Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

Book Blurb:

And on the One-Thousand-and-Second night, Scheherazade told this story…

By day, Taqla uses her forbidden sorcery to move freely about the city of Damascus in the guise of an old sage. Her true identity known only by her faithful servant woman, Taqla is content with the comfortable, if restrictive, life that keeps her safe from the control of any man. Until she lays eyes on a handsome merchant-traveler. Suddenly her magical disguise doesn’t rest so easily on her shoulders.

When long-time widower, Rafiq, hears that the Amir’s beautiful daughter has been kidnapped by a scheming djinni—and that she will be given in marriage to her rescuer—he seeks the help of “Umar the Wise” to ensure he will be that man. Yet as he and the disguised Taqla set off, he senses that his prickly male companion is hiding something.

In a moment of dire peril, all of Taqla’s secrets are stripped bare—her fears, her sorcery and, worst of all, her love for Rafiq. Yet the princess’s life hangs in the balance, and there is no running away or turning back. Even though passion may yet betray them all…

Warning: Scary monsters and creepy ruins in the desert—check. Pagan gods that demand blood-sacrifices—double check. A handsome hero who looks good in a robe and even better out of it—oh yeah. Check, check and check. That’s worth a heroine dropping a veil or two.

Purchase Heart of Flame

Heart of Flame is a fantasy with romantic elements. Set in the mystical world of 9th Century Arabia, this story is a fast-paced quest that held me spellbound and kept me turning the pages.

Taqla bint-Yusef is a sorceress who lives in seclusion, hiding her true nature from everyone except her trusted servants. Sometimes, she leaves her home in the guise of a man called Zahir, weaving a spell to make her appear as a plain young male. At other times, she weaves spells to appear as Umar, an elderly wise man, all to keep her identity secret and keep herself safe from persecution.

During an outing, Taqla hears of Rafiq the Traveller’s return to the city. She is interested in meeting him to learn of his travels. After their first eventful meeting, Rafiq visits the court of the Amir where he witnesses the disappearance of Ahleme, the daughter of the Amir of Dimashq when she vanishes without warning while gazing at a magical painting. The Amir is distraught and offers riches and marriage to the man who returns his daughter. Rafiq is determined to find her and seeks counsel with Umar, the wise man who is in reality Taqla.

Thus begins the quest to find Ahleme and win her hand in marriage. Rafiq sets out with Taqla in her Zahir disguise on an eventful journey.

Ms. Ashbless has done an awesome job with the setting. I’ve visited this part of the world, and I really felt as if I was dropped in the middle of Arabia. Her descriptions are excellent, painting wonderful word pictures that help make the characters shine.

Rafiq is well-travelled and confident. He intends to marry Ahleme once he finds her and become the next ruler of Dimashq. Taqla is more innocent to the ways of the world, but she holds the power of magic. A well-matched pair, one’s strength offsets the other’s weaknesses and vica versa. Taqla has a crush on Rafiq. She knows there is no future for them, yet she can’t help trying to aid Rafiq in his quest.

For those aspiring writers who want to learn about escalating tension, definitely check out this book. With each passing chapter, the situation seems to become more dire for our hero and heroine. Will they succeed or will they give up, accepting failure?

Heart of Flame is a story of bravery, of djinni, gods, ghosts and magic and the search for love. I enjoyed this book, and if you’re a fan of fantasy with a good dose of romance then I think you’ll like it too.

I’m frolicking (visiting) at Sweet ‘N Sexy Divas today and talking about romance writers. Pop over to say hello and comment on my post – you know you’re a romance writer when…

And why am I frolicking here?

Because I’m hard at work on a historical romance where there is currently much frolicking. It’s rubbed off on me, hence the topic for my TT this week.

Thirteen Synonyms For FROLIC

1. Caper

2. Prance

3. Scamper

4. Tomfoolery

5. Skylark

6. Curvet

7. Dally

8. Carouse

9. Romp

10. Disport

11. Gambol

12. Cavort

13. Revel

I’m off to continue with my historical frolicking. Tell me – do you have any exciting plans to celebrate the arrival of the New Year? Will you be frolicking?

I’d like to welcome author Tina Donahue today. I’ll hand you straight over since she has some big news!

Did you get what you wanted for the holidays??

I certainly did! A contract for the next installment of my Outlawed Realm series with Samhain Publishing. Book 2 is due out September 2012. Woot!!

