And do you want a treat (no trick!)?
We're throwing a HUGE HALLOWEEN paperback giveaway! Check out the details to enter :)
Good luck!
ENDS 31 October 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
HUGE #HALLOWEEN #Paperback #GIVEAWAY
Do you love print books? That magical feeling of holding the book in your hand...
And do you want a treat (no trick!)?
We're throwing a HUGE HALLOWEEN paperback giveaway! Check out the details to enter :)
Good luck!
https://www.facebook.com/lovelustandlipstick/photos/a.100854646751604.14.100832876753781/409905265846539/?type=3&theater
ENDS 31 October 2015
And do you want a treat (no trick!)?
We're throwing a HUGE HALLOWEEN paperback giveaway! Check out the details to enter :)
Good luck!
ENDS 31 October 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
#CoverReveal #BHW #BlackHillsWolves A Mate's Healing by Merryn Dexter!! #DebutAuthor
I am absolutely delighted to
be able to share with you the beautiful cover for my début novel A Mate's
Healing Touch which will be part of the fabulous Black Hills Wolves series from
Decadent Publishing.
And here it is!
With fingers crossed, a fair wind
and sacrificial offerings of Oreo cookies to the Editing Goddesses, Caleb and
Hannah’s story will be available for your reading pleasure in December 2015. I
must give a shout-out to Fiona Jayde who is responsible for all of the amazing
covers in this series (mine are the best, btw!)
Description
She has a secret the wrong people know
Hannah Fuentes has graduated Magna Cum Laude from the School of Hard
Knocks. Beaten, pregnant and betrayed at seventeen, she has slowly built a life
for herself in the small town of Hennessey, South Dakota.
He faces a future he doesn't really want
Caleb Burrows is leaving town. His parents long to return to Los Lobos
and pack life, lured by the promise of change under the new Alpha, Drew Tao.
The most vivid memories that Caleb and his twin siblings have of pack life are
ones of betrayal, pain and horror. They do not remember a time when the pack
was at peace.
A chance encounter
Caleb has one final job to complete for the family construction business
– the refurbishment of the local diner in Hennessey. He gets more than he
bargained for. One look, one scent tells him that Hannah, the diner's 'pocket
rocket' waitress, is his mate. Caleb is determined that nothing will stop him
from claiming Hannah as his own.
The first touch
An explosive encounter lays bare the secrets they have both fought so
hard to keep hidden. Caleb must prove he can protect Hannah from the past and
offer her a secure future. She must
decide whether she is willing to give up the safe life she has worked so hard
for. Her burgeoning relationship with Caleb shows there are untold wonders to
be explored when she puts herself in the hands of a man who understands her
true worth.
The past will test them
When Hannah’s past rears its ugly head, they must face it side by side.
Only united can they save what is most precious to them. Together they will
learn that family comes in many guises and there is nothing they won’t
sacrifice when one of their own is threatened.
Extract
“Whatever you are
thinking, son. She’s not for you.” Although low, his tone was determined and
forceful.
“I’m not thinking
anyth….” The lie fell away as the words soured on his tongue. A change tack was
in order and he folded his arms across his thick chest. Body language displays
were as effective on humans sometimes. “Why wouldn’t she be for me? I don’t see
a ring; is there a husband, boyfriend?” When Will shook his head sharply, a
flash of anger surged and he didn’t fight it.
“You think I’m not
good enough for your girl, is that it? That I’m some working stiff, only good
with his hands. I run the business with my father and my brother. I have
prospects, money, a good future any woman would be pleased to share with me.”
Snapping his mouth shut abruptly, he cut of the embarrassing need to sell his
worth to this man. What the hell is wrong with me? That raspberry-and-pepper
scent overwhelmed him suddenly as she crossed toward the counter. Hannah. He
rolled her name around in his head. It suited her.
“No I don’t think
you’re good enough for her, but that’s not the goddamn point,” Will snapped
before he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Look, Caleb, I’m sure you
are a fine young man and your daddy has a real good reputation with his
business but that girl has been hurt enough to last a lifetime so I don’t want
you messing with her because she’s caught your fancy.”
