A Short & Sweet #MFRWauthor Interview @TheAnnaDurand

Meet Anna Durand.

I'm a writer, reader, librarian, and audiobook addict. I specialize in sexy, suspenseful paranormal romance, including the award-winning Psychic Crossroads series. In my spare time, I photograph flowers, whether they like it or not.

Why did you decide to write romance novels? I realized that what I love most in a book is the romance. If there isn't one, the story feels empty to me, because romance is about more than attraction—it's about emotion and connection. I've written other types of books, but my true love is romance.

What kind of research do you do for a book? I'm always doing research, because I love to read about science, ancient history, and mythology. All of these subjects inspire my romances. So I don't do a lot of research for a specific book, but rather keep my eyes peeled for intriguing ideas that may germinate into stories.

Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre? I'm always itching to try something new. I'd love to dive into fantasy and historical romance but haven't found the time yet. I also have ideas for a mystery, but paranormal romance is still my first love and what I focus on.

Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why? Absolutely! Humor is a great way to deal with stress, and the characters in my books endure a lot of that. My heroines tend toward the sarcastic, but they're never mean, and my heroes have senses of humor too. They may be fighting for their lives, but they can find the humor in even the most mortal of danger.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries? I create jewelry, photograph flowers, read, and listen to audiobooks.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read? I'm a huge fan of Rachel Caine, Ilona Andrews, Lisa Kessler, Jayne Castle, Maria V. Snyder, and Christine Amsden. But I read (or listen to) tons of books by many different authors, from bestsellers to indies.

CONNECT with Anna...
http://www.annadurand.com/
http://amzn.com/author/annadurand
https://www.goodreads.com/annadurand
https://twitter.com/TheAnnaDurand
http://www.pinterest.com/Anna_Durand/
https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDurandFiction
http://www.theromancereviews.com/AnnaDurand
https://www.authorgraph.com/authors/TheAnnaDurand

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story? Reborn to Burn is the second story in a four-part series about a young woman who was resurrected from death by some shady scientists. I got the idea from reading about microscopic creatures called tardigrades, which can survive the vacuum of space, but they also can survive dehydration and spring back to life decades later, when enough water hits them. This led to the concept of a mummy being regenerated to a near life-like state. She wasn't supposed to wake up—but she did, and nobody knows why. In the second installment, things get steamy between Dawn (the ex-mummy) and her savior Jake, as they unearth a shocking secret about how she awakened and what she can do.

Reborn to Burn

Paranormal Romance
Jacobsville Books
After three thousand years as a mummy, Dawn awakened to a dangerous new reality where science and the supernatural collide. Her only ally is Jake Maxwell, a mysterious grad student with an unusual talent for evading bad guys. Dawn's resurrection spells trouble and power for the scientists responsible, and they have no intention of letting her go without a fight. But as she flees with Jake, a shocking revelation about her newfound life rocks them both. While their enemies close in, they discover a fiery passion—and a bond deeper and stronger than time itself. But can they outrun the past before their future is shattered? After 3,000 years as a mummy, Dawn was resurrected by Redeo Biotech, and now they'll stop at nothing to control her. As she flees with her only ally, Jake Maxwell, they unearth a shocking secret about her new life and discover a fiery passion. But can they outrun the past before their future is shattered?

AMAZON Buy Link

EXCERPT

Headlights popped on close behind. She threw up a hand to shield her eyes. What was this idiot doing? He must've driven with his lights off until he got within yards of their SUV.
Her pulse raced. No one would do that unless—
Shit.
Jake lurched forward, grimacing as he twisted his body to squint at the back window. ""It's them.""
""Why don't they kill us and get it over with?""
""They need your brain undamaged. An auto accident would be…messy.""
""Charming. But a few hours ago, you said they'd kill me simply for being alive.""
""That's when Saxon was in control. He's gone.""
A chill shimmied through her. Saxon was gone because she'd killed him, to save Jake. Her finger had pulled the trigger, and a part of her wondered whether she'd swapped his life for her own.
""Trust me,"" Jake said, ""the other scientists at Redeo understand the importance of examining an intact, resurrected brain.""
""Great, I feel much better."" She pushed the SUV harder. The other car, its shape invisible behind the glare of the headlights, receded in the mirror.
""It won't be that easy.""
""I know,"" she snapped. Redeo Biotech had created her, in a way, and they despised giving up anything they owned. ""What would you like me to do?""
""Drive faster.""
""You said that wouldn't help.""
""No, I said it wouldn't be that easy."" When she opened her mouth to protest, he laid a hand on her shoulder. ""Use your knowledge. Most of us born into this world don't know it as well as you do. Tap into what you learned during your soul journeys."" He gave her shoulder a light squeeze. ""And drive faster. It'll buy us a little time.""
She rammed her foot down on the accelerator. The car shot forward, pinning her to the seat. The steering wheel shimmied, and she gripped it tighter. The headlights of the other vehicle shrank in the mirror. She released the breath trapped in her lungs.
Headlights surged closer. A powerful engine snarled behind them.
Electric ice zapped through her, clenching her hands and quickening her breaths. So much for buying time.
She stomped her foot on the accelerator.
The other vehicle snarled, revving its engine.
Blood thundered in her ears. Every muscle in her body went rigid.
The other car slammed into them with an explosive crunch. The concussion flung her forward. She clung to the wheel as it jerked in her hands. Christ, no. The seatbelt gouged into her, radiating pains through her chest. She gasped, gritted her teeth, and held on.
An object thunked in the center console. Her gaze flicked to the cup holder, and Jake's gun stashed there.
The attacker barreled his car into them a second time. Their SUV fishtailed. She fought to control the wheel, but the SUV fishtailed again. Skidded sideways. Thwacked over a bump.
And spun out into the night.

Discovering the Amazing Authors of #MFRWauthor

Would you like to find some amazing authors to have as your followers on Twitter?

This month on #MFRWauthor Retweet Day on Twitter, we'd like to invite all Marketing for Romance Writers to give us your twitter name. Example - @MFRW_ORG

Leave your name in the comment section.

We would love then for you to send out a tweet with each others Twitter names.

Example:

Come join the Amazing #MFRWauthor (then list Twitter names of the people in the comment section).

We will also be adding your name to the Amazing Authors of MFRW list on Twitter.

Throughout the month of March, we are going to be tweeting. Come follow the Amazing Author of #MFRW https://twitter.com/MFRW_ORG/lists/amazing-authors-of-mfrw

We will also be asking them to give us their twitter name and encouraging everyone to follow these people.

So if you are looking for new followers. Please Follow us on Twitter and find new authors to enjoy... https://twitter.com/MFRW_ORG

Let's make this a huge event so use the example above and retweet each others Twitter names.

Also support the thunderclap campaign for this event.
http://thndr.it/1FdHg2U

Thanks and here's to everyone having a great year,
Tina

BOOK SPOTLIGT: Celia and the Wolf @DonnaMaloy #MFRWauthor

Celia and the Wolf 
Book One, Shapeshifter Journals
Donna Maloy
Young Adult Fantasy
FrontrunnerPubs

Which one is the real monster? 

Celia Ashleigh, otherwise known as The Fox, is a shapeshifter and spy-in-training, like other firstborn Ashleighs.
Remy Broussard and his sister are werewolves. But The Guardian of La Cluse is on a crusade to wipe out monsters like them. He’s kidnapped Remy’s little sister and plans to kill her when she changes for the first time.
When Remy begs for help, Celia doesn’t hesitate to take on a real mission. But the closer Celia comes to finding the madman and his captive, the more dangerous her task becomes… and the more hopeless.
What will happen if Celia makes a mistake and the hate-filled crusader discovers she is something more than human, too?

