Deadly Addiction Release Party!!

Welcome to my release party! I'm so happy and excited to finally announce the release of Deadly Addiction, the second book in my Deadly Vices romantic suspense series. 


Writing this book took a lot of time and a tremendous amount of research. In the process, I made many new friends and learned so much about the First Nations People of Canada, both their struggles and victories. Rémi Whitedeer is a hero like no other, and Alyssa Morgan is the only woman for him. I hope you enjoy Rémi's and Alyssa's story.

Title: Deadly Addiction
Series: Deadly Vices Book Two
Author: Kristine Cayne


Genre: Romantic Suspense
Heat: HOT!


Get it now: Amazon (US) ebook, Amazon (US)  print , Barnes & Noble, ARe, Smashwords, Amazon (UK), Amazon (DE), Amazon (FR), Amazon (IT), Amazon (ES), 
Createspace print.


Synopsis


A proud people. A nation divided.


Rémi Whitedeer, police officer turned substance-abuse counselor, dreams of restoring order to his tribe. Violence and crime are rampant throughout the unpoliced Iroquois reserve, and a civil war is brewing between the Guardians, a militant traditionalist group, and other tribal factions. As the mixed-race cousin of the Guardians’ leader, Rémi is caught in a no-man’s land—several groups lay claim to him, but all want him to deny his white blood.


A maverick cop on an anti-drug crusade.


When she infiltrated the Vipers to take down the leader of the outlaw biker gang responsible for her brother’s death, police sergeant Alyssa Morgan got her man. But her superiors think she went too far. Her disregard for protocol and her ends-justify-the-means ethics have branded her an unreliable maverick. To salvage her career, she accepts an assignment to set up a squad of native provincial officers on a reserve.


A radical sovereigntist bent on freeing a nation.


Decades of government oppression threaten the existence of the Iroquois Nation. But one man, Chaz Whitedeer, is determined to save his people no matter what the price, even if it means delving into the shadowy world of organized crime.


When Rémi and Alyssa uncover the Guardians’ drug-fueled scheme to fund their fight for true autonomy—a scheme involving the Vipers—Rémi must choose between loyalty to family and tribe or his growing love for Alyssa.


Can Rémi and Alyssa leave everything behind—even their very identities—for a future together?


Excerpt from Deadly Addiction

Closing her eyes, Alyssa pressed the glass of water to her neck. “I can do the talking if that makes you feel any better.”

Although Rémi heard the words, it would have taken an act of Parliament to get him to respond.


The heat of her skin caused the condensation on the glass to liquefy. Like a tractor-beam, his gaze followed a drop of water as it slid down the long pale column of her neck, followed the curve of her right breast and slipped under the collar of her blue cotton T-shirt into the V of her cleavage. Oh fuck. He wanted to be that drop of water. He wanted to be snuggled between her warm ripe breasts. His cock swelled and lengthened, letting him know that it wanted to be there too.


He squeezed his lids shut and willed his hard-on away. This wasn’t the time and certainly not the place for Mr. Happy to make an appearance. But the more he tried not to think about where the drop had gone, the more he did. He’d thought he was a leg man, but he knew the truth now. It had slapped him in the face. He was a breast man. An “Alyssa’s breasts” man, and he fucking wanted to see them, to feel them, to taste them. Right now.


Giveaway

In keeping with Deadly Addiction's native american theme, I'm offering this lovely necklace, handmade by an artist from the Muckeshoot Indian Tribe here in the Seattle Area. 


To enter, complete the tasks in the Rafflecopter and multiply your entries. Anyone subscribed to my new releases mailing list, or anyone who joins it now gets 10 extra chances to win!

Contest is open internationally. Ends at 11:59PM EST April 29, 2012. 

Freebie Spotlight - A Touch of Ice by L.J. Charles

Please join me in welcoming L. J. Charles. She's written many books, including the Everly Gray Adventure series and the Lifethread Trilogy. Today I'm showcasing A Touch of Ice (An Everly Gray Adventure), which is currently FREE on Amazon!


(In order not to miss any of my posts, please consider subscribing, following, or joining this blog. <=== Check the left sidebar for a variety of ways to always get the latest news first.)

Title: A Touch of Ice
Series: Everly Gray Adventure series
Author: L.J. Charles
Genre: Light paranormal romantic mystery
Heat: Warm
Ratings: 4.8 stars on 16 reviews


Price: FREE for a limited time only!








Synopsis


Everly Gray’s fingers are a magnet for trouble.


When she touches photographer Mitchell Hunt and sees the image of a dead body, she dives into the murder fingertips first. Life takes a turn for the dangerous when she discovers the body is related to a small-time crime family that accidentally stepped on the toes of notorious criminal, Delano West. Caught in a web of intrigue where nothing is as it seems, El discovers an aptitude for breaking and entering, the pain of an up close and personal meeting with a bullet, and the terror of facing a cold blooded killer. What she doesn’t learn—to keep her fingers to herself. 


