Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Author Spotlight: Nikki Lynn Barrett, author of The Secret Santa Wishing Well


Everyone, please help me in welcoming debut author Nikki Lynn Barrett to the blog today. And since Thanksgiving is over, it's the perfect time for a holiday-themed contemporary romance and a giftcard giveaway to help refill your pockets after Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping splurges.!

But first, Nikki is going to share with us the inspiration for her amazing new story, The Secret Santa Wishing Well.


Christmas in a Child's Eyes
Do you remember those days? When everything was so innocent. When you were a child, you didn't know so much of the things you do now. Funny how all we wanted was to grow up, but now that we are, we want that innocence as a child back.

When thinking about The Secret Santa Wishing Well, I created an image of Christmas through a little boy's eyes. For a six year old, Ben Jensen has a lot of weight on his shoulders. He is the man of the house, he helps his mom with his little sister as often as possible. Without the role of his father in his life.  Ben's image of Christmas hasn't been shattered by the fact that there won't be many toys for him to play with under the tree. Ben's Christmas is changed because he doesn't want his mom to have to work so hard just to provide for him, and his baby sister.

The thing about Ben is that I'm betting there are so many children in his position all the time. And not all of them would take on the responsibility the way he does. And frankly, they shouldn't have to.  Too many childhoods have been cut short because of things that forced them to grow up far too quickly.

When I wrote this story, it really brought things into prospective. As real as the situation may be, I still longed for that happily ever after.  I created the hero, Jacob, based a bit on my step dad. He came into my life when I was one, and got attached to me, and I was attached to him.  He's been married to my mom for 29 years and he has always treated me as if I were his own flesh and blood. Many people who have known me for a long time never realized that he's not my biological father, because there has always been a closeness. I call him Daddy.

So that's why The Secret Santa Wishing Well holds a special place in my heart.  I hope that readers enjoy reading about Jacob, Cheyenne, Ben, and baby Desiree. It's not just a story for Christmas, it's a story about family, love, and new beginnings.

Thank you again, for having me here today, and allowing me to ramble.

-Nikki Lynn Barrett




Title: The Secret Santa Wishing Well
Author: Nikki Lynn Barrett

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: November, 2012

Price: $2.99

Available from: Amazon | B&N










Description
The magic of Christmas has been lost to Jacob Winston. At the suggestion of his ill sister, Jacob takes a job as a Secret Santa at the mall, hoping to restore his Christmas spirit. Even that doesn't seem to work, until a special little boy ambles up to make a very special wish...

Cheyenne Jensen is struggling to raise her two kids without the help of her ex-husband who refuses to acknowledge his daughter's existence and doesn't provide for the son he does. This Christmas is shaping up to be as heartbreaking as the last, until her son Ben's kind actions lead a stranger to them.

Ah, but it's Christmas time and the magic has begun.

When Jacob and Cheyenne meet, neither can deny their immediate attraction to one another. As situations arise that require they spend more time together, their feelings grow stronger and stronger.
With Christmas fast approaching, the pair learn what matters most in life. Now, if only they could ditch the ghost of Christmases past.

Maybe this holiday will bring some wishes come true- for everyone after all.

Excerpt from The Secret Santa Wishing Well
It didn't take long for her to come back.

Jacob moved to the living room, standing and waiting. When he saw her coming, he closed the gap between them. Before he could think twice, he touched her shoulder gently, wanting to thank her for the evening. But instead of talking, he leaned in and kissed her. Just a light kiss. Gentle. Friendly. Until she responded.

She had her arms around him, pulling him for another kiss. Deeper. Sweeter. She tasted so sweet. Her need made him swell. He could do this all night. Jacob pressed her against the wall, their kisses deepening with urgency. He ran his fingers through her fine hair. Hers wrapped around his neck, rubbing lightly.

Jacob pulled back abruptly. “Cheyenne," he ground out. “We have to stop.” Before I lose it. He didn't want to stop. He never expected her to reciprocate like this. Wow. Maybe it wasn't one sided after all. Jacob sighed.

That halted everything. She pulled away, looking at him with wide, beautiful eyes. “I'm sorry. I pushed. You must think I'm a fool. I thought when you kissed me...” Cheyenne attempted to move out of Jacob's embrace. Oh, damn. She thought he didn't want her. He did, oh, how he did.

