Happy New Year!

Where has the year gone?

Seems like it was just January and now 2006 is almost in the history books. It's good to sit back and reflect on the year gone by. As Mr. Dicken's put so aptly, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." That pretty much sums up this year for me, although I do like to dwell more on the positive stuff then the negative.

This year had it's ups and downs both personally and professionally, but the good outweighed the bad, so I consider it a successful year.

I'd like to take a moment to thank all of the people who have read my books, written letters of praise and encouragement, and generally offered their goodwill and support to me throughout this past year. Writing is such a solitary profession, you'll never know just how much your continued support really means. Thank you!

I also want to thank my fellow authors at Ellora's Cave and Samhain Publishing for their good humor, support and encouragement during this past year. You're an amazing group of people, always so willing to give your time and opinions, and I'm happy to know you all.

May 2007 bring all of you health, happiness and prosperity. And may it be even better than 2006!

Happy New Year!

HOT Holiday Reads!

I'll admit that I've taken a few days off work this holiday season and indulged in some reading. The first two books are part of the Ellora's Cave Wild Winter Quickie series.


Blurb:

Gift Wrap Optional By TJ Michaels

Melaniece is looking forward to spending a nice quiet holiday at her vacation home up in the mountains. Expecting to enjoy ripping open gifts with her family, she's surprised when they spring the ultimate present on her — Michael Bannon. Could his unexpected appearance have anything to do with the strange vampire dreams she's been having lately?

Michael is determined not to blow a second chance with the woman he should have loved years ago, even if it means revealing his true nature. Is a good guy willing to be very bad to get what he wants? Hell, yes…including drive Melaniece out of her mind. Over and over again.



Blurb:

Polar Heat By Mary Winter

Studying polar bears is Norwegian scientist Aud Myhre's passion. The leader of an Arctic research team, she stays in the frozen north over the holidays to obtain necessary data, with help from her sexy colleague Svein. She didn't count on a storm trapping them in a cave with no means of warmth — except each other.

Aud struggles to keep their relationship professional, but there's no fighting their combustible sexual chemistry. Svein Eide has more insight into the lives of polar bears than anyone knows. To keep Aud safe from the storm, he has two choices. Reveal his shapeshifting abilities and lead her back to camp, or find another way to keep her warm. He knows which he'd prefer. Polar bears don't mate for life…but one taste of Aud's passion could disprove that scientific fact.

Both of these books are quick, sexy reads.

TJ Michaels' Quickie is a mixture of contemporary/paranormal that will certainly heat up a cold winter's night. Michael Bannon certainly makes Melaniece's Christmas wishes come true!

Mary Winter's offering is an original shapeshifter story that packs a wallop. Svein is certainly a hero to cuddle up next to if you're caught in a storm. I really enjoyed both of these books.


Blurb:

Bacchus By Jordan Summers

Book 1 in the Phantom Warriors series.

Bacchus is a desperate warrior. Saddled with the quest to find a sexually compatible female race for his Phantom people, he journeys to Planet Earth. There he discovers a world teeming with women, but there's only one way to determine if any of them are a biological match. He must pick one and mate with her. Sex sounds easy enough and it would be, if Bacchus wasn't from the Blood Clan. Where on Earth can he find a woman who doesn't freak out at the sight of three-inch fangs?

Jill has had a rough year. She's lost her brother and has been dumped by her fiancé. When Bacchus shows up at her door, he changes her whole world.It'll take more than Bacchus' chemically charged pheromones, dominant nature and forked tongue to get the job done. He will have to release all his animal instincts to convince Jill to let him give her the ultimate love bite.

What more could a woman want than to have a man who treats her as if she is indeed a treasure worth protecting and cherishing. The fact that he is sexy as all get out and has a forked tongue that he knows how to use only makes it all the more interesting. This is one sexy, passionate tale that you won't want to miss. One can only hope that there will be more Phantom Warrior books!


Blurb:

Witches Knot - Thrice United By Lauren Dane

Book four of the Witches Knot series.It all started with a deck of tarot cards. Holly knew she had some kind of magical gift but she had always been forbidden to even speak of it by her now-deceased mother. Alone and suddenly free to explore her curiosity, Holly spreads the cards and has a vision and the first piece of the puzzle falls into place.But suddenly she's a target of an attack and two hotter-than-hot vampires burst in to protect her and claim she's their mate.

Even as she finds it hard to believe these two alpha vampires want her in their bed as well as their lives, she falls under their spell and begins to believe that she just might be worthy of love after all.But there's no forgetting that she's got a past and a lot of unanswered questions, and her ignorance is putting her at risk. It's a journey that takes her from Seattle to New Orleans, where she confronts her past and embraces her future.

