[Book Spotlight] The Tycoon's Wager by Olivia Logan

Title:  The Tycoon’s Wager

Publisher- Crimson Romance

Release Date: 23 March 2015

Blurb

To boost ratings and save her radio show, agony aunt CJ Stratt has no choice but to agree to a publicity proposition from London’s renowned playboy Jack Harper. They’ll go on eight dates, which she’ll tweet about to prove he’s not the unreliable wastrel he’s been painted as in the press.

 Jack’s desperate to squelch his irresponsible image to insure that the business deal that could make or break his career goes smoothly. He’s willing to do anything, including dating this quirky DJ with pastel-colored hair and a sassy mouth.

Jack knows seduction, but he has no idea how to love. Love is CJ’s business, yet she has never been seduced.

 Somehow, this business just got personal …

Buy Links

Amazon US

http://www.amazon.com/Tycoons-Wager-Olivia-Logan-ebook/dp/B00U7NR3B4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426594168&sr=8-3&keywords=olivia+logan

Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tycoons-Wager-Olivia-Logan-ebook/dp/B00U7NR3B4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1426594250&sr=8-4&keywords=olivia+logan

Barnes and Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tycoons-wager-olivia-logan/1121335449?ean=9781440590412

iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-tycoons-wager/id973145667?mt=11

Kobo

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-tycoon-s-wager

Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24913071-the-tycoon-s-wager

Author Information

Olivia Logan lives in the ever sunny UK where if she’s not writing her latest romance, she’s planning the next one.

Olivia loves to hear from her readers. Contact her on:

www.olivialoganromance.com

Or follow her on twitter @Olivia_Logan_ 

Excerpt

Clearing her throat, CJ  pushed her glasses further up her nose, swiveling around to face her guest. “So, Mr. Harper ...”

            “Jack, and you, I take it from your show’s introduction, are CJ. Short for ...?”

            Short for none of your business, but she pasted a saccharine smile on her face. “Well it’s nice to meet you, Jack, and it’s just CJ. So are you telling us, London that is, that Ms. Shoes was wrong and you are a loving, devoted guy after all?”

            Ha! That got him. She smiled victoriously, pleased to see his mouth open then shut firmly again. “And just so I’m not accused of missing some facts, how long did you and Ms. Shoes date?”

            “One month.” This time the smooth drawl belied his tightening jaw.

            “So let’s say four weeks in a month, average that to about one date a week ... that is a reasonable enough time to get to know someone.”

Her heart skipped in her chest as his eyes, a deep navy she could see now, narrowed.

“In this busy, modern world of dating, I believe that is the only time people have available. In addition to which, Ms. Stratt, in that one sentence, you have solved the dilemma for anyone wondering if they should get married or not.”

            “And by that you mean?”

            “If they don’t know them after four dates, they never will.”

            “I never meant that,” she replied. Grrr. If she could, she’d give her whole monthly paycheck to wipe that smirk off his face!

            “So what did you mean? Just for the clarification of your listeners,” he prodded, moving forward. The rough softness of his trousers grazed the bare skin of her knee through the ripped denim, sending sparks of electricity shooting through her, and she pushed the creaking chair back, its soft clunk against the desk mobilising her thoughts out of the physical and into action.

            She knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to discredit her on air. She could feel the blood thunder through her body at the victorious look on his patrician features.

            “People can fall in love after four dates as well as they can after forty,” she began, hurrying on quickly at his raised sandy blond eyebrow. “Depending on the individuals involved. Don’t you agree?”

            “No.” She pressed her lips together tightly at his laconic answer. “However, let’s run with your idea of knowing true love after four dates. What then is your professional opinion of passing judgement on an individual based on a 140-character tweet from a third party and, in your own words, based on roughly an average of one date per week for a total of one month, each date lasting only a few hours?”

            Grrr! Darn him and his quick comeback. She was going to have to be quicker than she thought with this one.

{Book Spotlight} Kiss Me Katie by Monica Tillery

I'd like to welcome my friend and fellow Crimson Romance author, Monica Tillery, to my blog. Her new release, Kiss Me Katie, is available now! See the buy links below.

Book Blurb:
Talented fiddler Katie McCoy finds out that her band, Sterling, will join the very famous, extremely handsome, Blake Jackson on his Country Summer Nights tour. Her career is taking off, but after dating too many guys who let her down, her love life is going nowhere.

