#MFRWorg #Christmas in July: Champagne for Christmas @JeanJoachim AUTHOR INTERVIEW

MFRW asks author Jean Joachim some Quick & Quirky Questions.
Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. She was chosen Author of the Year in 2012 by the New York City chapter of Romance Writers of America.

Married and the mother of two sons, she lives in New York City with her family. Early in the morning, you’ll find her at her computer, writing, with a cup of tea, her rescued put, Homer, by her side and a secret stash of black licorice. 

If money were no object, where would you live?
I'd live in several places. Paris in the spring and fall, St.Thomas in the Winter and Upstate New York in the summer. Perhaps with a few weeks in NYC squeezed in.

If you were a tool, which would you be?
I'd be a jack knife, because then people could use me to solve a myriad of problems. I'm a problem solver by nature. Besides, a jack knife is a tool you take with you. I like to go along on trips and outings. I'd be a popular tool and helpful at the same time. Sounds perfect to me.

What song best represents you?
Walkin' on Sunshine. I'm basically a sunny person who likes to laugh, love and be happy. Spending my days writing romance books makes me very happy. I love what I do.

If stranded on a desert island, who would you bring?
I'd choose to be stranded on a desert island with either of my favorite authors, Sinclair Lewis or Jane Austen. I think I could live a lifetime just listening to stories about Regency England. And Mr. Lewis was a prolific American author who could write amazing books. I could learn a lot from him.

Tell us about your most embarrassing moment.
My most embarrassing moment happened during my ad agency days. I was attending a conference and listening to a big lecture with the lights out and slides. Two men in front of me were gabbing. I shushed them two or three times. When the lights went up, I was appalled to see the two men were the president of my company (my boss) and the president of American Express, our biggest client. My boss made introductions and I wished I could sink into the floor.

City life or country life?
I love both city life and country life. I'm fortunate that I get to have both. I live in New York City and we have a little bungalow in upstate New York, where I go to write in the summer. I like to be indoors, cozy and warm in the winter, my least favorite season. But in the summertime, I hate being inside. I become a total outdoor girl. I adore sitting on the deck, watching the birds at the feeder and writing in the fresh air and quiet.

If you were an animal, which would you be?
I'd probably choose to be an elephant. not only do they have no natural enemies except man, but they live a long time are very social and very intelligent. All qualities I hope I possess.

Tell us about your holiday romance.

Champagne for Christmas

Contemporary Romance
Moonlight Books

Can a craving for mint chip ice cream and a passion for the theater keep a summer romance sizzling through a freezing winter? Clint is a high school English teacher and a budding playwright. Nina, a former actress, is now a beautiful and wealthy widow...and more than a little lonely, especially during a glorious Christmas in New York City.

A chance meeting brings them together. Their passion for the stage joins their minds while love blossoms, despite their age gap. The theater, that once united them, may be the one hurdle they can’t clear. A steamy romance with a happy ending you’ll never see coming.

BUY LINK

"Ms. Joachim`s holiday book is a joy to read from beginning to end. I was instantly swept up and into the story. Many a time I could imagine myself standing on the streets of New York and seeing what had been so wonderfully described. The romance between an older woman and a younger man was tastefully and sensually penned. This may be one of the author`s best to date. I simply could not put it down. At one point near the end of the book, I begged off chatting with friends on Facebook so that I could find out how things ended! Of course Ms. Joachim delivered a perfect happily ever after just as she always does. If you enjoy Christmas romances you will love Champagne for Christmas." - V.L.

EXCERPT
The sultry, August air hung heavy around Nina, quickly melting the ice cream in her sundae. While gazing up at the clear, night sky to look for the Big Dipper, she dribbled fudge sauce on her new, aqua T-shirt. She pursed her lips. That’s what I get for not paying attention. With a disgusted sigh, she reached for a napkin before realizing she’d forgotten to take one. “Damn,” she muttered under her breath and doubled back to the stand before the stain set.
She rushed up to the tiny counter right as a tall, good-looking man holding a double scoop cone turned. They collided. Half of his cold treat fell onto her chest, causing her to gasp at the shock against her skin. She looked up into his light brown eyes as she grabbed the melting ball.
He slipped one arm around her waist to keep her from losing her footing. She stood wobbling, mesmerized by him. He was almost a whole foot taller than she was, with thick, straight, brown hair and shoulders a mile wide. Nina shifted the ice cream from hand to hand, not knowing what to do.
“I don’t think you can put that back on the cone. Maybe the garbage?” he suggested with a grin.
Nina jerked back to reality and stepped toward the trashcan, tossing in what was left of the melting mess. “I’m so sorry. I’ll buy you another one,” she said, reaching for napkins to wipe her shirt and hands.
“It was my fault…completely. You don’t have to buy me anything. Besides, I still have one scoop here. I’ll just…,” he began, approaching her with more napkins, and then stopping, his hand in midair, color suffusing his face.
Nina had raised a hand to halt his actions. “It’s okay. I’ve got this.” The young woman behind the counter offered him a replacement scoop for free. Nina sat down at the picnic table set up for people to eat outside. After a good look at her shirt, she knew it was ruined.
The tall, attractive man joined her. “At least let me pay for a new shirt,” he offered, sitting down next to her on the bench.
“It’s okay. I had a spill on it already. That’s why I was coming back and got in your way,” she said, finishing the last of her sundae.
“What flavor?” he asked.
“Mint chip…is there any other?” She laughed.
“Not for me.”
Nina’s gaze was drawn to his mouth, then his tongue, as he licked the cold confection off the cone first then his lips. She ran her own tongue over her bottom lip unconsciously, in tandem with him. Wonder what it would feel like to kiss him? “I’m Nina Wells.” She offered her hand, as soon as she could rip her stare from his mouth.
He shook it. “Clint Hayworth.”
“You look familiar,” she said, with hooded eyes, admiring his physique.
“I’ve seen you, too…in the garden? Next door?” he asked, looking away from his ice cream.
“You’re renting the Willis place?”
“Thinking about buying it, too.” He stopped eating long enough to shoot her a confident smile, his gaze resting on her face before sweeping over her chest and back again.

Connect with Jean here.
Website - http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com
Amazon author page - http://www.amazon.com/Jean-C.-Joachim/e/B001ITRQKY/
Fb -  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jean-Joachim-Author/221092234568929
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/334810.Jean_C_Joachim
Blog - http://jeanjoachim.blogspot.com
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/jeanjoachim/

Meet #MFRWauthor @BritaAddams

MEET Brita Addams
Born in a small town in upstate New York, Brita Addams has made her home in the sultry south for many years. In the Frog Capital of the World, Brita shares her home with her real-life hero—her husband, and a fat cat named Stormee. All their children are grown.

Given her love of history, Brita writes both het and gay historical romance. Many of her historicals have appeared on category bestseller lists at various online retailers.

Story ideas come from every direction. Maybe a research book she read, something someone says, or strictly from her own imagination. Love scenes happen naturally and not for titillation or because there hasn't been one in fifty pages. They should further the story, showing an advance in the couple's relationship. The depth and graphic details should also fit the story and should be up to the author to determine.

Tarnished Gold, the first in her gay romance Tarnished series for Dreamspinner Press, was a winner in the 2013 Rainbow Awards, Historical Romance category. The book also received nominations for Best Historical and Best Book of 2013 from the readers of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group.

Along with the re-release of the books she had with Musa, including the Sapphire Club titles, Dreamspinner Press will publish Beloved Unmasked in October. The story begins in Storyville in New Orleans just before World War One and is about the son of one of the Storyville prostitutes. A great deal of life happens to him and the circumstances of his birth alone presents problems for the future he so desperately wants.

A bit of trivia—Brita pronounces her name, Bree-ta, and not Brit-a, like the famous water filter. Brita Addams is a mash-up of her real middle name and her husband's middle name, with an additional d and s.

Check out Brita's newest book...
Lucien & Serenity
Brita Addams
Historical Erotica
Fireborn Publishing

Fulfill your wicked fantasies at the Sapphire Club... USA Today Recommended Read

Serenity Damrill has returned to her husband, Lucien, after a ten-year absence. She carries with her a secret that could destroy her life and possibly all that Lucien has built. She needs Lucien's protection, and she is determined to repair her marriage.

