We're in a brave new world where authors are no long purely names on a book or pictures inside a cover. Your brand very much includes you. The readers want to meet 'you.' Once you are more than just a name, they will remember you and if you're super nice, maybe they'll even show you some extra support. Readers are very canny at knowing which authors are genuine and which aren't. Try not to be someone who just chucks buy links at them all the time.
~ If you have a Facebook page, try to interact and show your appreciation for every comment or like. In this busy world, the smallest gesture of their time is a big thing.
~ Share updates about your WIP on your blog or social pages. Invite readers to ask you questions. Don't bore them to death with the writing process. It may be fascinating to us but they want to know about the characters, the story. Show them how exciting and awesome your book is.
~ If you're not under a penname, having a good quality photo of yourself is a good idea. People like to put a face to a name. Most photographers can do an amazing job. Seriously, I am one of the most uncomfortable people to photograph. My expressions are almost always weird, but my photographer did an amazing job.
~ Share what you're comfortable with. You don't have to give away all the intimate details of your life but if you're off on holiday, perhaps let readers know or if you're celebrating a birthday, let them join in. You don't have to even reveal how old you are.
Be fun, don't just be a marketing machine, and readers will remember you!
Thursday 30 January 2014
Wednesday 29 January 2014
Blog Tour Stop: Non Friction by Morgan Parker
Book Title: Non Friction
Author: Morgan Parker
Release Date: December 31st, 2013
Hosted By: A Dirty Book Affair
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
Welcome to my blog! Tell us a little about yourself. What is your name and where do you live now?
My pen name is Morgan Parker and I live just outside of Toronto. That’s in Canada. And yes, it’s cold here, at least it has been this year.
First off, how has your week been?
Busy, but productive. I am publishing a free novella for Valentine’s Day as a way to say thank you to my readers, friends and fans. It’s a small token of my appreciation for the people who make this industry so worthwhile for me.
So tell us where did you come up with the idea to write your book?
Non Friction was inspired by the concept of divorce. Of course, divorce is never a happy life event, but I think there’s a lot of humor in it, especially when one spouse is so obviously too stubborn to see their own fault. With all change in life, there is always a positive twist and that is exactly what I wanted to achieve with Non Friction - show the difficult side, but also the bright sides. In the end, the novel ended up being a tragedy anyway, but quite a few readers have admitted to laughing out loud at the ridiculousness of my character, his frame of mine and the circumstances in which he found himself.
Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?
In Non Friction, I would love to get back to Emma. To my surprise, a lot of readers found her difficult to empathize with. She quite clearly manipulated the main character, but she was also his sole happiness, the one ray of sunshine in his life that allowed him to survive his separation, she inspired him to become a better person. Emma was ultimately that ideal woman that the main character never thought he would or could find. Emma provided him with hope and made him feel things he never believed in (like love). So while Emma was the image of perfection for me, I obviously failed as a writer because most people saw her as a manipulate b-word.
What does your protagonist think about you? Would they want to hang out with you, their author and creator?
My protagonist thinks I’m a dork. I’m a lot more introverted than he is and, being married, life isn’t all about sleeping with women or receiving nasty fan mail. That being said, my protagonist became a lot more like I am toward the end of the novel because, well, that’s what keep life manageable. LOL.
How does your family feel about the book?
My wife loved the story and couldn’t put it down; my mother refused to read beyond the first two chapters because it was too vulgar. Mixed messages…
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book?
Looking back, I should never have given Emma “fake boobs.” I was surprised by how many women with enhanced chests approached me, thinking I was writing about them without even knowing them. Oh well, I’ve made some good friends as a result of that!
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
If nothing else, I hope readers understand that people don’t understand love properly. It’s not something we’re good at understanding, and it’s definitely not 100% butterflies in the stomach and all of that other stuff of fairy tales and shooting stars.
Do you have plans for a new book?
