#CoverReveal ~Taryn Kincaid ~ If You Can't Stand the Heat ~ #FatedDesires #SpecialLines

If You Can't Stand The Heat

by Taryn Kincaid

Fated Desires Publishing

Give Me a Taste/Special Line books

Coming February 24th, 2015

Find it on Goodreads!

BLURB:

Derek Dunne is a Cordon Bleu-trained food critic for the prestigious New York Monitor, whose scathing review of a popular Italian bistro has driven away all but the most loyal neighborhood patrons.

Lucrezia Serafina DiCicco is a clumsy business school drop-out, working as a chef and scrambling to keep her family's restaurant afloat, after her father develops diabetes and is banned from his kitchen for his own good.

Now, with The Monitor folding, Derek is searching for his next career path and longing to get back to his first love—cooking—while Lu is desperate for an influx of cash to save the struggling restaurant…even as her father puts his foot down about non-family employees.

Derek and Lu embark on a marriage of inconvenience to save the restaurant. But can Lu ever really trust the man who nearly destroyed her family, once noted her initials spelled “LSD,” and her food was like a “bad trip?”

Or will it be their hearts on the chopping block? 

About The Author

Taryn Kincaid is a former award-winning reporter and columnist, covering everything from fires and homicides, to corrupt politicians and hero dogs. Nowadays, she haunts courthouses. Taryn reads all genres and writes erotic paranormal, contemporary and historical romance.

She is the author of the Sleepy Hollow series--LIGHTNING,THUNDER,FROST,HEAT WAVE and IN FROM THE COLD -- sexy paranormal romances for Decadent Publishing's popular 1Night Stand series; BLIZZARD, a short erotic romance for Decadent's The Edge line; HEALING HEARTS, a Regency romance from Carina Press, and SLEEPY HOLLOW DREAMS, an erotic paranormal romance from The Wild Rose Press. Books 1-4 of her Sleepy Hollow series, plus BLIZZARD, have been compiled in the SLEEPY HOLLOW edition, available in paperback and digital formats.

Find her online!

Website |  Blog |Twitter|Facebook Profile|FBAuthor Page|Goodreads |Pinterest   

The end of an era... #hollows #KimHarrison #review

Anyone else bummed he's not wearing his scarf and spelling cap?
No? Just me? But look at the elfin scruff face!! *siiiigh*

Because for all the changes, some things were immutable truths: friendship transcends all barriers, understanding trumps fear, and great power can always be surmounted by determination. And with Trent, Al, Ivy and Jenks beside me, we had all three. - Kim Harrison, The Witch With No Name





That quote? I think it summarizes all that makes this series so amazing and enchanting. Harrison takes immutable truths of human nature and superimposes them on to fantastic characters a reader can't help but identify with. As Trent once tells Rachel, when her world falls apart, everyone jumps in to try to help. When his falls apart, they try to find ways to pick apart the pieces of the corpse. Rachel proves again and again that no risk is too great and that fighting for love, friendship, compassion, and caring is sometimes the greatest battle we can attempt...so worth it, even if we risk failure.

Ever since the kiss between Rachel and Trent in Ever After, I've been petrified to read the remainder of the series.  The possibilities hinted at with that one lip-lock, the years of watching those characters dance around each other...

The many, many years where I've escaped my reality to be drenched in the Hollows adventures...

I just feared being let down, really. I've been in love with Trenton and hoped he and Rachel would work things out for literally YEARS. And some paranormal series, well, they don't give me a satisfying end to that kind of relationship. Yeah, yeah, yeah, fictional characters, but books become the markers of our lives. Who doesn't hear a song, remembering that song was popular back when you read whatever book? Or have some quotes that not just fit the story, but also our lives and who we were when they read them?

I'm a book addict. I know. Whatever.

So, for my birthday I gave myself the gift of a day off work/school/responsibility. Instead? I cracked open my copy of The Undead Pool. Strap yourselves in, if you're opening that book! So. Many. Things. Happened!!

And I literally cried at some of the moments in the story. Much was payoff for years of watching these characters learn to be comfortable in their own skins. After reading Undead Pool, I again was tempted to just let it lie there. But I couldn't.

So I opened The Witch With No Name and it is KILLING me not to give spoilers away. I will say I cried, laughed, cheered, and otherwise became far more emotionally involved with this book than a normal person should. Characters we've loved? They showed back up on the page and we got to see how they've been doing.

Characters we've rooted for, hoped for happiness for even though everything said they couldn't have it? Things, so many things, happen to them.

And Rachel, Trent, Al, Ivy and Jenks?

OH MY GOODNESS.

Harrison did an OUTSTANDING job penning a book that simply couldn't have been written without the years of setting up this intricate and magical world. I finished the book simply traumatized...