“No, no. Honey, that's not it at all. Kissing you was magical. Amazing. But we just met. I don't want to take things too far. But I would love to see you again.” He pushed back loose strands of her hair that hung over her face when she'd moved. She looked so vulnerable. Was she going to cry? Oh hell, he wouldn't be able to handle it if she did. The last thing he wanted was for her to be upset with him.

“I'd like that, too. It was a wonderful, amazing day, and I have you to thank for it.” She nearly whispered the words, choking up on the last part. “God, I'm a mess. I'm sorry. There's been so much going on, and my signals are going crazy at the moment.”

Yours aren't the only one, Jacob thought. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, typing in her name in the contacts and handing it to her. “Can I have your number?”

She laughed. “Of course.” Her fingers brushed his as she took the phone from him, tapping in her number. She handed it back to him. Electric shocks of awareness zipped through him. His gaze lingered on her, knowing he needed to get the hell out of here before he lost it completely,

Buy Links
Amazon | B&N

Coming in print and Kobo soon. Other ebook retailers TBA.

Author Links
Website: http://www.facebook.com/NikkiLynnBarrettauthor
Blog: http://www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/WYLCbB
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583655.Nikki_Lynn_Barrett


Giveaway - $10 Amazon or B&N Giftcard
Nikki is so into the spirit of the holidays that she's treating us to an early present. Leave a comment and your email address to be entered to win a $10 Amazon or B&N giftcard! The giveaway ends on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 11:59 PM, Pacific time.

Remember to include your email address in your comment!

Thank you, Nikki, for your incredible generosity. We wish you the best of luck with your fabulous debut novel.

Thank you, readers! Best of luck with the giveaway.
~Kristine





Monday, November 26, 2012

Cyber Monday Deals are Here! @KristineCayne

Wow! What a week it's been. First Thanksgiving, then Black Friday and now Cyber Monday. I'm always on the look out for great online deals, but there are so many, I'm sure I won't be able t find them all. That's where you come in. Have you found a great online deal? If so, leave it in the comments (with a link) so others can enjoy it too.

My Cyber Monday Book Deals



For the first time ever (and maybe the only time ever) Deadly Addiction, the second in my Deadly Vices series, is available for only 99 cents (regularly $3.99).

Description: A violent clash of cultures and nations tests the forbidden love between a Native American man and a white female cop.

On sale at the following retailers only: Amazon (77p at Amazon.uk) | B&N (75p at Nook UK) | Kobo





Also for the first time ever, (and maybe the only time ever) Romance in the Rain: A Seattle Anthology is available for only 99 cents (regularly $3.99).

Romance in the Rain includes my novella "Aftershocks" which is the prequel to my hot new Six Alarm Sexy firefighter romance series. The first book, Under His Command, comes out in mid-December, so get your copy of Aftershocks and read be ready!

On sale at the following retailers only: Amazon | B&N |  | Kobo




Deadly Obsession, the first in my Deadly Vices series, is also on sale for 99 cents (regularly $3.99). This sale ends January 1, 2013.

Description: Nic Lamoureux's perfect movie star life is shattered by a stalker who threatens any woman close to him. When he meets photographer Lauren James, the attraction is instant--and mutual. She's exactly the sort of woman he craves, but the stalker makes deadly clear Lauren is the competition. And the competition must be eliminated.

On sale at the following retailers only: Amazon (77p at Amazon UK ) | B&N (75p at Nook UK) | Kobo 


All Romance eBooks Cyber Monday 50% Off Sale

Hurry! This sale only lasts one day. Get all the books you love for yourself or the booklovers on your gift list all with a 50% rebate!

*rebate is applied to your account in eBucks after checkout.
**Look for the crown icons that indicate rebate eligible books!

Sale ends Monday, November 26th 11:59 PM US Central Time


All Romance eBooks has discounted all three of my books. Here are the links:

Deadly Obsession: ARe
Deadly Addiction: ARe
Romance in the Rain:  ARe

Other great books that are 50% off for Cyber Monday:
Revenge by Dana Delamar: ARe
Retribution by Dana Delamar: ARe
Serve and Protect: Box Set by Norah Wilson: ARe
Forever a Lady by Delilah Marvelle: ARe
The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan: ARe

ARe Top 10 Bestsellers - all 50% off!
1. In Time of Need by Sean Michael: ARe
2. Ballsy by Mia Watts: ARe
3. Run with the Moon by Diana DeRicci: ARe
4. Her Best Friend's Baby by Teona Bell: ARe
5. Texas Branded by Sara York: ARe
6. A Dom is Forever by Lexi Blake: ARe
7. And Baby Makes Three by Dahlia Rose: ARe
8. Sold to the Sheik by Chloe Cox: ARe
9. Part of Me by L.E. Harner: ARe
10. Turning the Tables by Kim Dare: ARe


More Great Cyber Monday Deals
Today only, Amazon's Kindle Fire is available for only $129 ($30 off). Enter promotional code FIREDEAL at checkout.