I do! This will be an exciting year for Morgan Parker. Outside of my free Valentine’s Day novella, I’m working on another romance novel titled Sick Day which is due to be published in May. And later in the year, I have 2 more releases planned, both of which are difficult love stories with a bit of a, um, mind-eff in them. I’d really love to write an easy-going romance novel, but it seems I’m incapable of that.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
The only novel where I chose the title first was Sick Day. All others received their name within days of being published, which can get stressful because I can’t imagine that “Untitled” would fly with potential readers.
Well thanks so much for joining me today, Morgan and allowing me to pick your brain. Read on to find out about Morgan's book.
SYNOPSIS:
After 12 years, 4 months and 1 and 1/2 weeks of marriage, his wife packs up and leaves with their daughter. So he writes an Indie novel. And it becomes a bestseller. Well, sort of.
His fame brings him the lifestyle of a rockstar, and he has the fan mail (i.e. female undergarments, probably clean) to prove it.
But seeing his fame, his wife suddenly believes in marriage counseling. Their homework: to create something beautiful for each other.
So he writes Our Story, his literary secret-weapon that will win his wife back. But in the process he discovers that true love is more than just ticking the right boxes on a checklist.
TEASER:
AUTHOR BIO:
Morgan Parker is the pen name for a shy and introverted former banker. Because he could never balance his cash at the end of the banking day, he made up stories in order to keep his job. None of those stories was Textual Encounters, which is great because readers will discover a truly unique and original romance that has never been told before.
CONNECT WITH PARKER:
PARKER'S OTHER BOOKS:
Synopsis:
Katie discovers an unlocked iPhone in the back seat of a taxi. But instead of turning it in to the driver as lost, she decides to keep it for herself.
Outside of the usual clutter you would expect to find on a smartphone, what captures Katie's interest is the single conversation she finds on the phone's secure text messaging service, a three-month dialogue between a woman with an uncertain past named Christine and a single, eligible man named Jake.
From Strangers to Soulmates in 90 Days
What starts out as a message intended for someone else ends up being the beginning of a relationship more powerful than anything Christine or Jake have ever experienced.
But nothing ever turns out to be as good as it initially seems and their histories slowly reveal details and past lovers that threaten to derail their humble quest for love.
Forgotten In The Back Seat of a New York City Taxi
Can Christine and Jake overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, doubts and secrets that endanger their love?
If so, why would such a relationship get forgotten in the back seat of a New York City taxi?
Presented in a Format Unlike Any Other You Will Find
Follow Katie as she reads through the 3 months of conversations that form The Christine + Jake Affair and provide the foundation for the Textual Encounters Trilogy
Synopsis:
Having found a white iPhone in the back of a New York City cab, Katie orchestrates a "chance" meeting with Jake, the man of her dreams. Knowing more than she lets on, Katie develops a relationship with Jake that ultimately gets captured in text form. And those texts are passed along to the married woman that just lost Jake's baby.
Sunday 26 January 2014
Blog Tour Stop and Review: Rain by Nicole Hurley-Moore
Title – Rain
Author – Nicole Hurley-Moore
Genre – Fantasy (medieval fairytale)
Publication Date – 20th November 2013
Length (Pages/# Words) - 169 pages
Publisher – Jupiter Gardens Press
Cover Artist – Tibbs Design
BOOK SYNOPSIS
1216 AD
On the mountain, high above the village of Farran – Nuri is caught between heaven and hell. Two men fight for her love and her soul. The first is Maras, an elemental being who follows the storms. Nuri knows that he is not human, he’s something more. She believes he is her beautiful fallen angel. Yet he is transient and is bound to the elements and their love may be as fleeting as the storm itself. The second is Brother Erebus, a pious monk whose tortured soul is twisted by his desire for her.
But Nuri may sacrifice more than her heart when the Church brands her angel a demon. As Brother Erebus will do anything to protect her soul from the silver haired devil, even if he has to crush her body to do it.
BUY & TBR LINKS
My review
Rain is a lush historical fantasy with a wonderful supporting cast of characters. Ms Hurley-Moore is adept at drawing readers into her world and I was thoroughly absorbed into Nuri's world which revolved around her lovely cottage on the mountain and the villagers around her.