Excerpt from A Touch of Ice


One

Bone cold and heart warm.

Me, I live in the middle. No extremes allowed in my life.

Not so for Shelly Summers. She’s the only client I have who regularly leads me on a wild ride through the twenty-somethings, a decade I stumbled through without taking notes.

“Everly!” Shelly’s squeal shattered the quiet of my Zen-like office. “You won’t be-lieve what happened.”

I wrapped her in the barest minimum of hug, experience telling me it would be enough. My fingertips brushed against her back for a fraction of a second. Fragments of her desperation slammed through my body, leaving behind fractured images of her latest internet dating disaster.

My mind and body struggled, reached for the comfort of balance, for the safety between the extremes that ruled Shelly’s life. I stepped away from her with my best professional smile firmly in place and my inner dialogue running at top speed. You can do this, Everly. Personal coaching is your thing, and Shelly’s issues are nothing like your nightmares.

The wispy notes of her floral perfume tickled my nose, and I stifled a sneeze as I bent to snag two bottles of water from the mini-fridge. I’d been working with Shelly for a couple months and wasn’t about to give up, no matter how hard she clung to her desperation. But oh, how much easier this session would be if I didn’t have a lack-of-sleep hangover.

I turned to face her. “Fill me in on what I won’t believe.”

She perched on the edge of one of my overstuffed chairs—mahogany leather—and tapped the bottle of water against the palm of her hand. I counted three seconds before she tossed the bottle on the seat and popped up to pace my office, stopping every so often to smooth her miniscule denim skirt over the top of her thighs.

“I stood outside the restaurant, Everly. Just stood there like a dork. Couldn’t make myself go in like you wanted me to. Not without a date. Everyone would have stared at me and felt sorry for the loser, and that’s no way to get a guy to notice me. Relationships are such a pain. Well, except for having sex. Orgasms are easy. It’s relationships that are a problem.”

“The assignment wasn’t to help you get a date. We’ve discussed the importance of knowing yourself before you attempt a relationship.” I pointed to the client chair, a not so subtle suggestion.

Shelly controlled her agitation long enough to squirm onto the edge of the seat. “Okay, I’m ready. Tell me what you think.” Her voice held a hint of demand as she tugged on the hot pink strands of her spiky ’do.

“If you’re going to get past this relationship issue, you need to start listening to your internal wisdom. What makes you smile? What do you look forward to when you get out of bed in the morning? Make a list of those things, a written list that we can talk about.”

“Yeah. Okay, I can do that. Like last night I had dinner with Keith and he took me to—”

I held up my hand. “The rule is: nothing you put on the list can involve a man. Everything you write down has to reflect what brings you, alone, joy.”

“Just me?”

“Just you. I also want you to gather pictures from magazines that make you happy, and Shelly, no pictures of men. Arrange them in a collage, what I call a storyboard. Bring it to your next appointment along with the list of what makes you happy, and we’ll decide where to go from there.”

“You can’t be serious. I’m twenty-five years old, and there are new wrinkles popping out on my face every day. I don’t have time to be screwing around with pretty pictures. Look at me.” She pointed to her face, stood, and started pacing again. “I don’t make enough money for a lot of plastic surgery. Maybe a tuck here and there, but… Don’t you think I’ll be more successful if I continue hitting the best singles bars in town? Oh, and maybe add a new internet service to my subscription list?”

“Let me just ask—how’s that been working for you?”

“Okay. You have a point. Not so well.” She huffed, watching me through confused eyes as her ring-laden fingers rubbed circles on her temples. A shaft of sunlight glittered against the sparkling stones, sending rainbows of color around my office.

Chills tingled over my skin, and Shelly dissipated into a blinding white haze of fog. What the hell was happening? Fear caught the edge of my last conscious thought and clung with the tenacity of steel manacles. Bone cold.


The old woman’s bare toes pushed against the floor, keeping the rhythm of the rocking chair smooth and even. Her body taut, she struggled for every breath.

The motion, and the ragged sound of her breathing, pulled me deeper into her pain.

Her left hand clutched the arm of the chair. Her right hand was extended; a cube of ice rested on her palm, melting. She didn’t feel the cold. It was too late.

Time.

Slowly, continuously, disappearing.

Her midnight blue eyes glistened with tears, but still held the clarity of youth. She focused on the window in front of her, not seeing the scene on the street below, but on a memory.

A murder.

The crumpled body of a man loomed in the distance. She paused and then turned her back on the scene. The opportunity for her to accept her destiny was lost forever.