Happy Cyber Monday shopping and remember to let us know what great deals you find!
~Kristine

Thursday, November 22, 2012

What's the Big Deal? Black Friday Blog Hop with Kristine Cayne #BkFriHop




Welcome to the Black Friday Blog Hop stop #11!

Did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving Day yesterday? Are you still too stuffed to brave the mobs at the stores for Black Friday Deals? I'm not too stuffed, but I'm definitely too scared! What am I doing instead? Why I'm shopping online, of course!

I'm going to keep this short and sweet. I've got some great Black Friday Deals for you. At the top of the blog is my Black Friday Deals Carousel. All the books are $0.99, most for today only, some on sale through Cyber Monday (be sure to check the price before clicking the BUY button).

Why not treat yourself to some of these highly-rated books? Don't you deserve a little fun after all your hard work you did yesterday?

My Black Friday Book Deals


For the first time ever (and maybe the only time ever) Deadly Addiction, the second in my Deadly Vices series, is available for only 99 cents (regularly $3.99).

Description: A violent clash of cultures and nations tests the forbidden love between a Native American man and a white female cop.

On sale at the following retailers only: Amazon (77p at Amazon.uk) | B&N (75p at Nook UK) | ARe | Kobo






Also for the first time ever, (and maybe the only time ever) Romance in the Rain: A Seattle Anthology is available for only 99 cents (regularly $3.99).

Romance in the Rain includes my novella "Aftershocks" which is the prequel to my hot new Six Alarm Sexy firefighter romance series. The first book, Under His Command, comes out in mid-December, so get your copy of Aftershocks and read be ready!

On sale at the following retailers only: Amazon | B&N | ARe | Kobo





Deadly Obsession, the first in my Deadly Vices series, is also on sale for 99 cents (regularly $3.99). This sale ends January 1, 2013.

Description: Nic Lamoureux's perfect movie star life is shattered by a stalker who threatens any woman close to him. When he meets photographer Lauren James, the attraction is instant--and mutual. She's exactly the sort of woman he craves, but the stalker makes deadly clear Lauren is the competition. And the competition must be eliminated.

On sale at the following retailers only: Amazon (77p at Amazon UK ) | B&N (75p at Nook UK) | ARe | Kobo 


Other great Black Friday Book Deals 

Note: All links are Amazon.com links unless otherwise stated. Please confirm price before purchasing. Errors in timing do happen.

Romantic Suspense
Revenge (Blood and Honor, Book 1) by Dana Delamar on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $4.99)
Retribution (Blood and Honor, Book 2) by Dana Delamar on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $4.99)
The Good Daughter by Diana Layne on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $3.99)
Reckless Nights in Rome by CC Mackenzie FREE today! (Regularly $0.99)
Guarding Suzannah by Norah Wilson on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $2.99)
Bad Medicine by J.D. Faver FREE today! (Regularly $5.99)
Meant For Her by Amy Gamet on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $2.99)
Sink or Swim by Stacy Juba on sale for only $1.20! (Regularly $2.99)
Deathscape by Dana Marton on sale for only 99 cents!
An Eye For Danger by Christine Fairchild on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $2.99)
WG2E All-For-Indies Anthologies: Spring Hop Edition on sale for only 99 cents!

Holiday-themed
A Snowy Christmas in Wyoming by E. Ayers on sale for only 99 cents!
Mistletoe Mischief by Stacey Joy Netzel on sale for only 99 cents!
A Heart Is A Home: Christmas in Texas by K.E. Saxon on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $3.49)
Operation: Enduring Santa by Tara Chevrestt on sale for only 99 cents!
A Christmas Card: A Collection of Short Stories by Tara Manderino on sale for only 99 cents!

Paranormal Mystery/Suspense
Rest For The Wicked by Cate Dean FREE today! (Regularly $0.99)
Ghost-in-Law Boxset by Jana DeLeon on sale for only $1.99! (Regularly $7.99)
Tales From the Mist by a collection of great authors on sale for only $2.49! (Regularly $4.99, at ARe)
Welcome to the Zombie Zoo by Sharon Lee Johnson on sale for only 99 cents!