Nuri is a soft, gentle character but has strength of will without being, frankly, bossy and bitchy--something very prevalent in historical heroines I fear. You see her 'light', as Marias calls it, and she's the kind of person you would love to know. The beautiful flourishing relationship between her and Marias grows slowly but wonderfully and you find yourself eager for them to come together. There are some sensual scenes which, with the patent love behind them, are a joy to read.
I always measure a good book by the effect it has on my stomach. If I get that little stomach flip, I know I'm involved. And I got that. I feared for Nuri when Brother Erebus' attentions turned obsessive and prayed for Marias to come to her aid. The added touch of tension really pulled the story along.
Those who love medieval romance will love the touch of fantasy. It thoroughly adds to the story and makes for compelling reading.
AUTHOR BIO
Nicole has always been a lover of fairy tales, history and romance. She grew up in
Melbourne and has travelled extensively, whilst living her life through the romance of
books. Her first passion in life has always been her family, but after studying and achieving
a History degree and Honours in Medieval Literature, she devoted her time to writing historical romance.
She is a full time writer who lives in the Central Highlands of Victoria with her family, where
they live in the peaceful surrounds of a semi‐rural town.
STALKER THE AUTHOR HERE:
GIVEAWAY
$20 Amazon Gift Card
Saturday 25 January 2014
Burns' Night Blog Hop
January is a cold dreich month in Scotland. The strains of Auld Lang Syne have long since drifted over the heather. We need to keep ourselves cheerful somehow. So on the 25th of January we celebrate the poetry of our bard, Robert Burns.
Welcome to the Burns' Night Blog hop! Some fabulous authors have joined together to celebrate this unique Scottish tradition and bring a bit of cheer to all the readers. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter as you can win $100 worth of Amazon gift cards and be sure to hop from blog to blog to be in with a chance of winning individual prizes. I'm giving away an ecopy of To Steal a Highlander's Heart so be sure to comment with your email address!
I thought I'd share with you today my top 5 castles in Scotland. Most people know of Eilean Donan but there are some other amazing castles that if you are ever in Scotland, you must visit!
1. Hermitage Castle
There's something about this castle that fills me with awe. Maybe it's the barren setting or how imposing it is. Maybe it's the castle's gruesome history. Many murders and plots took place here...
2. Caerlaverock Castle
Still surrounded by a moat, it's gatehouse strikes an imposing sight. It's proximity to the border between England and Scotland ensured it saw plenty of strife during the time it was inhabited.
3. Dunnottar Castle
The setting for this castle is breathtaking. A castle has been on this site since the 12th Century and was involved in the civil war as well as once being used as a prison for Scottish Presbyterians.
4. Loch Leven Castle
The only way to get to this castle is by boat. It is most famous for being the prison of Mary, Queen of Scots.
5. St Andrews Castle
Surrounded by the sea on two sides, St Andrews is quite the fortress. With an inescapable bottle dungeon, this castle has seen many events include murder and a siege.
I hope you enjoyed a little taste of Scotland and it's history. Which is your favourite? Or is there one you feel should have been included?
Don't forget to check out the blogs below to be in with a chance of winning more prizes!
Friday 24 January 2014
Excerpt and Giveaway: Not Another Soldier
As some of you know, I run monthly giveaways but this one is coming a little earlier because I'm celebrating Not Another Solider breaking the top 1000 on Amazon and becoming a bestselling military romance! Check out this excerpt from my book and enter the rafflecopter below.
The little skip, skip of my heart is slightly sickening. How
can I go from scared to… to so needy
in less than ten seconds? The sight of Nick on my bed seems to short circuit my
brain. I’m pretty sure I can feel explosions going on behind my eyes. Memories
of being pressed against him, of him inside
me, combust in my mind.
One arm comes around my waist and draws me close in
understanding. I wish he couldn’t read me so well sometimes. The fear of earlier
has been replaced with something much more urgent and frightening. His thumb
rubs roughly across my cheek as he coaxes my face up and away from his chest.