Quite happy running the Sapphire Club, where his clients live out their wildest fantasies, Lucien has no need for the frigid wife who deserted him the day after they were married. Though he still desires her, he doubts she'll consent to the type of intimate relationship he craves.

But in the Sapphire Club, where rules don't exist, anything is possible...

BUY LINK!

CONNECT with Brita...
Website/Blog  http://britaaddams.net
Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/britaaddams
Fan page  https://www.facebook.com/BritaAddamsEroticRomance
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/britaaddams/
Booklikes http://britaaddams.booklikes.com
iAuthor http://www.iauthor.uk.com/profile/brita-addams:8225
Monthly column at The Novel Approach http://thenovelapproachreviews.com
Cold Coffee Café http://coldcoffeecafe.com/profile/britaaddams

Meet the Futuristic #MFRWauthor of The Turn of the Card @VickyBurkholder

Meet Vicky Burkholder.
Vicky Burkholder lives in a three-generation home with spouse, kids, grandkids and cats. Fortunately, two of the other adults are writers so she is surrounded by creativity in the midst of chaos. She has worked for magazines, newspapers, government organizations, e-publishers, and private clients. At various times in her life, she has been a teacher, a secretary, a short-order cook, a computer specialist, a DJ, and a librarian.

http://www.vickyburkholder.com  |  http://www.facebook.com/victoriaburkholder

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing? My dad was the first one to influence me. He taught me my love of the written word and that books can lead to whole new worlds.

How long does it take you to write a book? It really depends on the book - how long it's going to be, how much research is involved, and all that boring stuff. But generally, if I have all the backwork done, just a couple of months.

How do you come up with your ideas? From everywhere. From something on TV, a snippet in the news, something I see on the street... ideas are everywhere. You just have to be aware of them and run with them.

Tell us about your latest book.
The Turn of the Card was a ""what if"" sort of idea. What if... you got bet in a game of cards, and lost? What if... the man who bet you was your father? What if... he sold you off to pay off his debts? What if... and so on. And outer space? Whole new worlds to explore. It's a little science fiction, a little adventure, a little mystery, and a lot of romance.

The Turn of the Card
Liquid Silver

Jessica Windemere loses her freedom when her father bets her in a poker game. But she isn’t willing to accept her fate without a fight. To have her revenge, she first must survive an unknown world while contracted as some stranger’s wife. She wants nothing more to do with men until a huge, dark god rides into her camp. Can she risk losing her new love on the turn of a card?

Kiernan Randall is on his way home from a trading mission. The group of abandoned women he finds were definitely not expected, especially their feisty red-haired leader. She is contracted to his enemy, but gives herself to him and firmly entwines his heart. Can he trust her enough to let her wager their future together on her skill with cards?

Buy Link

EXCERPT

“Did you see how big they were?”
“I saw the big bulge in the leader’s pants.”
“I’d love to get some of that.”
“Me too.”
Jess strode into the sleeping area and shut the door. Her body temperature rose from warm to hot as she remembered the way his eyes had traveled over her. Her nipples tingled and tightened into hard nubs. Lower down, the heat built in intensity and she fought to control her libido. “He’s a man. Nothing more.”
But oh, what a man.
She went into the bathing room and ran water over her head, attempting to cool her overheated body.
“Jess?” Cammy called. “The food is ready and the men are here.”
“Fine. I’ll be right out.” Jess leaned against the sink and stared at her reflection in the grainy mirror. “Just a man. Nothing more.”
She stopped at her bunk and pulled her PDA out of her bag so he could see the contract. If these men weren’t their mates, then who were they? She felt for the knife in her pocket. No matter who they were, she wouldn’t take any chances.
She went out to find the men sitting at the long table in the center of the room. The women stood around them, glaring at each other.
“What’s wrong now?” Jess asked.
Cammy came to her. “They can’t decide who gets to sit with the men and who has to sit at the other tables.”
Jess snorted. “Oh for star’s sake.” She went back to her room and retrieved the deck of cards. Maybe her father had been good for something after all. He’d taught her how to handle cards well over the years. She returned to the group, shuffling the deck as she went.
“Everybody draws a card. High cards sit at the main table. Low cards sit elsewhere. In the case of a draw, hearts are high, followed by spades, diamonds, clubs.” She spread the deck face down on the table. “Don’t show your card until all have drawn. Cam, you start.”
“You will not draw,” the leader of the men said to Jess. “You sit by me, or we leave.”

What can we expect from you in the future? More futuristics - this one is just the first of a series (but they're all stand alone books so no cliffhanger endings!) and more paranormals and shapeshifters. Why stick with the plain when you can create new life and new civilizations? :)

Do you have a favorite author? Too many to list, but some of my favorites include Anne McCaffrey, Neil Gaiman, Misty Simon, Laura Bradford... and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

TALK TO Vicky...

Who are your favorite authors?

The Write And Long Of It... Author Interview with #MFRWauthor @RuthACasie

MFRW Author Ruth A. Casie talks about her writing.
Ruth A. Casie writes contemporary and historical fantasy romance for Carina Press, Harlequin and Timeless Scribes Publishing. Formerly from Brooklyn, New York, she lives in New Jersey with her very supportive husband Paul. When not writing you can find Ruth reading, cooking, doing Sudoku, or counted cross stitch. Ruth and Paul have three grown children and two grandchildren.  They all thrive on spending time together.  It’s certainly a lively dinner table and they wouldn’t change it for the world. She loves to hear from readers, so drop her a line at Ruth@RuthACasie.com.

Why did you decide to write romance novels? 
I love reading romance novels and when a friend said she was going to write one I thought I would too.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing? 
I write historical fantasy so not much of my life experiences although being able to zap some people would be really great. I think there’s a bit of me and my daughters in my heroines and my husband and son in my heroes.

What kind of research do you do for a book? 
My research is mostly on-line or in the library. Although, I got so into old manuscripts with these characters that I took a manuscript course at Stanford University.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms? 
A good friend decided to write a romance story. I wanted to help as a critique partner or beta reader. After a few hours of talking about her book she convinced me to write my own story and we would possibly sell hers and mine as a series. Life got in her way with looking at colleges for her daughter and training for the NY Marathon. I, on the other hand, kept on writing. When I was done I really didn’t know what to do with ms. I found RWA. I spent a year editing and learning what to do with the story then submitted it to agents and editors. It was picked up by Carina Press.

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story? 
I have two books coming out in March, The Druid Knight Tales and Knight of Rapture. They are both part of my Druid Knight series and continue the story of Arik and Rebeka. Their story wasn’t over and many fans asked for more.

Knight of Rapture, a Historical PNR Fantasy, with Timeless Scribes Publishing

For months Lord Arik has been trying to find the precise spell to rescue his wife, Rebeka, but the druid knight will soon discover that reaching her four hundred years in the future is the easiest part of his quest.
Bran, the dark druid, follows Arik across the centuries, tireless in his quest for revenge. He’ll force Arik to make a choice, return to save his beloved family and home or stay in the 21st century and save Rebeka. He can’t save them both.
Rebeka Tyler has no recollection of where she’s been the past five months. On top of that, ownership of her home, Fayne Manor, is called into question. When accidents begin to happen it looks more and more like she is the target. Further complicating things is the strange man who conveniently appears wherever trouble brews—watching her, perhaps even….protecting her? Or is he a deliberate attempt to distract her? Rebeka can only be sure of one thing—her family name and manor have survived for over eleven centuries. She won’t let them fall… in any century.

Where did the idea come from? 
The Druid Knight stories are historical fantasy time travel stories. You may see a little Knight in Shining Armor (Jude Deveraux) and Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) influences in the stories. But what really inspired me was the Lisa Kudrow program, Who Do You Think You Are?, the Ancestry.com program. I kept thinking what would it be like for a 21st century alpha-woman to confront a 17th century man of her dreams? And how would he handle the situation?

What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I write an outline to keep me on track then begin to write. My goal is a chapter ever two days. Each day I re-read what I wrote, make some edits and go on from there. The re-read helps me get back into the story and edits help to contain all the rewrite at the end. At least, that’s my plan!