Blake is America’s biggest country star, and he can date a different beautiful woman every night of the week. After years on the road, each woman starts to seem the same and none of them ever want more than the experience of dating a celebrity. In Katie, he finally finds a woman who is interested in who he is as a man, someone who loves him for his true self. Being on tour together is a bit like being in a relationship pressure cooker, and things get serious. Everything moves faster than outside in the real world. Theirs is a match made in music heaven, but in three short weeks, Katie’s band leaves the tour and she’ll be out of his arms.

Katie wants true love more than anything else, but her tour bus is heading back to Texas with or without her. Sterling’s new level of success means that her career must take top priority and any man she’s with will have to respect that. She’s done with guys who don’t take her career seriously, and Blake can’t leave his own tour. How can they stay together when their paths have them moving in opposite directions? Will they find a way to make it work or say goodbye?

BUY LINKS: 
B&N: bit.ly/12k4PIY 
Amazon: amzn.to/10KfAg1
iTunes: bit.ly/10O0ozX
Kobo: bit.ly/12mvzZv

Author Bio:

Monica Tillery has been a social worker and a massage therapist, but is now living her dream as a romance novelist.  She loves nothing more than to get lost in a beautiful love story, holding her breath as the hero and heroine fight their way through obstacles to get to their happily ever after.  Monica lives in Texas with her own real-life romance hero, her husband of over a dozen years, and two wonderful sons.  When she’s not reading and writing romance, Monica loves playing bunco and bingo, hanging out with friends, and wasting time online.  Monica loves hearing from and connecting with readers.  Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/monicatilleryauthor, on Twitter @monicatillery, or visit her website www.monicatillery.com.  Monica maintains her website on her own, so she warns you that it’s very basic and rarely changes, but all the pertinent information is updated.

We meet Monica below with a few writing questions. 

When you have writer's block how do you break free?

I try to end my writing day with an idea of what’s coming next, so I never sit down and stare at a blank screen.  Sometimes I just don’t know what to write though, so I’ll either skip ahead and write a later scene or go back and add layers to previous scenes.  That way, at least my word count is increasing and the story is getting finished.  I tend to write really lean to begin with, so I always need to go back and fill in actions in dialogue-heavy scenes or add emotional reactions or something.  There’s always something that needs to be done!

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

I am a combination plotter/pantser.  I can never complete a detailed, chapter-by-chapter outline, but before I write a story, I know where it’s going.  I know the characters, I know the conflict, I have a few key scenes in mind.  I always try to identify the main characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts, and I have a general sense of what’s going to happen. 

What was the first romance novel you read that made an impression on you?

I’m actually fairly new to romance, but once I began reading them I jumped in with great enthusiasm.  A classic example that I just love and would recommend to anyone is Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught.  I don’t know what it is about that one, but it grabbed me and didn’t let me go until the HEA.  A more modern category romance that I just adore is Not Fit for a King? by Jane Porter.  That one was so great that it had me find her on Facebook to tell her how much I loved it. 

How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?

My family is incredibly supportive of my writing.  My husband was the one who encouraged me to write, and he has been wonderful through all the stress and emotion that come with trying to get published.  He read my first book, and though I don’t think he’s going to become a romance fan, he enjoyed it.  My mom has read my first book, and I’m sure plenty of other relatives will do the same.  Everyone has been wonderful, really supportive and enthusiastic.

Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or Still do?

My degree is in social work, and while I haven’t done that full time in years, I still occasionally do contract work.  I also have a massage license, which I use infrequently.  I identify as a writer for the most part.  I’m at my desk first thing in the morning and I try to get words down every day. 

THANK YOU, MONICA, FOR A GREAT INTERVIEW! Can't wait to read Kiss Me Katie!

Crime & Passion by Chantel Rhondeau - Book Tour w/ Character Interview

Check out this exciting new release by romantic suspense author, Chantel Rhondeau.

Crime & Passion

Genre: Romantic suspense/mystery

Release date: March 15, 2013

Cover art done by LFD Designs for Authors

A decorated police officer, more intent on justice than following the letter of the law, lands in trouble when a schoolteacher finds a dead body on the beach.

Officer Donovan Andrews knows how to have a good time—ask any woman in town. But when it comes to men abusing their wives or children, Donovan takes it upon himself to make them regret it.

Madeline Scott is unlucky in love. All she wants is a quiet place to heal, away from cheating, womanizing men. However, her life is far from peaceful once she stumbles across the body and witnesses someone fleeing the scene.