AMAZON Buy Link

REVIEW
“A thrilling adventure with a fiery, engaging heroine you will not want to take your eyes off for a second!”--Ammi-Joan Paquette, author of Rules for Ghosting

EXCERPT

March, 1806.
     Although I could see several cats in the courtyard, some quite large, not one was my father, the shapeshifter known by the codename Panther. He wasn’t one of the horses or ravens, either.
     In truth, I knew finding him wouldn’t make any difference. Our training sessions at Redgate weren’t scheduled to begin until the first of August, after Parliament adjourned. But I was bored, bored, bored. And lonely.
     The King was fighting with his ministers again, and Papa had been in meetings with government people all week. I missed him desperately. He was the only person in London with whom I could talk about shifting. The only person like me. Even after six years, Noreen still got hysterical when I changed shape in front of her. And Mama had made me promise I wouldn’t tease Graham with things he couldn’t do.
     But practicing secretly in my room wasn’t the same as closing my eyes and becoming a rabbit, running lickety-split through the brambles and briars—away from houses and rules. Or watching a falcon swoop over rooftops, and then shifting my bones to join her in the sky above the trees.
     London society decreed that as the daughter of a baronet, I should be demure and obedient, feminine and charming. And that’s all. It’s why I longed so much for Redgate. There in the deep woods I could be anything!
     Well, as a strict matter of fact I couldn’t be a fish. I still hadn’t learned how to become one. It wasn’t that I was afraid to swim. Not exactly. I simply hadn’t figured out how they did the breathing-under-water. But today, I felt perhaps it was time to try.
     In fact, I’d agree to become a skunk or a slimy slug if only Papa would take me to Redgate today. Leaving London would be worth anything. I needed to be something right now.
     Well. Breakfast wouldn’t be served for an hour and if I were careful, Papa need never know…
     I rapidly shifted to the shape of a lark and took off out the window. In the tree outside our library, I joined a chorus of birds singing to the dawn. It was the most perfectly lovely way to start the day. But when I made to return, I found the window shut. Drat.
     Changing course, I flew to the kitchen door and entered fast, above the head of the milk boy. I almost escaped to my room without notice. Almost.
     When I came down the Great Stair to breakfast, I heard Papa’s voice.
     “What is this?” He paused, then sighed. “Oh, Celia.”
     He must have found the chandelier bits I left behind when I flew too high in the hall. I’d broken Rule Number Six again, but this time there was evidence. Quietly, I backed up the stairs and waited until I heard Mama’s voice bid Papa goodbye. Then I pasted a sunny, cheery smile on my face and entered the breakfast room.
     “Good morning, everyone. Where is Papa off to today?”
     “He has business in the country,” Mama said brightly.
     Double blast! That was our secret code to keep nosy servants from gossiping. What she meant was the Prime Minister had sent Papa off on another mission. He might be gone for ages.
     Papa, Sir Robert Ashleigh, was a secret Deputy of the Crown. In fact, for seven generations, all the Ashleigh families had trained their firstborns to become Crown Deputies. Using our special abilities, we worked all over the world.
     I’ll be one, too. Eventually.
     I was so tired of that horrid word.

ABOUT Donna Maloy
Donna Maloy lives on the Texas Gulf Coast. CELIA AND THE WOLF is her first book for teens. She’s also written more than twenty-five plays for elementary and middle schools. She loves ethnic foods, shopping, Jeopardy, and geeky things like Google Glass. Donna’s always interested in reading terrific books from new authors, particularly teen writers. Her website (donnamaloy.com) and her blog (tangledwords.com) contain resources for new writers, with a focus on contests, workshops, publications and advice for teens authors. You can also follow Donna on Facebook , twitter , Goodreads , and Pinterest .

Website - www.donnamaloy.com
Blog - www.tangledwords.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/donnamaloy
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/donnamaloy
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3648573-donna-maloy

#MFRWauthor BOOK SPOTLIGHT: The Scent of Humanity @Margay Leah Justice

The Scent of Humanity 
Margay Leah Justice
Romantic Suspense
Amazon Buy Link

Lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. In theory. But in one small town, in one family, that
theory is put to the test.

Growing up in a rural town in Massachusetts was supposed to be safe, but for SILVIE CHILDS, that safety was shattered by a kidnapping attempt that forever changed her life. Now, nearly twenty years later, that sense of safety is challenged again by the kidnapping attempt on her young niece, and Silvie is left struggling with one question: How can something like this happen twice in one family?

It is a dilemma shared by NICK FAHEY, the detective assigned to the case. Arriving on the scene of the abduction attempt, Nick expects to run a routine investigation. Until he meets the victim, the niece of a woman he once considered a dear friend. Unfortunately, these days Silvie Childs can barely stand the sight of him.

Once there was a time when Silvie Childs worshipped Nick Fahey, believing he could do no wrong. Until the accident that nearly killed her brother; the accident that Nick reportedly caused. Coming on the heels of her own near abduction, the accident skewed Silvie’s ability to trust men – especially Nick. But now, with the attempt on her niece’s safety, Silvie finds herself in the untenable position of having to trust Nick to bring the kidnapper to justice.

That trust is severely tested when, after only two months, the case is closed for lack of new evidence. Feeling betrayed by the system in which she works as a paralegal and by Nick, Silvie takes matters into her own hands. Contacting local news stations to generate interest in the case, allowing herself to be filmed hanging sketches of the suspect on telephone poles, she will risk her own safety to protect that of her niece. When her efforts re-open the wounds of her past, she is once again forced to put her trust in the one man who still has the power to hurt her – Nick.

BUY LINK

EXCERPT

“What’s this?” he asked, cupping her face in his hand and running the thumb along the lower edge of her too-full lips. “A little hint of maturity? Silvie Childs apologizing?”
She nipped his thumb at the jibe, not hard, just enough that he hissed out a breath in reaction. All hint of humor fled from him. He was intent, serious now, every nerve in his body on high alert. “Is that how you want to play it?” he whispered, his voice guttural. “Huh?” He moved a little closer to her, maneuvering her up against the open door. Slipped his thumb between her lips, parting them. “You think we’ve danced around this enough for one day, hmm?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Her lips brushed against his thumb as she spoke, igniting a spark within him. Interesting.
“Liar,” he said as he dipped his head close enough to replace his thumb with his lips. But he didn’t. Instead, he skimmed his lips along her cheekbone to her right ear, flicked his tongue along the rim of the opening. Into her ear, he whispered, “When you stop lying to yourself, I’ll give you what you want.”
She grabbed the hand he still cupped her face with, the gesture almost – convulsive. Hmm, what was that about? Her breath in his ear sent a shiver throughout his body. “And what,” she whispered against his cheek, “do you think I want?”
He nipped her earlobe, smiled at her shocked gasp. Soothing the nip with a flick of his tongue, he murmured, “Oh, I don’t know.” Into her ear, “Think about it.” Sliding his lips along her cheek as he withdrew, he couldn’t resist allowing the tip of his tongue to flit across her lips in parting. When she opened her mouth as if in protest, he warned, “Uh-ah, you’ve got to stop lying to yourself first.”
She slipped her fingers into his hair, grabbing hanks of it to anchor his head and prevent his retreat. He resisted the urge to smile – and to kiss her when she made the overture to him. He merely slipped his thumb back over her lips, using it as a barrier between them. When she cast him a pleading look, he asked, “Do you still hate me?”
“Yes,” she admitted when he slid his thumb away, releasing her lips from captivity. “More than ever.”
He smiled and angled his head, as if preparing to kiss her. “Why?” he asked instead.
“You know why!”
“Mm,” he murmured, accepting that as her answer. “And who do you hate more right now?” He dipped his head a little closer. “Me, because I won’t do what you want – or you, because you want it?”
“Me, all me,” she whispered as she swooped in close and took what she wanted from him. What he allowed her to take from him. Voraciously.
Good Lord, he thought moments before she pulled away, shock at her own actions clearly written on her face. Where had she learned to kiss like that?
“Ah, Silvie,” he said, dragging his thumb over her full lower lip before he favored her with a lingering, open-mouthed kiss, “I don’t think you hate me as much as you think you do.” He pulled back before she could respond – to his words or his kiss – and jogged down the three short steps from her front porch to the walkway. “Goodnight, Silvie,” he called over a shoulder. “Lock the door behind me.”

ABOUT Margay Leah Justice
An avid reader and mad knitter, author of the books Nora's Soul, Sloane Wolf and The Scent of Humanity.

http://margayleahjustice.blogspot.com/  |  http://moonlightlacemayhem.blogspot.com/
http://pinterest.com/margay1122/  |  http://www.facebook.com/MargayLeahJustice

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Intimate Details @TinaDonahue #MFRWauthor

Intimate Details

Tina Donahue
Erotic Contemporary Romance
Siren-Bookstrand

As a computer hacker, she demands justice.
As a woman, she craves two powerful and commanding men.

Shana’s been hacking one of Manhattan’s most corrupt executives, making him pay for what he’s done to his victims. Using her skills, she convinces Mike and Cody to hire her at their intelligence-gathering firm, where intimate details help their clients.

Never has Mike met a woman as delicious as Shana. Smart as hell, curvy and assured, she’d be a delightful challenge in bed. Cody’s carnal hunger is equally intense. He and Mike want to know everything about her.

She won’t divulge the secrets of her past. All she can offer is unquenchable desire and her heart.

During weeks of shameless lust and pleasure, Mike and Cody peel away the layers of Shana’s life. The stunning truth changes everything. They’ll do all that they can to keep her safe…and in their arms.

