November Feature Author Kayelle Allen - A Romance for Christmas #MFRWauthor #holidayromance

A Romance for Christmas
by Kayelle Allen

A Romance for Christmas

By Kayelle Allen
A cop at the door on Christmas Eve brings an unexpected gift.
A sweet holiday romance showcasing love, loss, and the spirit of giving.
It's Christmas Eve, and the end of a year in which everything Dara loves has been lost. Everything but her little girl and a fierce determination to survive. When a cop brings Christmas to her door, he brings another gift she never expected to get.

Best Selling Lists:
Amazon Top 20 in Romance, Short Reads
Amazon Top 100 in Holiday Romance 
Amazon Top 100 in Holiday Genre Fiction

Video

Excerpt

Dara was gaining strength daily, and would finish therapy the first week of January and return to work. Disability paid for the basics - lights, phone, water, trash collection, and she'd never bought anything on credit, refusing to dig herself into a hole she'd never escape once it got started.

She went to the closet and pulled down a box with a ball, crayons, paper, and three books. A friend had brought over a few things as well. This wasn't the grand Christmas Dara had wanted for her daughter, but all the other valuables had been sold. There was nothing left but her wedding ring.

She didn't wear it. Removing it had been part of saying good-bye to Jack.

They said it would help, and it had. Sort of. But not much.

Dara sank into one of the kitchen chairs and put her face in her hands.

Sometime later, when the doorbell rang, she grabbed a paper towel and dried her eyes. The clock over the stove said nine o'clock. Who would be calling at this hour on Christmas Eve? She stuffed the wet towel in her robe pocket on the way to the door.

A Romance for Christmas

Buy Links

Amazon http://amzn.to/1wpW8qE

Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/1wpYfL2

Kobo http://bit.ly/1wpYndJ

iBooks http://is.gd/sdSfMT

CreateSpace http://bit.ly/romforcmas

Giveaway

This giveaway is for everyone. Click below to download an illustrated pdf containing an excerpt, the history of the story, the meaning behind the names, and more. A Romance for Christmas is a sweet holiday romance that makes you feel great about giving. http://is.gd/rom4cmaspeek 
Visit my website to download a free 22p Christmas cookbook you can share with friends. You don't have to sign up for anything, click anything, or register for something. It's really free. Early Merry Christmas! http://kayelleallen.com/exc-romchristmas.html

Kayelle Allen, founder of Marketing for Romance Writers

Kayelle Allen is a best-selling, multi-published, award winning Science Fiction Romance author. She was first published in 2004. In 2006, she founded Marketing for Romance Writers, a peer-mentoring group open to the entire literary community. The site is now the largest online author group of its kind, and provides no-cost training in book marketing skills as well as promotional services for its members.

In 2009, Kayelle opened her Romance Lives Forever blog for authors, publishers, and blog tour companies. The blog now has an online reach of over one million.

In 2011, she launched The Author's Secret which offers editing, eBook conversions for manuscripts, custom and premade book covers, and graphics for authors. She teaches workshops online, and is an invited speaker on numerous online conferences. 

Kayelle has been a featured speaker at Outlantacon since its founding, and in 2014 was awarded an honorary lifetime membership. She is a former board member of Gaylaxicon, and has been a panelist at DragonCon. Kayelle's books have won multiple awards, including the EPIC eBook Award for Science Fiction Erotic Romance, and have been EPIC finalists in Fantasy. Her motto is "romance lives forever" and she is known for books with unstoppable heroes, uncompromising love, and unforgettable passion.

Social Media Links

Homeworld http://kayelleallen.com

Mobile site http://kayelleallen.mobi

Unstoppable Heroes Blog http://kayelleallen.com/blog

Twitter http://twitter.com/kayelleallen

Facebook http://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author

The Author's Secret https://theauthorssecret.com

Marketing for Romance Writers http://marketingforromancewriters.org

Credits
Music: Piano version O Christmas Tree performed by Vladimir Sterzer, licensed by Jamendo.com

Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush with #MFRWauthor @VictoriaPinder

MFRW Victoria Pinder has a great book... and is here today to talk to us about it!
Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.

The Zoastra Affair, Chaperoning Paris, Borrowing the Doctor, and Electing Love, Mything the Throne and Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush will be published in 2014.

Now she is represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Also she’s the Vice President for the Florida Romance Writers. Her website is www.victoriapinder.com.

Author Interview
Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
Before engagement, it took two months to draft a book. Wedding brain took over, but I'm learning a new way now. Ask again later when I'm settled now that the wedding is over.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
I believe in writing daily to keep forging ahead.

Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres?
I started my first novel in contemporary romance, not that anyone read it. But it was my stepping stone. I went into sci fi/fantasy romance because I wanted to write those books, but contemporary romance held me together with hope. (Not that I ever expected a billionaire to be my best friend who falls in love with me.)

If so, what are they? How do you come up with story ideas?
Just imagine the world, and let the imagination soar. Ideas are like pennies. They are everywhere and everyone has at least one. Now the stick to your guns to write the novel is different question entirely. Most people are too busy.