His eyes are sincere and guilt jabs me for even imagining he might hurt me. My
chest tightens as his callused thumb continues to smooth across my face. I want
it. I can’t help it. I need him to kiss me. My lips tingle in anticipation and
I hold my breath.
I don’t know if it’s adrenaline that numbs my common sense
when it comes to Nick or what, but the pain in my neck has all but gone. The
hammering of my heart is replaced with a steady throb of desire. His gaze drops
to my lips and I wait for him to close the distance between us but I suspect
he’s waiting for my permission.
I tighten my grip on the back of his neck, almost fearful he
might pull away, and I bring my lips to his. We hover there, exchange breaths
and heat for a moment, and when we finally connect it’s slow and acute. I’m
aware of every tiny touch of his lips on mine. Before I can deepen it, he pulls
back and drops his hand to my wine-soaked top. His smile tilts.
“We need to get you out of that top.”
Purchase from Amazon.
Wednesday 22 January 2014
Marketing 101 - Marketing for Authors: Don't Pay for Facebook
I've touched on this before. I see lots of authors effectively buying likes through Facebook and paying for sponsored posts. I shake my head at this. Here are the reasons you should NOT be paying for Facebook advertising.
~ Every penny you spend on marketing should be an investment. You are investing in an indefinite thing. For all we know, Facebook could close tomorrow. Their priority is their stockholders, not you or the user. Why would anyone invest in something with no long term benefit?
~It's not good value. You are paying to reach people who may have shown some kind of interest in books. Like myself. But I'm probably not going to buy your book because I'm too darned busy. If you're going to spend money, invest in places where you know book lovers hang out and with strong statistics. Most book blogs and email lists can tell you exactly what their reach is. Facebook only give you an estimate.
~Sponsored posts annoy people. By sponsoring a post, it may actually have a negative effect. Many people actually mark them as spam because they come up in their newsfeed. Do you want to be seen as an annoying author?
*Note, I do still advocate having a Facebook page at the moment. It works for many authors, particularly contemporary ones, but it is absolutely not worth paying for.
~ Every penny you spend on marketing should be an investment. You are investing in an indefinite thing. For all we know, Facebook could close tomorrow. Their priority is their stockholders, not you or the user. Why would anyone invest in something with no long term benefit?
~It's not good value. You are paying to reach people who may have shown some kind of interest in books. Like myself. But I'm probably not going to buy your book because I'm too darned busy. If you're going to spend money, invest in places where you know book lovers hang out and with strong statistics. Most book blogs and email lists can tell you exactly what their reach is. Facebook only give you an estimate.
~Sponsored posts annoy people. By sponsoring a post, it may actually have a negative effect. Many people actually mark them as spam because they come up in their newsfeed. Do you want to be seen as an annoying author?
*Note, I do still advocate having a Facebook page at the moment. It works for many authors, particularly contemporary ones, but it is absolutely not worth paying for.
Monday 20 January 2014
Cover Reveal: The Queen of Swords by Nina Mason
A
love powerful enough to reach beyond the grave.
Cat Fingal, the third coming of Graham’s beloved, won’t let him slip away so easily. A white witch, she casts a spell to summon him—for answers, among other things.
Graham has other problems, too. Like the seductress who wants him for herself and the dark wizard who cursed him and killed Cat the first two times.
Will she find a way to save him this time around?
Nina Mason is a hopeless romantic with strong affinities for history, mythology, and the metaphysical. She strives to write the same kind of books she loves to read: those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten. Three of her books will be published in 2014: The Queen of Swords, a paranormal romance/urban fantasy from Vamptasy Publishing; The Knight of Wands, book one in the Knights of Avalon Series from Soul Mate Publishing; and The Tin Man, a thriller from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. When not writing, Nina works as a communications consultant, doll maker, and home stager. Born and raised in Southern California, Nina now lives in Woodstock, Georgia, with her husband, teenage daughter, two rescue cats, and a Westie who’s frightened of the dryer.