BOOKSTRAND Buy Link  |  AMAZON Buy Link

REVIEWS
"This story is wonderfully written. The sexual chemistry is hot and explicit with a lot of tenderness but the reader can't help but get caught up in Shana's quest to seek justice for the weaker, poorer and helpless folks that cross her path! - 5 STARS - Barb/Amazon

This book has a amazing story line! It is a you must read book!! Tina Donahue is such an amazing writer and her books are incredible. - 5 STARS - Rose13/Amazon

EXCERPT

Shana sucked her bottom lip.
Leaning closer to her, Mike murmured, “Is that a yes?”
Against her better judgment, Shana nodded faintly. She’d send them in the opposite direction of her place then hop on the subway and go home.
Her stomach growled again.
Straightening, Mike brought something up on his phone and handed the device to her. “That menu’s from an all-night deli not too far from here. Decide what you want and I’ll call the order in.”
Shana resisted the urge to sniff his phone to see if it smelled like him. On unsteady legs, she followed him and Cody out of the suite to the bank of gold elevators. Mottled black marble graced the floors and walls of the expansive hall. Art Deco chandeliers rained gentle light on them and the numerous plants. Cody stood to her left, Mike to her right.
She pretended to read the menu. The words swam in front of her. Mike and Cody’s proximity, size and heavenly scents overwhelmed.
The elevator dinged. Her heart jumped. She entered the roomy space, its walls and ceilings lined with gold-flecked mirrors.
Cody and Mike studied her reflection in the glass.
She did the same with them.
After pressing the button for the lobby, Mike inclined his head to the phone. “Anything look good?”
Shana had forgotten about the menu. The elevator’s display showed the floors ticking down. Each whooshing sound marked him and Cody getting closer to taking her where they thought she lived. Them trying to find out more about her that they shouldn’t. Perspiration ran down the back of Shana’s neck and between her breasts. She looked from Mike to Cody then back.
Mike smiled. “What?”
She moved into him without meaning to, her arms wreathed around his neck, her free hand pushing his head toward her. He smelled of coffee and need. Their lips touched. His silky and warm, his cheeks deliciously rough.
A surge of something Shana had never experienced rolled through her. Moaning at the intense pleasure, she brushed her mouth over his and slipped her tongue inside. Wet heat greeted her, tasting clean and fresh. Her knees sagged, bumping his.
Mike wrapped his arm around her waist and hauled her close, his rigid cock snuggled against her cunt. He buried his fingers in her hair, holding her still so she couldn’t get away.
Shana had no thought of escape. She melted into him.
They kissed noisily, their movements too eager. Elbows and shoulders bumped the walls in their attempt to get closer, to touch as much of each other as they could, her hands roaming his ass, his fondling and squeezing her breasts. When they were both out of breath, Shana pulled her mouth free, stumbled away from him and moved into Cody’s arms.
He backed her against the wall, his body trapping hers as Mike’s had. Cody kissed Shana’s temple and cheek, then the side of her mouth before he got down to business.
She inhaled sharply at his tongue filling her, his hand on her breast, her tightened nipple pressed against his palm. He squeezed gently before getting a little rough, then paused as if to gauge her reaction.
With her hand on his tight ass, Shana pressed him closer, wanting more.
He fondled her for all he was worth and deepened their kiss, his stubble rasping her skin as Mike’s had. The slight irritation fueled Shana’s passion. They kissed until the elevator came to a gentle stop then dinged.

ABOUT Tina Donahue
Tina Donahue is an award-winning, bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, Siren Publishing, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic romances were named finalists in the EPIC competition, one of her titles was named Book of the Year, two received Awards of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition, and two more titles won second place in the NEC RWA contest. Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.

FB Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/TinaDonahueBooks
Website: http://www.tinadonahue.com/
Blog: http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tina.donahue.75
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/146988.Tina_Donahue
Triberr: http://triberr.com/tinadonahue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authortina/my-books/

What's #MFRWauthor @LaurenLinwood 's Guilty Pleasure?

Meet MFRW Author Lauren Linwood.
Lauren Linwood became a teacher who wrote on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones. Her romances use history as a backdrop to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire and yearning for one another grow into the deep, tender, treasured gift of love.

Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family. An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for Pinterest and House Hunters addicts.

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE would best describe my life. I'm at an age where I'm comfortable with myself and like who I am and where I am on this journey in life.

My guilty pleasure is dark chocolate. My trick to not gobbling it down is to put the individually wrapped Dove chocolates in my freezer. I'll take one out to nibble on, and then I get the taste I crave by the time it's finished--and can stop at the one piece.

The funniest thing that ever happened was when I came in from a bonfire in college, flipped on my radio, and heard, ""Be the 10th caller for concert tickets."" I never ever won anything, so I dialed--and I got through! I was the winner! The only trouble was I hadn't heard the firsts part of the DJ's pitch. Since Halloween was the next day, I had to howl at the money. I tried talking myself out of it, but he wasn't having any of that, so I sucked it up and bellowed out a howl. For the next week as I crossed campus, I was stopped a zillion times by people who'd heard me on the radio. A little embarrassing, but pretty darn funny!

The scariest thing was losing my 2-year-old daughter at a water park. We were in the children's play area, going in and out of water tunnels, popping out and saying ""Boo!"" to each other. She went around a corner and then didn't jump back out at me. I frantically raced through the tunnels, came to the outside, and saw dozens of children--but not mine. She turned up a few minutes later, but I was scared to death that she'd been taken or she'd drown.

I would love to go on THE AMAZING RACE so I could travel to all the incredible, exotic places . . . for free!

Though I think zebras are adorable, there's just something steadfast and yet mystical about an elephant. They're playful but seem to be an old soul at the same time.

I wish an interviewer would ask how long I plan to keep writing. BTW - forever!

Lauren's latest book is A Bit of Heaven on Earth, a Mainstream Medieval Historical Romance, with Soul Mate Publishing.
When Gavin of Ashgrove is captured in battle, his father refuses to pay his son’s ransom, leaving him to rot in a French prison. Gavin escapes and returns to England, only to find he is proclaimed a bastard and disinherited. With nowhere to turn, he journeys to the estate of Lord Aldred, the famed warrior he fostered with as a boy. Gavin falls in love with Elizabeth, the old warrior’s much younger wife, as a dying Aldred plots Elizabeth’s future with King Edward. Gavin loses his good name, lands, possessions--and his heart--to  famed beauty Elizabeth of Kentwood. Will the king allow a penniless knight to marry a wealthy widow?

BUY LINK

EXCERPT

       Elizabeth watched as Gavin built a fire. She moved close to it, resting her hands against the stone as she leaned into the heat.
“You shake still.” He moved behind her and placed his hands upon her shoulders. His fingers held such heat. Indeed, his very closeness seemed a stronger fire than that in the grate before her. She leaned into him, absorbing the warmth that he possessed, even in his wet tunic.
Then his arms slid round her waist, drawing her closer. Her breath caught in her throat at his very nearness. His fingers locked, trapping her in the circle of his arms.
“Gavin?” she asked, afraid to move, afraid to break the magic spell. She’d longed to be right where she now stood. Her pounding heart betrayed her fear at their situation.
His response was wordless. He bent and kissed her ear, his breath sending shivers down her spine. His lips moved to her neck, scorching a path there, before they touched her cheek.
One arm held her tightly against him as his other palm moved to caress her breast. Elizabeth moaned. Her knees turned liquid. If Gavin had not held her, she would have puddled on the floor.
Suddenly, he spun her in his arms. She clung to him wildly. His hands splayed along her back. His mouth was everywhere, in her hair, on her eyelids, her cheeks, the tip of her nose, her mouth.
His kisses overwhelmed her. She couldn’t breathe. And yet they continued, his mouth insistent on hers. Her lips parted, allowing his tongue entrance, and she welcomed it. He stroked her with it, a constant, dizzying motion that kept her head spinning. Her senses filled with him, his scent, his touch, his taste. Tears began to flow.
Gavin lifted his mouth. “Elizabeth?” he asked. “Have I hurt you?” He held her at arm’s length and studied her.
The concern in his eyes touched her very core. “No,” she whispered. “’Twas just so beautiful . . . I . . . had to cry.”
He smiled, a heartbreaking smile, and caught her up in his arms again. “No, my love, you are the beautiful one.” He kissed her gently, tenderly. The passion was still there, but it was more controlled now.
Gavin swept her up into his arms. Hers went round his neck and she kissed him for the first time, making her own bold move. His growl let her know he approved. He broke the kiss and looked around the room.
“I see no bed, my lady. The straw on the floor ‘twill have to suffice. But,” he said, his eyes glowing at her, “I guarantee you won’t notice the difference.”
He carried her to the corner of the room. As he placed her on the straw, she raised a hand to his chest. His heart beat as fast as hers did. Oh, God in Heaven, she wanted this man!
A voice from outside invaded her thoughts.
“Elizabeth? Gavin? Are you there?”