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions? 
We’re empty nesters and I retired from my job eighteen months ago. Other than the community work I do for several organizations, my time is my own. In addition, my husband, Paul, is very supportive. While he is a brainiac and not necessarily into the historical fantasy time travel stuff, it’s great to overhear him tell others what I do.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
Paul and I love to go to the movies and we take ballroom dancing lessons. He says that’s one way to get is arms around me.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
The list of my favorite authors are a mix of genres: Jude Deveraux, Diana Gabaldon, Eliza Knight, Terry Brisbane, Diana Cosby, Margaret Mallory, Jennifer Probst, Roxanne St.Claire, Eloisa James, Julie Rowe, DC Stone, Jaci Burton

How can readers connect with you?
Website:  www.ruthacasie.com
Personal Blog:  www.ruthacasie.blogspot.com
Google+: google.com/+RuthSeitelman
FB Author Page: www.facebook.com/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/13GwuQ1
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4792909.Ruth_A_Casie

You can also preview her book here:
EXCERPT from Ruth's latest book, Knight of Rapture

BUY LINK

She took another step and past the stone marker.The air chilled and the sky turned an array of colors. Everything around her began to swirl. She realized her mistake too late. The portal, she was in the portal.Arik. Close to him now, she reached for him but her hand passed through the form. She examined her hand turning it over then spotted the shadow of the man. An illusion? The shadow turned towards her. She watched as the wind washed over his face and it changed. “Bran,” she whispered in disbelief. Her head swiveled while she searched for something, anything to grab on to. The portal had one use and she had no intention of leaving.Get out, her brain shouted.His lips twisted into a cynical sneer. He tilted his head in jaunty satisfaction, snapped his fingers and vanished.“No,” she yelled. “Arik,” she closed her eyes and screamed in her head trying to mind touch him while the wind tore at her.“Beka,” he boomed.Her eyes snapped open. She shielded them from the dust and debris and stared at Arik on the other side of the opening. He stood at the high plateau, miles away. His hands were braced on the opening’s edges, which were nothing more than solid streams of whirling wind. He struggled to keep the portal from closing.“Come.” His voice didn’t allow for any argument.The wind whipped at her, pushed her back. She tried again. “I can’t. The wind. Keeps. Pushing. Me. Away.” She shoved her staff in front of her and anchored it in the ground. Against the gusting wind, pulled herself towards him.“A little more, Beka.” He gripped the edge of the portal with one hand and stretched the other out to her. She shoved her hand towards him as far as she could. The tips of their fingers brushed. In a burst of effort he caught the top of her hand, a precarious hold. With a tight grasp she wrapped her fingers around his thumb.Safe, she wasn’t far now.She concentrated on his face. The corners of his mouth turned up as he pulled her towards safety. The wind grew stronger buffeting around them then changed its path. Before she could brace herself for the new direction, the gust blasted them. Without a firm grip, her hand began to slip. She pushed through the building panic. His smile slipped. The expression on his face turned to determination. Again her hand slipped until he held her by her fingertips.He held them fast—crushing them but that didn’t matter. He had to hold on to her. Every muscle strained. Inch by inch he brought her closer to him. She tried to help him the best way she could. Anchored to the edge of the portal, Arik encouraged her on. But his alternatives were limited. The closer she got to him, the stronger the gale blew. Just a little closer, that’s all she needed for Arik to grab her and get her out of the portal.The wind exploded from another direction.The blasting gale pushed her staff away from the opening, across the dirt, cutting an ugly scar in the ground and dragging her away with her staff.Away from Arik.

#MFRWauthor Interview with @AdamMannAuthor The Road to Beria #erotica @ButterflyBooks9

Meet MFRW Author Adam Mann.

Adam has lived and worked in Africa and Asia for many years.  He has always been fascinated by personal relationships, and in real life is now enjoying his fourth marriage, after being widowed, divorced, had one marriage annulled as this ‘wife’ had forgotten to get divorced.

As a result he has extensive experience of social and sexual activities, which he brings into all his 16 books in explicit detail.  Underlying all these activities is a quest for a loving and ongoing relationship with his partner.  Three novels have been based in Africa.

http://www.adammannauthor.com

Why did you decide to write?
I started writing historical novels in 1996, which I enjoyed but the research is extensive.  When I approached Smashwords to publish that first novel I noticed a lot of erotic books being published.  I read one or two and thought I could do a lot better, and probably had considerably more experience and had acqured a greater technique than the authors of the novels I had read!

What I did not like was the frequent use of four letter words!  I think that those are completely unnecessary, and I would never have used one or sullied myself when making love to a beautiful lady!

Where are your books set?
Three of my books are based in Africa, and in countries which I know well, and I have brought humour into the stories, in one case as a joke.

I have seven children and four grandchildren to youngest of which is an absolute angel – a seven year old granddaughter.  Now I know where they come from!

I have lived and worked in developing countries most of my life.  I prefer the clean air in the mountains to a tropical beach - salt water and sand are not my favourites.  My most horrific experience was visiting the site of a massacre during the Biafran War, which I detailed in my biography.

Is humour important in books?
I do enjoy a good sense of humour, but there is not one specific experience that I remember.   I do enjoy my life and my family, even though a daughter of a friend of my wife was murdered two days ago – five men have been arrested! My favourite author is still P G Wodehouse.

What's your writing process like?
I write most of my romance novels in about three weeks, but before I start I use Excel to detail the characters and the plot, and the word count as I write each chapter.

The story in some books does not always stay with the original plot, as the characters can take over.
I am happy to be contacted by readers, through the guest page on my website www.adammannauthor.com or even directly to my email address adammannauthor@gmail.com.

Tell us about your writing career.
Although I started writing so many years ago, I did not start my romance novels until three years ago.  I find that when not writing I’m dealing with book promotions.  I have written over 20 romance novels with 18 at Smashwords and one each at Blushing Books, Phaze Books and eXtasy Books. And I have six or seven more in the pipeline.

I find the long wait for agents and publishers is frankly intolerable, so I revert to self-publishing in most cases.  This also means self promotion – who is the brand; the author or the book?  This gives established publishers a head start.

When I can finally put together a manuscript, a synopsis and a book cover I can relax, and pick up the book I was reading before I started that novel.

Princess Le Ngoc Han from QUANG TRUNG,

Roxanne Green from RED HIGH HEELS,

Helga Hufflepuff from HELGA’S RED THIGH BOOTS,

Tong Craig from KEEP OFF THIS GRASS,

Nick from SERENDEPIA,

Denis from SINGAPORE HEAT,

William from IT’S JUST NOT CRICKET!,

All the characters developed by P G Wodehouse.

Share your latest release.

The Road to Beira, an Erotic Contemporary Romance, with Butterfly Books

Colin and Monique meet one another on a dusty road about one hundred miles from Beira in Mozambique.  They had previously known one another when they were students but over twenty years ago, and then their lives had taken completely different paths.

Monique had just been through a nasty divorce, and had settled down to raise her two children whilst getting on with her career as a recruitment specialist.  The tall dark Colin still attracts her and she realizes that she would have to take the lead if their relationship were to develop and romance were to blossom!

It works!  But her life is complicated by the lawyers representing her recent husband who try to stop her relationship with Colin.  Can her glowing auburn hair, her attractive breasts and passionate body win the battle?

Remote Africa, Old friends attracted, auburn hair, 

tall and dark, attractive breasts, love and passion

EXCERPT

“Let’s stop here for lunch?” suggested Laura, and the driver obediently drove the vehicle to the verge of the road.  There was very little traffic now that they were nearly one hundred miles from Beira.“How far is it altogether?”“We measured it several times, and it’s about 260 kilometres from Beira, which is about 165 miles,” said Hugh joining in the conversation.  He had been quite quiet until now.They sat on a grassy bank to eat lunch, ensuring that the driver was also fed, but they decided to leave the wine until they arrived.  The rainy season was just ending, so the landscape was green, and the hills were a dark grey in the distance.  There was no sun today but it was not cold.Monique, due to force of habit, put away the uneaten food, and packed the plastic box into the vehicle, whilst the driver started the engine.  Or at least, he tried to start the engine!The engine was diesel, which usually are very reliable, and the driver got out to open the bonnet.  He was not an engineer so he just poked around at various parts of the engine, checked the water level in the radiator, and looked around for help!  He was lucky, as another 4WD vehicle was just approaching.The driver stopped and a tall thin European got out and approached them, seeing the vehicle bonnet open.“Can I help?” he asked in English.“We stopped for lunch and now it won’t start again,” explained Hugh.“Colin!” exclaimed Monique, “what are you doing here?”They all looked at Monique, and then the new arrival.“Monique?” he said, “perhaps I should ask the same!”Monique turned to the others; “we’re in luck, this is an old friend of mine from university days and his name is Colin.” and then she turned back to Colin.“What are you doing here?” she repeated.“I work here,” Colin explained, “I’m doing a survey for a new community development plan,”“What about you?” he added.  Colin could remember the attractive student he had met so many years ago, but circumstances did not allow them to do more than meet for an occasional coffee.