For those of you who don’t know me, here’s my official bio and links:

Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work; she has reached finals and/or placed in numerous RWA–sponsored contests. Three of her erotic novels were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. Sensual Stranger, her erotic romance, was chosen Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category) at the French review site, Blue Moon reviews. The Golden Nib Award at Miz Love Loves Books was created specifically for her erotic romance Lush Velvet Nights; and Deep, Dark, Delicious (erotic romance) recently received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition (2011). She’s featured in the 2012 Novel and Writer’s Market. Before turning to fiction, she was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.

Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website/blog: www.tinadonahue.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000458023097

For those of you who haven’t yet read Unending Desire, Book One in my Outlawed Realm
series, here’s the cover art, the blurb and an excerpt. Enjoy!

Blurb:

His hunger for one woman will make him a traitor to his world…
Outlawed Realm, Book 1

From a portal in his lab on E2, one of the five dimensions of Earth, quantum physicist Nikoli Zorr gazes on everything forbidden to him. Passion. Desire. The exquisite pleasure of running his hands over the lush curves of a young woman he should have stopped watching weeks ago.

His duty is to close the portals that keep the monsters out of E2—and never interfere with the inevitable fate of those on the other side. Yet he can’t bring himself to abandon the woman who has captured his soul.

Psychologist Regina Page is trying to keep her mind on her client, and off the mysterious, unbearable sexual cravings that consume her when she’s alone in her bedroom. The next moment she’s attacked by vampires, then swept into another realm by a stranger whose touch awakens that same raw desire. Whose eyes are already filled with farewell.

Yet beneath their undeniable carnal lust, something else stirs. The beginnings of illicit love. The unexpected need to protect him. Even if it means risking body, blood and soul to defeat the merciless horde…for a future that was never meant to be.

_______________________________________

Product Warnings
Contains a repressed scientist who likes to look, and the woman who delights in unleashing his inner caveman. And sex hot enough to burn a hole in all three dimensions…and maybe create a whole new one.

Excerpt:

Within seconds, she sensed it again…someone watching.

Anticipation made her look up; life experience made her wary. Peering right and left, Regina noted that no one glanced in her direction. Conversations continued. Patrons consumed their food and drinks.

Disconcerted, she glanced behind herself, seeing nothing different. No one acknowledged or even noticed her.

Heat continued to travel to her pussy, lingering there. It climbed to her throat and cheeks. A picture scrolled across her mind of large hands on either side of her face, gentle and caressing, lips brushing her skin, the rush of warm breath tickling her cheek, her lids closing on a lusty moan, her body sagging against hard male flesh scented with musk.

Where are you? Regina’s mind asked before she knew it would.

At the establishment’s street entrance a knot of people stood in the open doorway, shaking water from their umbrellas, brushing beads of moisture from their coats.

The edge of her napkin fluttered in the dank breeze. The patron closest to her, a young guy in a beautifully tailored suit, called out, “Hey, close the door. You’re letting in the cold.”

Regina experienced only building warmth. She rested her fingertips on the top of her table, noting how cool the polished wood was to her touch.

Her attention swung from the baristas behind the serving area to the individual facing it. A man who must have arrived shortly before those who’d left the door open. Tall, with a powerful build, muscled yet lean, he wore a black crewneck sweater, jacket and a dark blue topcoat. The ends fluttered above his similarly colored pants. Combed away from his forehead, his thick raven hair was wavy and worn longish in the back. Strong masculine features, ruggedly handsome, complemented his olive complexion.

Regina knew she was staring openly but couldn’t help herself. She guessed him to be in his mid-thirties and of foreign descent, possibly Greek or Middle Eastern ancestry.

Did he work in this building? Where? What floor? Who was he? Why hadn’t she ever noticed him?

He certainly wasn’t a man a woman could ignore.

The barista who’d waited on Regina delivered his order with a suggestive smile, clearly interested in him. He seemed not to notice her flirting as he handed over a twenty. Regarding him closely, Regina saw that the shoulders of his coat weren’t damp from the rain. Neither was his hair. Had he bought the coffee to take on his drive home? Did a wife and children await him in one of Seattle’s countless suburbs?

Chewing her lower lip, Regina checked out his large hands and long fingers. Naked. No ring.

She was unbelievably pleased, an obviously crazy reaction. It was possible his culture didn’t believe in the men wearing wedding bands. Even if he was single, she didn’t know him. Other than being in this coffeehouse at the same time, their paths would probably never cross again. They would never speak or touch.

