Wordless Wednesday

Book video for Masked Cowboy by Sarah M. Anderson. This is one of the best book videos ever!

Tuesday Teaser: Ellora's Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction III

This week the Tuesday Teaser comes from the ELLORA'S CAVEMEN: SEASONS OF SEDUCTION III anthology, and my story "Sunshine for a Vampire." The best way to describe this story is Cinderella for vampires.

TEASER:

He snaked his tongue out and licked the fingers that were still covering his mouth. Her hand jerked away and she laughed. She closed her fingers into a fist as if capturing his touch. He smiled at her. “Since you will not tell me your name, I will call you Sunshine.” He finally broke through to the center of the labyrinth, which was little more than a grassy square. There was no bench or seating of any kind. Damn! He’d have to make do.

She stiffened in his arms as set her down beside him. “Why did you choose that name?”

He reached behind her and plucked the jeweled pin holding her hair in its elaborate twist, sucking in a breath as the mass of blonde cascaded all the way to her hips. “That is why.” His voice was husky as he slipped the pin into his coat pocket. “You are like a ray of sunshine in the darkness that is our world.”

“What should I call you?”

 

He wanted to tell her his name, wanted to hear her call it as she cried out in ecstasy, but he didn’t know if she’d recognize it or not and he was loath to break the easy companionship of the moment. He gave her a wicked grin. “You may call me ‘my prince’ or ‘my love’. I will answer to either.” She laughed, even though he was deadly serious. He was a prince in his homeland and he longed to make her his princess.

BUY FROM AMAZON

Night Owl Reviews Top Pick for Strands of Love

Night Owl Reviews has given STRANDS OF LOVE 5 Stars and a Top Pick rating! Here's a snippet from this amazing review.

"I have loved Ms. Walters' Tapestry series since the beginning. Always emotive, powerfully seductive, this is a series that has had me addicted and engrossed, Only Ms. Walters can deftly return the reader to Javara so many times without being in anyway formulaic...I am sad that this is the last book in the series. Perhaps Ms. Walters could be persuaded to revisit Javara in a novella featuring all the previous characters, hint, hint?"
~CYD, Night Owl Reviews

READ ENTIRE REVIEW

Wordless Wednesday

LACEY AND LETHAL by Laurann Dohner.

Tuesday Teaser: Three Swords, One Heart

This week the Tuesday Teaser is from THREE SWORDS, ONE HEART, a ménage a trois/fantasy novel I wrote as part of the Torrid Tarot series for Ellora's Cave. This book is a stand alone read.

TEASER:

She licked her lips and Malik was unable to pull his eyes away from her pink tongue as it traced the contours of her full mouth. He was filled with the urge to taste those lips, to discover their shape and their texture. And he would. Patience was the key and he was an excellent hunter.

Slowly, her hands went to her waist and she unbuckled her sword belt, laying it carefully aside. Then she slipped her hands beneath her tunic and a moment later her leggings fell to the ground. Carefully, she tugged off her short boots and kicked the leather leggings aside. She drew in a deep breath as her shaking fingers pulled on the laces of her tunic. The leather parted and she drew it over her head, holding the garment in front of her. Her eyes gleamed in the firelight in a combination of longing and fear.

He held his hand out to her. “Come.” He almost howled with pleasure when she dropped the tunic, ignoring it as it fell to the hard ground at her feet. Quite simply, she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever beheld in his life.

AMAZON

This is the amazing new cover for the print version of the book, also available at Ellora's Cave and Amazon books.

Pride of the Lion earns a Top Pick Rating

Night Owl Reviews has given PRIDE OF THE LION a 4 1/2 star Top Pick rating!

Here's a snippet of what the reviewer has to say:

"I have to admit this book was so good I had to go back and buy the first two after I read it so I'm ready for the fourth installment. Hade's Carnival is entertaining and captivating. The characters are well defined and the story original and well written. The pace just right and the sensual love scenes perfect for this couple. I read it in one sitting and could not get enough of Araminta and Leander. I was sad to see their story end but thoroughly satisfied with their happy ending." ~Valerie, Night Owl Reviews

READ REVIEW HERE


Fresh Fiction has also given Pride of the Lion a glowing review.

