Entwined Hearts Available Today!

Entwined Hearts by Nicole Austin, N.J. Walters, T.J. Michaels and Ciana Stone is available today from Ellora's Cave! This is the fifth and final book in the Hearts of Fire series.

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Each of the first four books can be read as a stand-alone book. Entwined Hearts is the culmination of the four couples adventure as they face evil one final time--this time together!

BLURB:

Book five in the Hearts of Fire series.

The Chosen. Eight strong individuals gifted with unique paranormal abilities and tasked with protecting shards of an ancient crystal—the Heart of Fire.

Brought together by destiny, each couple has managed to bond and fuse their crystal pairs through a hot and intense sexual joining. The four couples have overcome great personal challenges and remained apart, preparing to face an ancient evil once again.

Now the time has come for the eight Chosen to join forces and defeat Asmodeus, Prince of Hell, once and for all. Their plan is clear yet complex—activate a hidden energy network, gather on spiritual lands and fight an epic battle between good and evil, which will impact mankind for eternity.

Of course, nothing ever goes as planned. And Asmodeus has some tricks the Chosen never anticipated.

Read an Excerpt

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Reviewer Top Pick!

Night Owl Reviews has given Out of Shadows a 4.5 Star, Reviewer's Top Pick review.

Here's a snippet of what reviewer, Chris, had to say:

"Awesome read. Third in the series, they just keep getting better. Very emotional as well as erotic...An imaginative story line keeps the story moving, while leaving the reader hungering for more about the Shadow Realm and it's dark warriors. A touching love story that's not to be missed."

READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW

Banned Book Week!

September 25th to October 2nd is BANNED BOOK WEEK.

According to the American Library Association it is "an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States."

But it's not just about books in the USA, but around the world. Words, knowledge and ideas should be available to everyone. I understand if parents don't want their children to read certain books, but it doesn't give them the right to ban them from other children if their parents deem such books acceptable. That's a decision you have to make as a parent and a family. Plus, when you become an adult you should be able to read whatever you want. Censorship doesn't destroy ideas. They're out there and will find a way to be articulated whether in art, music or writing.

Top Ten Banned Books:

1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
2. The Catcher in the Rye
3. To Kill a Mockingbird
4. Bridge to Terabithia
5. The Lord of the Flies
6. Of Mice and Men
7. The Color Purple
8. Harry Potter Series
9. Slaughterhouse Five
10. The Bluest Eyes

TOP 100 Books Banned/Challenged from 2000-2009

It's amazing to me some of the books on this list. But that's the thing about banning books. You can pluck any book off a shelf and someone somewhere will find it objectionable. Where do you draw the line? Who draws it? If you start, where does it stop?

Flashback Friday--Beyond Shadows

Beyond Shadows is the second book in the Shadow Ryders Saga. These immortal, shape-shifting warriors have their hands full with the women they're sent to protect.

I loved Blade from the first moment I saw him in the Shadow Realm. An assassin, he has no equal when it comes to his weapon of choice--knives, of course. He's stubborn, defiant and definitely has his own way of taking care of business.


BLURB:

Sequel to “Shadows Stir” from Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology.

An immortal warrior of the Shadow Realm, Blade’s self-control has been honed to a razor’s edge by centuries of fighting, but it vanishes the moment he lays eyes on Jacqueline Harris. The mere sight of her stirs his blood and he craves physical pleasures long forgotten.

Jac is an accountant, not a risk taker, preferring to live her life quietly. That all changes when she is sent to see a client by mistake and stumbles onto a crime ring. Now she’s on the run for her life.

The sexy stranger appears at her beach house, swearing to protect her at all costs. Dark and dangerous, he resembles the assassin she first fears he is. The last thing she expects is that he can morph into the deadly panther tattooed on his chest. The undeniable passion between them flares to life, but it is more than attraction. It is a soul-deep knowing that he will change her life forever. Blade becomes both protector and lover, but it’s up to her to save him from the shadows that haunt him.