What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels?
I don't write erotic, but I've read it. I don't write inspirational, but I've read it. The books I liked tended to have sex scenes, and honestly sex is a natural expression of love. And romance novels are love novels.

What does your husband/wife think of your writing?
Part of what made my now husband probably remember me is how I corrected his courting in a funny way. I said things like this... 'You guys' he said. My immediate answer on our first date,  ""I'm not a guy in case you haven't noticed.' I'm comfortable in my skin now and so is he. It made dating and even the wedding fun. Writing romance empowers me to be a better wife, so it's all good.

Do you ever ask him/her for advice?
Funny enough I wish I knew him when I wrote the Zoastra Affair. Science is what he does for a living and it would have been nice. If I ever get to his specialities, I'll ask him.

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
Leigh Michaels book on Creating Romantic Characters. I read this book before I admitted to myself I wanted to write romance. (One would think buying and taking the yellow highlighter to the book would have given it away to me...

What can we expect from you in the future?
More contemporary romance novels and talking about my silly life on social media.

How do we find out about you and your books?
Website: http://www.victoriapinder.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriapinder1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/victoriapinder
Blog: http://victoriapinder.com/?cat=6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8120316.Victoria_Pinder

How can readers/fans contact you?
I received my first hug from a cancer survivor yesterday on my book Chaperoning Paris. So if we meet in person now, I do like hugs.

Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush

Erotic Contemporary Romance
Jupiter Gardens Press

Penny moves back to Miami to start her a job with a list of things to accomplish.

1. Find a place to live.
2. Avoid her gold-digging mother.
3. Reconnect with old high school friends: her best friend Sandra, the dramatic Eva, the dark Michael, her half-brother Wyatt, and her former crush Jay.

Jay may have kept her firmly in the “friend zone”, but that didn’t stop her from wanting more. Her five friends have stood by her through some difficult times and she’ll need their help now to accomplish her first two goals.

As soon as Jay sees Penny, he puts his plan into motion. His investors need to see him with a stable woman, one who isn’t all flash and no brains; Penny fits the bill perfectly. There’s just one hitch—he wants more.

Their pretend date sets off a whirlwind of plots. From mothers who want to control their children’s lives to the loss of her exciting new job, Penny’s world turns upside down. She knows she can overcome all obstacles except one—she’s falling for Jay all over again."

AMAZON Buy Link

EXCERPT
“Home, sweet, err...coffee.”
Getting out of her car, Penelope brushed her worn jeans to get out a small wrinkle. Not that it mattered. She smelled the coffee drawing her to the door. The delicious aroma of freshly brewed java that could wake her up waited inside. Gainesville had coffee shops, but nothing that held her heart like this place. In high school, this place was her Mecca. Her stomach grumbled for the familiar drink.
The coffee shop looked almost the same as it had years ago, except for the aluminum tables and wooden chairs with red cushions. She remembered the plaid chairs and brown tables, but the place still calmed her, like she was coming home.
She stepped up to the counter. “I’ll have a cinnamon dulce non-fat latte, please.”
Leaving Gainesville after college had always been the plan. Just never back to Miami, but she’d changed. She could live here now.
She checked her lip gloss while she waited for the latte at the counter.
When she accepted the promotion from part-time to full-time position, she knew she would have to face her mother and the catch of the month, Lars, her mother’s plastic surgeon. What that woman would do for a free tummy tuck.
The job she’d accepted had offered to triple her salary provided she moved to the Coral Gables office. Somehow, she’d avoid her mother until necessary. What was the man’s name with money this week? Penny ignored that last call, knowing the man with the largest wallet always took precedence over whatever Penelope needed. Getting the non-fat milk, she watched the barista finish her latte. She’d succeed here, now. She had to.
She’d call Sandra, Eva, John, and Michael later. Wyatt, her half-brother, was stationed overseas, so she’d wait for his weekly call. These people were her real family.
The man handed her the latte. The first sip gave her the strength to do this. The tightness of the ride dissipated while she tasted her liquid savior. Sighing, she tasted heaven, the wake-up to her day.
“Penelope.”
Though the unmistakable voice was deeper, she knew who it was without even turning. Her high school crush, who never noticed her beyond her brain, with a deeper tone. Pulling at her pink tank top, she wished she wore better clothes. “John Jay.”
His steely blue eyes and sandy blond hair were the same color, but his build had grown more muscular. The leanness of his youth gave way to broad shoulders and hard, muscular arms. He had a straight, faded scar on his left cheek that was new--probably a bar fight. Rich boy wore his fancy perfectly fitted polo and jeans, and was definitely hotter with age. His million-dollar smile and devastating dimples sparked a warm flush that sped through her all the way to the tips of her toes.
“I’m going by Jay these days. It’s less formal.” He winked at her, turning off his tablet, pointing her to his table.
“It’s a good name, but I still prefer Dimples,” she teased. “It’s what I called you on online whenever I needed you.”
His rich, deep laugh sent that familiar spark through her.