"PRIDE OF THE LION is the fast paced, action packed third book of the Hades Carnival series. I read the first two and wondered what could author N.J. Walter possibly do to make this one different and I was amazed...The heat generated in this book will leave you in little doubt of their compatibility. I also got a feeling in each of the previous books that Mordecai just might not be all bad and I want to see what the author has planned for him. I can't wait for the next book to see how the wolf makes his escape." ~Annetta Sweetko

READ REVIEW HERE

Eliza Knight--The Rebound Pact Blog Tour

I'm pleased to welcome Eliza Knight to my blog today!

Meet Eliza Knight

Eliza Knight is the multi-published, award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of sizzling historical romance, time-travel erotic romance, and now contemporary romance. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain, and enjoys cold winter nights when she can curl up in front of a roaring fire with her own knight in shining armor.

 

About THE REBOUND PACT

The Rebound Pact is “An intoxicating blend of wine, food and smoldering sex!” ~Christi Barth, acclaimed author of Planning for Love.

 

 

Description

 

Just one taste is never enough...

The attraction between Gabrielle and Holden still sizzles on the surface even after all these years since their last encounter. Having just experienced serious relationship breakups neither one is ready to start again. Instead, they make a rebound pact. Casual sex, no strings attached—and rule #1? Don't fall in love. Problem is, with each scorching encounter, Gabrielle and Holden find themselves falling hard and fast.

After college, Gabrielle Dane makes one terrific mistake. Thinking she's sneaking into her crush's bedroom at an all-night party, she ends up sleeping with her older brother's best friend. It’s only when the sun comes up that she recognizes Holden Bellamy. Mortified, Gabrielle leaves to train with a renowned chef in France, vowing never to return to her hometown and the awkwardness of her one night stand mix-up. But several years later, she finds herself doing just that, and she runs smack into the delicious man who makes her catch her breath.

Holden Bellamy, owner of Belle Ami, a critically acclaimed vineyard, has always had a thing for his best friend's little sister...even if she was off limits. Waking up to her in the morning several years back was a remarkable surprise, one that crashed and burned when she left town without a word. Now he's face to face with the woman he never stopped wondering about.

 

A Sneak Peek at THE REBOUND PACT

As she neared the exit, a sign caught her eye with a picture of purple grapes inside a wine glass, below it said: Belle Ami Vineyards.

“Perfect,” she muttered.

A stop at the vineyard to purchase a couple bottles of wine and then she’d head to her Dad’s place. She wasn’t ready for the conversation he’d want to have regarding Len. She stared at her empty ring finger on the steering wheel, tears already stinging her eyes. Her finger still showed the lines of where her ring had been.

Gabrielle followed the signs for the vineyard, pulling into a nearly empty parking lot, her tires crunching over the gravel. There were only three other cars parked.

Damn. She hoped they hadn’t closed already. She’d forgotten how everything in the town of Mount Airy kept farmer’s hours.  She climbed out of the car and walked toward the entrance. The door opened easily when she pulled, but she didn’t see anyone. She walked up to the bar and picked up the tasting menu.

Gabrielle loved wine. Had even volunteered at many a wine tasting event, pouring glasses, talking shop to wine enthusiasts, and even turning some non-winos into vino connoisseurs.

The Belle Ami merlot looked right up her alley with a tangy bouquet of pomegranate and cocoa. She turned in a circle, her fingernails tapping against the “green” pressed bamboo counter.

“Can I help you?” a smooth, sensual, very male voice said from behind.

Oh. My. God.

Gabrielle turned around slowly, unable to breathe. She came face to face with Holden Bellamy. His face itself was perfection in the flesh. Chiseled. A wide square jaw, cheek bones she’d kill for, kissable lips and a nose that spoke of good genes. Dark brown, nearly black hair cut short enough to be in style, but still rugged, a few strands falling over his forehead. Her entire body stilled as she gazed at him, wide-eyed.