Mystery/Suspense
Brett Gets Hammered by David D'Aguanno on sale for only 99 cents!
Out of the Shadow by J.S. Winn on sale for only 99 cents!

Contemporary Romance
Pearls of Passion by Chantilly White on sale for only 99 cents!
Snow Dance by Alicia and Roy Street on sale for only 99 cents!
Ask Me Again by E. Ayers on sale for only 99 cents!
Take a Deep Breath by Shar Dimick on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $2.99)
Worth the Weight by Mara Jacobs on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $2.99)
All For A Good Cause by Barbara Phinney on sale for only $2.99! (Regularly $4.99)
I Got You, Babe by Jane Graves on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $3.99)
Blame it on Texas (Lone Star Cowboys) by Tori Scott on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $2.99)

Paranormal Romance
Kade's Dark Embrace by Kim Grosso on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $2.99)
The Crystal Warrior by Maree Anderson on sale for only 99 cents (at All Romance ebooks)!
Something to Live For by Natalie G. Owens on sale for only 99 cents!
Dead: A Ghost Story by Mina Khan FREE today! (Regularly $0.99)
Rising Above by Stacey Joy Netzel on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $2.99)
Bewitching You by Viola Estrella on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $1.99)
Soul Guardian by Tara Manderino on sale for only 99 cents!
I Hope You Find Me by Trish Marie Dawson is FREE! (Normally $3.99)

Erotica/Erotic Romance
Chemical Attraction by Tori Scott on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $1.99)

Science Fiction Romance
Adrift (Callisto Series - Book 1) by Erica Conroy on sale for only $1.99! (Regularly $3.59)
Taken (Callisto Series - Book 2) by Erica Conroy on sale for only $2.99! (Regularly $3.99)

Epic Fantasy
Blood of the King (Khirro's Journey, Book 1) by Bruce Blake on sale for only 99 cents!

Historical Romance
Where Bluebirds Fly by Brynn Chapman FREE today!
Seeking Patience by Josie Riviera FREE today! (Regularly $0.99)
Seeking Catherine by Josie Riviera on sale for only 99 cents!
Highland Sorcerer by Clover Autrey on sale for only 99 cents!
Magic in the Storm by Merry Bond on sale for only $1.99 (Regularly $3.99, at ARe)
The Source of Magic by Cate Rowan on sale for only 99 cents!

Young Adult
Dying To Forget (The Station) by Trish Marie Dawson on sale for only $2.99! (Regularly $3.99)
The Freaks of Greenfield High by Maree Anderson on sale for only 99 cents (at All Romance ebooks)!
Feyland: The Dark Realm by Anthea Sharp on sale for only 99 cents!
Dark Before Dawn by Stacy Juba on sale for only 99 cents!
Shot Through the Heart by Niki Burnham on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $4.99)
Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno on sale for only 99 cents!
Dying To Forget by Trish Marie Dawson FREE today! (Regularly $2.99)
Codename: Dancer by Amanda Brice on sale for only 99 cents! (Regularly $3.94)

Other
Click here to access Amazon's Black Friday Deals Page and find more awesome sales.

Black Friday Blog Hop Grand Prizes

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address to be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $75 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Note: Prizes 1 and 2 are International. Prize 3 is US-only.

Reader question: What's the Black Friday Deal you've found today?

Black Friday Blog Hop My Prize

December 17, 2012 is the release date of Under His Command, the first book in my new firefighter erotic romance. As my Black Friday Blog Hop prize, I'm giving away five copies!!

Description: A firefighter desperate to save his failing marriage earns the trust--and the sexual submission--of his controlling wife in the most pleasurable of ways.



Be the first to get a copy of Under His Command by filling out the rafflecopter below! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Keep Hopping!
For more great prizes and chances to win, hop over to the sites below.

Main Black Friday Blog Hop website: http://carrieannbloghops.blogspot.com/p/black-friday.html

Thank you, blog hoppers. I hope you have a great Black Friday and and awesome Cyber Monday!

~Kristine

Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop with Kristine Cayne


I'd like to start by saying a huge "Thank you!" to Ella Medler and Susan Griscom for nominating me as The Next Big Thing. Last week, Ella also awarded me her "Life Changing Read" award for Deadly Addiction. I'm proud and humbled by her words. You can read what she said by clicking here.

The Next Big Thing originated on the She Writes site, as far as we could work out, and is designed to raise awareness of our work, or work in progress. We do that by answering ten questions about it. We graciously thank the person who nominated us, and tag five other authors whose work could well be that NEXT BIG THING.