Not because it wasn't satisfying, but because it ended an era. Never again will I crack open a new adventure with this paranormal family I adore so much. Never again will I get to read one for the first time, though finishing it makes me want to (and I will...oh yes, I will...) go back and read the whole series again, back to back, just so I can see it with the knowledge of what will be. So I can frame what I come to know in that last book around what came before, making little things so much more poignant. FANTASTIC series, FANTASTIC ending, and excuse me while I go cry in a puddle because it ends now.

So much in my real life parallels this (as has so much of this series, even if Rachel fought magical foes and I simply walked in a much more mundane world) story and so many things are ending in real life...

I kind of feel like this:

Some quotes that I loved from this series:

"Call me tomorrow," Al said seriously, "I've got a curse that will take care of that. Unless you like the snake in a turtleneck look" - Ever After

"Look," I said, my finger jabbing out to point at him. "I don't like you. Jenks doesn't like you. And Ivy wants to eat you. Start talking." - Every Which Way But Dead

"Itchy witch." - Al...a lot

"I am yours," Trent gasped through clenched teeth, and my hand sprang from him, thinking I was betrayed. Trent fell to a knee, looking up at me, pleading. "I. Am. Yours. Claim me, Rachel! Damn your morals and claim me!" -Ever After

"I want a chance at falling in love.”  My breath came fast. That was what I wanted too, and it hurt more than I thought was possible to survive. - The Undead Pool

"Is this a date?" I asked again, more stridently.
Silent, Trent sat there, his hands on the wheel as he stared at the front door and the neon bowling pins flashing on and off. "I want it to be." - The Undead Pool

I should give you a bunny.(Al) - Black Magic Sanction

"Not if I can help it," I snapped. "And not of a broken heart. If you could, I'd be dead already." -Black Magic Sanction

*kisskiss*
*teartear*
Good bye, Hollows. I'll visit you soon.

How I spent my birthday #GlamLife #RomanceAuthor

I took the day off work.

For those of you who know me, I don't do that. Like--EVER.

I woke up and started reading the Kim Harrison book I've been dying to read. Omg, Trent. *siiiiigh*

My niece called. Those of you who've seen Maleficent (I NEED a copy of that on DVD) will understand why I call the little goober my Beastie. So I headed over to see her (and her brother, who is also awesome.)

My mom and sis got me a cake, so I had dippy eggs, some fried ham...fed the beastie some blueberries and counted markers for a while (she's not yet two, so pretty easy going when it comes to a good time)...
Then I let her and her brother shove their fingers in the icing of the cake. Because you're only a little kid once and everyone should just eat the icing right off the cake.

Also, because I'm not crazy fond of icing. lol

Anyway, then me and Ralph (because you know I brought the pound puppy with me. He's my shadow...) headed back to the barn. I said "Thank you" for an hour or so on facebook, didn't work, and then went back to Trent. *siiiiiigh*

Ate some more eggs (I love eggs, I really do) and then said "Thank you" on facebook some more. Checked kids school stuff--looked good so back to Trent. *siiiiiiiiiiiigh*

Drank some coffee out of my new amazing coffee pot. OMG. Amazing coffee pot.

More Trent. *siiiiiiiigh*

Then more "Thank You" (300 people said happy birthday!! WOWZA, ya'll. xoxo) and more Trent. *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*

Finished The Undead Pool (Will review both books later, promise) and started The Witch With No Name. *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* Oh, Trent.

And that's it. Lots of thanking folks, a few phone calls, lots of eggs.

It was really fantastic. The only 'work' I did was to look at my Amazon rankings a few times and be thrilled some of y'all picked up Odd Stuff while it is on sale. (Thanks for that, too. The rank is down to 4k. Love y'all for doing that. Hope you enjoy my Janie.)

Today? Off to IEP meetings and the DMV, but I plan to catch up on missed work and finish the last book of the Hollows series (*bawls* THE LAST BOOK!!! *tearteartear*)  I have an edit I hope to get out the door and then I'm back to finalizing Odd Fate.

Tangled ~*~ WARNING ~*~ 9/11 triggers

We're a moody lot, we authors. I think it comes from being creative types, perhaps, but I have noticed that we tend to swing on the pendulum of extremes as if we intend to experience the full scope of human emotion in each and every day, maybe so we can write it realistically.

That said, I'm always tangled on September tenth.

On one hand, tomorrow is my birthday. I'm a lucky girl and I'm surrounded by folks who love me and try to make that day special for me.

On the other hand, I'm terrified of what might happen. Of the echo from the past that tainted this day and will always leave me thinking things like, "Look, the sky is blue on my birthday again. That isn't a good sign. Oh, dear, look the weather is seasonally warm and comfortable...I'm tempted to leave the windows open so the sunshine and breeze wafts in, but..."