He was just as alluring, if not more so than he’d been before.

A jolt of longing wracked her. Her belly fluttered. Goosebumps rose along her arms making her skin tingle. Memories came flooding back of their one night together. Her body hadn’t forgotten, even with the passing of time, and neither had her mind. But with those memories and the pull of her attraction came regret. For what she’d thrown away. For the hurt she’d caused him. For not telling him the truth.

He wore a tight black t-shirt with the winery’s logo on his right pec. His jeans looked to be designer and if he turned around… She gulped, gazing at his flawless physique and then back up into his crystal blue eyes that seemed to delve right into the center of her soul. A light bulb sparked inside her mind. Bellamy… Was it possible this was his winery? A play on words?

“Gabrielle?”

He remembered her. Her stomach tightened. Of course he remembered her. She’d known him for years. Her body trilled a tune, as if her flesh remembered the way he’d touched her. He flashed her a smile, showing white, faintly imperfect teeth. Teeth that had skimmed naughtily over her flesh.

“Yes, hi, it’s been so long…” She trailed off, feeling awkward at showing up here six years after walking out on him.

Buy Links

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Find Eliza Knight

History Undressed: www.historyundressed.com

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

Twitter: @ElizaKnight

Book of the Week: The Seen Trilogy by Cynthia Sax

The Seen Trilogy is an amazing new three-part series by Cynthia Sax featuring billionaire businessman Gabriel Blaine and poor, hardworking Anna Sampson. Slowly, carefully, these two hurt and wounded people reach out to one another. Trust builds slowly, but when it does, it's magic. This is one emotional and sexy series. And at $1.09 for each one on Kindle it's a real bargain too!

 HE WATCHES ME

 

She desires to be seen. He wants to watch.

Anna Sampson has a naughty secret. Every night, she slips into her neighbor's yard and swims naked in his pool. She fantasizes that the dynamic young billionaire watches her nightly nude aquatics, his brilliant green eyes gleaming with lust.

She discovers this isn't pure fantasy. Gabriel Blaine has been watching her via his security cameras, and now that he has returned to L.A., he doesn't plan to stop. That's all he wants—to watch. Anna knows she shouldn't allow him and she certainly shouldn't want more, but she craves Blaine's attention, needing his gaze fixed on her body.

HE TOUCHES ME

His touch enflames her desires.

Anna Sampson has allowed billionaire businessman Gabriel Blaine to watch her, all of her. And looking is all he's done—until now. After giving him permission to touch her, Anna realizes she won't be satisfied until she has all of this handsome and secretive man.

Soon she tempts him, shreds his control, and pushes him too far. Blaine's reluctance to take her virginity frustrates Anna. He fulfills her fantasy, but what is their reality together?

HE CLAIMS ME

A billionaire's desires and a virgin's wish to be claimed come together.

Two men want Anna Sampson. Gabriel Blaine is powerful, intelligent, the CEO of a successful company, and a billionaire. He's watched her, touched her, encouraged her to become a strong, independent woman, a woman unafraid of her desires.

Now secrets from the past are exposed, threatening Anna's freedom and safety. Will the man she loves stand by her side, or will he desert her, leaving Anna once again to face the future alone?


What are you reading this week?

Digital First Read-a-Thon

I'm part of the second annual DIGITAL-FIRST READ-A-THON over at BOOK BINGE. Be sure to enter the contest at the end of my post for a chance to win a download copy of Mark of the Bear.

PRIDE OF THE LION out today!

PRIDE OF THE LION is available today from Samhain Publishing. This is the third book in the Hades' Carnival paranormal/shapeshifter series.

If you haven't already done so, be sure to check out Night of the Tiger and Mark of the Bear, books one and two of the series.

BLURB:

Once upon a time, a writer woke up in the middle of her own book…

Hades’ Carnival, Book 3

Araminta Davenport has arrived. After giving up her librarian job to be a full-time writer, all those lonely nights alone with her cat and her keyboard have paid off. She’s been invited to participate in one of the biggest reader appreciation weekends—as a professional author.