I hope that the following questions and answers will give you some insight into who I am as a writer and as a person. I'm also sharing some insights into my current work in progress. Think sexy firefighters!

Q1: What is the working title of your book?

Under His Command is the book I'm currently writing. It's a hot firefighter (erotic) romance. Want to see the cover? Here it is.



Q2: Where did the idea for the book come from?

The Rainy Day Writers, a Seattle-based group that I'm part of, decided to put together an anthology. The stories would all take place in Seattle or have a strong connection to that city, and either the hero or heroine had to be a member of the Caldwell family. Because I write romantic suspense, I started thinking about dramatic situations that could occur in Seattle. And then it came to me - earthquake! This lead to thinking about who are best trained to bring help to victims in earthquake scenarios: the answer being rescue firefighters. I created a fictional technical rescue team led by my hero, Lieutenant Jamie Caldwell.

Q3: What genre does your book fall under?

Erotic romance.

Q4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Hmm... now that's a tough one. The man used as inspiration for Jamie is actually a real firefighter with the FDNY. If I had to pick an actor, he'd have to be very big and strong... Have you seen Chicago Fire? Taylor Kinney plays the lieutenant of the rescue squad. He'd make a great Jamie. He's already got practice. LOL. Here's an image of my Jamie, though.



The heroine is Erica Caldwell, or Rickie as Jamie calls her. Sienna Miller or Jennifer Lawrence would do well. Here's an image of Erica and Chloe (Jamie and Erica's daughter).



Q5: What is the one sentence synopsis for your book?

A firefighter desperate to save his failing marriage earns the trust--and the sexual submission--of his controlling wife in the most pleasurable of ways.

Q6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

This book and the entire series will be self-published.

Q7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

It's been eight weeks so far. I expect to finish the draft in the next week or so.

Q8: What other books would you compare this story to, within your genre?

In style and explicitness, it's similar to Fifty Shades of Grey. But the plot is much tighter and the setup and characters are vastly different.

Q9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Firefighters are true heroes, but how much do we really know about them? Not much. They come, do their thing and leave. I wanted to write a series about the men and women under the uniform and their struggles with relationships. It's a very dangerous job that takes a huge toll on parents, spouses, and children. I also picked a technical rescue team because I think what they do is extraordinary while largely a mystery to the public. At least now with Chicago Fire, they are gaining some visibility.



Q10: What else about your book might pique the readers’ interest?