Thursday 16 January 2014
Blog Tour Stop: Sex in the Title by Zack Love
BOOK TITLE: Sex in the Title
GENRE: Romantic Comedy
RELEASE DATE: October 21, 2013
HOSTED BY: A Dirty Book Affair
SYNOPSIS:
New York City, May 2000. The Internet bubble has burst, and Evan's boss fires him with an email. The next day, his girlfriend dumps him, also via email. Afraid to check any more emails, Evan desperately seeks a rebound romance but the catastrophes that ensue go from bad to hilariously worse. Fortunately, Evan meets someone whose legendary disasters with females eclipse even his own.
To reverse their fortunes, they recruit their friends into a group of five guys who take on Manhattan in pursuit of dates, sex, and adventure. With musings about life, relationships, and human psychology, this quintessential New York story about the search for happiness follows five men on their comical paths to trouble, self-discovery, and love.
EXCERPT:
“What’s SQ?” asked Evan.
“What’s that?”
“Basically, it’s your odds of getting laid. Everyone has an SQ. Just like everyone has an IQ.”
“I’ve never heard that term before.”
“That’s because I made it up.”
“That figures. Finally applying your actuarial skills to what really matters, eh?”
“Yeah…It’s an idea I had always sort of toyed with, but after I lost Yumi to my boss, I really began to develop and refine it.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I started obsessing over why she suddenly dumped me for him. And in the process of figuring that out, I developed the concept of SQ.”
“So how does it work?”
“Your Sexual Quotient is really just an attempt to quantify, on some absolute scale, how attractive you are to the opposite sex. In general, the higher your SQ, the more desirable you are.”
“So the higher your SQ, the easier it is for you to get laid.”
“Right. But your SQ determines a lot more; it effectively defines your bargaining position in a relationship. The lower your SQ, the more likely you are to be dominated by the person you’re with,” Heeb explained.
“You really think so?”
“Look at me. I always end up being the doormat because of my SQ. But if you look at models – male or female – they generally get away with demanding more and giving less.”
“So how do you figure out your SQ?” Evan asked, suddenly eager to compute his own Sexual Quotient.
“Well, your subjective SQ is how attractive you are to a particular person. And your objective SQ is just the average of all the scores you got for all of the people out there.”
“So how do I calculate my SQ for a particular woman?”
“It’s calculated the way you would calculate your personal income taxes.”
“How’s that?”
“Various facts cause you to take deductions from the total, although with taxes you want the deductions and with your SQ you obviously don’t. Because the lower your objective SQ is, the fewer women you attract, and the less picky you can be. And that’s a bad thing. And for anyone who wants to marry a Jew, it’s a disaster.”
“Why?”
“Because there are only about fourteen million Jews in the whole world, which leaves about seven million for each gender. So let’s say I’m willing to date any Jewish woman who’s twenty to forty years old. That leaves me with a choice of about two million women in the world. And if we assume that half of those women are already taken, I’m left with a million eligible women roaming about six billion people. And, chances are, the million that’s not taken is not taken for a reason.”
“A million?”
“Yeah. And if you want to get really precise, we need to shave off at least another three hundred thousand, because I can’t date any Chasidic, Orthodox or even Conservative Jews.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I’m compatible only with bagel Jews.”
“Bagel Jews?”
“The ones who are Jewish culturally but not religiously. Which leaves about seven hundred thousand.”
AUTHOR BIO:
Zack Love graduated from Harvard College, where he tried to create a bachelor’s degree in Women. With the bachelor portion of that degree in hand, he settled in New York City but – to afford renting his bed-sized studio – found himself flirting mostly with a computer screen and stacks of documents. Determined not to die a corporate drone, Zack decided to sacrifice sleep for screenwriting, an active social life, and Internet startups offering temporary billion-dollar fantasies.