To Regina’s surprise, brutal reality didn’t stop her. Fevered and wanting, she considered going up to him and starting a conversation. About what? With lightning speed, her mind considered and rejected numerous topics—the delicious pastry in the display case, the depressing weather, what films currently played. Through it all, persistent warmth engulfed Regina, a curious sensation of desire and well-being that continued to grow and draw her to him.

With his order in hand, he turned, looking directly at her. No one else.

Regina’s body softened with a rush of delight…an invisible connection between them. The psychologist in her knew it was ridiculous to consider such a thing. The woman in her didn’t care. She held his gaze, as dark as his hair, his irises sparkling in the tame lighting.

A whimper of pleasure bubbled in Regina’s throat.

Behind him, a middle-aged woman knocked his arm as she moved past to place her order. His focus remained on Regina, his manner composed yet commanding, his expression unguarded, filled with what appeared to be wonder.

Around them, people laughed and spoke, lights blinked, rain tapped the windows, the sounds resembling drumming fingernails. An instrumental piece flowed from the sound system, a tenor sax wailing sensuously.

Locking her knees, Regina leaned against her table for support.

He didn’t break their unspoken attachment. With an easy stride, he approached her table.

A current of expectation tore through Regina, tightening her nipples. She lifted her face, helpless in his presence.

He smiled.

At its comfort and beauty, her heart turned over.

He gestured toward her table. “Do you mind if I join you?” Regarding the area past her, he added, “It’s very crowded tonight.”

In his smooth, deep baritone, Regina caught the trace of an accent. Not Greek or Middle Eastern as she’d suspected but from some unknown locale. Managing a swallow, she cleared her throat and murmured, “Not at all. Please do.” Really, please.

Again, he focused on her. Only her. As if no one else existed.

Something inside Regina shifted, magnifying her sense of sight and sound, her pressing need to be close. She ached to touch him, wondering if he suspected as much and had noticed how her words caught. She had no doubt he saw her desire.

“Thanks.” He rested his cup on the table.

Unwilling to stop herself, Regina offered her hand, their fingertips nearly touching. “Hi. I’m Regina Page.”

Tell me who you are.

Buy Link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/unending-desire-p-6491.html

* * * CONTEST * * * CONTEST * * * CONTEST * * *

One lucky commenter on this blog will have her choice of one of my following ebooks**:

1. Adored – RWA award-winning; EPIC 2011 Finalist; 4 Stars RT
2. Deep, Dark, Delicious – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Holt Medallion Award of Merit
3. Lush Velvet Nights – EPIC 2011 Finalist; Golden Nib Award
4. In His Arms – SIX 5 Star Reviews; 4 Stars RT
5. Sensual Stranger – 2010 Book of the Year (erotic); 4 Stars RT
6. The Yearning – Top Ten Bestseller
7. Take Me Away – #1 Pick, Miz Love Loves Books

** Winner chosen at random. Winner chosen January 5.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read
~ Open to a random page
~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser today is from my recent read, Heart of Flame by Janine Ashbless, which is a fantasy with romantic elements. Review coming soon!

Her first sensation was a wave of humiliation and hurt, and at that she felt the spell that held her in male shape fracture. She took a sharp breath and shut her eyes, seizing the enchantment with her will, concentrating on the rush of anger that swept through her blood while the spell, as fragile as all shapings were, shifted momentarily in her grip like a pot riddled with hairline cracks.

page 17, Heart of Flame

The grip on her ear was horribly painful, but he was trying to stop her pulling away from him. He was taken entirely by surprise when she lunged forward and clamped her teeth as hard as she could on his nose, grinding into the gristle.

page 18, Heart of Flame

Blurb:

And on the One-Thousand-and-Second night, Scheherazade told this story…

By day, Taqla uses her forbidden sorcery to move freely about the city of Damascus in the guise of an old sage. Her true identity known only by her faithful servant woman, Taqla is content with the comfortable, if restrictive, life that keeps her safe from the control of any man. Until she lays eyes on a handsome merchant-traveler. Suddenly her magical disguise doesn’t rest so easily on her shoulders.

When long-time widower, Rafiq, hears that the Amir’s beautiful daughter has been kidnapped by a scheming djinni—and that she will be given in marriage to her rescuer—he seeks the help of “Umar the Wise” to ensure he will be that man. Yet as he and the disguised Taqla set off, he senses that his prickly male companion is hiding something.

