A Hot Romance for the Cold Season

What is better to warm up a cold fall evening than to curl up with a steamy romance. That's just what we have today as author Gemma Snow visits to introduce us to the characters in her newest romance, Seduction en Pointe.

Gemma is the author of several works of romance and erotic fiction in both the contemporary and historical genres, and she says enjoys pushing the limits of freedom, feminism and fun in her stories. She has been an avid writer for many years and recently moved back to her home state of Jew Jersey from Boston, after completing her education in journalism and creative writing.

She says that in her free time she loves to travel and she spent a semester abroad living in a 14th century castle in the Netherlands. When not exploring the world, though, she likes dreaming up stories, eating spicy food, driving fast cars, and talking to strangers.

Here's a look at her newest title:

When successful TV star of the Queen Anne’sRevenge, Nicco Castillo, finds his lover in bed with another man, other man, he goes full on Hollywood trainwreck. It lands him in the ER. The next thing he knows, the producers are shipping him off to Paris to shape up and to learn to dance for the next season's story arc.

But his incredibly tempting Parisian ballet instructor, Isabella LaCroix, makes that all too difficult, especially when he learns about her decadent desires -- desires Nicco is all too pleased to indulge in.

Warning--This story is hot!  But I wanted to know a little more about Nicco...

Nicco, what brought you to Paris? 

I didn’t want to come to Paris. My producer is a real SOB and anyone in Hollywood knows Hartley Parker can break a man’s career in the blink of an eye. I’m lying in a hospital bed after the most humiliating experience of life and he tells me that if I don’t learn to twinkle my toes in this inane ballet class in Paris – really just an excuse for them to keep me by the short hairs – then I’ll be dancing out without a job. That’s why I’m in Paris.

What was it about Isabelle that caught your attention?

You ever look at a Greek statue, yeah, one of the half-naked ones with all the wet drapery and the perfect features and you know that if that state came to life they would just glow, right? From the minute I walked into that office and saw her sitting there, all haughty and so French, tight ponytail, I wanted her. And I wanted to help her too, crazy as that sounds. I know pretty well why people wear masks of stone. 

What keeps you wanting her?

See, that's the thing. Isabelle, she was Miss LaCrois in the beginning. She wanted nothing to do with me. And I should have stepped back. I hadn't come to Paris expecting love, nor had I wanted it, not after everything that went down with my ex-boyfriend back in Hollywood, but I couldn't get this woman out of my mind.  I'll be honest. The colder she was to me and the harder she pushed me in the ballet class, the more I wanted her. We're different people, Isabelle and I. She tens to push down when she's hurting and I push out -- the the reason I got my sorry ass sent to Paris in the first place. But when we were fighting against the same thing, well, that changed everything between us. 

What concerns you about this growing relationship?

Belle and I, we've both been hurt before. Her ex-husband was a real piece of work and I think he made her doubt herself more than she lets on. And my whole thing with Antonio isn't exactly a Shakespearean comedy, ya know. We're not used to trusting people or relying on people, either of us and that can be a really hard thing to work around. But she's worth trying. 

Have you come to any decisions about your future?

The future? Do I look like a future-thinking kind of guy? All I know, and I haven't figure out how, is that I'm going to keep Isabelle in mine. No matter what....

If you would like to see what happens to Nicco and Isabelle, here are the buy links:

Buy Links:

Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.com/seduction-en-pointe.html

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074G39ZW5/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501620177&sr=1-1&keywords=seduction+en+pointe

B&N:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seduction-en-pointe-gemma-snow/1126901867?ean=9781682523995

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/seduction-en-pointe

And if you would like to directly ask Gemma questions, you can reach her on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GemmaSnowRomance/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GemmaSnowDesire

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/gemmasnowdesire/?etslf=3145&eq=gem

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gemmasnowauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

Or at GemmaSnow.com

Thank you, Gemma, for being my guest today!

The Joy of Listening

When I was in elementary school one of the most fun parts of my day was the hour after lunch when our teacher would read to us.  I can’t remember the names of the books, but I remember it being a daily occurrence in several grades and different schools. We could color or draw while the teacher read, and the entire experience was something I always enjoyed.

Twenty years ago I re-discovered the joy of having someone read to me. During long drives every weekend between where I worked in Los Angeles and my home that was still in Las Vegas, I began listening to audio books. My boss who had made the same trip for several years made the suggestion to me and once I discovered the joy of audio books, I’ve never been able to give it up.

