Category Archives: Guest Post

Guest Post: A Private Duel with Agent Gunn by Jillian Stone

Today we have author Jillian Stone joining us to celebrate the release of her latest book, A Private Duel which features the gentlemen of Scotland Yard. She’s also offering a bunch of lucky readers the chance to win a copy of her latest book.

A Private Duel with Agent Gunn
(The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard, #3)
Genre: Historical Romance

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Cunning, reclusive Yard man Phineas Gunn is as skilled at capturing surly criminals as he is at charming beautiful women. But the dashing agent’s latest assignment is really testing his mettle. Officially, he’s investigating beguiling prima ballerina Catriona de Dovia Willoughby, a suspected anarchist. Unofficially, his attraction to his devilish former flame is hotter than ever.

Unsure whether to trust the enigmatic lover who betrayed her once, Cate nevertheless enlists Finn’s help to recover some priceless family jewels. Their pursuit erupts into a cross-continental adventure that begins with a double cross and crackles with secrets, lies, and sexual tension. The crime is clear—breaking and entering each other’s hearts—but as the clock ticks down, who will be the first to surrender?

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Guest Post: Christy McKellen author of Her New Worst Enemy

Today we have author Christy McKellen stopping by talk about her heroine and how flaws help us readers relate to them.

Formerly a Video and Radio Producer, Christy now spends her time as either a slave to her children or her muse. When she’s not writing spicy romance, she can be found stomping around the South West of England, glomming her to-be-read pile or escaping from real life with her rather delicious husband.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

 

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Guest Post: Hanna Peach author of Angelfire

Today we have author, Hanna Peach joining us. She’s the author of new YA novel, Angelfire.

Angelfire
(Dark Angel, #1)
By: Hanna Peach
Published: Nov. 22, 2012
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

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An army of angels walk among us. They have kept us safe and ignorant, so far.
Earthbound for centuries and ruled by the Elders, they have established hidden cities, a society and The Code: obey your Elders, kill all demons, eliminate Rogue-angels, protect the mortals, remain hidden. Their warriors are the ungifted earthborn angels armed with blades and the ‘borrowed magics’ of distilled angel-blood tattoos.

Alyxandria is a young warrior with a fondness for customized knives and illegal night-races. If only she could overcome the taint of her parents who abandoned her to become Rogues.

When Alyx saves Israel, a gifted mortal with a past, she is forbidden to see him again. But she can’t help herself, drawn to him through their Guardian-bond, an ancient and long-forgotten bond; if he dies, she dies.

An encounter with a handsome Rogue leaves Alyx questioning all she has been taught to believe. Alyx begins to dig into the Elders’ secrets. Two thousand years of secrets that begin with the death of the Archangel Raphael. She is not prepared when she uncovers an Elder’s dark plan.

Somewhere on earth is a key to unlock hell. Somewhere on earth are pieces of an amulet that controls Lucifer and his army. Somehow Israel is the link and now both sides are after him. Who can Alyx trust when Good and Evil is no longer clear?

The war for earth begins.

The Angelfire ‘media story’ begins here…
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Is this a hoax? Or will we see more visions to come? Visit Reading between the Wines on the 15th Jan 2013 to see how the story unfolds. Find the full ‘media story’ Blog Tour schedule on Hannah’s website.

 

 

A writer of fantastical things, especially stories with fangs, magic or wings.

I want to tell you tales that will rip away the glamour from your life, keep you running and fighting and gasping long past the devil’s hour and maybe, just maybe, reality will look a little bit different when you return.

Sit with me around this witchlight. Let me tell you a story.

Guest Post: Melodie Campbell author of The Goddaughter

Today we have Melody Campbell joining us today to share a short skip with us called, Travesty. She’s also giving away an ecopy to her latest novel, The Goddaughter.

 Melodie got her start writing comedy so it’s no surprise that editors have called her fiction “wacky” and “laugh-out-loud funny”. She has over 200 publications, including 30 short stories, and has won 5 awards for fiction.