Terror spreads in Pleasant View when the small community hears a killer is on the loose. All evidence points to Donovan, and he realizes someone is trying to frame him. When troubling suspicions from his past surface, even fellow officers believe he’s guilty. Madeline might be the only person who can clear his name, but first he has to win her trust.

The body count rises and no one is safe. The murderer makes it clear Madeline is next. Soon, Donovan’s whole world is focused on protecting her and keeping himself out of prison. The more time he spends with her, the harder it is to fight his growing attraction. Since she’s been burned by love, convincing Madeline he’s interested in something more than hot sex may prove harder than keeping her alive.

Read the first three chapters at Chantel’s blog: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com/2013/03/crime-passion-romantic-suspense-and.html

Author vs Character Interview

Book Name:  Crime & Passion

Author Name: Chantel Rhondeau

Character Name: Donovan Andrews

Melinda:  Welcome, Donovan and Chantel. It’s an honor to have you here.

Let’s  begin. How did you two meet and how long ago was it?

Chantel:  We actually met in March of 2012 when I first started writing Crime & Passion. Donovan was the first responding officer to a 911 call made by my heroine, Madeline, when she reported a murder on the beach.

Melinda: What was your first impression of each other?

Donovan: **laughs** I knew she was trouble right away. I just knew she’d want to pull all sorts of feelings out of me and make me a better person.

Chantel: You thought I was trouble? Well, my first impression of you was that you were a total jerk!

Donovan: Wow, that’s harsh. Tell me what you really think. Now I see where Maddie gets it.

Chantel: Being outspoken? I’m glad she’s that way. Madeline said some truths you needed to hear.

Donovan:  Maybe.

Chantel:  **raises her eyebrows** Are you really sorry we met? Didn’t I make it all worth your time?

Donovan:  **nodding** Yeah. Maddie’s definitely worth it.

Melinda:  Chantel, what does Donovan do that annoys you the most?

Chantel:  Donovan is sort of an all-or-nothing person. Either totally reckless or full throttle with trying to conform. Also, he buried his feelings deep down a long time ago and it was hard to get to know the real him. He’s a tough case.  

Donovan: That sounds like no matter what I try to do, you don’t like me. A guy can’t win around here.

Chantel: **rolling her eyes** Don’t be sensitive. It’s all good now. You grew on me the more time we spent together. At first, though, I thought you were difficult.

Melinda: I thought you were pretty hot, Donovan, if that helps any.

Donovan: It helps a lot. Nice to know at least somebody around here appreciates my finer qualities.

Chantel: And those would be what, exactly?

Donovan:  **grimacing** Maddie definitely gets that attitude from you.

Melinda: Donovan, if you could say just one thing to Chantel, what would it be?

Donovan: Even though you like to harass me, I will always appreciate the fact that you helped me find a woman who I could trust. I needed someone I could be honest with about my past in order to face my demons. Thanks for that.

Chantel: Awww. Now I feel bad for being so harsh before.

Donovan: **trying to cover a smirk with his hand** Good.

Melinda: What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened between you two?

Donovan: I’ll tell you what embarrassed me the most. Chantel showed everyone my disastrous date with Christy. I don’t want that up for public consumption.

Chantel: It’s your fault. You had that planned before I even met you. If you stopped dating college girls earlier, I wouldn’t have had to tell anyone. You’re the one who didn’t break the date after you met Madeline.

Donovan: I couldn’t break a date at the last minute. I know you think I’m a jerk, but that’s low.

Chantel:  Ummm…I don’t even know how to respond to that, considering how many hearts you’ve broken. I guess at least you realized you’re too old to date twenty-somethings and wanted a relationship with more substance.

Donovan: **grins** Like the one with Maddie.

Melinda:  Chantel, what do you feel the worst about doing to Donovan?

Chantel: Where do I start? There are lots of things I feel bad about putting him through, but what sort of author would I be if I didn’t present challenges? I think the worst might have been making him deal with one particular ex. She sure caused problems.

Donovan: No kidding! I could have done with a little less drama and terror in my life, thank you very much.

Melinda: Do you think you two will meet again in the future?

Donovan: Please no. Just let me have my happy ending and leave my family alone.