I'm terrified to enjoy that day again because bad things happened. I know, that's the goal of terrorism. And being afraid means you're letting them win--I get it. I get that I should reclaim the day and all that stuff I might even agree with on a better day.

However for those of you who are new to me or haven't read it before, here's a little story...

The birth of my second child was complicated. He got stuck, hung up inside, and due to that neither of us was in good shape when he emerged to this world.

For that reason, they advised I not have more children. The thought was that my heart, already not in the best shape and further taxed by that delivery, might not hold up. I had my youngest anyway--born August 23rd, 2001. So, when the sun rose on 9/11/2001, I officially lived to see a birthday I'd been advised I might not see.

To say I was in a pretty good mood? Yeah, that's an understatement. My three kids and I woke up and laughed and I sang to them. I got them breakfast and opened the sliding glass door on my low income apartment to let the sun and breeze shine in. It was a beautiful day--the perfect day--and the blue skies and brilliant end of summer sun seemed to smile down on me, sharing my glee.

My mother called--I thought to wish me happy birthday. Instead, she asked if I was watching TV. I glanced at the TV (Rugrats, I remember still) and told her we sure were.

She said to turn on the news. Asked me if I'd seen what happened.

I asked which channel.

Her words ring in my ears still, clear as when she spoke them. "Doesn't matter."

So, I watched the second plane hit. I saw both towers fall. And from that moment on, I see sunshine on my birthday as what it is--a warning. That perfect can burn and flitter like the flotsam of the lives it represents as it drifts to lay in a pile of rubble.

My youngest's grandpa was there, in New York. I have family in Pennsylvania, too. The day stayed filled with fear and my planned escape to Canada was thwarted by border closings. That night, I didn't feel safe, for the first time, in my tiny project apartment. I realized for perhaps the first time since being on my own what poor protection I offered my kids and I was scared to sleep.

A friend came by, offering the only gift I'd get for that monumental birthday. He brought me a six pack of Mike's Hard Lemonade, since he knew I wouldn't likely sleep if I didn't drink something a bit harder than koolaid. He slept on one of my small, second-hand couches, I on the other--the tv tuned to the news as the night wore on and dawn of September 12th lit the sky.

The weather is stunning this September and it has been an amazing year so far for me and mine. And yet I'm both happy and terrified of my birthday. The wonderful weather we've been having, the clear blue skies--they're all a reminder that everything can change in a second.

That everything I assume is good and right in this world can crash down and I won't be able to stop it.

So if you know me in the real world and I don't seem properly excited or festive when you see me, even if you're giving me a wonderful gift or whatever? I'm sorry. It isn't you and I love you dearly. Thanks so much.

It is me. And the sunshine. And the weather. And old fears, echoes from the past, and a niggling voice in my head that warns me from being too happy.

Well, this is a morbid post. Sorry, I'll try to bring you more snark soon. For today, my sincerest condolences to any who lost loved ones thirteen years ago tomorrow.

Lifestyles of the Not Rich and Somewhat Famous!

Okay, I'm admittedly old. Because of that, I remember as a kid watching episodes of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, hosted by Robin Leach.

Real life and that life are two very, very separate entities. But, probably due to Romancing the Stone (Joan Wilder, I love you), being a romance author always sounded like a really glamorous life to me. Something that Robin Leach could totally report about.

In reality, last night I came home from school pink and itchy. I'm not sure WHAT I was reacting to, but something had my allergies in a tizzy. My eyes were even poofy.

So, I popped Benadryl, fell into a coma and woke before the alarm today. (I missed entirely everything that happened last night...)

My son then cheerfully handed me a ream of paper, all of which required my autograph (glam!) and money.

Eighty-six dollars, to be exact. While rummaging through the ream and trying to make my coffee-less brain focus on what he'd shoved at me, I noticed one of the papers meant pictures were today.

"Today?! The pictures are today? Quick, find a button down shirt or something not icky!"

After the ensuing argument, I realized I needed to give the school $21 for school pictures if I wanted to see how handsome my son was at the ripe old age of thirteen.

Besides that, they wanted $15 for a Chromebook. Apparently the school has decided to go paperless within the next two years and my son's class is the trial run for this project. So, they're assigning each student a ChromeBook.

Glancing up, I looked at the two computers provided by the online school that my older kids attend. I didn't have to give their school $15--they simply used the federal monies provided to the school to purchase computers for them to use. Also, a paperless school?

Basically, the district wants me to give them $15 so that my brick and mortar kid can go to an online school in a building?

Mmhhmkah, whatever, I gave them $15 for that.

Then there was another paper with the $50 pay-to-play so my kid could participate in a school sport. Gritting my teeth, I remembered again that the federal government has given our district monies for things like sports...and band, which they fail to fund properly...and art...and, Oh, don't get me started on the mismanaged budget in school systems or the state of the art sports complex which means I get to hand over $50 for my kid to be in the sport, not to mention the other money they're going to ask for because he is in a sport and...