“Rowena Through the Wall,” a comic time travel fantasy released from Imajin Books, is her first novel. “The Goddaughter,” a comic mob caper, will be out in 2012 from Orca Books.

 

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Guest Post: Hope Tarr, author of A Cinderella Christmas Carol

Today we have Hope Tarr, author of A Cinderella Christmas Carol stopping by to talk a little bit about the Cinderella’s in her stories.

Hope Tarr is the author of twenty historical and contemporary romance novels including Operation Cinderella and A Cinderella Christmas Carol, both in her “Suddenly Cinderella” Series of contemporary fairytale-themed romances. She is also a co-founder and current principal of Lady Jane’s Salon™, New York City’s first—and only—monthly romance fiction reading series, now in its fourth year with four satellite salons nationwide.
 

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Guest Post with author Rachael J. Thorne

Today we have author Rachael J. Thorne joining us today to talk a little bit about how not only our fear but the fear from others may tie into our reactions when investigating a haunted location.

Rachael J. Thorne is trying to make it in the world as an indie author between tending her garden and being a geek!
She lives in Essex, UK with her husband and crazy dog.
Last Regress is her first novel and she is currently working on her second, Running For A Life.

For more information about Rachael, check out her website.

You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.

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Guest Post: One Night with a Hero by Laura Kaye

We’re so excited to have Laura Kaye, author of the Hero series, here with us today. She’s talking about the incredible bond between the two leading men in her Hero series. She’s also offering one lucky reader a chance to win a copy of One Night with a Hero, the latest book in the Hero series.

Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. A published non-fiction author, Laura’s work as an historian and training as an archaeologist help her create vivid and accurate portrayals of other times and places. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

For more information about Laura check out her website.

You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.

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Guest Post with Theresa Romain

We are so happy to have historical romance author Theresa Romain, stopping by today to talk about her characters from her new regency romance novel, Season for Surrender.

Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest.

For more information about Theresa, check out her website.

You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter.

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The Regency Old Spice Guy

Thanks, Kristin and Marissa, for letting me join you today. I’m so glad to join the Book Sniffers today as part of my SEASON FOR SURRENDER blog tour!

SEASON FOR SURRENDER is a Regency-set historical romance about a naughty Christmas house party, a bluestocking who’s bolder than anyone suspects, and a rake who wants to be taken seriously. In other words, everyone is just a little bit more than they seem.

But the men of high society don’t know about our hero’s hidden depths. Instead, they’re delighted with the Lord Xavier they know, a man who’s always willing to make wagers with them/give them a bit of a loan/invite them to a lavish party. Much to my dismay, the phrase “man crush” is about 200 years too recent to be slotted into a Regency novel, but the concept was definitely around. There were leaders of society, whether through fashion, fortune, or influence. Xavier leads through his seemingly unshakeable confidence. He jokes and charms and puts people at their ease. And just like the Old Spice guy, women want him and men want to be him.

Well, most women want him. Louisa Oliver, the heroine, has good reason not to trust him. Shy and more comfortable with books than crowds, she’s been through a broken engagement that Xavier played a part in. She has also spent her life observing from the sides of ballrooms and the edges of conversations—and when she attends Xavier’s house party, she soon begins to suspect that she has misjudged his character. Hostility turns into an unusual friendship…and that, as you can probably guess, turns into love as these characters reveal their true selves.

As Xavier begins to transform into the man he’s always wished he could be, some of his supposed friends aren’t happy about that. When I planned out the plot of the book, I had a few questions about our Regency Old Spice guy. What happens if another man gets jealous of his success? Can a friendship end in a jilting, just like a romance? And most of all, will someone who’s always had success handed to him be able to handle a failure?

Xavier and Louisa answer these questions together, and the answers don’t come easily. But along the way, there are lots of fun as well as difficult moments for the friends and lovers in this book. Think naughty party games, an encoded book, and a proposal that’s perfect for a puzzle-loving heroine. And—since the story’s set during the Christmas season—lots of mistletoe.