In a moment of dire peril, all of Taqla’s secrets are stripped bare—her fears, her sorcery and, worst of all, her love for Rafiq. Yet the princess’s life hangs in the balance, and there is no running away or turning back. Even though passion may yet betray them all…

Product Warnings
Scary monsters and creepy ruins in the desert—check. Pagan gods that demand blood-sacrifices—double check. A handsome hero who looks good in a robe and even better out of it—oh yeah. Check, check and check. That’s worth a heroine dropping a veil or two.

Purchase Heart of Flame

What are you reading this week? Leave a link to your teaser or post your teaser in the comment section.

Did you receive a new ereader or gadget for Christmas? Are you ready to buy some books to read? Then I have a deal for you. Check out the Celebrate the Season 50% Rebate sale at All Romance ebooks. You’ll have to move quickly because the offer is only for two days (25 & 26 Dec). Most of my books are part of the sale. Follow this link to the Shelley Munro ARe page and start filling up your new gadget. :-)

Christmas is Coming is highlighted today over at D Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters blog. The entire first chapter of my latest release is available for you to read for free.

My special guest today is Donna Shields. Donna grew up on romance and scary stories. With her love for suspense and the slightly unusual, she enjoys tying these elements together to create stories full of love, danger, and the paranormal.

Over to Donna!

Do you believe there’s life after death? Do you believe in ghosts? I believe. Completely. I’ve had too many experiences not to. Just like my heroine, Lena Dixon, in The Swan Cove Murders. The difference between Lena and I? I can’t talk to spirits.

I’ve had my share of ‘encounters’ though, and I thought it would be fun to share some of them with you. Kind of like my very own ghost stories, but real. But, I promise not real scary and no blood curdling screams. I’ll take it easy on you. (Besides, I’m not Stephen King. We’ll leave that all to the expert himself.)

I began having weird things happening around the second floor of my parents’ home roughly when I moved from the downstairs bedroom to one upstairs. I was thirteen. The weird happenings were minor, like a door popping open on its own. Then, they graduated to lights turning on and off by themselves (There are no light switches on the walls upstairs, even to this day. You pull on a string to turn the light(s)). A black figured shadow along the hallway floor underneath the door. Yeah, my mom’s house is freakishly haunted.

Probably about a year after moving up with my new ‘friends’, my best friend, my niece (she’s two years younger than me), and her best friend all piled into my room after convincing my mom we could all have a sleepover and be quiet (rolling my eyes cause that didn’t quite happen!). My niece’s friend had brought along her Ouija Board. We figured ‘what the heck.’ Let’s see if any of my ghosts would talk to us. And of course we were scared stiff so we closed the bedroom door, but left both the hallway and bedroom lights on. We set it up and after a little goofing got down to business. We asked if any spirits were in the room. Got a yes. Asked what his/her name was? Got Wilkes. Asked was there anyone else? Yes. Who? David. Did you both live here? Yes. No.

And this went on for four or five minutes. Then my niece’s friend had asked something and for the life of me I can’t remember, but it made ‘David’ seriously mad. Simultaneously, the lights all went out and we heard something go flying across the room. Now keep in mind. We were sitting on the floor next to my window. My stand was across the room on the other side of my bed against the wall. After having a severe-near-death-heart-attack, we gathered our brains and I turned the overhead light on in the bedroom. I swear on my children’s lives, that Bible was sitting on that stand before we started. I found it up on my dresser where it knocked my makeup over onto the floor. We went downstairs and I said to my dad, ‘Your lights go out down here?’ He gave me the funniest look as if I lost my marbles. ‘No.’ I was like ‘Seriously???’ His response: ‘No, now shush so I can watch this. (As in TV)’

Well, I guess we didn’t lose power for any reason. It was only the upstairs lights that went out all on their own. And a Bible flying across my room. Needless to say, we never used another Ouija Board in that house ever again. But, we learned that really these ghosts that still occupy the house are truly friendly and enjoy letting you know they are there.