Quick and Quirky Questions for #MFRWauthor Louisa Masters @EllorasCave

MEET Louisa Masters
Louisa lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she has a long-standing love affair with the sensual pleasures of life: wine, bubble baths, ice-cream and books. Nothing gives an illicit thrill like reading a sexy story on the train while those around you are oblivious. Get into a sexy state of mind and feel that thrill with Louisa’s books!

www.louisamasters.com  |  facebook

If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
Hee hee! If money were not an object, I would have no fixed address. I might have a base of operations in Melbourne, because that's where my family is, but I'd spend most of the year traveling, setting myself up in different but equally amazing cities around the world for months at a time.

What is your secret guilty pleasure? 
Erm - it's not so much a secret, but I have an ongoing love affair with food that's not good for me. I have been known to be secretive about its consumption, because if nobody knows, it never happened!

If you were on a reality show, what one would it be?
I'm going to be boring with this one, and choose something in the home renovations line. I'm not a terribly adventurous person, so anything that involves perilous activity is automatically off the list!

City life or country life?
City, definitely. Although I'd like to have access to the country for the occasional weekend escape.

Zebras or elephants?
If I don't say zebras, my sister-in-law may hurt me. She has a weird thing for them, and she may be tiny, but she's fierce. So, um, zebras. Although I do love the shape of elephants' ears....

Ebook or paperback? 
This is an impossible question! While I love the convenience of ebooks, and the way they've opened the market to so many possibilities, I also love being able to hold a paperback, flip through the pages - and most importantly for me, check the ending is a happy one (I know a lot of people are horrified by that). I also love being able to pick up a paperback and read the blurb. You just can't do that with ebooks. Having said that, I read almost exclusively in ebook format these days, just because I have no room for more paperbacks.

Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there? 
Books. Lots of books. Ice cream, chocolate and pastries. Shoes - but only pretty ones.
And probably stationery, because who can resist paperclips in a dozen colors?

Louisa's latest book is Irish Allure: 
a book in the Emerald Isle Fantasies series
Contemporary Erotic Romance
Ellora's Cave

Jillian is planning a wedding for the bride from hell—who suddenly decides to move the event to Ireland with less than a month to go. Lucky for Jillian, the groom’s brother is available to lend a hand.

Sexy, charming Fin clearly has more on his mind than just helping Jillian with the wedding. But she knows Bridezilla will not tolerate the hired help consorting with her future brother-in-law. Jillian can’t risk being blackballed, so it’s seriously hands off Fin, no matter how irresistible he is and how energetically he pursues her. If only Castle Tullamore weren’t so romantic—and if only she could stop tearing off his clothes every time she gets into that antique elevator with him.

BUY LINK

EXCERPT

Someone cleared their throat behind her, and a shudder ran down her spine. Surely she couldn’t be this unlucky?Turning, she smiled weakly. “Hi, Fin.”“Jillian.” He raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t seen you for a while. Were you waiting?” He gestured at the lift, door open, and she flushed. Of course he’d catch her daydreaming about him.“Er.” She stepped into the elevator. “I was—distracted.” He followed her in and pushed the button for his floor, then hers. The door closed.Her fingers started to itch. His hair looked so soft. She wanted to run her hands through it, tug a little, use her grip to guide his head down…Fuck it…

Do You Know #MFRWauthor Ashley York? @AshleyYork1066

MFRW Talks with Author Ashley York. Ashley writes historical romance.

Why did you decide to write romance?
I decided to write romance novels because I love romance. That's the truth. I love to read about couples who have married sixty years and then die holding hands. About the medieval couple they found buried, holding hands. I love to think about how much William of Normandy loved his wife and left her to rule his holdings in France. I love romance.

Since you write historical romance, tell us about your research.
My research involves primary source documents which are very limited for 1075. A lot has been written by academics about the period, though, so I use that information, too. It's just tough when academia suddenly decides to change it's perspective on an event. Such as the battle of Culloden. Really? The English weren't subjugating them? Okay.  I'll never buy that one. I understand the English (which I am very English) were powerful and that was their mindset - to conquer - but please don't try to convince me that in any way the Welsh, the Scots, the Irish somehow deserved it.

What do you do to relax?
I love music. All kinds. My favorite is good, live, celtic music. I love going to pubs and listening or participating in sessions. Sessions (open ones) are where musicians come together to share their love of the music. Various tunes get played that not all of them know, but they'll listen then join in. It's a great time. We have a lot of talent in the area. Musicians in Massachusetts and Connecticut. They all know each other and have played together. They may know nothing else about the other players, where they work or what they do for a living, but they'll remember the instruments they play or what tunes they know. It's great.

What about books? Who do you read?
Right now my favorite author is definitely Elizabeth Essex. Her writing is so fresh and exciting. I hate to stop reading but it's my reward when I'm on the tread mill so I have to be disciplined. It's hard. I just want to sit down and finish the whole thing. I know it's going to be satisfying.

What are the most important parts of romance?
The elements of a great romance start with a guy that is driven. He's hottest when he has interests that he feels strongly about: being a captain on a boat,  a knight in battle, a patriot fighting for freedom. Those are the guys heroines like best. It's a very sexy characteristic. I love romance. Everywhere. So the romance has to be good. The lead in. The dance around. The fulfillment. That's the best.

What does your writing schedule look like?
I have a set schedule that I try to stick to. I'm at my computer at 7 am but I work around my husband's schedule because I like spending time with him. I try to add to my WIP every day even if I have a lot of promoting or marketing to do. I also have to force myself to stop with the social media because it can suck you into that void and the next thing you know, hours have passed. Hours you can never get back.

What is the most difficult part of writing?
The hardest part of writing is the research because I love it so much. I could spend days and days going through primary sources and academic secondary sources. I just love it. Anything medieval. The more I learn, the better I feel about the time period. It's important to me that the reader not struggle with the facts. They shouldn't have to know all about The Norman Conquest in order to appreciate the story. I write romance not history but I do love learning.

Tell Us about your latest book.
My latest book is the second book in The Norman Conquest Series entitled The Gentle Knight. The hero is Peter of Normandy, who was introduced in The Saxon Bride. He's John's closest friend and he makes an appearance in the book as well. It's a medieval romance.

The story idea for The Saxon Bride came when I was spending time my sister. We were at the beach and she was telling me about this woman from her boyfriend's past that wouldn't let go. I had been playing around with the Conquest and found it fascinating. My hero was already a knight that had fought in the Battle of Hastings and even killed, inadvertantly, his wife's father. Talk about guilt. But the idea of a woman from his past that wouldn't back off came to me and I used the same name - Abigail! My sister and I pronounced like Seinfeld pronounced Newman. It was a lot of fun to create her. She may show herself again in book three.

The Gentle Knight
Book Two of The Norman Conquest Series

A medieval soldier returns home to find his lover died in childbirth just as his own mother had. Believing he is cursed, Peter of Normandy turns from love. When he must give escort to an Irish princess more noble than many knights, he struggles with his decision to live a solitary life. Can he take the chance that his love won't be a death sentence and possibly make them stronger?

Padraig MacNaughton's death bed decree rips his daughter from the shelter of her protective clan in Ireland. Forced to take vows at a Priory in England, Brighit finds herself in the hands of lecherous mercenaries with their own agendas. Dare she trust the Norman knight to see her safely to her new life as a nun? Even when she finds in him the fulfillment of all she's ever wanted?