The internal movie played on, the story of all the things she’d missed in life. All the things she could have done, but didn’t.

The darkness outside provided a clear reflection in the window.

My face looked back at me.

Old. Wizened. Every wrinkle etched with regret for what might have been.


Cold, bony fingers dug into my shoulders, shaking me. “Everly? Everly Gray?”

The old woman? Panic zinged through me and my eyes popped open. Shelly Summers. Client. Young. Coaching appointment. “What the hell—?”

Shelly’s breath whooshed out, drowning me in the scent of peppermint and apprehension. “You’re okay, right? It was just a spell of some kind, like an epileptic thing? You should have told me this could happen, that you flipped out sometimes. A girl likes to be prepared for something like this, you know.”

I’d reduced my client to a babbling heap of nerves. And then there was me. No telling how long it would take me to recuperate from…whatever the hell that was. I reached for my bottle of water, the trembling in my fingers visible. Client session. Professional. Get. It. Together, Everly. I chugged several gulps of the life-giving liquid, knowing I had to act normal and complete Shelly’s session. “I’m fine, Shelly. Honestly, it was just one of those déjà vu moments. We were discussing your—”

“Lack of a permanent life partner. But I really need to know you’re not gonna flip out again.”

“You have my complete attention. It was nothing more than a brain blip.”

She bobbed her head up and down. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Only I usually have them after spending an evening in a club. So, about your not-so-brilliant idea to have me create some kind of art project.” Impatience lurked behind her words. Immediate scare about my mental stability over, Shelly was completely back to normal. Her eyes snapped with annoyance and a rosy pink glow had pushed the pale from her cheeks.

Relief left my knees wobbly. Later, Everly. You can deal with…whatever that was…later.

I sucked in a breath. “You’re not letting potential life partners get to know you. The purpose of this—” I gave Shelly another glimpse of my professional smile— “art project is to move beyond orgasms and into the heart of a relationship.”

Silence hung between us.

“With this kind of assignment, you should give me a guarantee. After all it’s going to take me off the market for—” Shelly’s hazel eyes dilated “—maybe hours. Hours of prime time spent on self-reflection?” She collapsed back into the chair, tugged the bottle of water from under her, and blew out a sigh that ruffled her bangs. “What if I can’t do this?”

“You can do it. I’m not saying you should stop the activities you’re comfortable with, only that these assignments may improve your chances of finding the right mate.”

“All right.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “No, it’s not all right. This self-reflection idea makes me kind of crazy, actually.”

“Take it in small doses. Work your way into the assignment.”

“Maybe I should consider a lesbian relationship instead. That would change the way I look at things for sure.”

“Yes, I expect it would, but I don’t think your sexual orientation is…optional. Start with creating the storyboard. And I’d like you to make another attempt at eating a meal in a restaurant by yourself.”

“Okaaay.”

“How about if you try lunch instead of dinner? More single people are out at lunch time.”

“I’ll try. But I’m going to give the lesbian idea some more thought. It works for a lot of people.”

I shifted in my seat and contemplated the best way to approach this. “Take a minute to imagine a day-in-the-life of being lesbian. Do you honestly think you’re going to be happy with a woman as your life partner?”

“What? No. Oh, no of course not.” She dug a tube of pink lipstick from her pocket and smoothed it over cosmetically plump lips. “The idea is to broaden my horizons, make me more interesting to potential husband material.”

“How about you put that idea on hold until after you try the new assignments. Let’s see how they work before you move on to anything too life-altering.” Bloody whacko twenty-somethings. Shelly pushed every nerve in my body to the breaking point.

She slid her gaze in my direction. “To my way of thinking, self-refection is way more life-altering than spending a few hours as a lesbian.”

Not much I could say to that.

She stood, tugged at her skirt, and pulled on some attitude. “Okay. I’ll give it a try.”

I kept my fingertips to myself as we hugged goodbye. No way could I chance being tossed into another Shelly image. Not after…whatever that…vision thing was.

I shrugged out of my work clothes on the way upstairs and replaced them with my most comfy sweats. I stopped, drinking in the serenity of my sleeping space. I’d done all the floors of my townhouse in bamboo before I moved in and still loved the natural beauty of the pattern. The walls were white with a faint purple undertone that blended with the gray and violet accents of the bedding and loveseat. A perfect room for peaceful sleep. So why was the universe sending me nightmares?

I padded barefoot down the hall and gathered the supplies I needed, dumped them on the white lacquer kitchen table. Kitchens, my kitchen anyway, had to be pristine white. The perfect background for creating any number of colorful recipes, only this one was for my psyche, not my taste buds. I’ve always believed that client assignments are gifts from my subconscious wisdom, meant to be applied to my life as well as theirs. Helps me connect with them.

Except this time I had the…vision to decipher.