She can’t imagine her life getting any more exciting than that…until she accidentally releases a sexy, shapeshifting, immortal warrior from a five-thousand-year-old curse.

Finally free of his carousel prison, lion shifter Leander is determined not to let Hades lure him to the dark side in a quest for world domination. Nor will he give the delectable Araminta up to the clutches of the dark one. If they can survive twenty-four hours—and somehow resist losing themselves completely in the sexual haze threatening to swallow them up—the curse will be permanently broken.

But the clock is ticking, the heat is rising…and only the ultimate sacrifice will save them both.

BUY FROM SAMHAIN PUBLISHING

BUY FROM AMAZON

Lunch at the Park

Enjoying lunch at the park with hubby. It's a beautiful, sunny day. Perfect for a picnic with frozen lemonade.

Wordless Wednesday

 

WARLORD REUNITED by Cynthia Sax

Over at Denise Agnew's Blog Today

I'm over at DENISE A. AGNEW's blog today. Be sure to stop by and check out my interview. I'm talking about the writing life. :)

Tuesday Teaser: Night of the Tiger

The Tuesday Teaser this week comes from NIGHT OF THE TIGER, the first book in the Hades' Carnival series. Watch for PRIDE OF THE LION, book 3, on July 16th!

TEASER:

The mattress moved beneath her. Aimee froze. She splayed open her fingers and felt warmth and flesh instead of cool sheets. Lifting her eyelids, she stared at the wide expanse of male skin that greeted her. There was a man in bed with her.

There was a naked man in bed with her.

Aimee jerked upward until she could clearly see his face. Familiar blue eyes stared back at her. It hadn’t been a dream. It was real.

Shoving away from him, Aimee scrambled out of bed. She got tangled in the sheet and tumbled to the floor. Her butt barely had time to register a complaint before she jumped to her feet. Grabbing the edge of the sheet, she tugged it toward her and wrapped it around her trembling body. It left him totally naked, but she didn’t care. “Who the hell are you and how did you get into my bed?”

PURCHASE FROM AMAZON

Author Question: What about Tienan and Logan?

I just had a reader write to me and ask if I planned to write follow-up books for Tienan and Logan, two characters who appear in Threads of Destiny (book 4 of the Tapestries series). I've been asked this question many times before so I just thought I should let everyone out there know the answer.

I actually wrote a spin-off trilogy--PROJECT ALPHA. 

 EMBRACING SILENCE is Tienan's book. HAVE MERCY is Logan's book. The third book is SWEET CHARITY and it contains new characters.

New Cover--Double or Nothing

Mark your calendars! DOUBLE OR NOTHING, a hot western ménage a trois, will be available from Ellora's Cave on August 7th! Check out my awesome new cover!

BLURB:

After ten years away from home, Cherry Edmonds returns to West Texas when her father is ill and dying. Now she is left to deal with the estate and pick up the pieces of her life. The past is waiting for her in the form of Wesson and Remington Smith, the two brothers she was half in love with when she was eighteen.

Wes and Remy know they’re different from most men. They are both in love with Cherry and have been since they were kids. One night of hot sex leaves all of them wanting more, but she believes their time together is just a one-night stand. It’s up to the Smith brothers to prove their love for Cherry and their commitment to the ménage, and to convince Cherry’s she’s definitely capable of loving two Texas cowboys.

A Romantica® contemporary erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Happy 4th of July!

WANT TO WISH ALL MY AMERICAN FRIENDS A HAPPY 4th OF JULY. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, GREAT FOOD AND FUN!

Cynthia Sax--A Hero By Any Other Name

I'm very happy to welcome Cynthia Sax to my blog today! Welcome, Cynthia!

A Hero By Any Other Name

Cynthia Sax

As many parents can attest, naming someone is a huge responsibility. A name can change the direction of a person’s life. A child named Bambi will face more of a challenge becoming President. A Gertrude in contemporary North America is less likely to be seen as sexy. John Smith is facing a lifetime of bad jokes and “No. Really. What is your name?” comments.