Chantel: **laughs** Normally, I tend to agree with Donovan. He and Madeline went through a lot and I’d like to let them get on with more peaceful lives. However, despite Donovan’s flaws, I ended up really liking him once I knew him better. I wouldn’t be opposed to him having a small cameo in a future book. I’m not making any promises, but he and Madeline were characters I wouldn’t mind spending more time with.

Chantel: Thanks for having us here today, Melinda. It was fun chatting with you, but I guess we’d better get going.

Donovan: Thanks, Mindy. Good luck with your upcoming book, by the way. I hope Jake and Amanda can find happiness, just like I found with Maddie.

Chantel: Donovan, are you crying? I didn’t know you were such a sap for romance.

Donovan: No, I’m not crying. Sheesh. You make me sound like a bad guy and now want people to think I’m a wuss. You’ve got problems, lady. I’m out of here. Thanks again, Mindy. 

Melinda: Well, it was certainly entertaining to have you both here today. I wish you the best of luck with Maddie, Donovan. And I, for one, would love to see a little Donovan cameo in a future book. *wink wink* 

Thanks for stopping by!

About the author:

Chantel once thought a great mystery or fantasy book with strong romantic themes was the highest level of reading bliss. After reading her first romantic suspense novel, she never looked back. Before long, the need to create her own stories took over. She spends her daytime in the clinical profession of medical transcriptionist, but her passion is in the blissful hours she spends with her characters in the evenings.

Chantel lives in the western United States. When she isn’t writing, she loves playing cards with her family and snuggling with her lazy kitties.

Want to connect with Chantel? You can find her here:

Website: http://www.chantelrhondeau.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chantel-Rhondeau/e/B008ZSM1KQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Twitter http://twitter.com/ChantelRhondeau

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChantelRhondeau

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6444354.Chantel_Rhondeau

E-mail: ChantelRhondeau@gmail.com

Want the book?

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/Z24vsP

Amazon Paperback in Createspace Store: http://bit.ly/ZJDjOp

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/Ys0lHs

KOBO: http://bit.ly/Y8qWNB

All Romance eBooks: http://bit.ly/YnS2iX

Add it on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/14ZgyHW  

Book Spotlight: Elsker by ST Bende

It's a pleasure to feature ST Bende and her debut novel, Elsker. ST is one of the nicest author friends I know, and her Elsker saga sounds fascinating. It's at the top of my TBR list in May! I advise you to add it to yours. 

TITLE: Elsker, Book One

AUTHOR: ST Bende

PUBLISHER: Entranced Publishing

GENRE: Contemporary Young Adult Paranormal Romance

RELEASE DATE: April 22, 2013

The Elsker Saga:

The Elsker Saga follows twenty-year-old Kristia Tostenson as she meets and falls in love with Norse God of Winter, Ull Myhr.  TUR, the ELSKER prequel, will be available as a FREE download in April of 2013, from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  ELSKER, Book One, will be released in May of 2013.  ENDRE, Book Two, will follow in September of 2013.  The third book, TRO, is in progress.

ELSKER Book Blurb:

You don’t win the heart of an immortal assassin without making a few enemies along the way.

Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs, but when she transfers from her one-stoplight town to Cardiff University in Wales she falls in love with Ull Myhr.  Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting.  He’s an honest to goodness Norse God - an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarok, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth.  Kristia’s crazy visions are the only thing that can save their realms.  Her orderly life just got very messy.

With the fate of the cosmos in Kristia’s inexperienced hands, she’s submerged in a world she never knew existed.  Kristia has to learn to control an onslaught of prophetic premonitions, convince Ull’s thunderous stepdad Thor to make her a god, and stop Ull from giving up his immortality in a misguided attempt to save her.  In choosing Ull Kristia risks losing everything, including her love… and her life.

Check out this fabulous book trailer! 

Author Info:

Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she became overly fond of the musical Cats.  Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the ELSKER series.  She hopes her characters make you smile and that one day pastries will be considered a health food.

You can follow ST Bende on Twitter @stbende, or send an e-mail to stbende@gmail.com. 

ST Bende's author introduction video.

Author Links:

Blog: http://stbende.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stbende 

ELSKER on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17182417-elsker

#NewRelease Announcement - Hidden Under Her Heart by Rachelle Ayala

I'm pleased to feature Rachelle Ayala's newest novel, Hidden Under Her Heart. Rachelle was one of my many excellent critique partners for Time Changes Everything. It's a pleasure to have her book spotlighted here. 