Or will honor and duty eclipse their one chance for happiness?

BUY LINK

EXCERPT
""Do you have rooms for us?"" Peter's irritation intertwined with his unquenched desire.
""Yes, my lord."" The man bowed slightly then smiled. ""We have enough room in our outbuildings to accommodate a small army.""
He didn't have or need an army at the moment. What he needed was a willing woman.
Peter took another swallow of the warming liquid. He stood. The smoothness of his drink made a pleasant sweep through his body, down into his loins, and up into his head.
Brighit remained unmoving. Her head beside him, blurred slightly. He had the sudden urge to feel the softness of the brown hair that lay hidden beneath the stark white wimple. Run his hands through it. Slide his finger along her unyielding profile and tip her chin up ever so gently so he could meet her mouth for a warm, wet kiss—
Mort coughed loudly from across the table. ""You were saying, my lord?""
Mort's face appeared quite expectant but Peter wasn't sure what he had been sa—oh yes.
""Well, a warm bed or two would certainly suffice.""
The arousing picture of being in a warm bed with the even warmer body of Brighit beneath him flashed through his mind. Her lovely brown hair splayed across the pillows.

What can readers expect from you in the future?
In the future, I'm working on Book Three of The Norman Conquest Series, The Seventh Son. It's about Tadhg who is introducted in The Gentle Knight. A surprise to me was the character of Sean O'Cisoghe from The Gentle Knight. He just swaggered in the book and was such a great character, I'll be working on his story too." "I've been writing full-time for about two years. I just completed the second book in The Norman Conquest Series, The Gentle Knight. The first in that series is The Saxon Bride.

What is the most rewarding thing about being an author?
The most rewarding thing about being a writer is having an email from someone who read my book and liked it so much that they contacted me to tell me. That makes me cry every time. I'm so glad I took them to that place in our imaginations where we can get a break from life and pretend. We all need that.

To CONNECT WITH Ashley...

website  |  facebook  |  twitter

Meet #MFRWauthor Thea Dawson with Wanderlust @AeroplaneMedia

MEET MFRW Author Thea Dawson

Thea Dawson has lived in Rome, Tokyo and London and spent much of her twenties traveling around some of the more exotic corners of the globe. She was finally talked into settling down when her boyfriend proposed to her in Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Now she’s stateside again and embarking on a new career as a writer. Inspired by the places she's been and the people she met on the way, she plans to tell tales of romance and adventure.

website  |  twitter  |  goodreads  |  google+

How long does it take you to write a book?
FOREVER. Okay, more like four months with lots of on and off. I'm super slow.

I try to write a minimum of 1000 words a day, but don't always make it. My best writing time is in the morning from about 9-noon. It's when I'm thinking most clearly and, not coincidentally, when my kids are in school.

How do you come up with story ideas?
Like Monica, the heroine of Wanderlust, I lived abroad for much of my twenties. It was a very exciting, romantic time of my life and I have several stories planned around things that I experience while I was traveling.

What does your husband think of your writing?
He's super supportive and encouraging. For a while I was writing erotica under a different name and he was REALLY supportive. I had to keep him from telling everyone he met that his wife wrote porn. Now he sticks to just telling me I should write more sex scenes.

What can we expect from you in the future? 
I'm currently writing a kind of prequel to Wanderlust that tells the story of one Wanderlust's supporting characters and how he met his wife. It takes place as the two of them travel through Japan, initially not getting along well but (of course) eventually falling in love.

Tell us about your latest book.
It's a contemporary romance, but it has some chick lit elements as well. The heroine's relationship with her gay roommate is (I think) one of the best parts of the book, with snappy dialogue and a really solid friendship. And the story isn't just about whether the hero and heroine will end up together but where they're going with their careers and how they're going to make their jobs work with their relationship.

Wanderlust

A writer and world traveler, Monica has everything she wants … except a free-spirited man to join her for life on the road. But when she bumps into Jason, who broke her heart in college, she lets him think she’s engaged. It wouldn’t take much to fall for him again—and that’s one road she doesn’t want to go down.

Jason dreams of the day he can quit his terrible job. Then he runs into Monica, the girl he never got over. Thinking she’s marrying a wealthy financier, he pretends he’s an ambitious career man in order to impress her.

Old feelings resurface, but Monica has trust issues and Jason doesn’t like risks. To top it off, Monica is leaving for Bangkok in two weeks—and she won’t be back soon. Time is running out for them to come to terms with the past and embrace their wanderlust.

BUY LINK

What Reviewers Are Saying..
Thea Dawson created a beautiful story about first loves and heartbreaks, about chance meetings and misunderstandings, and about second chances and true love. Her words flowed from page to page making it near impossible to put down. The lighthearted read pulled at my heartstrings and kept me hoping for a happily ever after. —Summer's Book Blog

The cleverly woven humour, sadness, and hope laced throughout the book will simply wrap you up in the story. I pretty much finished it in one sitting. A real gem of a debut novel. —The British Bookworm

EXCERPT

She picked up her cup and took a sip of her mocha. I was about to make a joke about how at least she was still left-handed—some things don’t change—and I glanced reflexively at her hand. The room seemed to give a weird lurch that made my stomach roll over, but I pulled myself together.
“Hey, congratulations! Who’s the lucky guy?” I said with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.
She looked at me blankly. I looked significantly at her left hand. She put the cup down and looked at the ring, as if she were surprised to see it.
It was beautiful. An enormous, square-cut emerald, surrounded by tiny diamonds. A knock-out of a ring that might have cost as much as I made in several months. A big, goofy smile spread over her face as she looked down at it. “Oh! This is—it’s kind of a long story, actually—”
The bells on the coffee shop door rang again, and an elegantly dressed woman who looked to be in her early forties walked in.
“Oh, there she is,” said Monica, waving to the woman. “I’m going to have to—”
“No worries, I’ll get out of your way,” I said, getting up. I took a deep breath. “Look, can I get your number? I don’t want to be inappropriate, I know you’re engaged and all, but I’d love to catch up with you properly sometime.”
She gave me a quick glance that conveyed her hesitation, but to my relief she nodded. “Yeah. Yes, I’d like that, too,” she said, fumbling in the pocket of her backpack again. “My business cards are in here somewhere—” She gave up, clearly in a hurry to get rid of me. “You know what, I’m on Facebook, Monica Prescott. I have a page called Adventuress Travels.”
“Adventuress Travels,” I repeated. “And it’s not like I’ve forgotten your name.” I grinned. “I’ll message you. Great to see you!” I leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. I grabbed my coffee and smiled briefly at the elegant woman, who gave me an appraising look as I passed her.
“Who was that?” I heard the woman ask Monica as she sat down.
Monica’s reply made its way to me across the coffee shop as I made my way out the door and back into the bitter wind.
“No one. Just an old friend from college.”

Within The Mist #MFRWauthor Interview @DenyseBridger

MFRW Author Denysé Bridger talks with us about her latest book.
Canadian born and bred, and a lifelong dreamer, I began writing at an early age and can’t recall a time when I wasn’t creating in some artistic form. My life has had several on-going love affairs that shape much of what I write.  In the past half dozen years, I’ve released books in all lengths and genres, and it’s something I hope to continue to do for many more years. A visit to my websites will show the diversity of what is currently available, as well as other surprises and extras!

Why did you decide to write romance novels?
       I think I always wrote romance stories, no matter what subgenre I work in, there was pretty much always at least a romantic element to the story. I started reading my mom’s Harlequin’s when I was eleven, and I fell in love with them. I write other genres, but it’s rare that there isn’t a romance theme somewhere in the mix.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
I think we have to include our life experience in our writing. The older we are the more wisdom we bring to our work, so it has to reflect. For me personally, I don’t find I want to write really young characters now because I find the slightly older hero and heroine so much more interesting, their responses to their situations are more “adult” and to me far less emotionally high-strung. I’ve read so many books where the main characters are in their twenties and they respond to life like teenagers, everything is life altering life and death important. I think most of us realign our perceptions as we get older, and I find the thoughtful approach more interesting to read about in a book.