This book, and the rest of the series, delves deeply into the various relationships of the members of my technical rescue team. These men are adrenaline junkies who seek thrills in every aspect of their lives and the bedroom is no exception. I've paired my heroes and heroines up with partners that will challenge them, and me, on every level. Under His Command explores how light BDSM brings Jamie and Erica back to a relationship of trust and mutual respect.

~~~

Now it's time to pass the torch to five deserving authors so they can tell you about their amazing work. Their posts (which will have the same title: The Next Big Thing Blog Hop) will be live on or around November 21. Here they are:

Dana Delamar

Patricia Macias

Richard Cotton

Cate Dean

Stacey Joy Netzel

Thank you for joining me on The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. I hope you'll visit my nominees next week when they post their answers to the ten questions.

~Kristine





Friday, November 9, 2012

Fall into Colors: Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop with Kristine Cayne #AHHop




Welcome to stop #49 on the Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop!

To participate in the Grand Prizes, you MUST leave a comment with your email address.

To participate in my Prize Giveaways, you MUST fill out the rafflecopter.

Fall is a strange time of the year for me. I love the changing colors of the leaves, but I hate seeing the leaves fall. When I lived on the east coast, putting on a warm sweater and wrapping myself up in a big blanket to read seemed like heaven after the sweltering heat of the summer. But since I moved to the Pacific Northwest, I'm always cold. I wear sweaters almost all year long. Does that surprise you? It sure as heck surprised me! One good thing about living in the Seattle-area is that there are a lot of trees, and the stunning fall colors remind me of home, which happens to be Montréal, Canada.

The last quarter of Deadly Obsession and all of Deadly Addiction (the first two books in my Deadly Vices series) take place in an area just north of Montréal. Nic and Rémi, my two heroes, have homes in a fictional town called St. Xavier that borders the Blackriver Reservation. The reserve's namesake is a gorgeous river that borders St. Xavier and runs up into the reserve. The photo below is an old one of a place called Lac St. Denis in the Laurentian Mountains, sixty miles north of Montréal  It's very much how I imagine St. Xavier with the reserve across the river.



This photo represents the vast uninhabited sections of the Blackriver reserve where some very illicit behavior takes place in Deadly Addiction. Aren't the colors beautiful?



If you're looking for a book with sizzle and heat to keep you warm this fall, try DEADLY ADDICTION, the latest book in my Deadly Vices series.


A violent clash of cultures and nations tests the forbidden love between a Native American man and a white female cop. 

When beautiful police sergeant Alyssa Morgan enters his life, Rémi Whitedeer never expects her to upend it. Not only does she have his hormones in an uproar, she's also threatening to take the position he wants--Chief of Police for the Iroquois Blackriver Reservation. But Alyssa is more than a Barbie cop. Her ends-justifies-the-means philosophy, so different from his own, challenges Rémi on every level. With her sharp investigative skills and her fearlessness, she leads Rémi to confront bitter truths about his family and his standing as a man of mixed race within his tribe.

Tall hunky Rémi Whitedeer, of the panty-melting grin and the smoldering green eyes, flips Alyssa's world ass over teakettle. She's always had a laser-like focus on the job, but Rémi proves a constant distraction. His inner strength and sense of purpose strip away the winner-take-all attitude Alyssa wears like armor. Soon she's longing for more--a more that terrifies and intrigues her. If he finds out the fine line she'd walked while undercover, will he still want her? And will she ever find the courage to let him--or anyone--that far in?

When Alyssa and Rémi uncover a drug-fueled scheme involving a biker gang from Alyssa's past and a militant sovereigntist group led by Rémi's cousin, they are forced to choose between their growing love for each other and the lives they've worked so hard to build. Will Rémi and Alyssa have to leave everything behind--even their identities--for the chance of a future together?


Find it on: Amazon ebook | Amazon print | Amazon (UK)Barnes & Noble | ARe | Kobo | Sony | SmashwordsApple/iTunes | Diesel

DEADLY OBSESSION, the first in the Deadly Vices series is currently on sale for only 99 cents!
Find it onAmazon ebook (77p at Amazon UK) | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | ARe


GRAND PRIZES

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Entries without an email address will be discarded. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains 10+ paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Note: Grand Prizes 1 and 2 are International. Grand Prize 3 is US-only.



To Find the other 200+ Authors & Bloggers Click HERE!


MY GIVEAWAY PRIZES

I'm giving away an ecopy of the following books. Follow the rafflecopter to enter!


Title: Kade's Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans)
Author: Kym Grosso






Title: Luca's Magic Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans)
Author: Kym Grosso



s

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for visiting my blog hop stop, and best of luck with the giveaways!
~Kristine

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Kristine Cayne's Spotlight: Dariel Raye, Author of Jordan's Wings

Folks, please help me in welcoming Dariel Raye to the blog today. She's the author of several books, including her recent release Jordan's Wings, the first book in her new "Alerians Dark Progeny" series. 

Title: Jordan's Wings
Series: The Alerians Dark Progeny, Book One
Author: Dariel Raye

Genre: contemporary, paranormal romance, fantasy
Available: Red Rose Publishing 