CONNECT with Lauren
Website: http://www.laurenlinwood.com
Blog: http://laurenlinwood.wordpress.com/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091840.Lauren_Linwood?from_search=true
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaurenLinwood

Meet #MFRWauthor @AlisonMcMahan & The Saffron Crocus

Meet Alison McMahan.
Alison chased footage for her documentaries through jungles in Honduras and Cambodia, favelas in Brazil and racetracks in the U.S. She brings the same sense of adventure to her award-winning books of mystery and romantic adventure for teens and adults.

"My life experience is an indirect influence on my writing. I don't put people I know in my books. Instead I write about things that matter to me, and I let the characters tell me who they are. In this story, I originally didn't think the two main characters would fall in love. Instead, Isabella was going to love the wealthy merchant Domenico, who loves her the way he loves a good ship full of pricey merchandise. But Isabella and Rafaele had their own ideas, and fell in love. Who am I to argue with teenage hormones?

"Once I start writing a book I write from 5 am to 9 am. Then my husband gets up and we have breakfast and exercise and I go back to writing the rest of the day. Except lately I spend my afternoons marketing more than I do writing. I cannot write if my environment is noisy or if anyone interrupts me, which is why I write early in the morning. No one else is awake then. I do a lot of research for each book, but I try to save that for the afternoon. The morning is sacred writing time."

Alison McMahan's latest release is The Saffron Crocus, a Young Adult Historical Mystery, with Black Opal Books.

BUY LINK

Venice, 1643. Isabella, fifteen, longs to sing in Monteverdi’s Choir, but only boys (and castrati) can
do that. Her singing teacher, Margherita, introduces her to a new wonder: opera! Then Isabella finds Margherita murdered. Now people keep trying to kill Margherita’s handsome rogue of a son, Rafaele.

Was Margherita killed so someone could steal her saffron business? Or was it a disgruntled lover, as Margherita—unbeknownst to Isabella—was one of Venice’s wealthiest courtesans?
Or will Isabella and Rafaele find the answer deep in Margherita's past, buried in the Jewish Ghetto?

Isabella has to solve the mystery of the Saffron Crocus before Rafaele hangs for a murder he didn’t commit, though she fears the truth will drive her and the man she loves irrevocably apart.

Murder, Mystery & Mayhem in 17th Century Venice...  Amazon BUY LINK

REVIEW
I adored this beautifully written, passionate book. The Saffron Crocus is a glittering, thrilling opera of a novel that plucked my heartstrings and kept me reading at fever pitch. Brava, Alison McMahan! Encore! 
~ Nancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling Author of the Wicked Saga

WINNER: 2014 Rosemary Award for Best Historical for Young Adults

EXCERPT

Who knew a singing career would be this much trou-ble?
“Rafaele!” She flew into the garret. “Piero, it was so wonderful, wait until I tell you!”
The stool next to the bed was knocked over. The tray with the genepy bottle was on the floor, one of the cups broken. The fat candle that had been burning next to Ra-faele’s bed had been flung to the other side of the room. Canvases were strewn all over the floor, some of them slashed, and many of Master Strozzi’s jars of paint ele-ments were broken.
Did Piero and Rafaele have a fight? She quickly suppressed the thought. Who would get into a fight with a man who was already injured?
Something else must have happened.
She walked across the garret. “Piero? Rafaele, are you here?”
Rafaele was not in the bed. The sheets and blankets she had piled on top of him were strewn everywhere. Blood-stained sheets spilled over the edge of the pallet. There was a pile of clothes on the floor.
She walked around to get a closer look.
Not clothes. It was Piero. Face down, one arm stretched out before him, as if in supplication.
A puddle of blood under him.
Dead.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: For All of Ever @Sherry_Ewing #MFRWauthor

MFRW Sherry Ewing released For All of Ever, a Mainstream Historical & Time Travel

Romance, with Kingsburg Press.

Katherine Wakefield has dreamed and written of her knight in shining armor all her life until she and her three closest friends take a vacation to England. Yet, how could they have known they’d find themselves thrown back more than eight hundred years into the past?

Riorden de Deveraux travels to Bamburgh answering the summons of King Henry. But nothing prepares him for the beautiful vision of a strangely clad ghost who first appears in his chamber.

Centuries are keeping them apart until Time gives them a chance at finding love. Will the past of one consume what their future may hold, or will Time take the decision from them and hurdle Katherine forward to where she truly belongs?

Sometimes to find your future, you must look to the past…

AMAZON Buy Link

EXCERPT

Reaching the center of the room, she felt compelled to turn to her left. A painting of considerable size rested against a large easel, and Katherine had the notion that the gentleman who had left the chamber was in the process of restoring the artwork. Her feet moved without her even realizing she was walking as she made her way to see what was inside the golden frame. Once she stood before the canvas, she couldn't believe her eyes. Her breath left her. Her heart surely stopped beating. Her knees buckled beneath her, and she fell upon them onto the cold stone floor. Tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks in recognition of who was in the portrait.
It was him...standing there with Warkworth Castle in the backdrop. It was the same castle that had reduced her to tears only days ago. The artist, whoever he had been, had captured him to perfection, especially his incredible eyes. Katherine felt that she could drown in those eyes if she were allowed to gaze at him in the flesh. He was dressed as he had been in her dream, with the lion head on his surcoat. He held a sword in front of him, its tip gracing the earth. His hands rested one atop the other on the golden hilt, adorned by a large, sapphire stone that was obviously of some worth. His hair blew gently in the breeze, and one could tell by looking at his expression in this portrait that he had been none too pleased to have had to stand still for its painting. He portrayed enough pure, raw energy to knock her off her feet, and in essence he already had, given that she was kneeling on the floor.
As she continued staring at his portrait, she wondered what in the world he had been staring at, for the look on his face practically scorched her with passion. What had held his interest? Suddenly, the room became exceedingly hot. It seemed as if her knight was actually pulling her through time to be with him.
Katherine...come back to me, my love.
Her eyes widened to once again hear those haunting words inside her head. It was as if he was calling out to her and asking her to do the impossible. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. Her body began to shake all over. She sensed she was actually standing there next to him, even to the point of feeling the soft breeze ruffling her hair. She felt heat radiating from his body as desire coursed through her, knowing he was within reach. Merciful heavens, he was close enough to touch.
She watched in vivid fascination when his grin began to widen, and he held out his hand for her to take. Her own fingers began to tingle in anticipation of that very first touch. A gasp escaped her, and she knew a part of her dream was about to become a reality. She blinked, just to clear her vision from the tears threatening to fall down her checks. But that was a mistake, for she ruined everything by doing so.
Suddenly, she became disoriented, when she was unwillingly ripped back to the present as if she was being tossed about in the turbulent whitecaps of the sea. Wavering on her knees, air rushed back into her lungs while a feeling of desolation at what she had lost consumed her.

ABOUT Sherry Ewing
Sherry Ewing is a self-published author who writes historical and time travel romances to awaken the soul one heart at a time. Her debut historical romance, If My Heart Could See You, hit Amazon’s top ten bestseller list only two days after the paperback release. Always wanting to write a novel but busy raising her children, she finally took the plunge in 2008 and wrote her first Regency. She is a national and local member of Romance Writers of America since 2012 and is currently editing her fourth novel. When Sherry is not busy writing, she can be found in the San Francisco area at her day job as an Information Technology Specialist.

Website & Blog: http://www.sherryewing.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Ewing/e/B00LP3CVXK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherryewingauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8382315.Sherry_Ewing
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/SherryLEwing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherry_ewing

#MFRWauthor BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Help Wanted by Charmaine Gordon @CharJGordon

Help Wanted, The River's Edge Series

Charmaine Gordon
Mainstream Contemporary Romance
Vanilla Heart Publishing

Steve and Sally Atwood have some big adjustments to make when they move to River’s Edge. Steve has lost his career in the corporate world and finds work painting houses. Sally flings off her apron and pursues her lifelong dream to be a reporter in the small town with a big heart, where the motto is ‘Kindness to Strangers’.

Afraid he is losing Sally to a more exciting world, Steve panics, but despite Sally’s lecherous new boss, together they rediscover all the love of their thirty-five years together and the excitement that brings.