Damn it, I hate when the universe gives me crap like this to deal with. Wasn’t it enough being born with the hinky touch thing? Now I was going to have to cope with visions as well? I blew out a frustrated sigh but dutifully sat down with a stack of magazines and a pair of scissors.

I started flipping pages, the colors, shapes, and words blurring as an odd pressure built in my head. It was disorienting and more than a little scary. I tried to slow things down, to make my brain catalogue details and select a logical sequence of pictures. But no. My brain had a totally different agenda and kept sending “rip” commands to my fingers.

The pressure in my head eased the faster I ripped, so I went with it. Tossed the scissors aside and focused on tearing out whatever sent shivers through my fingertips. It didn’t take long, maybe fifteen minutes of clock time, but I was shaking and a thin film of sweat covered my body.

What the hell? I stumbled to the sink and slurped handfuls of water until my breathing slowed to normal. And then I faced the pile of shredded magazines and a haphazard arrangement of glossy pictures.

The images had nothing to do with my life at all. Nope. Not a chance in hell they were about my life.

They were about someone’s murder.

About L.J. Charles

I have worked with energy, both as a yoga instructor and as a body worker for many years. When I left that profession, I was driven to write about energy and the paranormal. Many of the situations my heroines experience are created from my own encounters with energy, its power and possibilities.


As to the "writing," well, that started when I was eight and penned my first book on pink construction paper with a purple crayon. It was a romance that involved a princess, and although I remember very few details about the plot, I do remember that it was illustrated and there was music and dancing involved.


At about the same time I created my first story, I discovered Nancy Drew and my love for reading was born. It has only grown over the years, and I am rarely without a huge to-be-read stack, and a book within easy reach.


Now days I write award winning women's fiction and young adult novels. All of my stories combine romance, mystery, and paranormal elements. The paranormal, because it's a huge part of my life, the adventure and romance because I haven't ever outgrown my early reading adventures with Nancy, Ned, Bess and George.


I live in the frozen north with my husband, whose TBR stack is taller than mine, and two felines who have been known to add entire pages to a manuscript without telling me.


Get the Book!


Now that you've read the excerpt and met the author, it's time to get the book :) Download it for free on Amazon. At the time of writing this blog, A Touch of Ice ranked: 


#184 Kindle Free Store
#15 in Contemporary Fiction


L.J. and I have a question for you: what aspect of paranormal do you love most?


Happy Reading!
Kristine


P.S. Deadly Addiction (my new release) is coming out next week. Be sure to check back Monday for details. In the meantime, you can learn more about it on Goodreads.

Author Spotlight - Alecia Stone, author of Talisman Of El

Today, I'm pleased to be hosting a guest from Making Connections Book Tours. Author Alecia Stone is joining me to talk about her new book, Talisman Of El. Welcome, Alecia!


(In order not to miss any of my posts, please consider subscribing, following, or joining this blog. <=== Check the left sidebar for a variety of ways to always get the latest news first.)

Title: Talisman Of El
Author: Alecia Stone
Genre: Fantasy
















Synopsis

WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.

Two Worlds.

Population: Human ... 7 billion.Others ... unknown. 

When 14-year-old Char­lie Blake wakes up sweat­ing and gasp­ing for air in the mid­dle of the night, he knows it is hap­pen­ing again. This time he wit­nesses a bru­tal mur­der. He's afraid to tell any­one. No one would believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago - the day before his dad died. 

Char­lie doesn't know why this is hap­pen­ing. He would give any­thing to have an ordi­nary life. The prob­lem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home. 

He belongs with the others.

Excerpt From Talisman of El


The snow crunched beneath Charlie's feet as he scuttled through the woods, not knowing where he was going. Whichever way he looked, darkness was creeping up on him. He had to squint to see through the falling snow. Hearing Jacob's voice some way behind him, he stopped and hid behind a tree.

The night was cold and misty. A gentle wind blew, making the hairs on the back of his neck prick, and he shivered. Apart from the slight crackling of twigs and the rustling of wildlife hidden in the darkness, it was quiet. Peering out from behind the tree, he saw the hazy light of the torch, which was moving away from him.

A snapping sound behind him made him jump, and he spun around. He gasped when he saw a figure moving towards him. It stopped close enough that he could see it wasn't Jacob - for it was too thin - but not close enough to allow him to make out a face.

‘Be not afraid,' a soft voice said.

Panic rose inside Charlie, and he turned to run, but his feet slipped from under him, and he fell onto his back. Glancing behind him, he saw that the figure had disappeared. Then he heard a noise like the flutter of wings and looked ahead, his eyes widening with fear.

The figure, wearing a long cloak, was standing a few feet away from him, a hood covering its head.

‘My name is Candra,' the figure said.