To feed his steady diet of NYC nightlife, he regularly crashed VIP parties in the early 2000s and twice bumped into his burgeoning crush, a Hollywood starlet. But – much to Zack’s surprise – neither of those awkward conversations led to marriage with the A-list actress. Zack eventually consoled himself by imagining fiascoes far worse than those involving his celebrity crush. In the process, he dreamed up a motley gang of five men inspired by some of his college friends and quirky work colleagues. And thus was born Sex in the Title. But the novel is not autobiographical: Zack never had his third leg attacked by any mammal (nor by any plant, for that matter). In fact, keeping his member safe has been one of Zack’s lifelong goals – and one of the few that he’s managed to accomplish.
CONNECT WITH ZACK:
Web site: www.SexInTheTitleBook.com
Goodreads Fan Group: www.tinyurl.com/SITTfan
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/
Monday 13 January 2014
Sunday 12 January 2014
Marketing 101 - Marketing Tips For Authors: Spreading the Love.
Why should I market another person's book? you may ask yourself. Aren't we in competition?
Well, yes. But there are so many billions of readers out there that it really doesn't matter if they buy another author's book.
My tip for this week is: Spread the Love.
Networking is a vital tool. And I don't just mean adding someone on Twitter or Facebook and immediately sending them your link. I mean building a relationship and not just thinking about what is in it for you, because actually that's the most beneficial thing for you.
I regularly feature authors on my blog. What does this do? Well, it exposes them to my followers and readers but also it brings in their readers, so I'm also reaching new people. It's all very well marketing to the same people over and over but what you want is fresh blood!
I also work on Love, Lust and Lipstick Stains to help promote other authors. This doesn't have a direct benefit for myself, aside from when we do group events and blog hops. But it's allowed me to develop some amazing relationships with fellow authors who never fail to help when it comes to new releases. People remember kind acts. They also remember selfish acts.
It's hard for people to see past themselves sometimes. Writing can be a selfish job. We concentrate on these characters in our heads and forget about the rest of the world. If you want to succeed in writing, don't be a bitch and trample on others and try not to think of your time spent helping others as a quick fix, but more a long term investment.
Well, yes. But there are so many billions of readers out there that it really doesn't matter if they buy another author's book.
My tip for this week is: Spread the Love.
Networking is a vital tool. And I don't just mean adding someone on Twitter or Facebook and immediately sending them your link. I mean building a relationship and not just thinking about what is in it for you, because actually that's the most beneficial thing for you.
I regularly feature authors on my blog. What does this do? Well, it exposes them to my followers and readers but also it brings in their readers, so I'm also reaching new people. It's all very well marketing to the same people over and over but what you want is fresh blood!
I also work on Love, Lust and Lipstick Stains to help promote other authors. This doesn't have a direct benefit for myself, aside from when we do group events and blog hops. But it's allowed me to develop some amazing relationships with fellow authors who never fail to help when it comes to new releases. People remember kind acts. They also remember selfish acts.
It's hard for people to see past themselves sometimes. Writing can be a selfish job. We concentrate on these characters in our heads and forget about the rest of the world. If you want to succeed in writing, don't be a bitch and trample on others and try not to think of your time spent helping others as a quick fix, but more a long term investment.
Friday 10 January 2014
Blog Tour Stop: Naughty or Nice by Siren Allen and Monica Garry-Allen
Author – Siren Allen
Genre – Erotic Paranormal Romance
Publication Date – 12/9/13
Length (Pages/# Words) – 44k
Publisher – Entranced Publishing
Book Blurb/Synopsis –
One bite was all it took.
It’s that time of year again. Alyssa Blakely is busy writing in her fantasy diary, filling it with all her forbidden, sexual fantasies. The star: her very sexy boss, Devin Jordan. Too bad for her, he’s never given her a second glance.
Or so she thought…
After a steamy kiss under the mistletoe and a night of wild sex, Alyssa has the bite to prove just how wrong she was.
Devin Jordan has found his mate. The only problem: she’s human. He’s not. Can he prove to her that his inner beast can be both naughty and nice? Or will her fear of the unknown keep him from claiming her?
Christmas Fantasy Excerpt
Devin took a deep, calming breath. Alyssa was off limits. Even if she were single and interested in him, he still couldn’t have her. It was too risky. She made him feel things he wasn’t used to. He didn’t know if he could handle touching her without hurting her.