BUY LINKS
Amazon  |  Smashwords  |  Barnes & Noble

REVIEWS
"Readers can take a walk on the wild side (not Lou Reedish) in one setting with this quick easy read. Perhaps some readers, such as this reviewer, will consider it a bit “wild” for a couple who have been married for thirty-five years to flirt with infidelity. They will both be tempted. What made me feel this was a bit unusual was that the couple we meet in ""Help Wanted"", is introduced as happy empty-nesters. Couples can appear to be happy to the outside world, but are they really? The plot resonated with me because I shocked friends and family by ending a marriage after twenty-six years and three different marriage counselors. (It had been dead for years, but that’s another story.)

""Help Wanted"" is the second in a trilogy of stories billed as “A River’s Edge Romantic Suspense.” Charmaine Gordon writes books about women, baby boomers, who survive and thrive. Her motto is, “Take one step and then another to leave your past behind and begin again.” Gordon has been busy turning out six books and several short stories in three years. She’s always at work on the next story. Charmaine Gordon may be the hardest working author I know, certainly for a woman whose children are baby boomers.

Meet Steve and Sally Atwood.

He was recently given a golden handshake without the parachute.

Now the white shirt and tie guy is a handyman around town.

She’s looking for work.

She hopes to find an outlet for her creativity and journalistic talents.

Both are surprised when they discover what each really seeks and how their personal needs at this point in their lives converge and diverge.

Therein lies the suspense.

Can they manage what they find out about themselves and each other?

Life throws us curves and fastballs every day. How big is the strike zone and can the Atwoods manage the change-up pitch?

Adult readers of all ages can identify with the Atwoods and will be challenged to question themselves and the decisions they make. Cultural references will certainly appeal to boomers and the author has thoughtfully included explanations for the younger reader to connect.

Readers will also enjoy a vicarious performance for military veterans by canine performers representing Paws for a Cause.

Most baby boomers I know would still be teenagers were it not for mirrors and cameras.

The Atwoods are no different.

Will they have a happy ending?

EXCERPT

“Just do it. Suck it up and go,” Sally said to her image in the mirror. Words guaranteed to encourage herself. Dressed down in a white shirt tucked into dark blue tailored pants, at the last minute Sally tied a colorful silk scarf around her neck.  She slung the worn leather bag over her shoulder packed with a new camcorder Steve gave her to celebrate the transition from homemaker to reporter. Head held high, Sally drove downtown to the Pet Emporium
The bell chimed a cheerful greeting when Sally entered into a chorus of barking dogs and handlers at work. A tall muscular man walked over.
“Hi I’m Scott Dwyer. Welcome to the Pet Emporium.
“I’m Sally Atwood. I’m a reporter. The cable station’s chief Jerald Adams challenged me to get an interview with a prominent woman he calls the dog communicator.” Sally breathed in and out and went on. “He called it an in-depth interview and if I’m able to speak with the famed Grace Trumbull, I’ve got the job.”
Scott Dwyer laughed, covered his mouth and laughed harder while he steered Sally to a small alcove and closed the door. The noise subsided after the door closed. She smelled brownies, hot from the oven and the gurgle of tea from a pitcher pouring over ice. Her host set the beverages and a plate on a round wood table.
“Jerry’s bark is worse than his bite. He’s tough and has to be in the business, Sally. Welcome to River’s Edge, by the way.  Claudia Wilcox is a good friend. She said we’d meet you before long. So you’re ready to get a job. Have you worked before?” He poured tea and tapped the brownie plate. “I make these every day. After smelling dogs and cats in soapy water, it’s nice to have a home baked aroma in here.”
She liked the casual way this man spoke with assurance and kindness, not just being nosy. “After raising three kids and being a stay-at-home mom for many years, it’s time. I took some classes in communication, journalism and reporting. I do have a few credentials from work in Rockland County if you’d like to check them out.”
“Please.”
She handed him the dog eared folder, made a mental note to use a new one next time, if there was a next time, and took a bite out of the brownie. Oh my God. The taste of chocolate so sweet, fat free, of course. She grinned. Yeah right. Calm down. She restrained herself from the desire to inhale the entire piece even though it beckoned..
His blue eyes scanned current columns Sally wrote. “Good. I like your style. Warm and friendly, not pretentious. Wait a sec.”
He left the room and in that brief moment, she checked her lipstick, brushed away telltale crumbs. True to his word, Scott returned in a flash just as Sally blotted fresh lipstick.
“You look just right, Sally. You’re in luck. Grace is in a good mood. She says any friend of Claudia’s is a friend of ours and right now she’s in conference with a sad saluki.”
“Saluki?”
“Yeah, they need gentle training, saluki companions and lots of exercise otherwise the owner should buy a different breed. So take care when you and Steve decide to get a dog or two. “
“You’re getting ahead of us, Scott. First I need a job. Maybe then we’ll talk about a pooch.”
“About the interview, don’t get too close. You have a camcorder?” She nodded and felt so professional. “Good. When I point to you, begin. The idea is to catch the intimate scene. Let’s go.”
Heart hammering with excitement, Sally walked behind Scott to the designated spot and watched, hand held the camera trained on a magnificent medium size dog. He pressed his nose against the cheek of a lean youthful woman, hair swept in a knot at the back of her neck, and the dog let out a low mournful sound. She stroked his head all the way down his back several times murmuring in his ear. They repeated the process over and over. Rubbing his nose against her fingers, a few laps like kisses with his tongue, the silent conversation continued. Grace nodded, listening and gave her full attention to the sleek graceful unhappy dog. When he lifted a paw to her face to pat as if saying thanks, Grace embraced the silky haired canine in need of comfort.
Sally, the observer, felt her own tears fall with the beauty of the moment. A quick blot with her new white shirt sleeve and the atmosphere changed. Abruptly Scott made the cut motion with his finger across his throat. Sally turned off the equipment and hurried to the alcove to wait. The owner of the sad saluki had arrived to discover the results. This had nothing to do with Sally’s business here.
A breathless Grace entered the small room about ten minutes later. “There you are. Thanks for waiting. I refused to let Sammy go home with her until she buys another companion saluki to keep him company. He’s sad and lonely just like a human. Salukis need companionship and lots of exercise. I warned her in the beginning, gave her the name of the best breeder nearby. I make no profit from the sale. This is for the good of the animal.” She sighed. “I hope she takes my advice or she’ll have to sue me for custody.” Grace poured tea, munched on a brownie and smiled. “Now where do we start?”
Sally had to laugh. This dynamo of a woman defied Sally’s expectation. Where to begin? At the beginning, of course, the way reporters do.
Camcorder on, she began. “You found River’s Edge how, if it’s not too personal.”
Grace’s big brown eyes focused on a middle distance and dimpled at the memory. “The kindness of strangers led me here and here I’ve stayed to open the Pet Emporium with Jim Trumbull. Fate guided me and I’m so grateful.” Her working hands gestured to the building.
“And your gift. People call you the ‘dog whisperer or communicator.’ I watched you with the sad saluki and I could swear you understood each other.”
Frowning, a few beats passed before Grace answered. Her face was a study of deep thought and Sally let the camcorder capture her mood.
“I call it a communication just as you and I are doing now. It’s not a mystical talent as far as I’m concerned. I listen and get a sense of what’s going on. We’ve never met before but I feel your anxiety. You need a job to establish yourself. Jerry Abrams waved a carrot in front of your nose by saying get an in-depth interview with the reclusive Grace Trumbull. Delete this part, please.  I’m going to knock his socks off with this interview and you’ll get the job. After that, Ms. Atwood, you’re on your own and personally, I know you’ll be great.”
Fortune smiled when Sally checked the equipment to find she had batteries for at least another hour as she learned about Grace and the way she conducted business from day one. At the end of their time together they shook hands. Grace went back to work; Sally headed home happy to know she’d found another friend in River’s Edge.

ABOUT Charmaine Gordon
I kissed my acting career goodbye, leaving on a high note with the lead in an Off Broadway play, “The Fourth Commandment” by author Rich Knipe.  “It was great fun and time to move on since my voice was gone, kaput, bye, bye,” Before that, I had a full schedule working on movies like “Working Girl”, “Road to Wellsville” and having the pleasure of Anthony Hopkins’ company at lunch.  I worked with Mike Nichols in “Regarding Henry” and sang outside with Harrison Ford during “Working Girl”, cried with Gene Wilder over loss on another set, and sang ‘It Had to be You’ with the whole cast of  “When Harry Met Sally”.  There were lots of fond memories; “Especially my first job as a stand-in leg model for Geraldine Ferraro in a Diet Pepsi commercial with Secret Service men guarding Ms. Ferraro and her daughters.  Eleven years on One Life to Live, a few years on All My Children, Another World kept my calendar full.”