Here’s one last question, and this one’s for all of you. What makes you like a hero? Does he need to be confident? Vulnerable? Some combination of the two? (Ok, that was four questions. Sorry.) Leave a comment and let me know! You can also enter through Rafflecopter for a chance at a signed copy of SEASON FOR SURRENDER, open internationally.

 

 

 

about the book

Season for Surrender
By: Theresa Romain
Genre: Historical Romance

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Honor Among Rogues
Alexander Edgeware, Lord Xavier, has quite a reputation—for daring, wagering, and wickedness in all its delightful forms. But the wager before him is hardly his preferred sport: Xavier must persuade a proper young lady to attend his famously naughty Christmas house party—and stay the full, ruinous two weeks. Worse, the lady is Louisa Oliver, a doe-eyed bookworm Xavier finds quite charming. Yet to refuse the challenge is impossible—he will simply have to appoint himself Miss Oliver’s protector…

Mischief Among Misses
Louisa knows her chance for a husband has passed. But she has no desire to retire into spinsterhood without enjoying a few grand adventures first. When Lord Xavier’s invitation arrives, Louisa is more intrigued than insulted. And once inside the rogues’ gallery, she just may have a thing or two to teach her gentlemen friends about daring

Guest Post with Amber Lynn Natusch, author of Caged

Joining us today, we have Amber Lynn Natusch, author of the urban fantasy series, Caged. She’s stopping by to give us an excerpt from Caged and also giving two lucky readers a chance to win a copy of Caged.

If you’re dying to know more about me, allow me to put you at ease. I’m a sharp-tongued, sarcastic cancer, who loves vegetable smoothies, winter storms, and the word ‘portfolio’. I should NEVER be caffeinated, and require at least eight hours of sleep to even resemble a human being. At thirty-four, I just now feel like I can keep a straight face while saying the word “rectum” (which is actually a huge lie because I just laughed out loud while reading this to my husband). I live with my iPod firmly affixed to my body, drive too fast, and laugh/cry at inappropriate times.

For more information about Amber visit her website.

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

When I was asked to compose a guest blog post, I had no idea what to write. As an author, it was an especially low moment. Then a great friend suggested that I take an excerpt from the first novel in my series, Caged, and explain what I loved about it. Genius! Times like this illustrate my need for a team of levelheaded people around me―an entourage of rational thinkers.

The unfortunate reality for me was that my favorite scenes from Caged all contain spoilers, but I still managed to find some good ones 🙂

For this blog, I chose a scene that illustrates the game of cat and mouse that Ruby and Sean play throughout the book. You can just never quite tell what Sean is up to, or if he can be trusted. Their banter is always entertaining, even in stressful situations, and I think that speaks to their connection, be it good or bad. So, without further ado, I give you Ruby and Sean in the “parked car” incident.

Excerpt

I changed quickly after class and put on my iPod before waving in the general direction of everyone as I walked out onto the street. I secured my messenger bag so that it wouldn’t bang around while I ran back home. My legs seemed especially tired that evening, so I started off walking, hoping that they would quickly be inspired to get with the game plan to run home.The trip through town could be a bit unnerving in the dark. Winding through the main streets of the city was safe, but I could freak myself out sometimes, ducking down alleys and roads that weren’t well traveled during the evening. There were always people out when I hit the bar district, but other than that, they were few and far between.

I’d never actually walked home before, and after about ten minutes, I started to realize why. Running seemed to numb my awareness of certain things in a way that walking did not. I didn’t get as much time to focus on the upcoming dumpster and what could be lurking behind it, or what could be around the dimly-lit corner laying in wait. Even worse than the general anxiety I was giving myself was the very definitive feeling that someone was following me. I was picking up on something that was not especially warm and fuzzy, but whenever I turned to see if someone was there, I was alone. Very, very alone.

And I slowly started to panic.

