who just became an Amazon bestseller!
I'm excited to be here. Thanks for having me.

Tell us a little about yourself?
Let's see, my Twitter page says I write sexy, sometimes snarky, but always believable romance. I'm a wife, mother, and wine drinker… not always in that order. So yeah, that about sums it up. LOL

Tell us a little about your latest release and how you came up with the idea?
Wife by Wednesday was born from the idea of a modern marriage of connivance and a millionaire with a title. I wanted to throw two mercenaries together and let love prove to them that they can't always predict how life is going to be.

Do  you only write this one genre or have you branched out?
This is my first straight contemporary romance. I'm more known for my highland time travel romance and paranormal romance books. But alas, I love to read all romance so writing outside of any one genre was always my plan.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Interview: Joanne Kennedy




Welcome to Beck’s Book Picks. I am very excited to have Joanne Kennedy here today.

1.       Tell us a little about yourself?
JK: I live in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the cowboy capitol of the West.  I write contemporary Western romances filled with humor and heart plus a dash of suspense and some spice to keep things interesting.

2.       Tell us a little about your latest release and how you came up with the idea?
JK: Tall, Dark and Cowboy is the story of Lacey Bradford, a runaway trophy wife who flees her crooked ex-husband and ends up in Wyoming with nothing but a beat-up muscle car and an ugly dog. She’s hoping for some help from her old friend Chase Caldwell, but Chase has changed—mostly because Lacey broke his heart years ago without even realizing it. When Chase won’t help her, she has to create her own place in his small-town community—and he can’t help admiring the way she goes about doing it. It’s a book about forgiveness and love that lasts in spite of all the roadblocks we throw in its way.

The idea came from Lacey herself, who has been hovering in my subconscious for years and refused to go away until I found her a story—and a cowboy of her own. She’s not the kind of character I normally write about, but she ended up being my favorite heroine ever. Lacey grew up rich and privileged, but she has a conscience that never lets her take the easy way out.

3.       Do you only write this one genre or have you branched out?
JK: Western romance is my first love, and I intend to stick with it. But I write other things too. I have projects in progress in romantic suspense, and I’ve written a couple of paranormals. Lately I’ve been reading a lot of YA and I’d love to write in that genre.

4.       What are you currently working on?
JK: I just finished Cowboy Crazy, which features a rodeo cowboy and will come out in June 2012. Now I’m working on my sixth cowboy romance, tentatively titled Cowboy Tough. It’s about an artist who comes to a dude ranch to lead a painting workshop in the Wyoming backcountry. It’s a fun book because the ranch is a community all its own, and there are lots of quirky secondary characters among the ranch hands and art students. Plus there’s a hot, hot cowboy leading the way!

5.       Do you have any writing quirks?
JK: In some ways, writing is a quirk. My stories and characters are almost always on my mind. Half the time my husband can’t tell if I’m talking about real people or fictional ones.

6.       What gets you into the mood to write?
JK: Reading. Reading fiction puts the rhythms of narrative and dialogue into my head and helps me start seeing the story in the right terms.

7.       Favorite snack or drink while you write?
JK: It used to be Diet Coke, but now I’m trying to drink more water. I don’t eat while I’m writing; I take a break for lunch so I don’t get crumbs all over the keyboard. Kinda dull, I know – but when I’m writing I tend to forget about physical needs like food and, sadly, exercise!

8.       Any words of advice to aspiring authors?
JK: Don’t give up! If you are reasonably talented and willing to work hard both at writing and the business of writing, you will eventually succeed. I think the ease of electronic publishing has caused a lot of people to give up too quickly on the goal of getting a New York-style publishing deal.  The rejection process is an ordeal, but it forces you to write your very best book. Professional agents and editors are partners in making sure you’re putting out the best possible product—one that readers will love and you will be proud of. It’s worth the wait and the work and the heartbreak of rejections to be the best you can be.

9.       What are you currently reading?
JK: I just finished The Comforts of Home by Jodi Thomas. I love her small-town romances and was happy to return to Harmony, Texas and visit with the friends I made in the first two books in the series. Next I’m reading Sandra Kring’s The Book of Bright Ideas.

10.   And finally, is there anything you would like to share?
JK: Yes! I’d like to say how grateful I am to all my readers for their support, and also thank all you bloggers and reviewers for working so hard to promote the romance genre. It takes a lot of dedication to create websites like this one where readers and writers can connect.


Tall, Dark and Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy—In Stores November 2011

She’s looking for an old friend…
In the wake of a nasty divorce, Lacey Bradford heads for Wyoming where she’s sure her old friend will take her in. But her high school pal Chase Caldwell is no longer the gangly boy who would follow her anywhere. For one thing, he’s now incredibly buff and handsome, but that’s not all that’s changed…

What she finds is one hot cowboy…
Chase has been through tough times and is less than thrilled to see the girl who once broke his heart. But try as he might to resist her, while Lacey’s putting her life back together, he’s finding new ways to be part of it.

About the Author
Joanne Kennedy is the author of three previous contemporary Western romances for Sourcebooks. She brings a wide variety of experience, ranging from chicken farming to horse training, to her sexy, spicy cowboy stories. She is a 2011 finalist in the prestigious Romance Writers of American RITA© Awards, for One Fine Cowboy. Joanne lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she is working on her next book, Cowboy Crazy (June 2012). For more information, please visit http://joannekennedybooks.com/



 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Interview & Giveaway: Casea Major




Welcome to Beck’s Book Picks. I am very excited to have Casea Major here today to talk about her latest release One Knight In Brooklyn.

I'm excited to be here. Thank you for having me.

Tell us a little about yourself?
My pen name is Casea Major. Casea is pronounced Kay SEE. I have been writing romantic fiction for about a year.

Tell us a little about your latest release and how you came up with the idea?
My story One Knight in Brooklyn is the 42nd story in the popular multi-author 1Night Stand series from Decadent Publishing. The 1-Night Stand series is based around Madame Eve's high-end matchmaking service. With Madame Eve anything is possible. This series has something for everyone and I am proud to be counted with the talented authors in this group.

One Knight in Brooklyn stemmed from the idea of a 1-night stand with Robin Hood. It's a short erotic comedy romance with time travel and fantasy elements but with contemporary characters.

Most fairytales seem to be set during the Middle Ages. That's where you find the lion's share of handsome princes or knights in shining armor, right? That's what Marianne, my heroine thinks, too.


But I wondered what would a modern day knight look like and where might we find one? Could we even find one? You'll have to read the story for my take on the modern day KISA (Knight in shining armor)