BOOK SPOTLIGHT on Pumpkin: a Cindermama Story by #MFRWauthor Ines Johnson @InesWrites

Pumpkin: a Cindermama Story
Erotic Fairytale Retelling
Ines Johnson
Heartspell Media, LLC

Single mother Malika “Pumpkin” Tavares lost faith in fairytales after she fell for a toad. Now she believes she’s not cut from the storybook, heroine cloth and searches for Mr. Good Enough amongst the sidekicks and supporting men of the town.

Love at first sight isn’t a cliche for town royalty Armand “Manny” Charmayne. For generations the Charmaynes have spotted their soulmates by seeing a golden aura the first time they laid eyes on The One.

When Manny meets Pumpkin he sees…nothing, but sparks fly off the richter scale. The more he gets to know her the more he considers defying fate, if only he can convince her to take a chance on love again.

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EXCERPT
The Mistress of Ceremonies hurried through her introductions and then the microphone was in Manny's hand, but he didn't take out the notes of his prepared speech.

""Many of you knew my mother,"" he began. There was a murmur of nostalgic assent throughout the crowd.

""You may not know that after her diagnosis, she spent most of her days watching romantic comedies. She believed she could laugh the illness out of her body. Her favorite moments in these films were something called the Grand Gesture. That scene just after all hope is lost because one of the lovers, normally the guy, has done something stupid that's led to the end of the relationship. So he thinks up this bold, romantic move to get the woman back.""

A glance around the room told Manny that he held the largely female crowd in rapt attention.

""An example of a grand gesture would be a guy telling his estranged wife that she completes him in the midst of an angry mob of women. Or rescuing her underwear from the class geek and returning it to her at her sister's wedding. Or holding a boom box over his head, in front of her bedroom window, early in the morning, while blasting the song that was playing as he deflowered her.""

A different wave of nostalgia swept through the crowd this time as they remembered these treasured moments of Hollywood cinema.

""In the real world, some people might call these behaviors creepy, or stalker-ish. But not my mother. She loved them. She believed in love, believed that when you loved someone you said it loud, you showed it often, and you never gave up.""

Manny paused here, partly for effect, mostly to collect himself as visions of his mother's joyous face played in his head. He rubbed the heel of his hand against his chest.

""The national divorce rate is 50 percent.""

There was no surprise in the room, where most of the men were older and the women on their arms were younger.

""There's never been a divorce in the Charmayne family. Not one recorded anywhere in our family line.""

The sparkle of young women's eyes threatened to blind Manny from where he stood on the stage.

""What that means is when a Charmayne gives you their pledge, they are committed.""

The decision was a split second one, but once Manny made it he stuck with it. He stepped around the podium, mic in hand and dropped to one knee. The gasp of every woman in the room was near deafening.

""To earn your vote, I will do whatever I have to, including blast Peter Gabriel in the streets. Charmaynes don't quit. I'm committed to this, to the people of this town. I hope that I can count on your vote.""

The room erupted in thunderous applause, and the women's eyes sparkled even brighter.

ABOUT Ines Johnson
Ines writes books for strong women who suck at love. If you rocked out to the twisted triangle of Jem, Jericha, and Rio as a girl; if you were slayed by vampires with souls alongside Buffy; if you need your scandalous fix from Olivia Pope each week, then you’ll love her books!
Aside from being a writer, professional reader, and teacher, Ines is a very bad Buddhist. She sits in sangha each week, and while others are meditating and getting their zen on, she’s contemplating how to use the teachings to strengthen her plots and character motivations.

Ines lives outside Washington, DC with her two little sidekicks who are growing up way too fast.

Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24927912-pumpkin
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https://www.facebook.com/ineswrites
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https://inesjohnson.wordpress.com/

Trancing the Tiger BOOK SPOTLIGHT @RachaelSlate #MFRWauthor

Trancing the Tiger

Chinese Zodiac Romance Series, Book 1
Erotic Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Rachael Slate

Delve into a world steeped in tradition and superstition…
After her parents become infected with the Red Death, Lucy Yeoh flees to Malaysia seeking answers. Everything in this closed-off section of the world is paradise—from the lush tropical climate to her sexy new neighbor, Sheng…who just might be delusional. He claims the Plague God unleashed the Red Death and only a circle of Chinese Zodiac spirit animals can cleanse the Earth. Even more, he insists she’s one of them: the Rabbit. Long furry ears and fluffy bunny tail included.