My legs soon realized that running was in our collective best interest and off we went. As I began to run I hoped the malevolent energy around me would lessen but it didn’t. With my increasing panic came increasing speed. I hurdled over objects in the street and wove through parked cars like a heat-seeking missile aimed straight for the warmth of home. I didn’t look back anymore, knowing that whoever was throwing that energy my way would inconveniently not be seen. Common sense dictated that it would be best to take out my earphones, but the thought of hearing my pursuer disturbed me too much. Beyond that, I needed the adrenaline rush that Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name Of” was giving me, although the title wasn’t very reassuring.

I was about two minutes from home when I neared Market Street. There would be people out for sure on a Saturday night, so I thought I’d be in the clear. I rounded the corner to see precious few walking the streets. It was an improvement, but not what I’d hoped for.

As I neared home, I reached around to my bag in a desperate effort to find my keys, all the while chastising myself for not having them already in hand. Personal safety was never my strong suit and I was painfully aware of it at that moment. After two blocks of searching, I managed to pull my keys from the bag, only to immediately fumble them. They flew through the air in slow motion as I helplessly watched them crash to the pavement and skid underneath a parked car.

“Shit!” I muttered angrily to myself.

My timing couldn’t have been more off. At that particular moment the street was clear of any life that I could see. Still, I felt that negative energy there, nagging at me. It wasn’t getting stronger, but it wasn’t getting any weaker either. Having no other options, I threw myself onto my hands and knees, trying to figure out the best way to retrieve my keys from under the high-end Mercedes that was running some wicked defense. When I realized I couldn’t reach them any other way, I flopped down on my belly and wiggled under the perfectly engineered undercarriage, midway back towards the far tire.

“Gotcha!”

I had my keys in hand and was ready to inelegantly worm my way back out the way I’d come in. I turned to check my trajectory and felt ice immediately shoot through my spine. In my line of sight was a very large and very manly pair of shoes. As I lay there sweating, trying to concoct a plan, my attention snapped to the two pairs of equally masculine shoes on the other side of the car. Great…they’re multiplying!

“Hey, Jay? Did you park the car on a girl again?” an unfamiliar voice shouted.

“Nope. This one wasn’t there when I pulled up,” replied the man I assumed was Jay.

“Have no fear gentlemen, I know this one. I seem to get this view of her often.”

Sean…

I launched myself from under the car to see him smiling down at me first before his gaze drifted over the top of the car to his friends. I was certain they were finding great amusement in both the situation as well as my general appearance. I was covered in sweat and dirt, and wet from the puddle I’d managed to land directly in under the car.

“Is there a reason you were getting familiar with my exhaust system? You wouldn’t happen to be a fan of German engineering, would you?” Sean asked.

“Actually, I am,” I replied with a haughty tone. “I dropped my keys…I had to get them. This is your car?”

“It is,” he said. “One of them, anyways. We were just heading home. Where are you headed looking so…” he asked, gesturing at me strangely. I couldn’t tell if he was amused or confused by what I had going on.

“Home,” I replied, trying to wipe some of the nastiness off of my shirt.

“You seem stressed. Something wrong?” he asked with obvious curiosity.

“Uh, no. No, everything is fine,” I said unconvincingly. I did realize as I was saying it that the energy that had me diving under his car was gone. Completely. “I’m just hungry. I need to go home and eat something.”

“Do you need a ride?” he asked while looking me up and down, no doubt assessing the damage my dirt-covered body would do to his car’s leather interior.

“Nope. I’m good. Thanks,” I blurted as I started off down the street.

“Do you need an escort?” he asked, my back still facing him.

“Not necessary,” I said without looking over my shoulder. Mortified didn’t begin to cover what I was feeling at the time. I wanted, just for once, to not make a complete ass of myself in front of him, but that seemed too much to ask.

He said nothing in response, but I heard the growl of his car’s engine as it started up. I continued down the street at a brisk pace; running was out of the question as my body was way too spent. The threat appeared to be gone anyways.

The Mercedes purred as it pulled up slowly next to me, the window lowered so he could speak.