He stepped back as
Will moved in front of him and stepped toward the counter. His hackles rose at
the invasion of his space and the clear challenge in the move before he clamped
down hard on his instincts. A man had every right to defend his daughter from a
relative stranger. The Wolf snarled and snapped in his head and Caleb gave it a
mental swat on the nose. He was the boss, not the Wolf. The look of sweet
affection she bestowed on Will had him longing for her to turn his way.
When she met his gaze
however, only trepidation lit her gaze. Unable to tear his eyes away, he was
rewarded with a brief flare as her pupil expanded. She feels it, too.
Regardless of what Will said, this woman is most definitely mine.
Now to figure out how
to get them both on the same page or better still, in the same bed.
Contact me!
I'd love to hear what
you think about my cover and I cannot wait to be able to share Caleb and
Hannah's story with you. You can find me at the usual places, or send me an email
to merryn.dexter@yahoo.com
Links
Thursday, October 1, 2015
#NewRelease Wicked Odd - by Virginia Nelson #wolves #romance
When you all read this, I'll likely be in a plane on my way to Texas. If you can help a gal spread the word, it is much appreciated as I'm super proud of this story. I gotta be honest--when I started writing Wicked Odd, I didn't like Carmen. I don't think I begin writing many stories with a dislike of the heroine, but because of that initial dislike... my love for her is deeper than a lot of my characters. Seth and Carmen surprised me and I hope they surprise you, too.
By the way, you can totally read this story standalone, although it IS part of the Odd Series.
WICKED ODD
Virginia Nelson
9781943576258
ARe Books | iBooks | Amazon | Kobo | Nook
Best way to tame a bad wolf? Be a little wicked yourself…
Carmen finds it hard to trust—then again, her father went mad and had to be put down by her current Alpha. Carmen might hold a position of power within the pack, but part of her always wonders if they could turn on her as quickly as they did him. When she finds a man who she’s pretty sure the current Alpha failed on a lot of levels, she decides to take matters into her own hands and prove Dara isn’t as perfect of an Alpha as everyone thinks.
Seth lost his mate, but he survived. He can’t stand to watch other wolves happily carrying on with their lives and mates after he’d failed to protect his own. Dara allows him his privacy and ensures that he survives, even if there are days when he wishes otherwise. When one headstrong and opinionated she-wolf decides she’s going to end the unique hell of his isolation, Seth has to make a choice…
Kick her butt to the curb or answer the call to claim her. But can he dare claim another mate when he knows he failed once to be the man his mate needed?
By the way, you can totally read this story standalone, although it IS part of the Odd Series.
Virginia Nelson
9781943576258
ARe Books | iBooks | Amazon | Kobo | Nook
Best way to tame a bad wolf? Be a little wicked yourself…
Carmen finds it hard to trust—then again, her father went mad and had to be put down by her current Alpha. Carmen might hold a position of power within the pack, but part of her always wonders if they could turn on her as quickly as they did him. When she finds a man who she’s pretty sure the current Alpha failed on a lot of levels, she decides to take matters into her own hands and prove Dara isn’t as perfect of an Alpha as everyone thinks.
Seth lost his mate, but he survived. He can’t stand to watch other wolves happily carrying on with their lives and mates after he’d failed to protect his own. Dara allows him his privacy and ensures that he survives, even if there are days when he wishes otherwise. When one headstrong and opinionated she-wolf decides she’s going to end the unique hell of his isolation, Seth has to make a choice…
Kick her butt to the curb or answer the call to claim her. But can he dare claim another mate when he knows he failed once to be the man his mate needed?
There will be a release party to schedule the launch of the Wicked series from ARe which you can join here. Expect prizes and games and... (I'll be in the party once I reach Dallas, lol) more!
The Odd Series Reading Order (for those who prefer to read in order)
Book 1 - Odd Stuff
Book 2 - Odd Melody
Print | Kindle | ARe | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | Inktera | Oyster
Book 3 - Odd Wolf
Print | Kindle | ARe | Nook | Kobo | iBooks | Inktera | Oyster
Book 4- Odd Mate (Part of the Romancing the Wolf Anthology)
Kindle | ARe | Nook | Kobo | iBooks
Book 5 - Wicked Odd
ARe | iBooks
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Something WICKED this way comes... #Preorder #NewRelease #paranormal #wolves
Releases October 1st... preorder now!