What kind of research do you do for a book?
I tend to do a little research for all my books, even if it’s only reading an article of some kind to refresh my memory on some point. When I write historical setting, I do a lot of hunting down things that will allow me to add small touches and detail that perhaps don’t take centre stage, but they do enhance the setting and mood of the story for readers. When I wrote my Devane stories, I was very careful to make sure my Jack the Ripper facts were accurate, because that was a key part of the story’s background. When I write Westerns, they have to have an authentic feel to them, so that requires some general knowledge of the era and clothing, etc. I love research, it keeps things interesting for me!

Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
I write in so many genres now, I think all I can do is find new ways to blend them and integrate them into new, multi-genre stories. I love so many styles, depending on what interests me or sparks my imagination. I think that’s the key to keeping things fresh and exciting, stepping into new worlds keeps me motivated and entertained, and when that happens, I believe readers are kept interested, as well.

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story? Where did the idea come from?
The idea for this story sort of dropped on me when I was listening to the music of a friend of mine, a young Italian singer named Riccardo Foresi. A photographer friend in Rome had send some photos to me, a series he’d taken in Venice for me relating to another story. He captured the image that is on the cover of the book, and all of a sudden I was having visions of “Phantom of the Opera” and a mysterious vampire… so, Within The Mist was born.

Within The Mist

Evolutionary Publishing

The misty evening air of a Winter in Venice cloaks many things…. Some who are passionate lovers hoping for stolen moments….. others who are merely the cutthroats and thieves that plague any city filled with the wealth of visitors and citizens of palaces….. But what else lies hidden within the mist? The voice of an angel lures…. each perfect note beckons and promises untold pleasures…. until, finally, a broken heart succumbs to desire…. and Fate weaves a new thread into the tapestry that is the mystery of life itself…. The evening air of a Winter in Venice cloaks many things… Passion, destiny, sorrow… Perhaps even the spectre of death waits within the mist… BUY LINK

EXCERPT

He continued to sing, the lyrical, lilting Italian words caressing her spirit and pulling

her closer to him. When she finally stepped into the chamber where he was, she stared in wonder. The room was lit with what appeared to be a thousand candles, their soft glow reflecting off the polished wooden floor and throwing frenetic shadows everywhere. Seated at the piano was a slender man, dressed all in black. His hair was dark, and the hands that whispered over the keys of the instrument were long-fingered and elegant. Hands shaped for making love in any form he chose. He played the last notes of the mesmerizing song and slowly turned to look at her. His dark eyes glittered, flames dancing wildly in their ebony depths, and he held out his hand to draw her forward. She went to him and dropped to her knees, head bowed, tears streaking her face as she let the hood of her cape fall to hide her shame. “You came to end my life. Why?” “I cannot bear the pain of not knowing you.” “But you do know me. I am part of you.” “You are madness!” She retorted with real anger surging into her being, giving her strength and making her look up at him. “You have taken everything!” “I took nothing,” he admonished with gentle warmth. “I am part of you.” “How can that be?” He smiled. She felt the kiss of his indulgence touch her heart. “You created me,” he murmured. “The night he died, you gave me life.” She was confused, and the room was suddenly growing colder with each beat of her heart. “Why did you let me find you?” He tilted his head to one side and considered her question. “Perhaps because it is time for me to return the gift of life to you, tesoro mio?”

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
Mostly these days, I try to turn off the computer about mid-evening and force myself to do relaxing things. I watch old TV shows that I love, or pick up one of the many books that are next to my comfy chair. Failing that, I often grab a notebook and make notes for future work, or fill in details for what I am writing. I still handwrite letters to friends I’ve had for years all over the world, too–my first pen pal and I still write to each other, and it’s been decades!

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
Lara Adrian, Lucy Monroe, Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes fan forever here), Elizabeth Goddard is a new author for me, but I love her. Same with Annie West, Elisabeth Naughton, Kristin Painter, Cynthia Garner. So many wonderful and talented people in this business it’s hard to name just a few.

How can readers connect with you?
Mobile friendly site: http://www.denysebridger.weebly.com
Fantasy Pages (general): http://www.fantasypages.ca
Bound by Passion (adult content): http://www.boundbypassion.ca
Random Acts of Sex and Romance (fiction blog):
http://randomactssexromance.blogspot.com
Sensual Treats Magazine: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com
Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/denysebridger
Newsgroup: http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/denysebridgernews/
Newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romanceandfantasy/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/denysebridger
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/denyse.bridger
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Romance.and.Fantasy
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/denysebridger/
LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/denysebridger
Tumblr: http://denysebridger.tumblr.com/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+DenyseBridger/
Romance and Fantasy Google+ Page:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/116695999970048906060/116695999970048906060/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/denyse.bridger
Instagram: http://instagram.com/denysebridger/
tsū: https://www.tsu.co/DenyseBridger

Meet @BerengariaBrown #MFRWauthor & The Beach Boys @SirenPub

MEET Author Berengaria Brown.
Berengaria Brown is an award-winning, best-selling, multi-published author of erotic romance with over one hundred published digital, print and audio books.  She writes contemporary, paranormal (magic, ghosts, vampires, fairies, dragons, and werewolves), futuristic, medieval, and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance so that is what she writes: MMF, MFM, FMMM, FFM, MM, FF, and MF. Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.

Blog: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
Website: http://berengariabrown.com/
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/berengaria-brown
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berengaria.brown?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown

Q1. If money were not an object, where would you most like to live? 
The beach. Absolutely the beach, somewhere hot.

Q2. Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?
I would be a general store, with a little bit of everything. I like to experience things, try new things out, do a bit of everything so this would suit me perfectly. Hm, after question one that'd better be a general store on a beach, somewhere hot.

Q3. What is your secret guilty pleasure?
I adore chocolate.

Q4. If you were stranded on a tropical island, who would it be with?
James Bond. Any of them. All of them. He/ they would catch our supper, build us a shelter, and eventually use some awesome gadget so we were rescued. Meanwhile I'd watch their muscles ripple with the sunlight glinting on their sweat... er,  that is, I'd help them, of course.

Q5. Ebook or paperback?
Both. Paperback for long airplane flights and lazy holidays. Ebook for ease of transportation and the ability to always have plenty of choice as to which one to read next.

Q6. Zebras or elephants?
Zebras. I like to move fast.

Q7. City life or country life? 
I'm a city girl through and through, although I could adjust to being a beach bum real easy!

Q8. Tell us about your latest book.

The Beach Boys: Summer

Book 1 of "The Beach Boys" series
Siren Bookstrand

Craig Darnell and Seth Tyler are both on holidays at Two Waters beach. The moment they meet, the lust between them is instant and fiercely hot. Sex at the beach, in the woods, in the sauna…When they take a break from having sex they discover they have many interests in common and begin to build a relationship outside the bedroom.

Just when they are beginning to evolve from sex partners into a genuine relationship, their romance is interrupted when Seth is called back to the school where he teaches, for a staff meeting about an unexpected school consolidation. Seth is shattered when he and most of his colleagues find themselves suddenly unemployed. His well-ordered life has come to a crashing halt, along with his vacation—and perhaps his romance. Is this the end for both of them? Was it nothing but a vacation fling after all?

BUY LINK

EXCERPT

As they walked across the grassy slope, Craig said, “I looked around at tattoos and piercings, but I teach high school, as you know. I really wanted something that was my secret. Something that was truly mine. Oh, sure, lovers would know about it. Even other men in the school bathroom maybe. But I didn’t want something like an arm tattoo that everyone in the street would know about. I thought for a long time before I made my decision and I’m still very happy with it.”“Hell yes. I’m very happy with it as well.”This time Craig did give Seth a quick hug. Damn, he loved that man so much already. They were incredibly well suited to each other. It was amazing how perfectly their thoughts, hopes, plans, and ideas meshed, even after such a short time together. Craig was really looking forward to getting to know Seth better and better as time passed.“What about you? Have you ever thought of getting a tattoo or a piercing?”Seth put his ball on the tee, ready to take his shot. “Like you, I don’t really want something everyone can see. I like to wear short-sleeved shirts for work in summer. As you would know from my tan, I don’t wear much clothing in the hottest weather at all. So no matter where I got the tattoo, people would be able to see it. I’m not really into jewelry, so an ear piercing, or an eyebrow ring, or a nose stud, isn’t really me either.”Seth’s shot was good, bouncing and landing on the green near the next hole.Craig concentrated on doing his best, but he must have been distracted by thinking about Seth, because his ball landed right on the very edge of the green. “Damn.”“You’ll just have to admit I’m a better golfer than you,” Seth teased him.“That’s not hard.” As soon as he said it, Craig cock stretched and grew. Damn. He couldn’t even play golf without wanting Seth.