‘How did you ...? You were just ...' Charlie staggered to his feet.

‘I do not wish to harm you, Charlie,' Candra said.

Charlie paused. That voice ... It sounded so familiar. He caught his breath in his throat. It can't be. ‘How do you know my name?' he asked in a shaky voice.

‘I have known you your whole life. I am here to protect you. I'm aware you are unnerved right now, but try to remain calm. The last thing we need is an earthquake.'

Charlie thought back to the tremor he had felt inside the canteen on his first day of school, and his breathing accelerated. His legs trembled as he took slow steps away from the woman.

‘Listen carefully,' Candra said. ‘The talisman you saw. You need it. You must restore it -' She broke off, and an urgent edge crept into her voice. ‘You are not listening. Focus.'

Charlie clenched his eyes shut. She's not real. Wake up. He opened his eyes, and she was still there. His heart kicked into overdrive when Candra disappeared and reappeared in front of him, leaving only inches between them. Seeing her intense green eyes, her face slashed with scars, he screamed.

No sooner had he tried to run than a violent windstorm assailed him. The snow and dead leaves on the ground rose with the wind, attacking him. He fell once, twice, three times but got back up again.

As the wind grew stronger, it picked him up and threw him backwards. He hit the ground hard.

Lying on his back, he heard faint footsteps. Soon, a blurry figure was standing over him.

Then darkness swallowed him. 

Book Trailer

About Alecia Stone

Being a fan of fantasy fiction, Alecia Stone's novel was inspired by her love for paranormal mysteries. She loves to write for it is a means of escaping her reality if only for a moment. Talisman Of El is her first book. She lives in the England, UK with her family.

Author website: http://www.aleciastone.com

Talisman Of El website: http://www.talismanofel.com

Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5227478.Alecia_Stone

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/AleciaStoneFan

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alecia_Stone

Alecia's Giveaway

Alecia is offering five (5) giveaway participants the chance to win an e-galley ARC of Talisman Of El. It's available in epub and pdf. Don't forget to leave your email address in a comment :D

Freebie Spotlight - "Playing the Game" by Stephanie Queen

Everyone, please join me in welcoming fellow indie-author, Stephanie Queen. Stephanie now has three highly-rated books on her virtual shelf, including today's freebie spotlight, Playing the Game.


(In order not to miss any of my posts, please consider subscribing, following, or joining this blog. <=== Check the left sidebar for a variety of ways to always get the latest news first.)

Title: Playing the Game


Author: Stephanie Queen


Genre: Contemporary Romance


Heat: HOT!


Price: $3.99 - FREE on Amazon on April 12-13








Synopsis

Playing the Game: About more than a ball.

Can a woman bring down a legend by distracting him from his game? 

Since her disastrous marriage ended, Roxanne Monet has sworn off serious relationships with men. She has more important things to worry about, like accusations of murdering her wealthy husband, no money and no job. But when she meets superstar Barry Dennis and he challenges her to a game of seduction, she decides to play ball. When the game turns serious, she unintentionally exposes the legend to be a flawed man.

 

Barry Dennis picked the wrong woman to play games with when he decides to flirt with the enigmatic Roxanne. Being the best takes all he has. He can’t afford to let anything or anyone interfere with his first and only priority--Basketball. But as the attraction between them heats up, he finds himself losing sight of his life’s game plan.

While the sports world’s microscope is trained on Barry’s game and the media hounds Roxanne about her husband’s mysterious death, the stakes are ratcheted up even higher when Barry’s young daughter, Lindy is injured. Roxanne gives Lindy the attention she needs while Barry struggles to cope with the demands of his new priorities.

Can Roxanne rely on Barry to do more than play ball? She takes the risk and gives him the last thing she owns--her heart.

All in the Name of Research

Stephanie: One of my favorite things about writing novels is doing the research. My newest novel, Playing the Game, is about a superstar basketball player who gets taken down a peg by a woman in the habit of taking men down a peg. She’s been accused of murder because of her habit.  But I digress, let me tell you about how I did my research.

Long, long ago, back in the Larry Bird and Michael Jordan era of NBA basketball, I was a fan and I thought about how single-minded an athlete had to be to achieve world championship status.  So I did some research that would later go into my recently released novel Playing the Game.

Research you say? What need I do besides go to a few basketball games, read a few books and follow the sports page?  Oh no, I did so much more. Let me tell you about what I had the nerve to do for research. 

I didn’t tell anyone I was going to do it because I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. But I figured what the heck. So I called the Boston Celtics office and told them I was writing a book. 