Best way to tame a bad wolf? Be a little wicked yourself…
Carmen finds it hard to trust—then again, her father went mad and had to be put down by her current Alpha. Carmen might hold a position of power within the pack, but part of her always wonders if they could turn on her as quickly as they did him. When she finds a man who she’s pretty sure the current Alpha failed on a lot of levels, she decides to take matters into her own hands and prove Dara isn’t as perfect of an Alpha as everyone thinks.
Seth lost his mate, but he survived. He can’t stand to watch other wolves happily carrying on with their lives and mates after he’d failed to protect his own. Dara allows him his privacy and ensures that he survives, even if there are days when he wishes otherwise. When one headstrong and opinionated she-wolf decides she’s going to end the unique hell of his isolation, Seth has to make a choice…
Kick her butt to the curb or answer the call to claim her. But can he dare claim another mate when he knows he failed once to be the man his mate needed?
Friday, August 28, 2015
#NewRelease Odd Stuff now available in audiobook!!
Buy Links
Janie Smith always pretended to be normal. When her witch bestie gets
tangled in a murder investigation, she finds it hard to stick to the
mundane and save the day. Janie snarks her way through the paranormal
world, fumbling again and again, determined not to give into
temptation.... But when your closest pal is suspected to have murdered a
vampire, how do you prove she didn't kill someone who has no pulse?
(Wherever ebooks are sold)
The Odd Series
Series
Information
Odd Stuff, Book One
Janie Smith always pretended to be normal. When her witch bestie gets
tangled in a murder investigation, she finds it hard to stick to the
mundane and save the day. Janie snarks her way through the paranormal
world, fumbling again and again, determined not to give into
temptation.... But when your closest pal is suspected to have murdered a
vampire, how do you prove she didn't kill someone who has no pulse?
Odd Melody, Book Two
Janie Smith is ready to get her life in order. She just needs to control
her powers, feed without killing someone, deal with a sick witch, a
vampire boyfriend committed by fate to another, and an ancient serial
killer’s ghost hidden inside an unsuspecting human. Oh, and she must
also put up with Queen Mab’s unwanted elfin fiancé while dodging Chance,
her supposed soul mate, while helping her daughter adjust to life after
divorce. Seriously, not a big deal.
Being the new wolf in town isn't easy, but Lynwood Pierce is used to being on the outside. He often finds himself buried knee-deep in politics before he can figure out where the best place to grab a cup of coffee might be, but this small town is different--she is different.
Dara is a bitch in more ways than one. Running a pack might not have been her dream job, but she's a firm believer that life happens while you're making other plans. A rogue on her turf means she's going to fight, and she is ready to face the challenge.
A woman with no plans to be tamed and a rootless wolf with no plans to stick around shouldn't have more than a brief encounter and be done. However, when Dara meets Lynwood, the call to mate might drown out logic altogether.
Odd Mate, Book Four
AVAILABLE IN Romancing the Wolf
Gretchen fell in love with Charly, a sweet, nerdy bear of a man but ran
fast and hard from his side when she realized he'd hate her for a
genetic twist of fate she couldn't change. Now she's back in town and
drawn to his side. Can a wolf sworn to destroy all coyotes claim a
coywolf mate or will he be forced to destroy the only girl he ever
loved?
Wicked Odd, Book Five ** COMING IN OCTOBER
Best way to tame a bad wolf? Be a little wicked yourself…
Carmen finds it hard to trust—then again, her father went mad and had
to be put down by her current Alpha. Carmen might hold a position of
power within the pack, but part of her always wonders if they could turn
on her as quickly as they did him. When she finds a man who she’s
pretty sure the current Alpha failed on a lot of levels, she decides to
take matters into her own hands and prove Dara isn’t as perfect of an
Alpha as everyone thinks.