Eh, whatever. Okay, $86 dollars so my kid can go to school today. That's cool.

I then headed downstairs to see no one did their chores, but man did they have a good night while Mommy was in an allergy coma. "You're cleaning that up, preferably before I get back home, right?" I asked my older two. Like zombies recently awakened from the grave, the teenagers dragged themselves out of bed and began to fix the mess.

Buzzing along on my way to school, the gas light came on in the car (ca-ching!) and I reminded myself that my birthday is only a few days away...

Which means I get to renew my license, buy that expensive sticker for my plates (which, to be honest, for $50 bucks should be a cooler sticker. I mean, it doesn't blink, light up, sparkle...nothing. A $50 sticker should be way cooler. Someone fix this.) and snag the van from where it is parked before those plates expire...

Oh, and crickets, I thought. I really need to buy more crickets to feed the frogs...
Without the slightest hesitation, I pulled into the school and parked right next to the sign that reads:

 

With a smirk, I said, "Hop off, kiddo. This is your stop."

Because for $86 dollars and online school in a building, I can drop him off wherever I please.

I'm such a rebel.

Was your morning as glamorous as mine? What made you twitch?
Tell me in the comment section below and I'll give one lucky blog reader a $5 Amazon gift card.
Smoochiewoochies, dah-links.

Time to hear them #Roar ~ #NewRelease from Heather Long!!

She has a future to decide on.…

Mischief Jones—Missy to her friends—has never taken the easy route in life. She turned down a full ride to a four-year school to attend her local college because it kept her close to Nene, the woman who raised her. A fosterling, she knows better than to share her secrets, and she has choices to make for her uncertain future, but the TA in her history class challenges and fills her with wary interest every time they meet.…

Nature made him a leader.…

Cade Hayes has a mission, and the last thing he expected to find on the tiny college campus was a mongrel—shifters of dubious parentage and mixed blood. But the mountain lion can’t deny the provocative nature of her scent or the allure to stalk her and make her his. He should drive her away; her presence threatens his claim for territory and his pride needs land, but he rapidly discovers he hungers to take this mongrel for a mate.…

In a fight to survive…will a mountain lion tame a liger?

Buy Links

Amazon | All Romance | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Decadent

***MY REVIEW***

Long pens a smart and sexy NA paranormal with this debut novel of Decadent Publishing's Roar series. Blending all that is angsty and powerful about the new adult genre with Long's obviously stellar voice for magical creatures, this story starts out giving us a shifter unlike any I've read before. Mischief Jones grew up outside pack life, adopted by a woman who doesn't shelter her. Instead, she raised her girl to grow up and roar. And roar she does when Cade Hayes steps in and tries to claim her territory. Between loving her family, loving the tension snapping off this page in waves, and loving the banter between Cade and Missy, I can't say I found a thing wrong with this story...

Other than the fact it ended and I really enjoyed being lost in this world. I look forward to more great stories out of this line. I'm also looking forward to the third installment of Willow Bend, since Long does write such fantastic wolves. If you like shapeshifters, mating bonds, and unforgettable series, this is an author to look for!! 

#CoverReveal ~ Back In Time #FatedDesires #ComingSoon

 They pretended to be lords and ladies, but their love became all too real...

Back In Time

4 Flames

Coming 3/17/2015

Find it on Goodreads

Blurb:

Lady Daffodil Davola grew up traveling Ren Faires with her family. She’s not ashamed of living life off the grid, content with her world and the bawdy band of misfits and wanderers who share it with her.  She doesn’t seek the approval of the outside world…not even from the one man who ever made her want something more.

Gregory Wilder grew up in a family obsessed with politics, determined to become movers and shakers. He remembers a fluke visit to a medieval faire and the girl he met once upon a time. After a messy divorce, he’s determined to find her and see what if…

Assigned to play King and Queen, they have to work together for Knight’s week, like it or not, because Daffy’s father insists. Can they make it through a week without killing each other, or will they end up falling Back In Time?

About the Author

Virginia Nelson believed them when they said, “Write what you know.” Small town girl writing small town romance, her characters are as full of flaws, misunderstandings, and flat out mistakes as Virginia herself. When she’s is not writing or plotting to take over the world, she likes to hang out with the greatest kids in history, play in the mud, drive far too fast, and scream at inanimate objects. Virginia likes knights in rusted and dinged up armor, heroes that snarl instead of croon, and heroines who can’t remember to say the right thing even with an author writing their dialogue. Her books are full of snark, sex, and random acts of ineptitude—not always in that order.

Links

Website | Blog | Facebook | FB Author | Amazon | Pinterest | Tumblr