Description: Jordan Taylor is a feisty, take charge, Rubinesque beauty with a tough façade, but after a string of lackluster relationships, her dream of a man who truly loves and appreciates her strength seems impossible…Until she meets Canaan, the man her fiancé claims is his best friend! Instinctively, she knows her neat, if lackluster life is about to change.

Born more than 200 years ago, Canaan looks like an angel but he’s far from it. In his world, the ratio of men to women is 500 to 1, and although he’s a superior being, he’s willing to break the most sacred law of his brothers, even drink human blood, to have one meant for him alone.When he meets Jordan, he knows she’s the one he’s been searching for.  To claim her, Canaan will have to betray his friend, humble himself enough to win her love, and risk his very life.


Short Excerpt from Jordan's Wings
Jordan woke suddenly and sat up in her bed. She rubbed at her eyes to make sure she saw what she thought she saw. “You! What are you…? How did you…? Get out of my room!” She stood up and stalked toward him when he just sat there, that smirk apparently tattooed on his face, a face too handsome to belong to such a lowlife.

Canaan’s smirk-smile widened as she got closer. He was looking at her body, and some of his teeth didn’t look right. She didn't have the presence of mind to identify just what was wrong, though. Jordan glanced down and was immediately reminded that she had slept in the nude.

About Dariel
Dariel's love for books, as well as her fascination with animals and all things paranormal, prompted the beginning of her writing journey at the tender age of 8. The paranormal romance, "Raven's Shelter," one of five stories in Taming of the Wolf, was her second publication, and her first with The Wild Rose Press as a result of placing second in their "Got Wolf" competition - prompted the new "Dark Sentinels" series. Also a paranormal romance, "Vashti's Star," which she has plans to update, was her first published novel. Dariel has written articles for The News Item of Mobile, and Black Health Magazine of Atlanta.

A classically trained pianist and vocalist with a degree in piano and vocal performance, Dariel plays more than 10 instruments, and worked as a band and choral director. With a master's in counseling psychology, she worked in mental health therapy, substance abuse counseling, and school/career counseling for more years than she wishes to reveal. She has presently completed studies for a Ph.D. with the exception of her dissertation, but a more recent battle with kidney failure changed her perspective and renewed a focus on her first loves, writing and music. Dariel is a native Mobilian and minister of music. In addition to her novels and articles, she has written and directed three musicals and composed more than 30 scripturally based compositions. She lives with a variety of pets, where she is working on three paranormal romance series, composing music, and making plans to record soon.

Where to Find Dariel and Jordan's Wings

Dariel, thank you so much for the opportunity to learn more about your and your wonderful new series. I look forward to hearing much more about you in the future!

Readers, I'm so happy you could join us today! Please remember the Autumn's Harvest Blog Hop, which starts on Friday (11/9/2012) and runs through Monday (11/12/2012). Over 200 authors and bloggers have banded together to bring you great autumn-themed posts and amazing prizes.

See you Friday!
Kristine


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Kristine Cayne Guest Blog and Review: Robert Downs "Resurrecting MANfiction"



Hello everyone! Today, I'm featuring Robert Downs, the author of Falling Immortality, on tour with Making Connections Book Tours. I'm very excited to have Robert join us to tell us about his book and the resurrection of the genre he calls MANfiction.


Resurrecting MANfiction
If you listen to the tabloids, or maybe even your female author friend, or you conduct an Internet search, you’ll quickly discover that about 80% of readers are women. Does this mean real men don’t read? I’d respectfully beg to differ, and I have no less an authority than Stephen King standing in my corner with his ear pressed to the back of the nearest paperback. But I would argue MANfiction does need an injection of strength, in the same manner that a strong male lead will attack any and all comers. It’s not exactly on life support, but it does need a group of male authors standing at the front of the line trumpeting its praises. Because male readership is in the minority, you have otherwise intelligent male authors running in fear, or cowering away from the term. Yet, you don’t have female authors shirking the term chick lit.

More than anything, I’d say this boils down to a lack of understanding with your average male author. Sure, many of his readers are female, but men enjoy grenades and fistfights with the same zest that women enjoy romances and strong female leads. This isn't to say women don’t enjoy action either, as any Lee Child or Robert Crais fan will tell you. I’d even go so far as to say women are not turned off by the term MANfiction, if it’s written well and marketed properly, but it shouldn't be treated like it’s a dirty word, because it’s not. It’s just a way for the average reader to quickly identify what she (or he) will be spending her hard-earned dollars on, and in the end, that’s good marketing for everyone.

Robert Downs is the author of Falling Immortality: Casey Holden, Private Investigator. A sample chapter of his MANfiction mystery debut, as well as other interesting information about the author, or his main character, can be located at his website.





Title: Falling Immortality
Author: Robert Downs
Series: Casey Holden

Genre: Mystery
Available: Amazon
















Description

Debut, hard-boiled mystery fiction for men. Stephen King’s son describes a fitting genre as MANfiction (the opposite of Chick lit). Casey Holden, former cop, current PI in Virginia Beach, VA, screens his clients the way he screens his women, based on whichever drop-dead gorgeous woman happens to waltz through his door first and manages to hold his attention.