#MFRWauthor @MardiMaxwellRom is QUICK and QUIRKY! Read This Author Interview!

Some QUICK and QUIRKY answers from MFRW Author Mardi Maxwell.

Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Utah but I’ve traveled throughout America and lived in sunny California, west Texas and the mountains of Colorado. I wrote my first erotic romance in the summer of 2013. It was accepted and published that same year. Since then I’ve written three more books in the Doms of Club Mystique series. At this time I’m busy writing the fifth and final book in the series.
Other than writing, I love to read, travel, garden, swim and hike with my family, as well as go to the local drive-in movie with a carload of friends and a huge container of home-made cheese popcorn.

If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?
Actually I’d like to travel all over the world and live in one location in each country for 3-4 months before moving on.

If you were a tool, what would people use you to do? 
I’d be a multi-tool because they’re so handy. You can screw with them, cut, clamp, you name it.

What song would best describe your life? 
Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles.

Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there? 
An old west dry goods store full of a little bit of everything from food to tools to household goods.

What is your secret guilty pleasure?
Cheese popcorn. I love it and can’t get enough of it.

If you were stranded on a tropical island, who would it be with?
Wolf Meyer from Siren in Bloom by Sophie Oak. He’s sexy and a protector.

Tell us about the scariest thing that ever happened to you.
When I was pregnant with my son I had a nightmare about a child calling my name and I went into the room we’d planned as the nursery except the walls were red instead of the soft green we’d painted them. There was a toddler bed with a little boy on it and he was sitting up crying so I walked toward him and as I did a man moved out of the shadows and began stabbing me. I woke up screaming and hysterical. Needless to say I won’t have a room in my house with red walls.

If you were on a reality show, what one would it be? 
Naked and Afraid, except I’d hate to be sent to the jungle. Bugs!

City life or country life? 
City with lots of things to do. Preferably in a high-rise apartment with a great balcony and a view.

Ebook or paperback? 
Mostly ebooks these days.

Mardi recently released Zane's Choice (The Doms of Club Mystique, book 4), an Erotic Romance with Siren Publishing.

Beautiful, curvy, Ravyn Templeton saw Zane Ramsey in a BDSM club in Houston three years ago. He’s haunted her dreams ever since. 
Zane is an Assistant District Attorney and co-owner of Club Mystique, the BDSM club he and his brothers built on their Texas ranch. When Ravyn’s ex-husband is arrested for trying to have her killed the case is assigned to Zane. 
The moment Zane meets Ravyn he wants her and even though he knows having an affair with her will jeopardize his career he can’t resist her. When Ravyn’s ex-husband accuses her of laundering money for a drug cartel, and she refuses to answer Zane’s questions he leaves her. 
Fate steps in and brings them together again. Zane has the power to save Ravyn but only if he loves her enough to fight for her.

BUY LINK

EXCERPT
Zane cursed, then stalked toward her. He clenched his fist in the hair at her nape then curved her into him until their noses were almost touching.
Ravyn looked into his angry eyes and shivered. “Let go, Zane.”
“You need to leave, Ravyn. Now.”
“No. I’m hiding from the press and everyone else who wants to put me behind bars—people like you.”
“Dammit, Ravyn. I told you I would protect you.”
“No you didn’t. You said you would get me the best deal you could if I would turn state’s evidence.” She tried to move away from him and he tightened his hand and pulled her head farther back while curving her pelvis against his. His erection pressed into her belly and she breathed a swift sigh of relief at the proof that he still wanted her.
“I told you from the beginning if you were guilty I wouldn’t lie for you,” Zane said, the words gritted out between clenched teeth.
“Then you shouldn’t have fucked me.” Ravyn reached up and tried to pry his fingers from her hair. “Let go, Zane.”
“This time you’ve gone too far. Be still or I’ll beat your ass.”
“You can’t. You’re the one who set the limits of our relationship.” She gave up trying to pry his hand loose. “You said fucking only. Nothing else.”
“Tell me the truth then—tell me what you know.”
“Nothing. I don’t know anything.”
“You lie to me and then you question why I won’t—” He pulled her head back until the tendons in her neck stood out. “Just don’t lie to me again. It really pisses me off.”
Ravyn used her peripheral vision to look to her right. Everyone’s attention was focused on them. “Zane, let go. Everyone’s watching.”
“Don’t mind us,” Cade said. “You’d be surprised how often something like this happens around here lately.”
Zane shot a dirty look toward the room’s occupants then focused on her again. “Everyone out.”
A moment later Cade picked Addison up then settled in the chair behind his desk and smiled.

How can readers connect with you?
www.mardimaxwell.com
www.facebook.com/MardiMaxwellRomance
www.twitter.com/MardiMaxwellRom
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7790271.Mardi_Maxwell
www.bookstrand.com/mardi-maxwell
http://www.amazon.com/Mardi-Maxwell/e/B00HUWU9FM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1