Another freaky story? Sure! I lost one of my brothers in 2004 to a sudden massive heart attack. It nearly killed me (I’m the youngest of nine children. He was 52 and I was 31.). We had talked a few weeks prior and I told him I was going to come up for Christmas since I hadn’t been able to return to CT for a visit since moving to SC in 2003. I trudged my way back to CT for the funeral. Before returning home, my mom gave me a pair of his sneakers he wore quite often. I took them eagerly since I just needed anything to have that connection to him. I arrived home and was greeted by our puppy, Benji, tail waggling so happy to see me and the kids. As I unloaded the car, I placed stuff on the deck and inside the door. The pup would sniff things, but nothing more. The last thing I unloaded was my brother’s sneakers. I set them down by the fireplace. No sooner did my hands leave those shoes, Benji went ballistic. Barking. Growling. Running back and forth from the door to the shoes. I was afraid he would tear them apart. So, I took them and placed them in my closet shutting the door. Benji proceeded to bark and growl at that door for ten minutes and then silence. I went to look and there he was lying down at the door sniffing. Suffice it to say, I believe I brought part of my brother’s essence home with me. It comforts me everyday to know it’s very probably he’s here watching over me.

I could go on and on with stories. So many weird experiences in every home I’ve ever lived in. My thoughts? I believe one or two may have followed me along the way. Even now, something will be pushed off the counter, or the TV will suddenly turn on. Once in a while, I’ll hear a voice (this is new to me still) and I can’t quite make out what is said, but I swear someone calls my name. A shadow or a cold breeze will pass me. Do I get the creeps? Sure, I wouldn’t be human otherwise. But, I know they’re only saying hi and making their presence known. And I’m okay with that.

As for my heroine, Lena Dixon, she’s encounters ghosts on a regular basis. She’s a spirit writer. She ‘hears’ the spirits and writes down what they’ve ‘said’ to her. To read more about her and my hero, Nicholas Hunter, you can find their story The Swan Cove Murders at:

As if the violent murder of Lena Dixon’s fiancé hadn’t been bad enough, now his brother, Nicholas Hunter, is court ordered to live with her for the next thirty days. And to top it off, the murderer’s ghost is asserting his innocence and refuses to leave until Lena and Nicholas prove it.

The skeptic in Nicholas believes Lena has lost her mind until he witnesses some unexplainable events and is forced to believe in her psychic abilities and his heart’s desire.

As their sexual chemistry heats up, so do their guilt levels. Can they make their newfound relationship work, or will it be too late when the real killer comes calling for her?

Soul Mate Publishing
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

You can find me at:
My blog
SMP Authors Blog
My web page: Donna Shields
Facebook
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My Christmas story, Christmas is Coming is now out at Ellora’s Cave.

Here’s the blurb:

Christmas is coming. Give your lover the gift of pleasure…

Gaby Montgomery works for Fancy Free as a condom designer. Recently she’s been designing sex toys and testing her inventions with fellow designer Marc, but they’ve parted ways. The timing couldn’t be worse because she’s stuck without a willing test subject for her sexy products.

Gaby’s roommates Liam Richardson and Fletch Darcy both want a serious relationship with her, and now that she’s free, it’s time to make a move. But how do they decide which one will date her? Fletch finally suggests they share. Liam is skeptical but agrees the scheme might work, which allows Fletch to move on to step two of his romance plan. Fletch doesn’t just want Gaby, he wants Liam as well.

The loving is hot, their days full of fun product testing, exquisite pleasure and laughter. Everything is perfect until the outside world intrudes, putting their budding relationship under stress. This time their love and friendship might not stand the pressure.

Publisher’s Note: Want to have more fun with the characters in this book? Then pick up Fancy Free!

Purchase from Ellora’s Cave

Shelley’s Shoutout Corner

Don’t forget that Maria Zannini’s Do It Yourself Christmas continues until 22 Dec.

Author Beth Revis is doing an Epic Giveaway at her blog.

Cari Quinn has a new release called Unwrapped at Loose-Id. Unwrapped is a contemporary menage. If you like spicy hot reads, this one sounds like a good one.

I’d like to welcome fellow Carina Press author Jenny Schwartz to my blog today. I’m very excited since I’ve wanted to read the A Clockwork Christmas anthology ever since I heard about it, and it’s out today! Over to Jenny who is talking about mixing Australia with steam punk. I’m off to start reading…

Shelley, thanks for inviting me to guest post at your blog. I thought I’d bring some history with me across the Tasman.