So when Felicity Farren, widow-at-large, struts into his office asking him to solve the two-year-old murder of her husband Artis, she intrigues him. When Casey starts digging, he learns the murder isn't what it seems to be and he doesn't have a big enough shovel to unearth the truth. And to top it all off, his former rival at the police department, Greg Gilman, is determined to disrupt his investigation. Casey's challenge is to learn what really happened to Artis, and why Gilman can’t seem to remove his head from his butt. And he’ll need all of his wits to complete the task.


About Robert Downs

Robert aspired to be a writer before he realized how difficult the writing process was. Fortunately, he’d already fallen in love with the craft, otherwise Casey might never have seen print. Originally from West Virginia, Robert has lived in Virginia, Massachusetts, and now resides in New Mexico.

Kristine Cayne's Review
Falling Immortality is the fast-paced, humorous tale of police officer turned private detective Casey Holden. Casey is a quick-witted, irreverent man with a knack for getting himself into tight situations. The mystery is well-crafted, with each new clue revealed in an unpredictable manner. The more Casey learns about the case he's trying to solve, the less he knows, and we fully share in his struggles.

I enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Casey's best friend and former partner, Ian Jackard. Ian is Mr. Ordinary, the perfect foil to Casey's Mr. Extraordinary. Unlike in most male-oriented novels, the men in Falling Immortality actually talk to each other about their lives, loves, and loses, albeit in a very funny and manly way. Whenever Casey and Ian are together, we're in for some great laughs. Here's an example:

"I'm in therapy because of you."

"No, you're in therapy because of your ex-wife." Ian's ex-wife was ruthless--she beat her hubby three times that I'm aware of. The relationship lasted a whopping ten months, and now ten years later he is still in therapy. Go figure.

"You don't look anything like my ex-wife," he said.

"I know. I look better."


And here's another of my favorite excerpts. It depicts Casey's character perfectly.

"I'm very selective in my relationships," I said. "I like to have a woman for each arm. It's a good thing I don't have three arms."

I heard Ian grin: he didn't laugh. "That's one more than most guys have when they're lucky, and if they're not, it's two more. Monogamy has never been your strong suit. In fact, I bet you don't even know what a monogamous relationship is."

"I have a different definition of monogamy," I said. "And it's served me well." My cup of coffee stared up at me with pleading eyes.

My only criticism of the book is that while I got to know and understand the male characters fairly well, I didn't feel the same about the female line-up. Even at the end, Beverly, Alexandra, and Dragon Lady remained enigmas. And perhaps this is due to the fact that Falling Immortality is the first in a series and the characters will continue to be developed as the series progresses. I look forward to reading the upcoming installments in the Casey Holden, Private Investigator series.

All in all, I give this book 4 of 5 stars.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story with us, Robert!

Readers: what do you think of MANfiction as a genre? Have read any other books you think fit the genre?

Happy Reading!
Kristine




Friday, November 2, 2012

Cover Reveal - Under His Command by Kristine Cayne

I'm so excited. Even as I write this post, I'm jumping up and down in my seat! As many of you know, I'm embarking on a new series, featuring a fictional technical rescue team from the Seattle Fire Department. If you've read my Deadly Vices books, you know that I write very sexy. But this series goes even further--all the way into erotic romance. And let me tell you, the ideas are flowing!

Under His Command - The Cover
The first book in my new series is Under His Command. It's the continuation of Jamie and Erica Caldwell's story, begun in the prequel, Aftershocks. Both the hero and heroine have certain sexual needs and wants that they've hidden from each other for various reasons. They need to work through these issues, in and out of the bedroom, to finally reach their HEA. I'll have a blurb for you in a few weeks. But for now, here's the fabulous cover for Under His Command.




Call me crazy, but the more I look at this cover, the more I love it! The cover was designed by Judi Fennell. You can contact her at: www.formatting4U.com. The photo comes from Kim Killion (www.hotdamnstock.com), who was generous enough to follow through on my suggestion to take some firefighter images at her last photo shoot. If you've ever searched the stock sites for photos of firefighters, cops, paramedics, or other uniformed professionals, you'll know why this made my day. :)


New Series Title
A few weeks ago, I held a contest with readers on this blog, asking them to submit their series title suggestions. Three were clear front runners: Seattle Heat, Men of Fire, and Six Alarm Sexy. After the voting closed, I thought long and hard (*snicker*) about the story lines and book titles I already had in mind, and what I wanted the series title to tell the readers. So, here it is ladies and gentlemen, the title of my new rescue firefighter erotic romance series:



My Top Five Reasons For Picking This Series Title:
1. It's unique.
2. It's gender neutral (one of the firefighters is a woman).
3. It's clear from the title that this is a sexy series.
4. I have six heroes planned for the five books I've already laid out. (If you've done the math... well, you might have an inkling about what's coming...)
5. In firefighter-speak, the higher the alarm count, the bigger the incident. I'm expecting this series to set off six alarm fires in all of you :)


I hope you love the cover for Under His Command and my new series title as much as I do. Please comment and share your thoughts.

~Kristine