I started with audio tapes back in those days and found myself buying and listening to books I’d already read. I listened to the classics like Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice and Rebecca. I went through whole mystery series of my favorite authors like Sue Grafton. I listened to romance favorites like Debbie Macomber. I’ve never been able to stop. As the years went on and the car stereos went from tape to CDs, I acquired whole libraries of all my favorite authors and never left home without an audio book. From trips to the grocery store to long distance trips across country, I enjoyed books while I drove. 

Now technology has come given me a way to listen to books on audio so that I never have to leave home without one or find I’ve heard everything in the car. These days I can use either my ipad and I just discovered how easy it is to upload them on my phone. Many of my writing friends feel the same way, Almost all of us admit to driving around the block one more time before going home  just to hear an exciting part of an audio book.  

And to take the joy of listening one step further, I’ve discovered yet another reason for celebrating audio books. The publisher of my most of my books, The Wild Rose Press, has begun putting books on audio and I hope to one day be able to listen to my own books.  

            

But even before I get to hear my work, some of my fellow authors are beginning to have their books released on audio. I am excited at the prospect of hearing my favorites and discovering some new TWRP authors as well. This week I got a notice from one of my favorite authors, Andrea Downing that her Golden Quill Award winning novella, and winner of a Maple Leaf Award for Favorite hero, Dearest Darling,  was available on audio and I can hardly wait to listen to it.  

Stuck in a life of servitude to her penny-pinching brother, Emily Darling, longs for a more exciting existence. When a packet with travel tickets, meant for one Ethel Darton, accidentally lands on her doormat, Emily sees a chance for escape. Having turned down the dreary suitors that have come her way, is it possible a new existence also offers a different kind of man?

Daniel Saunders has carved out a life for himself in Wyoming -- a life missing one thing -- a wife. Having scrimped and saved to bring his mail-order bride from New York, he is outraged to find in her stead a runaway fraud. Even worse, the imposter is the sister of of his old enemy. But people are not always as they seem and sometimes the heart knows more than the head.  Here is the link to buy if you'd like to listen.

https://www.amazon.com/Dearest-Darling-Love-Letters/dp/B075D9M43X/

And here is a link to the blog Andi did on her audio book experience.

http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com/2017/08/making-me-audible-by-andrea-downing.html

Personally I am continuing my love affair with audio books. I have an extended road trip coming up and Dearest Darling is one of the audio books I will be taking along for the ride. If you haven't tried an audio book, I highly suggest it. You may find yourself driving around the block too.

Escaping into History with Romance

Historical romances are always high in my reading pile, and like any avid reader, I'm always looking around for new books and different authors to read. This week I am featuring one of those new authors in My Writing Corner, Loreen Augeri.  

Like so many other authors, she tells us her love affair with reading and writing began as a child. She would make up her own stories about a girl and her horse. While her college degree was in computer technology, her enjoyment of the written word extended into her adult life, and she now works in a library.

Loreen says she always enjoyed reading historical romances from the time her children were babies, and eventually she decided to try to write one herself. Her first attempt was simple to see if she could actually do it, but eventually that led to her wish to be published. Her newest book is Not A Gentleman.

When Juliana Stevenson's father dies under suspicious circumstances, her greedy uncle betroths her and her sister to vile men for his profit. They refuse to be part of his plan and flee, but her uncle hires an arrogant, demanding man to bring them back.

Needing money to care for his brother and sister and repair a manor in disrepair, Nicholas Blackstone agrees to find the women. He captures Juliana but not her sister and imprisons her in his manor until he can discover the whereabouts of her sibling. 

Juliana's body calls to Nicholas, but she can never be his--her life is already mapped out. Can they fight the passion pulling them together while her father's killer stalks them? 

Want more?  Let's get an excerpt!


The small, warm form lay still below him. Had he killed her? No. Her ragged gasps penetrated his fear. Nicholas hadn't meant to land so hard, but the aggravating chit deserved it. She held a gun on him and threatened to shoot!

But she was a woman and a small one at that. He jumped off her, grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. 

"Let go...  of ... me." She panted as she fought to catch her breath.
"Are you hurt?"
"I don't... know. Probably. You pounced on me." She fought to free herself.
He released her. "You had a gun."
Miss Stevenson brushed the dirt from her bodice and skirt. "You tried to kidnap us."
"I wasn't kidnapping you. I was returning you and your sister to your uncle. He is worried about you." He strode to one side of the cave and scooped up the gun lying beside the wall. 
"He doesn't care for us. His concern is how much money our marriages will bring him." She examined her palm and winced. "We won't go back."
"He is your guardian." He peered at her hands. "You cut yourself."
"It's your fault, and he's not my guardian. I am of age."
"Well, Miss Emily isn't, and he wants you both. Where will your sister hide?"
"I have no idea."