HIDDEN UNDER HER HEART (A Story of Abortion & Courage) by Rachelle Ayala

Maryanne Torres is a compassionate nurse who fails at relationships. After a string of losers, she swears off premarital sex, hoping to land a marrying type of man.

Lucas Knight, a law-school dropout, moves to California to train for the Ironman Triathlon. He's smart, sweet, and everything Maryanne wants in a man, but their relationship suffers from his dedication to the sport. Seeking consolation in the arms of a handsome preacher's son, Maryanne attends a church party where she is raped.

Maryanne is pregnant from the rape and plans to abort. But the identity of her rapist is hidden in her baby's DNA. Lucas asks Maryanne to seek alternatives and pledges to support her through the pregnancy. When Lucas becomes the prime suspect, Maryanne must clear his name and make a life changing decision.

The rapist has other ideas. In order to destroy the evidence, he offers Maryanne an illegal offshore abortion. With Maryanne's life in danger, Lucas races to save her and her baby. However, Maryanne hides a secret that threatens to tear them apart forever.

A 99,000-word women's fiction, HIDDEN UNDER HER HEART deals with the consequences of rape and abortion.

From the Author

Hidden Under Her Heart is an emotional and hard-hitting story about a young woman facing a heart-wrenching decision. We’ve heard the rhetoric, maybe even argued over the issue of abortion and rape. But behind the debates are real people—women and men with real problems and feelings. My story is not meant to be preachy, but compassionate, especially for post-abortive parents seeking closure. I think people on both sides of the fence will find meaning in the changes that both Maryanne and Lucas go through. Ultimately, it is an uplifting story, and my hope is that it will be a help to you.

About the Author

I am the author of three novels: Michal’s Window, a historical romance between King David and his first wife, the princess Michal, Broken Build, a romantic suspense thriller set in a Silicon Valley startup, and Hidden Under Her Heart, a story about a nurse wrestling with her decision to abort. My stories tend to be dramatic and emotional, crossing genres and cultures. I like to dive deep and live through my characters’ eyes. Each of them are passionate but flawed women paired with conflicted men with good hearts. I hope you enjoy the emotional journey I take you on. I love to hear from readers. Please contact me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RachelleAyalaWriter or my blog: http://www.rachelleayala.com

Book Links

Michal’s Window http://www.rachelleayala.com/p/michals-window.html

Broken Build http://www.rachelleayala.com/p/broken-build.html

Hidden Under Her Heart http://www.rachelleayala.com/p/hidden-under-her-heart.html

 Available between Jan. 21 - 23 on sale at Amazon and Barnes & Noble for 99c!

Thanks for stopping by,

Melinda

Book Review: The Risk-Taker by Kira Sinclair

The Risk-Taker by Kira Sinclair

• Harlequin Blaze, Jan 2013

• Miniseries: Uniformly Hot!

Back of the Book

Subject: Totally buff ranger Gage Harper
Current Status: Walking wounded—both physically and mentally
Mission: Finally get the girl he could never have
Obstacle: She may just be the biggest risk he's ever taken

All returned POW Gage Harper wants to do is forget, even if he has to let some gym rat beat him to a pulp to do it. He certainly doesn't want to tell the tale of his heroism to the tabloids. Especially since he's no hero…. But one journalist is determined to get the inside scoop—and she's the only girl Gage has never been able to resist.

Hope Rawlings never took Gage's romantic advances seriously growing up. After all, she was just his buddy, and a guy like Gage could have any girl he wanted. But now she needs his story to get her dream job in the city. And she's willing to do anything to get it.

Gage Harper returns to his hometown, Valentine, after being rescued from a horrific experience in Afghanistan. Now a hero and instant celebrity, he has to learn how to deal with his emotions. Running into Hope Rawlings, his childhood best friend and crush, he discovers that his love for her has never died. He has to convince her to want him as much as he wants her. Lucky for him, they are paired up in the city's Cupid Couples week, where they are forced to spend time together. Little did he know that Hope paid to be paired up with him, because as a journalist, she wants his story - and only his story - if only her heart wouldn't get in the way. 

What a wonderful story with real characters and real emotions. Of course, since this is a Blaze, there are some hot scenes that I could read over and over. Gage is a likeable hero with pure Alpha tendencies. However, his hurt and pain is so true that I want to reach into the book and hug him myself. A real wounded soldier in need of some tenderness which is given by Hope.

I'm a sucker for friends to lovers stories. This one won't disappoint!

Thanks for stopping by,

Melinda