Naming a character can often be as complicated. We judge characters when we hear their names. If a hero is named Rage, we expect him to be dominant and angry. If he’s named Orlando, we expect him to be dramatic, almost poetic. If he’s named Norman, we expect him to be a serial killer. Hopefully, our poor misnamed hero Norman has a killer sense of humor.

My characters tend to name themselves. That sounds like an easy route to character names but it isn’t because they don’t often tell me their names. That would be too easy. They make me guess and stubbornly refuse any other names I might give them.

Anna, the brown-eyed, brunette heroine of He Watches Me, isn’t an Ann. Although she might see herself as unremarkable and plain, readers and Blaine, the billionaire hero, know she isn’t. But she also isn’t an exotic, dramatic Anastasia. Anna falls between these two extremes. She’s an intriguing mixture of the plain and exotic.

Blaine, the enigmatic hero of He Watches Me, is an upfront type of man. He told me his last name, the name he prefers everyone use. He then stubbornly refused to tell me his first name, telling me I didn’t need to know that information.

I DID need to know that information. I opened my handy baby book (a must-have resource for writers and expectant moms) and rattled off a long list of sexy names. Thankfully, Blaine doesn’t lie and when I reached Gabriel, he admitted that was his name. I don’t think he’ll be too pleased that I mentioned his name in his story but I’m not scared of him… much.

If you could have any name, what would it be and why? 

 

***

 

Title: He Watches Me 

Blurb:

She desires to be seen. He wants to watch. 

Anna Sampson has a naughty secret. Every night, she slips into her neighbor’s yard and swims naked in his pool. She fantasizes that the dynamic young billionaire watches her nightly nude aquatics, his brilliant green eyes gleaming with lust.

She discovers this isn’t pure fantasy. Gabriel Blaine has been watching her via his security cameras, and now that he has returned to L.A., he doesn’t plan to stop. That’s all he wants—to watch. Anna knows she shouldn’t allow him and she certainly shouldn’t want more, but she craves Blaine’s attention, needing his gaze fixed on her body.

Part One of The Seen Trilogy

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/He-Watches-Me-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00CD36FS8

Author Website: http://cynthiasax.com/

Blog: http://tasteofcyn.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.sax

Twitter: @CynthiaSax

 

Tuesday Teaser: The Way Home

The Tuesday Teaser this week is from THE WAY HOME. This is a stand alone read, but is part of the Jamesville series. It was one of the first books I wrote and is not as spicy as later books.

TEASER:

Rebecca stared straight into his eyes, hoping to gain a clue into what had prompted this strange proposal. “Why?”

Jake leaned forward in his chair and laid both hands flat on the table. “I need a wife, Rebecca, not some silly woman who thinks she’s in love one day and gone the next. I respect you. Heck, I really like you. We’ve been friends for seven years. I know you’re a hard worker, you’re loyal, and you don’t run away when things get tough. You’ve lived here all your life and you seem happy here. I think we could make a go of a marriage.”

Rebecca instantly picked up on the one point that mattered. “What do you mean, you need a wife?”


BUY EBOOK FROM AMAZON

July/August Newsletter now available!

The July/August 2013 issue of Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—is now available.

Be sure to check out all the latest news, contests, my husband’s popular column—Confessions of a Romance Author’s Husband—an excerpt, and this month’s interview with the amazing Lynn LaFleur.

 
As always, some lucky newsletter subscriber wins a prize. All you have to do to be eligible to win is go to Awakening Desires Newsletter and join. While you’re there, you can check out back issues of the newsletter.

Please Vote for Mark of the Bear

MARK OF THE BEAR is up for June Book of the Month at Long and Short Reviews. If you enjoyed the book, please vote for it. Voting is July 1st and 2nd.

VOTE HERE

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

To all my Canadian friends out there, I hope you have a wonderful day with friends and family, lots of fun, plenty of great food.

Enjoy!