They did the following for me: gave me a tour of the garden including the locker rooms and all the behind the scenes facilities (no big deal you say—you’ve seen it all on TV); next, they invited me to attend a practice, but not just to watch—I had access to all the players and coach for interviews, which I took advantage of (well, that’s something…); AND finally, they gave me a media pass to attend a game which meant I entered through the secret back door, sat at a courtside table, hung out in the media room at half time with all the sports guys and gals and after the game I hung out by the locker rooms for post-game interviews. Talk about soaking up atmosphere.  The one thing they did NOT let me do: go inside the team locker room after the game. Working media with deadlines only were allowed inside. Shucks.

Anyway, that’s my fabulous research adventure for Playing the Game. And it all began with that hush-hush bold telephone call.  What would you dare to do in the name of research?

Five Things About the Author

1. Kitty is a legitimate name for my cat. I don’t believe all the abuse I get for poor Kitty’s name.
2. I do not wear a crown to the grocery store. I leave it in the limo with my driver and dash inside with dark glasses.
3. I have a hard time taking bios seriously.
4. My novel, Playing the Game, is not as lighthearted as I generally write—it’s a departure. But it’s about one of my other (than writing) passions – sports. And it’s sizzling hot.
5. I’m a jockette (see above re: passions – sports).

Stephanie's Books

Playing the Game - Get it FREE now.

The Throwbacks (The Scotland Yard Exchange Program) - Amazon

Between a Rock and a Mad Woman - Amazon

Praise for Stephanie Queen's The Throwbacks - 4.5 Stars Romantic Times Book Reviews "Boston comes vividly alive in the first of Queen’s Scotland Yard Exchange Program series. Grace is an engaging heroine with charm, humor and sass. Resplendent in rich detail, laugh-out-loud moments, a fast-paced plot and spellbinding characters, The Throwbacks is a stellar not-to-be-missed standout!"

Thank you for joining us today for our Freebie Spotlight. Let your friends know about Stephanie's great FREE book by sharing this post (see share links below). Stephanie and I would also love to know your answer to her question: What would you dare to do in the name of research?

Happy reading!

Kristine

Announcement - Blog Hop and Contest Winners!

I love sharing good news! The winners are:

April 5-6 Birthday Blog Hop


Kindle Touch
From Cari Quin's blog - The winner is: Teri M.


$60 Amazon Gift Card
From Jessica Subject's blog - The winner is: Lisa W.


Beaded Bookmark - 
From Kristine Cayne's blog - The winner is: Dianna B.


April 9 Author Spotlight - Carrie Ann Ryan 


Swag Pack - The winner is: Romance Reader Enthusiast 

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone for participating in the Birthday Blog Hop and for visiting Carrie Ann's Author Spotlight!


Happy Reading,
Kristine

Spotlight - Trinity Bound by Carrie Ann Ryan

Everyone, please join me in welcoming Carrie Ann Ryan to the blog today. Carrie Ann is the author of the successful Redwood Pack series. She's recently released the third book in the series, Trinity Bound. 

Title: Trinity Bound 
Series: A Redwood Pack Novel
Author: Carrie Ann Ryan


Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance
Heat: Spicy M/M/F








Synopsis
Hannah Lewis, a rare earth witch, is taken from the only life she’s ever known. Held at her will by a sadistic wolf, she almost gives up hope that she’d ever see her real life again. But as her fellow captive, a werewolf named Reed, tries to calm her fears, she begins to feel a spark of something she never thought she’d feel – love. But is Reed, alone, enough to get her out of this dark basement so she can move on with her life?


Reed Jamenson, the artist of a werewolf Pack of Alpha males, knows instinctually that Hannah is his mate. Thus, despite their imprisonment, he will do all to protect her and then worry about their hearts. But is he strong enough to find a way for both of them to escape? And why does he feel as though something else is missing?


Josh Kolb, an ex-military human, stumbles upon Reed and Hannah and finds he must trust this new world of supernatural beings to survive. But that desire will lead the three to a triangle of attraction that will test the boundaries they all possess and its consequences in defeating the enemy. Can they all trust one another to save themselves and life as they know it? Even at the cost of their own hearts?


(This is a Redwood Pack Novel) (This book in an m/m/f. It contains m/m/f, m/f/m, m/f, and m/m scenes)


A Note From Josh

Hi everyone! I’m Josh, from Carrie Ann’s Trinity Bound, book 3 in the Redwood Pack series. Carrie Ann asked me to take over and talk about what it’s like to be a human in a paranormal world.

Well, let me tell you, it’s interesting.

You see, I knew about the paranormal before I even met my mates, Reed and Hannah. Yes, I said mates. As in plural. But that’s another story.

Before I met them, I was a SEAL and saw too much. I knew the things that went bump in the night weren’t the dreams of adolescents, but the real thing. Scary isn’t it?