You all know by now that I am definitely a Lauren Dane fan, and her latest installment of her popular Witches Knot series just reinforces that. Emotional, poignant and downright HOT, this paranormal story delivers the kind of complex tale that you expect from this writer. Fans of this series will love Thrice United. It can be read alone, but I'd encourage you to read the other three first. You won't be disappointed.



Blurb:

Becky Blake is through with vibrators. Well, to be honest, her vibrator's through with her. The damn thing actually conked out, mid-fantasy. Time for desperate measures. Armed with thirty pounds of candles and a spell created by her best friend and strip mall witch, seh heads into the desert to conjure a man.

It's freezing, dark and more than a little creepy. On top of that there's a coyote hanging around howling loud enough to scare her to bits. Please, let this spell work.

Rick Frazier's done with manipulative women. His ex-wife is bleeding him dry. His wallet is almost as hungry as he is. It's time to get a second job, as a bartender at 'The Buckin' Brocno All Male Review'. At least it will pay the bills until he sells his software program.

Back in the real world of work and lonely routine, Becky has nothing to show for her desert efforts except an erotic dream that leaves her more frustrated than fulfilled. That is until her new employee shows up. It doesn't take long to put two and two together. Rick, her new bartender, is the man she conjured in the desert.

Their chemistry is magnetic, drawing them together in a lightning blast of hot passion and incredible sex. Is this true love or the result of a magic spell cast on a cold dark night?

Newcomer, Nancy Lindquist has penned a tale for Samhain Publishing that is orginal, funny, poignant, incredibly sensual and downright sexy. Both Becky and Rick are very real characters with faults and hangups. The Buckin' Bronco makes a fantastic backdrop as Becky and Rick's relationship unfolds. Filled with memorable secondary characters and a touch of magic, this is a book well worth checking out. Can't wait to see what Nancy Lindquist does next!

If you're looking for some reading to heat up those cold winter's nights, you can't go wrong with any of these great books!

Christmas Reading!

Okay, so I've always known that Jaci Burton was an amazing writer, but she's taken it to a whole other level for this book.

I just finished Suriving Demon Island and I can't wait until the next one hits the bookshelves!

It was an action-packed, paranormal rollercoaster ride from start to finish. Kick-ass heroine and a hero who is more than her match.

Original, emotional, sensual and downright sexy. I absolutely loved it!

This book is going to fly off the shelves as word of mouth starts tospread on this book. And everyone who reads it is going to line up forthe next one in this incredible new series!

Do yourself a favor and buy this one...you won't be disappointed!

Craving Candy

Are you craving candy...the kind that won't add any more weight to your hips and thighs? If so, then I have a treat for you. *g*

Craving Candy, book 4 in the Awakening Desires series, is releasing today from Ellora's Cave Publishing. This book features Lucas Squires, who some of you might remember from book 1 in the series, Katie's Art of Seduction.

So, if you're looking for a red hot read, check out my new release today at http://www.ellorascave.com .

The Return of Patrick O'Rourke

It's finally here! Woohoo!

The Return of Patrick O'Rourke, the third book in the Jamesville saga releases today from Samhain Publishing. This book is different from the first two in the series, yet it retains that small town, family feeling as well.

Jamesville just got HOTTER!

If you want to check it out, you can pop over to http://www.samhainpublishing.com .

If you've enjoyed my Ellora's Cave books, then this one just might be for you!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I hope you all had as wonderful a day as I did.

As promised, here's a picture of the Christmas tree. We had to chop about twelve inches off every single branch to get it into the apartment and even then there is only about ten inches to squeeze into the place. LOL But it's worth it! It's a fantastic tree!

Merry Christmas

I just want to wish one and all a very Merry Christmas!

My Three Books for Christmas contest was a huge success! Thank you to all of you who entered! Congratulations to the three winners: Debbie Ellison, Carolyn Espinosa and Sandra Van Coevering.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and I'll talk to you all again in a few days!

Happy Yule!

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year!

That means that DREAMS OF THE OASIS IV is out at Ellora's Cave! I'm absolutely thrilled to be in this anthology with Anya Bast, Charolette Boyett-Compo, Lena Matthews, Kris Starr and Ravyn Wilde. Check it out over at Elloras Cave at http://www.ellorascave.com .

For all of you who mark the Winter Solstice, may you have a wonderful day filled with the light and laughter.

Christmas Brooch

This is my favorite Christmas Gift from when I was a kid. I got this in my Christmas Stocking when I was about 5-6 years old and have worn it every Christmas ever since.

It's especially important to me because I know that my father bought one each for me and my sister. He passed away when I was still a teenager, so I treasure this particular brooch.

The picture is not really great, but it has rhinestones in the tassle of the hat and along the edge. His eyes are also blue rhinestones.

Blogs and Sales and Chats, Oh My!

Samhain Publishing has just launched its new blog at http://samhainpublishing.com/blog !