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#Thursday13 LUSTY LINES @RobinGlasser1 #MFRWauthor

MFRW Author Robin Glasser shares 13 LUSTY LINES from her latest book.
Recovering copywriter, Robin Glasser has written for a variety of magazines ranging from Readers' Digest to Penthouse Letters, where she wrote a column called "The Red Hot Woman." Her poetry has been published in Upstairs at Duroc and The Riverside Poetry Review. Ms. Glasser's novel, MY LIFE AS A CONCUBINE, is based on her experiences in Paris or as she likes to call it, The City of Merde, and has been re-released from Smashwords and is available in paperback and as an ebook. Robin guarantees MEN AT WORK, her fully-illustrated book of poetry, will put twinkles in your eyes and sparkles in your pants. Don't forget to watch her fast-paced peepshows based on these tongue & cheeky poems at http://www.youtube.com/msrobinglasser. You can get a copy from robinglasser@yahoo.com. Her latest novel, THE BRAIN EXCHANGE, is available at Smashwords, Amazon, and virtual bookstores near you. She now reads at various venues in New York. 

13 lusty lines from THE BRAIN EXCHANGE.

1. Steel has never experienced such an intense, full-body orgasm. 
2. Come to think of it, the redhead could sling mud at him and he'd get hard.
3. The ultimate aphrodisiac for Jon comes the moment he feels her melt into him, tremors of excitement pulsating against his flesh. 
4. As if she weighs no more than a whisper, Jon scoops his woman up.
5. The oh-so-fuckable females want to leave Eden and return to the Sodom and Gomorrah lifestyle of Club SXXX. 
6. Amana has become an addict. Her narcotic of choice is sex.
7. Reecher's erection feels like hand-forged Katana steel, ready to slice through his pants
8. Like Johnny Appleseed, Jon's been spreading his across the many moons of Jupiter. 
9. I want to be royally fucked but first, a little electronic foreplay.
10. She adores her hard-muscled body. Just looking at it, touching it, makes her sizzle.
11. The aquatic adventuress performs a breath-defying dance of sex upon the genitalia beneath the sea.
12. Jayla is doing a brisk business in blowjobs.
13. If it wasn't for the muscular arms circling her, she'd drop to the floor~a quivering pyre of passion.

The Brain Exchange

Erotic SciFi Suspense

BUY LINK

Abandon your beliefs and let your reality run wild. Imagine being fully aware inside a body of the opposite gender. Now imagine the best sex you ever had. Would this just be different? Or better? Or the best ever?

************************************************

Amana—a supersized woman, and Steel—a fitness freak. Two dissatisfied people with very different appetites. Fate’s middle finger triggers a tailspin when they sign up for vacations at The Brain Exchange. Their odyssey will change them dramatically...but for better or worse?

"If you could walk in someone else's shoes, would they fit?

REVIEWS
Hugely Original Sexy Sci-fi *August 27, 2014*
By R.D. Hale ""Author, SkyCity:The Rise of an Orphan"" (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Brain Exchange (Kindle Edition)
Hugely original sexy sci-fi. The premise is ingenius and this book does not disappoint!

A hot and heady must-read! *March 30, 2013*
By Joel Briel
This review is from: The Brain Exchange (Kindle Edition)
I think The Brain Exchange is a great idea. I mean, aren't we all curious as to how the other half lives? When I got this book, the only thing I knew for sure was there would be a lot of sex. But in between all the various positions, partners & places, including outer space, the story is so satisfying as well. The author takes you on a wild rollercoaster ride after the two main characters, Amana & Steel, exchange brains. The back-and-forth action between them was on the fast track, and the many plot twists were hair-raising. I really liked the scenes at Club SXXX, would love to go there one day--today even?! Shouldn't give too much away, but this book seemed like a movie to me & if one ever gets made, let's hope it will be as good as the book.

CONNECT with Robin
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/252000  |  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BOHKG8E
http://www.myspace.com/robinglasser  |  https://www.twitter.com/RobinGlasser1
http://www.authorsden.com/robinglasser  |  http://www.youtube.com/msrobinglasser

Meet #MFRWauthor @JessicaCale!

Meet MFRW Author Jessica Cale.
Jessica Cale is a historical romance author and journalist based in North Carolina. Originally from Minnesota, she lived in Wales for several years where she earned a BA in History and an MFA in Creative Writing while climbing castles and photographing mines for history magazines. She kidnapped (“married”) her very own British prince (close enough) and is enjoying her happily ever after with him in a place where no one understands his accent. You can visit her at www.authorjessicacale.com.

1. Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I have wanted to write romance novels from a very early age. I loved reading them for the history, characters, adventures, and the love story, of course. I love to really get sucked into a book, and a great one can make your day (or week) at the same time as it keeps you up too late reading. A good book can improve even the worst day -- I wanted to do that for someone else; to give them an escapist, satisfying adventure that would hopefully make their day a little bit better.

2. How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
A lot! I try to write stories that I would be interested in reading, so I touch on a lot of my favorite subjects and places from history. With historical fiction, I think it's important to make it feel accessible, so readers can relate to it even if the setting and details are totally unfamiliar. I try to draw on some of my own experiences to do this; for example, a few scenes in Tyburn take place in a fictional pub called the Rose and Crown. During University, I worked in several pubs including a seventeenth-century coach house, and drew on this experience for the atmosphere. Sure, they didn't serve pints of Fosters back in 1671, but the bar scenes have a fairly timeless feel and that's why.

3. What kind of research do you do for a book?
I have a huge collection of history books. I read, keep notes, fact-check details, and then I look up the minor (but important!) details. For example, the time the sun rises and sets on that date in that location: Britain is on a totally different latitude and the sun can rise as early as 4am in the summer, and stay up until 10pm. This is very different from North America! I also check how long it takes to walk from Point A to Point B, I made a chart of currency and prices for common things in 1671, and I'm very careful with names: almost all of the names I use (first and last) were in the top 50 for England during the seventeenth century. Last but not least, I ask my husband to read it. He has a doctorate in Early Modern History, so I want his seal of approval before I show it to anyone else!

4. Where did the idea come from?
I have always been fascinated with sex in history, and the way prostitutes have been treated and viewed (hated/revered) over time. There were thousands of prostitutes in London during this period (and any other), and Sally could have been any one of them. That's where she came from. The story itself came from a dream I had about a black horse on its way to a hanging. It was one of the most vivid and terrifying dreams I've ever had, and not much happened, it was just this intense feeling of tragedy. I had to do something with it.

5. Do you feel humor is important in fiction and why?
Extremely - and in mine, especially! Tyburn is very dark. The characters struggle through adversity, poverty, and tragedy, but I tried to temper this with quite a lot of humor. I think this adds to the authenticity in any piece of writing, as well. Even when things are very bleak, you find these bright moments here and there.

6. What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
My family is wonderful. It can be difficult to find time to write, but my husband is very supportive and gives me the space (and quiet!) that I need. My cat does like to try to sit on the keyboard, though!

7. What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I bake macarons once a week. They're very difficult to make and the whole process can take a few hours, but I put on my music and dance around the kitchen, and it always cheers me up -- especially when they turn out!

8. Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
I love Julie Anne Long, Maggie Robinson, Jude Deveraux, Judith Merkle Riley, and too many others to mention!

9. Tell us about your latest book.
Tyburn is the story of Sally Green, a young French woman who arrives in London in 1668. Like many girls at the time, she was taken in by a brothel, where she was forced into prostitution. When the book starts in 1671, she is in a very bad place. Her friends are dead, she can't see a way out of her predicament, and she is convinced that Death is a person who is following her. On the other side of London, Nick Virtue is an underpaid tutor who moonlights as a highwayman to keep himself from starving to death. When they meet, it starts a series of life-changing events, and both hold keys to secrets in the other's life. Tyburn is a story of redemption, revenge, and love in spite of very unfortunate circumstances.

Tyburn (The Southwark Saga, Book 1)

Historical Romantic Suspense
Liquid Silver Books

Sally Green is about to die.

She sees Death in the streets. She can taste it in her gin. She can feel it in the very walls of the ramshackle brothel where she is kept to satisfy the perversions of the wealthy. She had come to London in search of her Cavalier father. Instead, she found Wrath, a sadistic nobleman determined to use her to fulfill a sinister ambition. As her friends are murdered one by one, survival hinges on escape.

Nick Virtue is a tutor with a secret. By night he operates as a highwayman, and any day that doesn’t end in a noose is a good one. Saving Sally means risking his reputation, and may end up costing him his life.

When a brutal attack throws them together, Sally must choose between the tutor and the highwayman; between new love and an old need for revenge.