“Wanted: One Scoundrel”, my steampunk novella in the anthology “A Clockwork Christmas”, is set in the Swan River Colony, the precursor of the state of Western Australia. It was an obvious setting for me to use. I grew up in Perth and studied Australian social history there. All those hours in the State Library scribbling notes in pencil from colonists’ letter had to prove useful, sometime.

The fun part of writing Steampunk is you get to mix real history with fictional touches. Perhaps my most radical change to real history is the addition of Bombaytown to the Swan River Colony of 1895.

My Bombaytown is modelled on San Francisco’s Chinatown, but with an Indian character. Actually, Swan River has a bit in common with San Francisco. Both boomed on the back of gold rushes. Both were Wild West. Both lured people intent on following their dreams.

My inspiration for Bombaytown was my long-held sense that it should have existed. Geographically, Western Australia and India are relatively close. In the earliest days of the colony, colonists exported horses and sandalwood to India. Even today, sandalwood remains a valuable export.

Somehow, history stuffed up and Bombaytown never existed. But in “Wanted: One Scoundrel” it is loud, colourful, full of exuberant hope and exotic spices.

For me, that’s one of the joys of Steampunk: It’s history as it ought to have been.

So, how about you. What bit of history would you rewrite?

We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband’s love. A man learns that love isn’t always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Anthology includes:
Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail
This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
Far From Broken by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase separately.

117,000 words

Buy link: http://bit.ly/ClockworkX

Wanted: One Scoundrel http://bit.ly/WantedScoundrel

If you’d like to learn more about Jenny and her books visit her website.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read
~ Open to a random page
~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser this week comes from my first Christmas read of this year. I’m just about to start Holly Lane by Toni Blake.

Sue Ann trudged through the department store, feet tired, shopping bags in hand, and in the spirit of Christmas nowhere to be found despite–or maybe because of–the sound of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” echoing through the loudspeakers overhead.

Oh, God, it was the day after Thanksgiving–she had a whole month of this private hell to go.

page 5, Holly Lane

Blurb:

The weather outside is frightful, but kisses by the fire are so delightful …

Sue Ann Simpkins is working hard to rebuild her life and find some holiday spirit. A weekend away from Destiny in a cabin on nearby Bear Lake seems like the perfect Christmas gift to herself—until her ex’s best friend, Adam Becker, shows up at the door, claiming the cabin is his! And if that’s not trouble enough, how had she never noticed how gorgeous he was?

Alone for the holidays and forced to play a reindeer at the local department store, Adam’s been feeling rather Scrooge-ish himself. But finding the smart, sexy woman he’s admired since elementary school waiting in the house he rented is helping to brighten his humbug mood. And when a sudden snowstorm strands them together in very close quarters, leading to one very hot night together, Adam soon realizes that what he really wants for Christmas is a second chance at love. Now all he has to do is convince Sue Ann…

Purchase Holly Lane

Share a teaser from your current read in the comments section or leave a link. Do you enjoy Christmas reads? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Last week over at the Smut Writers’ Soap Box Amie Louellen wrote a fun post about romance writers. She asked everyone to finish this sentence – You know you’re a romance writer when…

Here’s the link. Go ahead. Click over and read it. I’ll wait until you come back.

While I was wondering how to entertain you all during the Black Friday blog hop, I suddenly thought, “Hmm. What if I stole Amie’s idea and tweaked it a little?”

So that’s when I came up with THE idea—the perfect idea to entertain my blog visitors today.

We’re all fans of reading, and a lot of us read romance. Romance readers are different because we like to read a lot. We always have our noses in a book and when we’re not reading, we are talking about books.

But how do you know you’re a romance reader?

That’s what I want you to tell me today. I’ll give you a couple of ideas to start you off.

You know you’re a romance reader when the piles of books at the side of your bed are mini-mountain size.

You know you’re a romance reader when you finish reading your book and immediately need to jump your husband. (that’s an erotic romance, of course)

Now it’s your turn. Finish this statement: You know you’re a romance reader when…

CONTEST: Leave your suggestion in the comments section. Everyone who completes the statement about romance readers goes into a draw to win a download of their choice from my backlist.

Don’t forget to check out the other authors participating in the MFRW Authors’ blog hop. There are some great prizes up for grabs. The links are below.

Chris Redding
W.Lynn Chantale
Christine Ashworth
Chelle Cordero
Tammy Dennings Maggy
Shelley Munro
Debra Holland
Jane Wakely
Smoky Ziedel
Ann Siracusa