But even though I knew they existed, I didn’t have any real interaction with them. Well, that is until I met Reed and Hannah. Suddenly I wasn’t an outsider, but a true participant in the paranormal war. The Centrals, a bad Pack of evil werewolves, had taken Reed and Hannah. And somehow, it had lain on my shoulders to protect them.

Even looking back on everything that had happened, I don’t regret it. Because now I have my artist of a werewolf and my sweet witch by my side.

You see, once you know the paranormal exists, you can’t unknow it. Werewolves rule as a Pack and are family oriented. At least the good guys. There are witches and demons in the world. Everything you had thought you knew is now different.

As a human, you feel weak, useless. Until you realize your mates are by your side and let you find your own strength. That’s what it feels like to be Pack.

Watching a man shift to a wolf is beyond jarring, but something you get used to. It’s a daily part of my new life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Excerpt from Trinity Bound
Snowflakes stuck to Josh’s eyelashes and he bat them away. A strong gust blew past him, the cold chilling his bones. He surveyed his surroundings, taking a silent step through the undergrowth. Tall trees reached to the sky, blocking whatever sunlight filtered through the dreary storm clouds. Their limbs heavy with leaves and the extra weight of collecting snow drooped down, dropping snow bundles on his shoulder and in one unfortunate incident, his face. If only he could have Found these two in the nice spring or cool fall months. No, he had to search for them in the onset of winter and the beginning of what looked to be a deadly snow storm. Lucky guy.


When he left his bench on Main Street, he had quickly gone home to fetch some of his equipment. He dressed warmer, grabbed a pack with extra clothes for Reed and the witch, some food and water, and weapons. Lots of weapons. Knifes and blades of various shapes and sizes adorned his body. He had his SIG strapped to his side, with extra ammo in his belt. Sadly he didn’t have any silver, but lead would at least slow the beasts down if they came after him. 


And they would. Because as he followed the trail in his mind to this remote bunker, his sense of unease swelled to a staggering sensation. Crap, he might not make it this time. He was but one man. One human at that. But looking down at the lair that held two people that he needed to find, he set aside those worries and the creeps it gave off. The two of them were more important – for some unknown reason. And if anyone truly knew him, they would know that it was freaking hard to give Josh the creeps. But he ignored those chills as well.

More About the Author

Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate - even if its just in her books. Happy endings are always near - even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.


Her first book, An Alpha's Path, is the first in her Redwood Pack series. She's also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.


Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at:

Website

Blog

Hearttrob Haven

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Friend

Goodreads

Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan

Tumblr

Where Can I Get The Books in This Great Series?


An Alpha’s Path

Amazon  Barnes & Noble ARe

A Taste for a Mate

Amazon Barnes & Noble ARe

Trinity Bound

Amazon Barnes&Noble ARe

Carrie Ann's Givaway

Carrie Ann has very generously offered to giveaway a swag pack to one person who leaves a comment on this post answering the following question: 

If you were a human and you found out the paranormal were real and the person you were falling in love with was a supernatural, what would you do?

Contest ends at 11:59pm Pacific Time on 4/9/2012.


Thank you for stopping by and commenting!


~Happy Reading,
Kristine

Spotlight - "Falling Angel" by Clare Tisdale

Everyone, please join me in welcoming Clare Tisdale to the blog today. Clare and I have been in the same writing group for several years now. She's a wonderfully talented writer whose smooth sentences and gripping story lines will draw you in like they do me.

I've very excited because Clare has just released her first book, Falling Angel. And to make the occasion even more special, Falling Angel is FREE until April 10th. But don't wait! Get your copy today.

Author: Clare Tisdale

Title: Falling Angel

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat: Mild

Price: $2.99 - FREE until April 10, 2012

Download from Amazon.com

Download from Amazon.uk

Synopsis

Cara Walker moves to Seattle to start a new life, far away from her cheating ex-boyfriend. Burned by past experience, she vows to only date men who are financially secure and ready for a serious commitment. David, an upwardly mobile banker, seems like the perfect match. Then she meets bad boy Ben Kilpatrick, a charismatic artist with a wild streak a mile long. Cara must decide whether to follow her head and stay away or take a reckless gamble on the chance of true love.

Excerpt From Falling Angel

Casually, Ben steered the conversation away from himself. “So, what brought you to the show?”

“My roommate, actually. She loves to go out and meet guys, and drags me along with her.”

“You make it sound like a chore.”

“It’s not that,” said Cara, debating whether to confide in him. He seemed so open, so non-judgmental, that she decided to be honest. “It’s  that . . . well, I’m not that into the whole singles scene. And artists, especially, seem so puffed up with a sense of their own importance, you know? I’m at a point in my life now where I’m looking for something more stable.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just that I’ve made a promise to myself to make better choices when it comes to guys.”

“No more crazy artist-types, huh?” A small smile played about Ben’s lips. “Only stockbrokers and CPA’s from here on out?”