He’ll show her how to fight to save the world…
She’ll show him a love worth fighting the world to save…
Sheng’s enemies draw closer, and not everyone wants Lucy alive. Together, they’ll have to navigate a treacherous world where a line between duty and their hearts has been drawn between them. They must either sacrifice one, or find a way to surrender to both.

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“The thrill of discovering a new author with such talent is an amazing feeling. Trancing the Tiger had my attention from the first page…. A beautiful, well written story.” – Becky Cox, IsaLovesBooks Blog

EXCERPT

Sheng grappled for control that seemed as fleeting as his sanity. Lucy was off-limits. He’d reminded himself a thousand times tonight. Yet when Tiger had pinned her to the ground, Sheng would have taken her. Right then, right there.
If not for the intrusion of his friends.
Worse, she’d melted right into him the moment she’d realized his identity.
She trusted him and didn’t even bloody know why. Once he got her somewhere safe, he’d enlighten her with the logic fueling her instincts.
Tiger puffed out in supreme satisfaction. He almost hadn’t caught her; she was so swift. If not for the inclined tree trunk providing a bounding point, he might have missed.
Sheng’s shoulders tensed, on alert for more of Snake’s “friends.” Penang Hill—behind them—served as the boundary between the Hai San and Ghee Hin territories. The Gardens were the gateway to the Ghee Hin Kongsi’s residence in the Batu Feringghi—the stretch of posh beaches on the north coast of the island. He had to get Lucy out of here before Snake caught sight of her and realized what she was.
Where she might have argued with him, she simply obeyed. Her light footsteps padded behind him. That blind obedience concerned him more than her bolting. She shouldn’t trust a stranger with such ease, certainly not one who looked like him.
He raked his hands through his hair to stop from lashing out at her…or drawing her into his arms and shielding her. He wasn’t sure which instinct would win.
Even more reason to hold his tongue.
He straddled his motorcycle, unclasped the helmet, and offered it to her.
She approached him, her golden eyes wide and wary. Great. Now she chose to be cautious. “Who were those men?”
“You wanna stay and find out?”
Her nose twitched. “Do you work for my uncle? Are you my bodyguard? Where are you taking me?”
“Get on.” He dismissed her questions and waved the helmet. No time for this, not here.
Her hands trembled as she accepted it and secured the strap around her chin. Without questioning him again, she slipped onto the bike behind him.
“Hold on tight.” He reached back, seized her wrists, and clasped her hands together around his waist. “I don’t do slow.”
He revved the gas, the tires squealing while they pivoted around and peeled away. Her body slammed into his, her grasp cinching tighter as they sped through the streets. Lucy’s slender fingers spread across his abdomen, causing his muscles to tighten and his cock to throb. Was she purposefully teasing him with her velvety touch?
She slid her fingers beneath the hem of his t-shirt and his abs jerked as though sparked by a live wire. He growled once, in warning.
“Sorry. My fingers are cold. Do you mind?” Her murmur against his ear spiked his blood.
Was she actually cold or did he detect a sultry note to her voice? Did she suffer the same raging attraction he did?
With his concentration on navigating the streets and his hands gripping the handlebars, she had him at a disadvantage against the fanning of her fingers.
Her warm fingers.
They rounded a corner, and her body crushed against his. She didn’t draw back, and the imprint of her full breasts branded his back. He swore he could even feel her tight little nipples rubbing against him. He fought the urge to swing around and take her on the motorcycle. To hell with crashing—as if they’d even notice. They’d both survive.

ABOUT Rachael Slate
Rachael Slate resides on the West Coast of Canada with her husband and two children—or as she likes to call them, her own little blended world. One of the best parts about sharing in her husband’s Chinese-Malaysian culture is definitely the food—and the awesome celebrations!

Rachael writes stories that blend the lines between mythology, reality, and fantasy. In her worlds, you’ll encounter strong, sexy alpha males and the capable women who challenge them. And always, scorching hot romance.

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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/
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