Hurting Alyssa was something he would never do. He would just have to endure her presence. He would take pleasure in the shy smiles she cast his way every now and again. He would enjoy the laughs they shared while working late some evenings. He would maintain the professional relationship they had, even though he yearned for a taste of her.
Devin turned and placed his back against the window. He stared at the door that separated him from the woman he desired. A piece of metal and space was all that separated his body from hers. It would only take a couple of strides for him to reach the door.
One pull on the door knob and he could send it flying across the room. Then he would be face to face with the one woman in this world that made him wish he wasn’t a beast with a conscience. If he had no conscience, he would take her, now, against his desk, against her desk, against the wall, on every damn hard surface in this building.
He would make sure she enjoyed it. He would make sure he pleased her so thoroughly that she wouldn’t even think of leaving him, even when she found out that he was not the man he pretended to be. Devin sighed, but that would never happen. Because though he was a beast, he did indeed have a conscience
That conscience kept her safe from him… for now.
♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠
Title – Christmas ConfusionSeries – Bailey’s chaotic life
Author – Monica Garry-Allen
Genre – New Adult/Contemporary Romance
Publication Date – 12/08/13
Length (Pages/# Words) - 44,580
Publisher – Front Porch Romance
Cover Artist – Monica Garry-Allen
Book Blurb/Synopsis –
Can two people be any more confused than Bailey and Max?
Bailey Cooper is very much attracted to her neighbor Max Davis. Unfortunately for Bailey, Greg – Max’s lover is slowly becoming one of Bailey’s best friends. Bailey’s emotions are torn; she adores Greg’s friendship while at the same time she craves Max’s touch. What is a girl to do when she ‘thinks’ the man she's in love with is in love with someone else?
Max Davis and his baby brother Greg Davis are co-owners of the apartment building they live in. Max has fallen for his tenant, Bailey, but she avoids and ignores all of his advances. Max becomes suspicious of the friendship blooming between Greg and Bailey. He believes Bailey has a crush on his brother but Max wants Bailey all to himself. Now he has to think of ways to keep Bailey and Greg apart.
Will a holiday weekend full of chaos, confusion and a little bit of charm finally get Bailey and Max on the right track? Or will a few innocent caresses lead to more Christmas confusion?
♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠
Title – Lily’s Naughty ChristmasSeries – Secrets of Country Club Circle
Author – Siren Allen
Genre – Erotica
Publication Date – 12/09/13
Length (Pages/# Words) – 14,409 words
Publisher – Secret Cravings Publishing
Book Blurb/Synopsis –
Twas the night before Christmas and Lily Parks has every intention of having her name on Santa’s naughty list.
Tired of her good girl image, Lily Parks is determined to let her wildest fantasies free, even if it is just for one night. She plans a night of seduction - the only thing missing is her ex-husband Charles and his lover, Paul. She wants them both and she knows just how to get them.
Charles Henderson is surprised when he receives a call from his ex-wife inviting him and his partner to Christmas dinner, but he can’t deny that her threesome idea is the greatest Christmas present ever. After one night of ecstasy with the two people he loves, he’s determined to make this arrangement permanent.
Can the three of them make this love triangle work, or will jealousy destroy the attraction they all feel for one another?
Lily’s Naughty Christmas Excerpt
“Can you lock the door behind you?” she called to them over her shoulder. She heard the lock click. Time for the games to begin.
“Where are the other chairs?” Charles asked when he entered the kitchen.
“There are only three of us tonight, so we only need three chairs,” Lily told him.
He raised his eyebrow but said nothing as he sat in the chair across from her.
“Can you pour me a glass of champagne before you sit down, Paul?” Lily asked her ex-husband’s lover.
Paul was in the middle of sitting down beside Charles when Lily popped her question. He froze, looking from Charles to Lily.
“Uh, sure,” Paul said. “You want some more, buddy?”
“Yeah, whatever,” Charles responded.