She walked away. This female who didn't reach his should actually walked away. He thought his job would be quick and easy, and he would soon be with his brother and sister with money to start repairing the crumbling estate he inherited, so he could return to the army where he belonged. Where exasperating women didn't question his orders and answered when asked for information. He ran to catch up and grabbed her elbow. 
"Where are you going?

If you want more, you will need to buy the book.  Here are the  buy links:
Amazon e-book: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Gentleman-Loreen-Augeri-ebook/dp/B073N1CYCX/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1503506162&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=Not+A+Gentlaman
Amazon paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Gentleman-Loreen-Augeri/dp/1509215972/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503506268&sr=1-1
The Wild Rose Press e-book: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/5206-not-a-gentleman.html?search_query=not+a+gentleman&results=6
The Wild Rose Press paperback: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/5246-not-a-gentleman-paperback.html
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-a-gentleman-loreen-augeri/1126668442?ean=2940158815836

If you would like to contact Loreen, here is her contact information:
Website: www.loreenaugeri.com Facebook: facebook.com/loreenaugeri Twitter ID : @LoreenAugeri
Goodreads author page:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4094757.Loreen_Augeri
Thank you, Loreen, for being my guest.  Any questions or comments?
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Time Slip into Romantic Suspense

Stories that feature time travel have always captured my interest so I'm always excited to find something new in that arena. When I started reading about author Casi McLean's Lake Lanier series I was immediately hooked and wanted to know more. Casi is my guest today in My Writing Corner and she not only introduces her new story but tells us a little about where the idea originated. 



Casi is an award winning romantic suspense author who mixes romance with suspense and a sprinkle of magic. Her books are filled with eerie twists and what she calls believable time slips in their mystical plots and, of course she includes plenty of romance, suspense and a sprinkle of magic. Her book, Beneath the Lake, which was the Lake Lanier Mysteries book one, was awarded the 2016 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for best romantic suspense. She says she likes to mix "believable heroines with delicious, hot heroes." Now there is a recipe for fun reading! 

The newest book in the Lake Lanier Mysteries, Beyond the Mist, promises to be another page turner. 

Piper Taylor concedes she’ll never fall in love, until a treacherous storm spirals her into the arms of the handsome Nick Cramer. Unrelenting remorse over a past relationship haunts Nick, but he can’t deny the mysterious connection and hot desire Piper evokes.

The allure of a secret portal hidden beneath Atlanta’s Lake Lanier tempts him into seizing the opportunity to change his mistakes. But his time slip triggers consequences beyond his wildest dreams.

Can Piper avoid the international espionage and terrorism of 2001 New York, find Nick, and bring him home before he alters the fabric of time, or will the lovers drift forever Beyond The Mist?

What inspired the Lake Lanier mysteries? Here's her reply: 

A ghost town time forgot––the eerie lore attached to a rural area sleeping beneath Atlanta's famous man-made lake, Sidney Lanier, fascinated me. Homes, churches, businesses and untold stories still linger hidden within it's 38,000 acres of water, and fed by the Chestatee and Chattahooche Rivers. What Inspired my series? The strange phenomenon, vanishings, eerie lore, and ghost sitings sparked my muse.

Looper Speedway, a half-mile dirt track where bootleggers competed with their souped-up cars, bared its cement stands in a recent draught. The moonshiners of the 1940's added built-in suspense, not to mention the birth of NASCAR.

A portion of the grandstands, once submerged beneath Lake Lanier, bared its remains near the shoreline Monday, Dec. 17, 2007. As a record drought took it's toll on the 38,000-acre man-made reservoir that supplies more than three million residents with water in metro Atlanta and north Georgia. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

There's a Lady of the Lake who haunts the ghost town too

Swimmers get trapped among the deadfall of sheared-off trees and town remains until they join her in her watery grave. Even expert divers get tangled beneath the murky surface, hence the lake's unnerving label: Lanier never gives up its dead. These stories are the basis for what inspired Beneath The Lake. The inspiration beckoned me, begging for a story to be told. What a perfect setting for my romantic time-slip suspense series.

Tune in to Katie O'Sullivan's blog tomorrow to see why I love writing time travel: https://katieosullivan.blogspot.com

I know I will be checking that out! And I think I'll go back and get that first book too--I love starting at the beginning of a series.

Here are the buy links and information for contacting Casi.

Author Links:

 Website     Twitter     Facebook     Goodreads     Amazon Author Page     BLOG

Buy Links:

Universal world-wide Amazon:  http://myBook.to/BeyondTheMist

TWRP: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/5300-beyond-the-mist-paperback.html

Thanks, Casi, for being my guest and introducing us to Lanier Lake and time-slip romantic suspense. Any questions or comments?