It's a False Start! Meet #MFRWauthor Marianne Rice @MarianneRiceAut

Meet Marianne Rice
Marianne Rice writes contemporary romances set in small New England towns. Her heroes are big and strong, yet value family and humor, while her heroines her smart, sexy, sometimes a little bit sassy, and are often battling a strong internal conflict. Together, they deal with real life issues and always find everlasting love. When she's not writing, Marianne spends her time buying shoes, eating chocolate, chauffeuring her herd of children to their varying sporting events, and when there's time, relaxing with fancy drinks and a great read. She tries to make time for her husband too, but he often places behind her love affair with books.

facebook | website | pinterest

Why did you decide to write romance novels?
Well, I read. A lot. As in 150-200 books a year. Somehow I manage to work full-time, tend to my three kids and their busy schedules, and keep my husband fed and clothed and...happy. Reading romance is my escape from work and mommy life. With so many stories and hot heroes running through my head each week, they sort of morphed into new characters with their own sets of problems and goals. One day when I was home with my newborn son, and two and four year-old daughters I thought, ""Hey, I should start writing some of my stories down."" And so I did.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Oh lordy. If my books were autobiographical they'd be a genre of their own: comedic horror meets dramatic nut house. My husband likes to think the hero and romantic elements are based off him, but eh, no. I like to write about situations that could have happened, or that have happened to someone, somewhere. My characters have flaws and internal conflicts--who doesn't?--and I like to give them something we all want: Happily Ever After.

What genre do you write?
I write contemporary romance because it's what I like to read. I do read some historical romance, but researching the specifics of different time periods and cultures would discourage me from writing. I'd love to write a dystopian YA (my children love reading them), but I can't imagine crafting a whole world from scratch. Kudos to those who can!

What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I am a teacher and am blessed with summers off. Although sometimes being home with three kids is more work. I remind my husband that I'm not on ""vacation"", but I'm a stay-at-home mom, which is a crazy, busy job! Anyway, I spend much of my ""working"" months cooking up my stories, and during vacations and the summer I'm able to spit it all out rather quickly. It may not be pretty, but I get the first draft of a book written in two months and spend the next few months reading it when I can. I don't get bogged down with crafting the perfect sentence the first go-around. I think I would get discouraged. In the summer, it's all about word count. It's what works best for me.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?
Oh, yes. I love humor. Most people are funny in some way, shape or form. Maybe not all the time, but life is full of quirky situations and one-liners. I like to incorporate them into my writing.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
I love Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Belle Andre. Oh, hundreds more, but those are the names that first come to mind.

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story?
My hero in False Start is a retired NFL player. I've always loved the game and even married a football player. Naturally I had to have a quarterback in my first book!

False Start

Book One in The McKay-Tucker Men series
Liquid Silver Publishing

Vowing to never follow her heart again, Meg Fulton keeps men at a safe distance. But retired NFL player Connor McKay manages to crack Meg’s defenses and she discovers the sports-loving alpha male is much more than a sexy package wrapped in great biceps and a tight rear end. He’s got to make the riskiest play of his life to get her to fall in love again …

BUY LINK

EXCERPT

“We need to talk.”
Startled by the deep growl, Meg Fulton looked up to the towering stack of testosterone filling her office doorway and cursed the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach.
She straightened her posture, ran her hand through her thick hair in an attempt to put all the strays back in place, and then reached for the lapels of the suit coat that wasn’t there. She felt vulnerable in her silk tank top and wished she had an extra layer to shield her from the menacing daggers targeted at her. Putting on the jacket would only make a spectacle of herself. The thin tank would have to do.
“Sure. Have a seat.” She crossed her legs and attempted to smile. Inwardly, Meg groaned. Connor McKay. She’d noticed him on the football field coaching his athletes and had not looked forward to the expected confrontation.
He remained in the doorway, making no move toward the empty seats across from her desk. His blond hair was short, barely longer than the scruff on his face, and as she looked up she saw his eyes—a fierce, fiery blue filled with accusation and something that ranged between confusion and lust.
Meg stood and retrieved her suit coat off the rack, slid her arms through the expensive fabric, feeling the need to protect herself after all. In three-inch heels, she stood at almost five-eleven, but he still had half a foot on her. “What can I do for you?”
“This plan? Not gonna happen.” He didn’t elaborate, just made his statement sound like fact.
Pompous, arrogant jerk. He was probably used to flaunting his muscles to get his way. The Texas A&M shirt stretched over his massive chest, making him appear menacing and…hot. Horrified she even noticed, she tipped her head back and raised her eyebrow. “Why do you believe it’s not going to happen?”
His wide stance continued to rigidly occupy the doorway. “Season’s already started. My players won’t be benched because of a policy that might start half way through their season.”
The stereotypical football coach was obviously not used to having a woman as a boss, but Meg wouldn’t let him intimidate her. The job as principal at Newhall High School would be a challenge, but one she was ready to face.

Meet #MFRWauthor @CaraCarnes in A Shadow's Embrace @FatedDesires

MFRW Author Cara Carnes talks with MFRW about her latest book.
Born in small-town Texas, Cara Carnes was a princess, a pirate, fashion model, actress, rock star and Jon Bon Jovi’s wife all before the age of 13. In reality, her fascination for enthralling worlds took seed somewhere amidst a somewhat dull day job and a wonderful life filled with family and friends. When she’s not cemented to her chair, Cara loves travelling, photography and reading.

More information about Cara can be found at www.caracarnes.com or on facebook, tsu and pinterest.

Here's what we learned...
1. If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
New Zealand

2. What song would best describe your life?
It's My Life by Bon Jovi

3. What is your secret guilty pleasure?
CHOCOLATE

4. Ebook or paperback?
Ebook

5. Zebras or elephants?
Elephant

6. Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?
Sticky notes and colored markers

7. What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Not recognizing Nora Roberts at my first writer's conference when I first started writing

8. Tell us about your latest book.
A Shadow's Embrace is an erotic Paranormal Romantic Suspense with Fated Desires Publishing
BLURB

On the run from evil, her only hope is the Shadows.
Devyn James escaped hell once. A rare technopath, she eventually broke out of the genetics testing facility with the help of the Shadow Elites—General Conver’s super soldiers, who rebelled and now fought to protect psychically enhanced humans.
For the past few months Devyn, or Indy as she’s known on the street, has covertly passed intel to the SEO. Even though the street doesn’t trust the Shadows, she does. They rescued her once and she knows they’re the only ones who will be able to save her from Conver and figure out what she uncovered.
Dagan is determined to save the female being chased by Conver and his squadron. He soon discovers her identity and vows he’ll do anything to keep her protected—even if it’s from herself.
Together they discover everything is possible when you trust A Shadow’s Embrace.

EXCERPT

Devyn focused, suckling on the metadata drifting in the atmosphere. Ah, she’d missed the city. The morsels of data streamed into her. Her synapses hummed, sated by the calming presence of her third eye’s power. For the first time in a week, she was whole again now that she was back in the bustling psychic sector of Chicago. Leaving the city and her team a week ago had been a difficult decision, but the right one. Her powers had become more focused without the residual white noise of bustling Chicago’s technological strain vying for her attention.
Now the same technology she’d shunned the past few days would save her. She accessed traffic and bank cameras—anything and everything that allowed eyes-on access to the enemy that was herding her into a proverbial cage. There were too many of them. No exit strategy existed.
Damn.
A strong arm encircled her waist, crushing her against a brick-like torso before she could react. Pain pierced her mind, radiating from her temples. Startled by the psychic intrusion, she writhed in her captor’s embrace and threw up what telepathic walls she could.
The bastard shattered each defensive layer she created. Hot breath fanned across her cheek when he lifted her up off her feet and planted a huge hand over her mouth. Dangling like a doll, she punched the meaty arms holding her captive.
“Enough.” The harsh psychic hammer pounded her into submission. She stilled, unable to maneuver past the thick mental fog he created. “I need you to be quiet if you want to live.”
That voice. Dagan. This was the contact she’d slipped info to at the SEO.
She clamped his wrist and pressed hard, but he maintained his hold. The proximity to one of the most lethal people in existence skittered apprehensive pangs along her spine. She’d chanced returning to Chicago because of him, but how had he known she’d be here?