Amazon BUY LINK

EXCERPT

Darkness had fully settled over the forest and he was in no danger of being seen as they headed for the city. There were no new street lamps so far out of town, and as often as she glanced at his face, all she could see was the outline of his profile by the light of the moon. He moved soundlessly through the night as criminals must, the warmth of his hand in hers the only reassurance she had that he was still beside her.
They reached the edge of Hyde Park and Sally felt Tyburn looming near before she saw it, the residual tragedy of the gallows rippling along the field in a mournful, near perceptible howl. Because she could not look away, she turned toward the evil and saw the fearful silhouette of the triple tree dark against the violet sky.
This is your future, they seemed to whisper.
In her heart, she answered, I know.
She heard the brutal crack of Claude’s strong, young neck reverberate through the darkest corners of her memory, felt his cold lips against hers once more in a terrible promise, and in her bones she felt the stillness of one who is certain they are about to die. She was immediately aware of the unique texture of every breath she drew, the sweet sigh of the breeze whispering through her hair, and the dirt, the calluses, the very fingerprints of the hand in hers.
So little of Sally’s life had been left up to her.
She might have days, hours, mere moments left, but she would be damned if she wasted them.

Connect with Jessica
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicacale
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaCale
Google+:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JessicaCaleWrites
Tumblr: http://authorjessicacale.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/rainbowcarnage
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jessica-Cale/e/B00PVDV9EW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9819997.Jessica_Cale

#MFRWauthor Book Spotlight: DARK MUSE @LisaCBooks

Dark Muse
by Lisa Carlisle
Erotic Paranormal Romance

It takes time before Gina Meiro warms up to people and her shyness is often misunderstood. She hasn’t had to worry about meeting new people at a remote art colony until a new resident arrives—a rock guitarist more suited for a billboard. Her carefree days of painting at the medieval-styled castle on a remote New England island are shattered when she stumbles right into his welcome gathering.

After a falling out with his band, Dante Riani wants nothing more at Les Beaux Arts on DeRoche Island than solitude to work on new songs. When a shy young painter asks to paint him at sunset, he’s tempted by the opportunity to be alone with her.

Someone at the colony claims to know what Dante is and asks for his help. Dante fears his plans are coming undone, especially as grows more drawn to Gina. Her scent and vulnerability are too difficult to resist. But he must stay away from her—she would never understand his secret.

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ABOUT Lisa Carlisle
Lisa loves stories with dark, brooding heroes and independent, caring heroines. She feels very honored to be a multi-published author since she's wanted to write since the sixth grade. Her travels have provided her with inspiration for various settings in her novels, including a deployment to Okinawa, Japan, while she served in the military. She backpacked alone through Europe, and lived in Paris before returning to the U.S. She now lives in New England with her husband, two children, a cat, and many fish.

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#MFRWauthor BOOK SPOTLIGHT: Perilous Play @SuzDeMello

Perilous Play

Suz deMello

Erotica/ Anthology

BUY LINK

One woman’s journey into the contemporary kink underworld, Perilous Play is Suz deMello’s

explosive personal account of her experiences with BDSM. Engaging and honest, this groundbreaking memoir will grab you and never let you go.

It’s part of the eighth What to Read After Fifty Shades of Grey boxed set... The Real Fifty Shades.

Five Stars...I have been active in ""the lifestyle"" for almost ten years and Perilous Play is a must read, especially for anyone exploring the darker shades. The author's experiences, both the good and the not-so-good, are carefully detailed and related with delicious details throughout. If you have read FSoG, Perilous Play is your 51st shade. --Elena J. Kelly

EXCERPT

He hooded me and draped me over a hassock in the living room. The fire was blazing; though I wasn’t drunk, I was pleasantly mellow and immediately became aroused by the position. I love being taken on my hands and knees, and the hassock was even better, because it supported my weight. I just lay there and relaxed.
Then he wrapped cuffs around to my wrists and ankles, hogtied me and gagged me.
And did I mention I was naked?
I don’t remember everything that went on. That’s the funny thing about such intense sex. It’s completely mind-bending. With perspective and research, I now know that the intensity of the sex releases oxytocin, a “feel-good” hormone that has amnesiac properties. It contributes to forgetfulness.
Unfortunately, another effect of oxytocin is bonding—in fact, it’s referred to as “the bonding hormone.” Though I did not know it and certainly didn’t consent, I was involuntarily becoming bonded to Trapper Hart.

ABOUT Suz deMello
Best-selling, award-winning author Suz deMello, a.k.a Sue Swift, has written seventeen romance novels in several subgenres, including erotica, comedy, historical, paranormal, mystery and suspense, plus a number of short stories and non-fiction articles on writing. A freelance editor, she’s held the positions of managing editor and senior editor, working for such firms as Totally Bound and Ai Press. She also takes private clients.

Her books have been favorably reviewed in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist, won a contest or two, attained the finals of the RITA and hit several bestseller lists.

A former trial attorney, her passion is world travel. She’s left the US over a dozen times, including lengthy stints working overseas. She’s now writing a vampire tale and planning her next trip.

--Find her books at http://www.suzdemello.com
--For editing services, email her at suzdemello@gmail.com
--Befriend her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/suzdemello
--She tweets @Suzdemello; https://twitter.com/SuzdeMello
--Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/suzdemello/
--Goodreads: http://bit.ly/SuzATGoodreads
--Her current blog is http://www.TheVelvetLair.com

#MFRWauthor Jessica Subject @JSubject goes #SciFi on #Thursday13

MFRW Author Jessica E. Subject shares her favorite science fiction movies.
Jessica is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to sexy. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous. When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby. Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and twitter.

13 Favorite Sci-Fi Movies

The Host

Contact

Pacific Rim

Super 8

Star Trek (2009)

Star Trek Into Darkness

Independence Day

I, Robot

Man of Steel

Avatar

Matrix

Men In Black

The Island

Jessica's latest release is The Star Princess, an Erotic New Adult, Sci-Fi/Futuristic Romance, with Decadent Publishing.

In one week, Princess Ro’sa will board a spaceship, leaving her home on Minjet to be with her betrothed on Earth. The only problem is, she detests the prince’s selfish and arrogant ways, preferring to spend time with his personal aide, a man who stirs her desires in ways she never imagined possible with his radiant blue eyes and smouldering lips. And oh, the way he touches her.

Earth’s post-apocalyptic landscape offers little, but the alliance offers much, and a princess must do her duty, no matter the danger to her person and to her heart.

Will Princess Ro'sa honor her duty or follow her heart?

AMAZON Buy Link

EXCERPT

At the whoosh of the space shuttle flying overhead, the feline on Ro’sa’s knee hissed before jumping to the floor. Ro’sa hurried to the front of the house, pressing her palms and nose against the window. Somewhere in that ship was her betrothed, the prince from Earth she would marry.
Ka’lyn, her best friend, squeezed in beside her, claiming the rest of the available window space. “What do you think he looks like? I’ve never seen anyone from Earth before. Maybe he has two heads, or one eye....” She nudged Ro’sa’s side. “Two cocks?”
“Ka, really?” Flaring heat rushed to Ro’sa’s cheeks and temporarily paused the fluttering of firetubes in her stomach. In seven rotations, she would say good-bye to her home, her family, and all of her friends to be with a complete stranger. She’d grown up knowing this time would come, but it had always seemed so far away. Until he’d arrived. Ro’sa swallowed her nerves. “His people just recently joined the Confederacy. I think the only reason they were invited was to prevent an intergalactic war when they learned of the existence of life beyond their own solar system.” They’d already destroyed most of their planet. Who knows what they would have done had the Confederacy not intervened?
Ka’lyn grabbed her shoulders and turned Ro’sa to face her. “I know all this, but what do they look like?”
“Humanoid, like us.” She searched her memory for the few Terran dignitaries she’d met. “But their skin is different shades of brown, from nearly white to almost black.” Though she had no idea where her betrothed fit into the spectrum, never having been allowed to travel to Earth. How she wished she had. If her parents had allowed them to meet earlier, she’d have far fewer worries and much more experience with how to interact with those from Earth, and with her betrothed. She’d retained her virginity for him, the only female her age on the planet who hadn’t experienced sex, though she hoped to know what it was like before she left for Earth.
“Weird. So, when do you get to meet him?”
“Tonight.” Ro’sa returned her gaze out the window, watching the shuttle descend onto the runway. Had the prince saved himself for her? “There’s an official introduction ceremony where we will shake hands and eat our first meal together.”
“That’s crap.” Her friend tugged on her fingers. “Let’s go meet him as he’s coming off the ship.”
Ro’sa shook her head, yanking her hand away. “I can’t. I have to follow protocol.”
“Then we’ll hide in the shrubs. Don’t you want to check him out before you’re introduced to him in front of everyone?”
Biting her bottom lip, Ro’sa watched the spacecraft disappear below the treetops. “I guess.” Then she wouldn’t look like a fool in her first reaction to him. She could hold her emotions in check, having already caught sight of the prince.
“Let’s go then.” Ka’lyn stood at the door before she had the chance to move.
They left her friend’s home behind. Darting through the woods on the packed dirt path, Ro’sa hoped they’d make it to the runway in time. If the castle guards hastened him away, they’d never make it in time. Why hadn’t her parents let her meet him years ago? Was he that horrendous looking? At least they could have shown her a picture.