Seth lost his mate, but he survived. He can’t stand to watch other
wolves happily carrying on with their lives and mates after he’d failed
to protect his own. Dara allows him his privacy and ensures that he
survives, even if there are days when he wishes otherwise. When one
headstrong and opinionated she-wolf decides she’s going to end the
unique hell of his isolation, Seth has to make a choice…
Kick her butt to the curb or answer the call to claim her. But can he
dare claim another mate when he knows he failed once to be the man his
mate needed?
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
REVIEW - IF YOU ONLY KNEW #NewRelease by Kristan Higgins
Let me start out by saying that we romance authors are not supposed to review books that we buy and read for pleasure, so I won't be posting this on Amazon as I might normally...
Apparently, I'm not supposed to be a reader anymore, even if I still am and have been dying to read this book for ages. I was neither hired by Kristan Higgins nor her publisher to write this review, and I did NOT receive a free copy for my review. I preordered it and have been counting down the days eagerly until it popped onto my kindle on release day so I could read it. I get nothing for writing this, I'm just doing it because...dagnabbit this is MY blog. I have an opinion. I should be allowed to share it!!
All disclaimers aside, I've BEEN a huge Kristan Higgins fan. I've never met her, which is good as she'll likely think me a speechless moron when/if that magical day ever comes. I'll probably just stand there and stare, mouth hanging slightly open like a mouth-breathing ape creature, and just say, "Dude. Dude. You're her. Dude." a lot.
*sigh* She made me ugly cry again. Like, blubbering in my office, until my son said, "Are you listening to me? Is it another book?"
*sobsobsob*
Him, "Ugh, I'm going to school."
if you only knew
Kristan Higgins
9780373784974
Buy Links
Amazon | AmazonUK | Nook | ARe | Kobo
Letting go of her ex-husband is harder than wedding-dress designer Jenny Tate expected…especially since his new wife wants to be Jenny's new best friend. Sensing this isn't exactly helping her achieve closure, Jenny trades the Manhattan skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she'll start her own business and bask in her sister Rachel's picture-perfect family life…and maybe even find a little romance of her own with Leo, her downstairs neighbor, a guy who's utterly irresistible and annoyingly distant at the same time.
Rachel's idyllic marriage, however, is imploding after she discovers her husband sexting with a colleague. She always thought she'd walk away in this situation, but her triplet daughters have her reconsidering her stance on adultery, much to Jenny's surprise. Rachel points to their parents' perfect marriage as a shining example of patience and forgiveness; but to protect her sister, Jenny may have to tarnish that memory—and their relationship—and reveal a family secret she's been keeping since childhood.
Both Rachel and Jenny will have to come to terms with the past and the present and find a way to get what they want most of all.
*** MY REVIEW ***
I thought I knew what this book would be about. Something simple and fluffy to get me through my day and remind me what is good about everything. I thought, well, I'm surely not going to identify with these characters...
As I mentioned, I ended up ugly crying, laughing, and otherwise falling madly in love with an Irishman, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.
This starts out a pretty cut and dry story--Jenny Tate is moving back home because she recognizes her relationship with her ex and his new wife isn't altogether natural or healthy for her. That she recognized this (having a similar relationship in my real life, I comprehend sometimes it takes many years for us to see what is unhealthy in our own lives) and is willing to try for a fresh start says a LOT about her character. She's special, a fighter, and is doing the brave thing. Even if she doesn't feel awfully brave in doing it...
She moves into a house with a grumpy and useless super...who is also the delicious Irishman I mentioned I fell for. He's a hoot! I'm not going to spoil his lines, because they're all brilliant, but I will say he was a huge high point in the story for me--which is good because it does have a lot of dark moments to pull it down.
While Jenny is doing all this, everyone is watching her sister live the perfect life. She's got a handsome and adoring husband, three beautiful triplets, and a lovely house--everything is perfect! But is it? One sext later and she's not so sure anymore.
So Jenny is on a journey to figure out what she really wants out of life while Rachel...is doing the same thing. From the other's perspective, each sister tends to think the other has life figured out. Jenny thinks Rachel is happy and beautiful and altogether did way better at life than she managed. Rachel thinks Jenny is sophisticated, brave and far more interesting than her dull, housewife self.