Over the next few months, you'll find all your favorite Samahain authors blogging daily. Tuesdays will be a day where the authors with new releases will be able to post excerpts or tease you with blurbs and tidbits about their latest books! I'm not scheduled to post until the end of February (Yes, that many authors have signed up to blog). If that changes I'll let you know, but in the meantime, check it out because there will be a new Samhain author blogging daily!

Sale--Samhain has a sale on their books at the moment. If you're looking for a gift idea (for yourself, if not for a friend), then check it out!

Because of the Christmas holiday, the regular Ellora's Cave chat over at Writerspace has been moved to tonight, Tuesday, December 19th at 8 PM EST! A bunch of us EC authors will be there, so if you have a free hour, why don't you stop by and join in the Christmas fun at http://writerspace.com/chat/ !

The Night Before Christmas

Okay, so it's not the night before Christmas. Not yet. But that's the title of the latest book I just finished reading.

To help get me in the Christmas spirit, I picked up this anthology at my local bookstore, mostly I admit, because of the Lori Foster story. I'll read anything that woman writes!

Some of the authors I've read before like Jill Shalvis and Kathy Love, but a few others were new for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The storylines are all different, but the result is the same--great reading! The wonderful thing about this book is that where the stories are short, you can easily read one before bed or whenever you can spare an hour from your hectic pre-holiday madness.

You'll laugh, you'll cry and, before you know it, it will be The Night Before Christmas!

Newsletter and Contest Winners!

My December Newsletter released yesterday and the winner of the random newsletter draw is Jennifer Ray. Jennifer has won a free download from my backlist. Congratulations, Jennifer!

Next months winner of the newsletter draw will win a limited edition, 2006 Ellora's Cave RT playing cards. You can join my newsletter group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ .

A random name was also chosen from all the correct entries received to date to be the first winner in the THREE BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS CONTEST. The first winner is Debbie Ellison. Debbie has won a download of Dreams of the Oasis IV which won't be releasing until December 21st. Congratulations, Debbie.

There are still two more prizes to be given away in this contest. The final day to enter is December 21st and then next two drawings will take place on December 22nd and December 23rd! For more details check out the contests page on my website at http://www.njwalters.com .

Good luck to everyone who has entered!

The Family Christmas Tree

Today was the big day! Hubby and I sallied forth into the world to get our Christmas tree. Luckily, my brother borrowed his father-in-law's truck, so tranporting it home was easy. Getting it up three flights of stairs to our apartment, however, wasn't so easy.

It all began when we went to the same lot where we got our tree last year. The guy there has fantastic trees--very fresh and very reasonably priced. The first tree we looked at was absolutely perfect. I knew it was THE tree. But still, I had to look at the rest of his trees. One can never be too sure when it comes to picking out a tree.

The problem began when my brother drove away and hubby and I tried to shove the tree in through the back door of the apartment building. I was reminded of the quote from the movie National Lampoon's Christmas vacation where Chevy Chase says to his son, "It's not going in our yard, Russ, it's going in our living room."

We finally get the tree up the stairs and jam it in through the apartment door where I declare to my husband, "It's not going back out the same way. When it comes down, we're tossing it out over the balcony." Still, much trimming later, we have about a twelve inch opening so that people can actually get into the living room. LOL Somehow, our living room seemed much larger when we were looking at the tree on the lot.

I spent most of the afternoon stringing popcorn and cranberries while hubby dealt with the lights. The tree is now all decorated and absolutely gorgeous and still incredibly huge for the space. But, I love it!

Somehow every year we manage to find the perfect Christmas tree and this year is no different. I hope to have some pictures to post in a few days.

Until then, happy tree hunting to one and all, and to all a good night!

Tri Mates by Lauren Dane

Blurb:

Werewolves mate for life. For every wolf, there's a mate out there. So Tracy Warden is thrilled when she discovers Nick Lawrence, the sexy Enforcer for another Pack, is her mate.But sometimes lucky wolves get to double dip in the form of the extremely rare Tri-Mate-Bond.

And so it is when Tracy discovers that her Anchor bond with National Pack Mediator Gabe Murphy is far more. Suddenly Tracy finds herself with two alpha males whose hunger for her never seems to wane. But their bliss is marred by the heavy hand of the werewolf mafia whose reach goes very high up indeed.

Money laundering, kidnapping, assault and other general mayhem can't mar the intensity of their bond, but it sure can threaten their lives.

This is the latest installment in Lauren Dane's Cascadia Wolves series and it is every bit as great as Enforcer! I read this book in one sitting as I just couldn't seem to stop.

This book has it all--hunky heroes, a smart, feisty heroine, and nasty villains. Add in the fact that these are not normal people, but werewolves and you have another winning combination by this fantastic author. The emotional connections between all the characters is very real and that's what really makes this book work.