Lily smiled. Charles was uncomfortable, she liked that. “If you want something stronger I have vodka in the cabinet. You forgot to take it with you when you left.”
Paul filled her glass with champagne then sat down. Charles stood up and walked over to the cabinet, pulling a bottle of Grey Goose out. He filled his wine glass with the clear liquid. Lily smiled as he drank it down with one gulp then refilled the glass. At this rate he would be drunk before they even began.
Lily stood up and walked over to the stove. “Let me serve you two.”
Behind her both men coughed, choking on their beverages. Lily took the lid off the pot containing the dressing.
“It smells good Lily, thanks for having us over.” Charles voice sounded a bit strained but not strained enough.
“You’re welcome.” Lily walked over to her ex and bent over him to pick up his plate. Her breasts were right in his face, her ass right in Paul’s face. She picked up the plate and took it to the counter and began filling it with dressing, turkey, greens and candied yams.
She carried Charles his plate. “Enjoy,” she whispered before picking up Paul’s plate and filling it. When she was done serving both men she returned to her seat and began to drink from her glass.
“You’re not going to eat?” Charles asked around a mouthful of food.
Soon his mouth would be full of her. Lily shivered, and both men stopped eating. They stared at her.
“If I don’t watch this figure, no one will,” Lily told them. She took another sip of her drink, enjoying the way she had them squirming in their seats.
This whole seduction thing was easier than she thought. Lily licked her lips. Paul swallowed. Charles stared down into his plate. If Lily wanted a threesome she was going to have to make the first move.
“You two should hurry up with your dinner, I have a present for the two of you in my bedroom.”
Lily stood up. She pushed her chair under the table and grabbed her glass.
“I’ll be waiting,” she whispered before she turned and sashayed away. Her whole body trembled with nervousness. She’d done her part, she’d put the offer on the table. It was now up to them to pick it up and run with it.
Lily walked upstairs to her room. She sat her glass on her nightstand and pulled her dress over her head. She had to wiggle a bit to get the tight-fitting garment off. Lily put her dress back on a hanger and hung it in the closet. She sat on her bed and resumed sipping her drink. All she could do now was wait for them to join her.
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AUTHOR BIO:
Siren Allen is a writer and lover of all things erotic and romantic. She resides in southern Mississippi where she writes steamy romances that are guaranteed to make you blush. When she’s not listening to the characters in her head and jotting down their adventures, she’s busy working as a Clinical Laboratory Technician.
Her weekends are spent writing and having sleep-over’s for her wonderful nieces and nephews. She loves to travel, preferably with her husband, so he can do all of the driving. She enjoys time with her family, who are just as silly as she is. She doesn’t have any children…yet! Her hobbies are reading, writing and shopping, though she hates trying on clothing. If she wasn’t a writer or a Laboratory Professional, she swears she would be a Secret Agent. But that’s the beauty of being a writer; you can create your own world and be whoever you want to be. In her imaginary world she is Queen and her siblings are her minions.
STALKER LINKS:
Monica Garry-Allen has loved reading for as long as she can remember. As a child her mother always purchased books for her at her school’s book fair. Back then her favorite book was The Little Mermaid. Now days she reads and tells stories to her nieces and nephews during her weekend sleepovers. Monica is a full time Clinical Laboratory Scientist. When she is not working in the lab she’s writing humorous love stories and steamy romances. She recently married the man of her dreams, Dempsey Allen, who motivates her to be the best writer she can be. She has a loving family who supports her one hundred percent and friends who can’t wait to read her next story. She resides in the southern part of Mississippi where she enjoys shopping, reading, writing and spending time with her family.
STALKER LINKS:
GIVEAWAY
1- Ecopy of Christmas Confusion by Monica Garry-Allen
2- Ecopy of The Makeover by Monica Garry-Allen
3- Ecopy of Lily’s Naughty Christmas by Siren Allen
4- Ecopy of Christmas Fantasy by Siren Allen
5- Ecopy of Lovers Unchained by Siren Allen
6- Ecopy of Yours For Now by Siren Allen
7- $10.00 Amazon Gift Card
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