But really, they're like us (AND THAT, my darlings, is how Higgins always wins me on these books!) and flawed. Neither is perfect and neither makes all the right choices. They fumble, they second-guess themselves, and they sometimes just want to pull over and get out of the minivan full of screaming kids and bawl.
Okay, back to the delicious and irresistible downstairs super. He's also a redhot mess of a man, but I love, love, love, love this hero. Leo Killian (oh, even the name gives me shivers!) is handsome and brilliant and broken. I looked on Kristan Higgins facebook feed and I can't see that she posted who inspired this particular hero... but I'm thinking something like Sam Heughan from Outlander. Someone dangerously handsome who isn't afraid to tell you he knows he's handsome. He isn't cocky, not exactly, more distanced. Anyway, it isn't how he looks that won me.
It is what he did for Evander James, his student. This man teaches piano and I admit I had to google the piece he plays in one scene. I let the music flow around me, eyes closed, and I imagined sitting in a small room of Julliard myself, hearing and watching a true maestro become one with the instrument. Being gifted can come in a lot of forms, and I think everyone really talented walks away from their gift at some point in their lives--because LIFE.
But, well, this quote:
"Evander needs to be filled up with music. Fill him up."
When you read the book, it will make sense, but I wept.
Higgins writes:
"Just living can be pretty terrifying. I don't know how you do it."
Yeah, that. I so get that. Don't we all??
The triplets were adorable. They made me get a little weepy at my no-longer-tiny kiddos. Hard to say I am waxing poetic about the days of projectile vomit, but I kind of am. Not to mention the gooey wonderfulness of baby Natalia. All of it globbed up to be a wonderful experience for me--a journey with two wonderful and yet believable heroines. They discover themselves, they discover each other, and they even discover their mom (the mending of years old hurt between Jenny and Lenore had me crying again)
To summarize, I'll quote Higgins again:
"But life isn't like that. There are only perfect, glowing moments, like this one, and then there are the everyday moments that weave them together into a shimmering path that can always be seen, even in the dark."
Yeah. That is why I loved this book. Because I didn't just read it, I live it. Everyday.
We all do. Higgins doesn't tell stories, she reminds us why it all matters. Loved that. Loved this book.
Highly, highly, highly recommend.
Happy reading!
xoxo
virg
Apparently, I'm not supposed to be a reader anymore, even if I still am and have been dying to read this book for ages. I was neither hired by Kristan Higgins nor her publisher to write this review, and I did NOT receive a free copy for my review. I preordered it and have been counting down the days eagerly until it popped onto my kindle on release day so I could read it. I get nothing for writing this, I'm just doing it because...dagnabbit this is MY blog. I have an opinion. I should be allowed to share it!!
All disclaimers aside, I've BEEN a huge Kristan Higgins fan. I've never met her, which is good as she'll likely think me a speechless moron when/if that magical day ever comes. I'll probably just stand there and stare, mouth hanging slightly open like a mouth-breathing ape creature, and just say, "Dude. Dude. You're her. Dude." a lot.
*sigh* She made me ugly cry again. Like, blubbering in my office, until my son said, "Are you listening to me? Is it another book?"
*sobsobsob*
Him, "Ugh, I'm going to school."
 |
| I loved this book. #truestory |
if you only knew
Kristan Higgins
9780373784974
Buy Links
Amazon | AmazonUK | Nook | ARe | Kobo
Letting go of her ex-husband is harder than wedding-dress designer Jenny Tate expected…especially since his new wife wants to be Jenny's new best friend. Sensing this isn't exactly helping her achieve closure, Jenny trades the Manhattan skyline for her hometown up the Hudson, where she'll start her own business and bask in her sister Rachel's picture-perfect family life…and maybe even find a little romance of her own with Leo, her downstairs neighbor, a guy who's utterly irresistible and annoyingly distant at the same time.
Rachel's idyllic marriage, however, is imploding after she discovers her husband sexting with a colleague. She always thought she'd walk away in this situation, but her triplet daughters have her reconsidering her stance on adultery, much to Jenny's surprise. Rachel points to their parents' perfect marriage as a shining example of patience and forgiveness; but to protect her sister, Jenny may have to tarnish that memory—and their relationship—and reveal a family secret she's been keeping since childhood.