Getting Down and Dirty with #MFRWauthor @DPDenman It's Skin Deep.

Meet MFRW Author DP Denman.
Award winning author DP Denman writes character-driven contemporary romance about gay men. Her stories are real and intense, but resolve in endings that make people want to read the book all over again.

In her spare time, she is a dedicated LGBTQIA rights activist fighting for those who have been marginalized and abused. To that end, 25% of the royalties from every book go to support LGBT charities.

http://www.dpdenman.com  |  https://twitter.com/dpdenman  |  https://www.facebook.com/dp.denman
http://dpdenmanauthor.blogspot.com/  |  http://pinterest.com/dpdenman

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
The first draft takes me about 30 days.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
I write for at least two hours every morning, 365 days a year.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels?
I think they’re great as long as they move the story forward. Writing a love scene just to take up pages makes for a boring read.

Do you have a favorite series?
I have two. One is a paranormal thriller series, Cal and Niko, by Rob Thurman. The other is the Gabriel Allon suspense series by Daniel Silva. I can read them over and over again.

What can we expect from you in the future? 
I have two more books coming out in 2015. One is a gay romance. One is a non-romantic thriller.

How do we find out about you and your books? 
You can find out more about me and what I’m doing by visiting my blog: http://dpdenmanauthor.blogspot.com

How can readers/fans contact you?
Readers can contact me through my website: http://www.dpdenman.com

Tell us about your latest book.

Skin Deep is book two in the Saving Liam Series, an erotic GLBT Romance, with North Shore Press.

BLURB
Sometimes the problem is the answer.
Liam Newman escaped his abusive past to start a new life with the man who saved him. Unfortunately, the old life refuses to stay buried. When a fan of his porn star persona appears, he’s forced to reinvent himself in a surprising new career. Will it give him the rebirth he craves or lead him deeper into the life he’s trying to leave behind?

BUY LINK

What are reviewers saying about your book?
""I can’t wait to continue this journey!""
- 3chicksafterdark

""...you will fall in love with Liam and Justin..."" - batteryoperatedbookblog

A Short and Sweet #MFRWauthor Interview with Jasmine Hill @Jasmine_Romance

A Short & Sweet Interview with MFRW Author Jasmine Hill.
Jasmine was born in Australia and grew up in Sydney. She currently lives in Madrid, Spain with her husband. She adores reading all genres but in particular she enjoys erotic romance novels and thrillers. Jasmine loves writing and is always looking for new ideas for stories that will provoke inner passions, stimulate the senses and ignite the imagination. Her interests include cooking, traveling, yoga and skiing.

She has won some short story competitions and is now excited to have started publishing her erotic romance stories through Totally Bound Publishing.

website  |  twitter  |  facebook  |  goodreads

Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I love reading romance novels and I enjoy writing so to me, it made sense that I try my hand at writing my own novel.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
Quite a lot of me can be found in the pages of my books. I'm a big believer in writing what I'm familiar with (including story settings). Readers will quickly identify whether or not an author is not acquainted with a particular place or activity.

What kind of research do you do for a book?
I like to write about what I know or, at least be able to access the information I need. the internet is very handy to substantiate facts (particularly for historicals) although I'm careful with what resources I use on the internet (not all sites can be relied on for veracity). For my latest book I asked my husband and mother in law many questions regarding the outback lifestyle and life on a sheep station.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I like to write at least 3 - 4000 words a day, usually in the morning. Sometimes I manage more, sometimes it's less but that's the goal I work towards, depending on the expected book length.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
Often I read and I find that a daily exercise regime helps to clear out the cobwebs. Most often I do something unrelated to the book I'm writing so I can take a break and gain some fresh perspective.

Who are some of your favorite authors to read?
My all time favorite author has to be Jane Austen. I can read her books over and over again. I also enjoy Sylvia Day and more recently I've been reading Deborah Bladon.

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story? Where did the idea come from?
My latest book, Lillian's Light Horseman, is an historical erotic romance set in the Australian outback in 1921.It’s a story about star-crossed childhood sweethearts who re-unite after ten years — with interesting consequences. My husband grew up on a sheep station in Western NSW. The property was settled on his grandfather by the Australian Government for his services as an Australian Light Horseman in WWI. The novel is VERY loosely based around him. There are some family stories involving a love triangle, a governess and a broken heart.

Lillian's Light Horseman

Erotic Romance
Totally Bound Publishing

The year is 1921, Lillian Hamilton at twenty-six, is alone, desperate and living in England. An ocean away in outback Australia, her childhood sweetheart and decorated Light Horseman, William Cartwright, is running a sheep station and nursing a deep betrayal while the local ladies vie for his attention. But Lillian and William’s paths are about to cross once again, unexpectedly and dynamically, spinning each of them into turmoil, igniting past hurts and spurring them to a wary truce.

As they work through their deep-seated issues of distrust, others are conspiring against them, until a shocking revelation sends Lillian running out of the safety of William’s arms and into the path of another man. William will have to work against time to find Lillian before he loses her forever.

Are the span of an ocean, ten years and a cruel deception, too much for love to overcome?

AMAZON Buy Link

EXCERPT
She’d forgotten the desolation of the Australian outback—how dusty and dry it was and how unbearably hot it could be. She was lucky that she’d arrived in winter but the days in the outback, even in winter, could still be warm. She knew that her clothes would be impractical for the environment but there was not a lot she could do about that. Her wardrobe was designed for English weather and she knew that as the days grew warmer, her dresses and skirts of durable, heavy European fabric would be oppressively uncomfortable.

They drew nearer to Mulga Creek Sheep Station and her nervousness increased, making her palms damp and clammy. She’d spent the past ten years trying to forget about William and her memories of their time together, first as childhood friends then as childhood sweethearts, only now to put herself into a position where those bittersweet memories would be thrust to the forefront of her consciousness. She wondered where William was living and whether he bore any resemblance to the young man of nineteen he had been when last she’d seen him.

The buggy rounded a bend in the road and the homestead finally came into view. The house was newly painted white and glowed welcomingly in the midday sun. A garden fronting the residence was filled with hardy, durable flowers and plants—the only type to survive in such a dry and unforgiving climate. Geraniums and wattle bordered a pathway that led to the front door and an extensive vegetable garden took up the right side of the house adjacent to the kitchen.

The sight of the homestead and the sudden pang of déjà vu that it brought with it took Lillian’s breath away, and all too soon they were pulling up in the long drive and the station hand was unloading her belongings.
“I’ll take your trunk inside, miss. Mrs. Thompson has gone into Bourke to run errands. She asked that you wait in the drawing room for the boss. I’ll let him know that you’re here.”
Lillian’s anxiety deepened. She’d expected that Mrs. Thompson would be at the homestead to greet her and had hoped that she’d be present to ease any awkwardness that might arise when James Cartwright discovered her identity.

Lillian followed the station hand into the house and stopped in the hall to assess her reflection in the mirror. The image that greeted her made her gasp in shock. Her hair, which she’d styled so carefully that morning, was coming loose from its chignon and fell in dusty ringlets around her shoulders. And her face, usually of a peaches and cream complexion, was caked in a fine layer of red outback dust. She stepped back and surveyed her travelling attire, unsurprised to find that her skirt and jacket were creased and covered in fine ocher-colored powder. She’d forgotten how quickly the outback dirt permeated everything—even her mouth was gritty with the stuff.

She couldn’t meet James Cartwright looking like she did. She needed to freshen up. Making a decision, she left the hall and went in search of someone to assist her. Finding a maid in the kitchen, she requested a basin of water and a cloth and quickly scrubbed her face and hands. She scraped her hair back and re-pinned the escaped tendrils as best she could. There was nothing much she could do with her attire, so she settled for patting herself all over liberally with the damp cloth. It would have to do. One more inspection of her reflection in the hall mirror confirmed that she looked moderately better.