#MFRWauthor ERIKA KELLY Rocks Romance @ErikaKellyBooks

Meet MFRW Author Erika Kelly.
Award-winning author Erika Kelly has been spinning romantic tales all her life—she just didn’t know it. Raised on the classics, she didn’t discover romantic fiction until later in life. From that moment on, she’s been devouring the genre and has found her true voice as an author. Over three decades she’s written poems, screenplays, plays, short stories, and all kinds of women’s fiction novels. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she’s lived in two countries and seven states, but give her pen and paper, a stack of good books, and a steaming mug of vanilla chai latte and she can make her home anywhere.

http://erikakellybooks.com/  |  https://www.facebook.com/erikakellybooks

Why did you decide to write romance novels?
As far back as I can remember, I put myself to sleep at night telling romantic stories. I was one of those unusual kids who couldn't wait to go to bed--just so I could get back to where I'd left off. I didn't have a mom or grandma who read romance, so I didn't know it was actually a thing. It wasn't until my mid-30s when an editor wrote on my manuscript, Does this author know she writes romance? that I discovered those stories in my head made up an entire section of the book store!

What genre do you write?
I write contemporary romance. Which means in every book I write I get to relive that heart-pounding rush of meeting The One.  Honestly, there's nothing like that build up to the first kiss, the first time they make love after fighting their intense attraction for so long. I love writing about passion.

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first manuscript?
After college, a friend and I would take long hikes on the weekends. We'd see weird things along the way and make up stories about them. One day she said, You should write a book. Something deep inside me clicked. It would take me years to connect the stories I told myself at night to the words I put down on the page, but that friend set me on the path. To be honest, I really only submitted that first book because I got sick of people referring to my writing as a hobby. It felt so dismissive for something that required such intense work.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I start imagining the next story at the tail end of the book I'm working on at the moment. Scenes start playing in my head, and I write them all down so I don't forget them. Only when I've finished the current book do I start on the next. I don't plot or outline, but I do work out my character arcs and plot points. I won't start a book until I have a clear map and some strong feelings for the chemistry between my characters. Then, I write a very messy, ugly draft--forcing myself to keep going forward. I write every day, and my most productive time is first thing in the morning. Well, after breakfast and a clean kitchen!

What about your family? Do they know not to bother you when you're writing?
I seriously can't work when people are in the house. No matter what, someone will call for me. To me, family is more important than anything, so when my husband asks if I want to get a coffee with him or my daughter wants to know what's for dinner, I'll stop what I'm doing. I know I can't get that time back with them, and I never want to look back and regret not being with them when I had the chance. So, I write when they're at work, at school, or otherwise engaged.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I read. Sometimes the business side of writing overwhelms me. Or sometimes my brain can't function anymore--writing is hard! But I know I can pick up a book, get lost for a good amount of time, and then come back with renewed energy.

Tell us about your latest book:
I'm having a lot of fun with a New Adult series about the 3 O'Donnell siblings.

Nicole’s story, Mine for Now (formerly called Too Good to Be True) won the 2014 Golden Heart for Contemporary Romance. It’s about moving away from home for the first time and reinventing yourself. Between an alcoholic mom and a troubled boyfriend, Nicole wants a drama-free freshman year. So, out of all the guys on campus to fall for, of course she chooses the one whose mom took a housemate’s car on a joyride. Mine for The Week is about the oldest son, Golden Boy Ryan, a senior in college, and that scary time just before you push off into the unknown. Two months from signing with a major league team, Ryan heads to a resort for a much-needed break but finds the wildly sexy Sophie Valentine instead. Worst timing ever to meet the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Mine Forever is about the hard-partying middle son, Brandon, whose community service project is manning the camera of a student’s documentary. The topic? An expose on the hookup culture of this generation. The student? Just happens to be the woman whose virginity Brandon took while drunk at a frat party.

You Really Got Me

Book One, Rock Star Romance Series

Erotic Contemporary Romance

Berkley

From award-winning author Erika Kelly comes the first in a hot new series about a rock star on his way up—and the woman he wants to take all the way…

Emmie Valencia has what it takes to be the music industry’s hottest band manager. She just needs to prove it. Determined to discover a killer new band, Emmie is ready to make her move. First stop: Austin, Texas.

As a sizzling hot lead singer, Slater Vaughn has no trouble raising heart rates—but his band’s been flat-lining for years. When Emmie, his bandmate’s sister, crashes with them in exchange for some free management, her industry know-how lands them a spot in the biggest music festival in Texas. But it isn’t just her business acumen that catches Slater’s attention. Emmie is sexy and warm, and—for the first time in his life—he wants more.

But as irresistible as Slater is, Emmie is done with musicians. In her experience, a man can’t be a rock star and someone to trust with your heart—but Slater is determined to show her he’s both." Deliciously sexy romance between a band manager who's been burned one too many times by selfish musicians and a groupie-bait rock star who's so much more than he seems.

AMAZON BUY LINK

"Lovable characters and pulse-pounding chemistry make this one of my favorite reads of the year!"
--NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author Laura Kaye

EXCERPT

Slater drew her up hard against him, held her to his damp chest. For a long moment he looked into her eyes. Her blood heated from the look she saw there. She couldn’t believe he was looking at her like that.
With her hands pressed to his chest, she could feel the moment the tension left his muscles.
He tipped his forehead to hers. “Enough, all right?”
What did that mean? The moment was so strange and confusing, she didn’t say anything. A tremor shuddered through her. Her heart pounded. She should probably walk way, let him go back to his flock of girls, but she really needed him to hold her. She wasn’t ready for him to let go.
They stood in the middle of the dance floor, holding each other, and she wanted to sink into him. It felt so good. Yes, it felt exciting to be in his arms, to not have him resisting or taunting or teasing, but it also felt so…peaceful. So right.
She didn’t want him to get all weirded out, so she started to pull away. But the moment she relaxed her hold on him, he tightened his. “Dance with me.”
Emmie looked up, overwhelmed by the emotion pouring off him. For her. He wanted to be with her. Without thinking, she let her head fall to his chest and just…surrendered.
He reached for her hands, brought them to his chest and held them there tightly. She could feel his heart pounding, feel the heat pouring off him.  His feet shuffled closer to her, his chin lowered to her shoulder, his nose nuzzling into her neck. She thought he’d possibly inhaled.
Sensation bloomed on her skin.They barely moved, just held each other, as though slow dancing at the prom. The frenetic beat of the music, the flashing strobe lights, the thrashing bodies all around them made no sense against the slow roar of blood in her veins, the thick swirl of desire churning deep inside of her.
She let out a sigh of relief, pulling her hands out of his grip and wrapping them around his neck. Slowly, she moved closer to him, their hips connecting, bound like magnets, moving together in a slow, gentle sway. His arms came around her, pulling tighter, until their dance turned more into an embrace. Was this happening? This sweet, intimate moment with him? He was allowing himself to get close to her? His gentleness stole the breath from her lungs.
When his hands flattened on her back, when his hips surged into her, when she felt the shock of his hardness against her stomach, she pulled away from him. What…what was that?
She fled into the crowd, not even knowing if he followed. Why had he done that? That deliberate gesture, announcing his interest in wanting to have sex with her? After sharing an intimate moment, he’d turned to sex. No, no, it hadn’t been intimacy at all. It had been the precursor to sex.
Because that was all he knew. God, she was so stupid. Thinking he wanted something different from her. That somehow she was special. She pushed her way off the dance floor.
God, she was only human. She couldn’t take much more of this…this teasing from him.
He shouldn’t treat her like all the other girls he could screw and discard, pressing his boner into her like it was hers for the taking.
She hurried into the bathroom, locked herself in a stall and just stood there, unable to catch her breath, calm down her jittery nerves.
Hers for the taking. He had been. He’d made that perfectly clear. She closed her eyes, the feel of his erection igniting a flash flood of desire.
She wanted him between her legs, pushing inside of her. She’d never wanted a man so desperately before. Had never felt it between her legs, the throbbing, the pulsing, the need.
She’d never felt things like this. And she loved it. She did. It didn’t make her feel slutty or depraved or anything. It made her feel sexy.
She loved the way it made her feel.
She loved the way Slater made her feel. But not for one night. God, no. That just wasn’t her at all.