“It sounds so calculating, when you put it that way. All I mean is I’m looking for someone who’s a realist, not chasing some illusory dream. It seems childish to pursue art as a viable career. The reality is that many are called but few are chosen.” 

Heartened by Ben’s attentive silence, Cara continued. “When it comes to men, I intend to stake my hopes on more of a sure thing. A good provider, as they say. Emotionally and financially stable. I guess I’m a little more cynical than I used to be.”

“At your advanced age? How old are you? Twenty-one, twenty-two? Are you even legal?”

Cara glared at him. “I’ll be twenty three next week, thank you very much.”

“No way!” said Ben, laughing at her indignation.

Cara relented and grinned. “I know. I look like a twelve-year-old, right? I can’t buy wine at the store without getting carded. It’s embarrassing, really.”

“I like the way you look.”

For a moment, their eyes met, and Cara sensed in his a challenge. A small thrill went through her as she looked away, tracing the marbled surface of the counter with her fingertip. 

About the Author

Clare: I have been writing since the age of nine, when my father took a sabbatical from his work as a physicist at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. He took the whole family on a nine-month round-the-world trip to every continent. I had to keep a daily journal as a way to keep up with my schoolwork, and I continued writing a journal all through my twenties. 

While, marriage, work and motherhood have taken away much of my navel-gazing time (sigh), that early introduction to daily writing stayed with me, and I have since written countless articles for print and online publications, as well as five fiction novels. 

Falling Angel is the first book I’ve e-published, and I’m excited to see the reception it will get from readers. I can’t wait for my first review! Of course, this being a romance, I imagine the ending won’t be too much of a surprise. But I hope you’ll find it a satisfying read.

I hope this excerpt has whetted your appetite for more. You can also follow my trials and travails as a newbie e-book publisher at claretisdale.blogspot.com.

A thousand thanks to Kristine for hosting me on her blog!

-Clare 

Kristine: Doesn't Falling Angel sound like an excellent read? Give this debut author a chance and download her book for free. Here are the links again: Amazon.com and Amazon.uk

Thank you, Clare, for giving me the opportunity to feature your debut release, and thank you to the readers for all your support and encouragement.

We'd love to hear what you think of Clare's new book and the cover, designed by the fabulous Scarlett Rugers. Please leave us your thoughts in a comment below.

Happy Easter and Happy Reading :)

~Kristine

Blog Hop - Carrie Ann Ryan's Birthday

Hi Everyone. Thank you for joining the blog hop! 


What are we celebrating and why? It's Carrie Ann's birthday and she wanted to celebrate big this year. We thought a 60-author hop would be just the thing. And guess what is even better? Instead of giving gifts to Carrie Ann, we're giving gifts to you!


First a little birthday story


When my son turned eight, he asked for a Pirates of the Caribbean themed party, just the family. So I  went to QFC and ordered the Pirates of the Caribbean cake, streamers, table cloth, plates, cups, napkins, etc. We then bought gifts and wrapped them in Pirates of the Caribbean wrapping paper.

On the grand day, I decorated the dining room, set the table, and prepared his favorite meal. Dinner went well, then we brought in the cake. His little eyes sparkled seeing Captain Jack and Will standing on the Black Pearl. He made a wish and blew out the candles. So far so good. Then the worst happened--my husband knocked over a bottle of pop and it fell on the cake. Mind you, it was only the corner of the cake. The cake I was about to cut so we could eat it. My son freaked!


He was like a child possessed. He cried and said my husband had ruined everything, then he ran upstairs to his room. We all just stared at each other dumbfounded. After a while, I served the cake and we ate while the little one got over himself alone in his room. Eventually, the birthday boy came back downstairs and rejoined us. Even now, many years later, he still says his father smashed his birthday cake :)


What's your worst birthday story?


The Grand Prizes


As part of the tour, the authors pooled money to offer not one, but two grand prizes to our readers. These grand prizes are tour-wide so be sure to check the linky list at the bottom of this post and hop to the other blogs for more chances to win.


First Grand Prize:  a Kindle Touch
Second Grand Prize: a $60 Amazon or Barnes & Noble giftcard


What do you need to do? Simply comment on the blog and leave your email address so Carrie Ann can contact you if you win. Contest ends at 11:59PM Eastern Time April 6, 2012.


My Giveaway


So today (and tomorrow--the hop is April 5 & 6), we have two giveaways. My gift to a lucky participant is a wonderful thong bookmark designed and handmade by Betty's Rubble Hand Made Creations.  Here's a picture of it:

To enter, fill out the rafflecopter form. Perform the other tasks to get additional entries and more chances to win. Very simple. Open to International participants. Contest ends at 11:59PM Eastern Time April 6, 2012.