If you love paranormals with plenty of action and hot, steamy sex, then pick up Tri Mates. You won't be disappointed!

Celebrate The Alphas Day

Just a reminder that this Sunday, December 11th, authors Gail Faulker, Sarah McCarty and myself will be over at the Ellora's Cave Chat group and we'll be Celebrating The Alphas!

We'll have lots of steamy excerpts for you to read and tons of prizes to give away. It's going to be a fun time. If you've got a few minutes this Sunday, why don't you pop by and say hi. We'd love to see you there. We'll be starting around 9 AM EST and will continue until at least 5 PM EST or beyond.

If you're not a member of the group, you can sign up at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ellorascavechat/. Remember--You must be 18 years of age or older to join this group.

Christmas Quiz

I've seen this quiz on Christmas on several other author blogs and chat groups (Lauren Dane and Jaci Burton for sure), so I thought I'd fill it out and post it. It was actually fun to do and made me think about some of the reasons I enjoy the Christmas holiday.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Defintitely hot chocolate...the more chocolate the better!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrapped of course. :-)

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Gotta have colored. White lights are for any time of year.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Not since my plastic one died many years ago.

5. When do you put your decorations up? Decorations go up the first of December. The tree anytime after the 10th!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? I can't pick just one. LOL Cranberry sauce, bananna-apple salad, fudge, cherry cake...

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Waking up one Christmas Eve when I was around 6 or 7 years old and sneaking a peek in the living room. I remember scurrying back to bed, almost afraid I'd catch Santa at his work.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no idea what you're talking about. Santa is very real.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? I have homemade ornaments and others that have been gifts over the years. The oldest one I have is one I made when I was about 10 years old. I haven't made any new ones in the past few years...no room. LOL

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Don't mind a sprinkle of Christmas snow, but I'm not a winter person.

12. Can you ice skate? No!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? That's a hard one. My most favorite gift from my childhood would have to be a santa brooch that santa put in my Christmas stocking when I was about seven. I still have it and still wear it every year.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family and friends.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Toss up between fudge and cherry cake.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Decorating the tree, baking, singing Christmas songs, wrapping presents...I enjoy it all.

17. What tops your tree? Two gigantic red bows with streamers. (One for the front and the other for the back of the tree)

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Silent Night and Old Christmas Card.

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I enjoy the occasional candy cane. :-)

Yule Be Mine

Blurb:

Bah! Humbug! Jordan Christian has had it with holiday hoopla. The unwanted sympathy for her single status leads to unwanted would-be suitors as her relatives can't seem to stop fixing her up with Mr. Never In A Million Years.
But this year, the wily bachelorette has a plan to outwit her family. With the aid of a singles' ad, Jordan plans to snare a stand-in fiance. In return, she'll stand by her man to fend off his relatives. For once the holiday season will be a time of peace on earth and goodwill towards man. Especially the man who will save her sanity! Jordan knows he's got to be out there, and he needs her help as badly as she needs his.

Luke Foster dreads Christmas. The annual clan gathering always overflows with bothersome questions like "when are you going to settle down?" Jordan's ad is like a Christmas miracle. She'll fend off his family, and he'll shield her from hers. It's the perfect solution ... until Jordan and Luke meet and find more than they bargained for.

Yule Be Mine is a wonderful Christmas offering from author Charlene Teglia going on sale this Thursday, December 7th, from Cerridwen Press at http://www.cerridwenpress.com.

If the holiday rush has got you feeling frazzled, then put your feet up, relax and treat yourself to this delightful book. Witty, smart and laugh-out-loud funny, this is one book you won't put down once your start.

The situations between Jordan and Luke are hilarious as she both frustrates and charms him. If you've ever had well-meaning friends and family set you up on a blind date you'll understand what drives Jordan and Luke to such lengths. This is a feel-good holiday story that will make you smile and laugh, even as the heat between the two characters positively sizzles.

So put on your pajamas and curl up with this not-to-be-missed holiday treat.

December 1st!

It's now acceptable to play Christmas songs! Woohoo!

I'll admit it. I'm just a big kid at heart. I really enjoy this time of year and not for the presents. For me, it's all about the special TV shows and Christmas movies, the music, the decorations, the baking, wrapping that special gift (okay, I like to buy presents--but not expensive ones) and about looking forward to a few quiet days with family and friends.

I like that the world shuts down for a few days, admitedly it's not for as long as it used to be when I was a kid. Why stores have to open on December 26th, I'll never understand. It's a time out of time when the clock seems to slow down and there is time to do the things that we rarely take time for.

It's only a few weeks away now and I plan to ignore the rampant commercialism that seems to permeate our culture. I intend to enjoy every moment leading up to the big day and the days beyond. I hope you and your family do too.