“Be sure to keep a firm grip on those keys, Ruby.”

“I’ll be sure to do that, Sean,” I said, forcing a smile.

He smiled back, turning up the stereo as he pulled away. While his speakers pumped The Fray’s “I’ll Look After You”, the words hauntingly echoed through the street. And my mind.

I guess he believed in theme songs too.

 

 

 

 Caged
(Caged, #1)
By: Amber Lynn Natusch
Genre: Urban Fantasy

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Amazon
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I stood in the middle of the room, unmoving – I barely breathed. My life had just become surreal, impossible, and one enormous lie. I needed to go, to run somewhere, anywhere to beat back the reality that was rapidly closing in around me. The image of him was burned into my retina, flashing over and over again like a warning. He was trapped somewhere between human and decidedly not, and I realized that was my new reality.

I was too.

After the death of her parents, Ruby awakens from a lifetime of shadows and finds herself alone, thrust into a world of lies, deceit, betrayal and the supernatural.

As her quest for truth continues to come up short, she realizes that maybe some questions really are best left unanswered.

When her true identity is finally unveiled, she is forced to choose between two of the mysterious men who continually seem to crop up in her life.

She chooses poorly.

Now abandoned, Ruby must learn to call on the darkness within to survive, or spend a hellish eternity imprisoned because of it.

Guest Post: Lucy Swing author of Feathermore Trilogy

We’ve got Lucy Swing, author of the Feathermore trilogy joining us today to share her dream cast with us. In celebration of the release of book #2 in the trilogy, Fallenmore, Lucy is offering up an e-copy of Fallenmore on every stop of her tour. But that’s not all! She’s also doing a grand prize drawing to win a paperback copy of both Feathermore and Fallenmore!

Lucy Swing lives in sunny Florida with her husband and two children.

She is a YA Paranormal/ Romance writer, whose works include: Feathermore (Feathermore Trilogy #1 ), Fallenmore (Feathemore Trilogy #2) and Bloody Valentine, a vampire/witch novella.

She is an absolute book hoarder and must always have a book at arm’s length. Music is her muse, and there is always a soundtrack that plays along her life.

For more information on Lucy Swing please visit her website and the Feathermore Trilogy blog.

guest post

Feathermore Trilogy Cast

I don’t know about you, but casting my characters as if there was going to be a Feathermore Trilogy movie is one of the most fun things ever! When I wrote the first book, Feathermore, I had certain actors in mind. With some characters, I created them physically and couldn’t match them to anyone in real life (no one I’ve met or celebrities) so I made do as best as I could.

Without further ado, I present to you the cast of the Feathermore Trilogy!
 Elizabeth Gillies
(Jade Lovecraft)

 Brant Daugherty
(Avan Blackwell)

Max Zagorski
(Blake)

Megan Fox
(Lilith)

Isabel Lucas
(Claire)

Austin Butler
(Nate)

Now the never before seen casted characters!

Carla Gugino
(Mrs. Lovecraft)

 Josh Hopkins
(Mr. Lovecraft)

David Schwimmer
(Mr. Morris)

 Simon Baker
(Mr. Gatley)

Thank you so much, Kristin! It is always a pleasure coming for a visit to Book Sniffers Anonymous, so thank you for hosting me today.

 about the book

Fallenmore
(Feathermore #2)
Genre: YA

When darkness consumes you; will it be hard to find the light?

After Jade’s world was torn apart, she is unsure of where she belongs, if anywhere at all. Deceived by those she trusted the most, she must now accept her fate and the life that lays before her. The voices are back but this time, they are trying to lure her into the darkness. But could they be telling her the truth? That the only person she has been able to trust since the death of her boyfriend, Avan, is lying to her too? If the voices are right… Could she really trust him?

In Fallenmore, the second book in the Feathermore Trilogy, Jade will embark in a quest through the pits of Hell. The question now is: once she is in, will they ever let her out?

Check out my review of Fallenmore HERE.