Both Rachel and Jenny will have to come to terms with the past and the present and find a way to get what they want most of all.
*** MY REVIEW ***
I thought I knew what this book would be about. Something simple and fluffy to get me through my day and remind me what is good about everything. I thought, well, I'm surely not going to identify with these characters...
As I mentioned, I ended up ugly crying, laughing, and otherwise falling madly in love with an Irishman, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.
This starts out a pretty cut and dry story--Jenny Tate is moving back home because she recognizes her relationship with her ex and his new wife isn't altogether natural or healthy for her. That she recognized this (having a similar relationship in my real life, I comprehend sometimes it takes many years for us to see what is unhealthy in our own lives) and is willing to try for a fresh start says a LOT about her character. She's special, a fighter, and is doing the brave thing. Even if she doesn't feel awfully brave in doing it...
She moves into a house with a grumpy and useless super...who is also the delicious Irishman I mentioned I fell for. He's a hoot! I'm not going to spoil his lines, because they're all brilliant, but I will say he was a huge high point in the story for me--which is good because it does have a lot of dark moments to pull it down.
While Jenny is doing all this, everyone is watching her sister live the perfect life. She's got a handsome and adoring husband, three beautiful triplets, and a lovely house--everything is perfect! But is it? One sext later and she's not so sure anymore.
So Jenny is on a journey to figure out what she really wants out of life while Rachel...is doing the same thing. From the other's perspective, each sister tends to think the other has life figured out. Jenny thinks Rachel is happy and beautiful and altogether did way better at life than she managed. Rachel thinks Jenny is sophisticated, brave and far more interesting than her dull, housewife self.
But really, they're like us (AND THAT, my darlings, is how Higgins always wins me on these books!) and flawed. Neither is perfect and neither makes all the right choices. They fumble, they second-guess themselves, and they sometimes just want to pull over and get out of the minivan full of screaming kids and bawl.
Okay, back to the delicious and irresistible downstairs super. He's also a redhot mess of a man, but I love, love, love, love this hero. Leo Killian (oh, even the name gives me shivers!) is handsome and brilliant and broken. I looked on Kristan Higgins facebook feed and I can't see that she posted who inspired this particular hero... but I'm thinking something like Sam Heughan from Outlander. Someone dangerously handsome who isn't afraid to tell you he knows he's handsome. He isn't cocky, not exactly, more distanced. Anyway, it isn't how he looks that won me.
It is what he did for Evander James, his student. This man teaches piano and I admit I had to google the piece he plays in one scene. I let the music flow around me, eyes closed, and I imagined sitting in a small room of Julliard myself, hearing and watching a true maestro become one with the instrument. Being gifted can come in a lot of forms, and I think everyone really talented walks away from their gift at some point in their lives--because LIFE.
But, well, this quote:
"Evander needs to be filled up with music. Fill him up."
When you read the book, it will make sense, but I wept.
Higgins writes:
"Just living can be pretty terrifying. I don't know how you do it."
Yeah, that. I so get that. Don't we all??
The triplets were adorable. They made me get a little weepy at my no-longer-tiny kiddos. Hard to say I am waxing poetic about the days of projectile vomit, but I kind of am. Not to mention the gooey wonderfulness of baby Natalia. All of it globbed up to be a wonderful experience for me--a journey with two wonderful and yet believable heroines. They discover themselves, they discover each other, and they even discover their mom (the mending of years old hurt between Jenny and Lenore had me crying again)
To summarize, I'll quote Higgins again:
"But life isn't like that. There are only perfect, glowing moments, like this one, and then there are the everyday moments that weave them together into a shimmering path that can always be seen, even in the dark."
Yeah. That is why I loved this book. Because I didn't just read it, I live it. Everyday.
We all do. Higgins doesn't tell stories, she reminds us why it all matters. Loved that. Loved this book.
Highly, highly, highly recommend.
Happy reading!
xoxo
virg
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