Read an Excerpt

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Autumn Equinox

Depending on the calendar you're using, the autumnal equinox is on September 22 or 23rd this year. It depends on where you live in the world. Like it's spring counterpart, it is a day when the light and darkness are the same length. From here on in the days grow shorter.

It is also called Mabon, a pagan holiday which celebrates the harvest and pays homage to the coming darkness of the days ahead.

The weather has turned and the hillsides are beginning to be dotted with orange, red and yellow as the trees change color. The night are getting longer. It's a time of change, of celebration. Eat, drink and celebrate with family and friends. Enjoy the fruits of the harvest and look ahead to the coming months!

Blustery Day

Thunder and lightning and rain, oh my. That's what I woke up with this morning. The day got worse from there. It's been heavy rain and winds all day. Rain is at about 6 inches while wind has been sustained at 55 mph, gusting to 87 mph.

We're fine but there has been a lot of flooding and damage around the city. Several trees went down across the street from us blocking traffic until crews could clear them with chain saws. Supposed to ease up over night. Tomorrow will hopefully be sunny. :)

So what did I do today? I made cookies, of course. *g* What else could I do in the middle of such a windstorm.

Hope you all had a wonderful day.

My First Book Trailer

You know I'm always way behind other folks when it comes to technology. BUT I've finally got a first attempt at a book trailer. Instead of doing a trailer for one book I did an entire series. I figured vampires were the way to go for the autumn/halloween season.

If you'd like to check it out just click on the link below!

Dalakis Passion Book Trailer

Early Morning Storm

Woke about 5 am to a flash of light and a clap of thunder. Mother Nature put on quite a show for well over an hour. Torrential rains accompanied the storm. Don't know how much damage was done. But I know at least one house was struck and caught fire and another house had a wall blown out. A reminder not to take these storms lightly.

5 Siren Stones for Lassoing Lara!

Siren Book Reviews has given Lassoing Lara 5 Siren Stones! Here's a snippet of what the reviewer had to say:

"This is a delightfully funny and sexy story, that was such a great read. As a NJ Walters fan, she doesn't let us down in this sexy romance. You will really want to read this one over and over again."

~Yvette Lowe, Siren Book Reviews

You can read the entire review at Siren Book Reviews.

New Cover!

Check out the new cover for A Touch Of Magick, which will be releasing from Samhain Publishing on October 26th.

BLURB:

If you go casting love spells, be careful what you wish for.

Spells, Secrets and Seductions, Book 1

Rhiannon Sparks admits she’s not a very good witch—she can’t even light a candle without a match—but she keeps trying. At least her talent for business has made her magick shop a huge success. Now if only there was even the faintest flicker in her nonexistent love life.

During a night of eating and drinking, she and her girlfriends cast a candle-magick spell for hot sex. All in good fun, of course. Except Rhiannon accidentally mixes up the words. Instead of a lover, she asks for true love.

Deputy Ryland Stone’s past keeps him firmly rooted in reality. Then he meets Rhiannon and sparks literally fly. One date leads to another, and then they’re practically setting the bedroom on fire…until she reveals the deal breaker.

Though love and magick have found Rhiannon at last, getting a handle on her newly unleashed power is the least of her problems. Unless Ryland accepts that magick exists, he will never accept her for who and what she is.

Warning: This book contains a simple candle-magick spell, which you use at your own risk, a disastrous date, phone sex, and enough sizzle to practically set the sheets on fire.

Monday, Monday--A Weekend of Remembering

This past weekend was one of remembrance for several reasons. The biggest, of course, is the fact that it was the 9th anniversary of 9/11. Hard to believe it's been that long. I can still remember exactly where I was and who I was with when I first heard the news.

It was actually my day off from work. I hadn't even contemplated a career as a writer yet and publication was years away. Hubby and I were at the mall and the stores had just opened. I overheard two gentlemen talking about a plane crash. My first thought was that my step-father would be interested in all the news because he worked with the airline industries for his entire life. We continued on down through the mall and saw a small crowd gathered around an electronics store. We stopped to see what was going on and noticed every was watching the big television out front. We got there just in time to watch the second plane hit the Twin Towers. I was stunned and horrified as I realized this was no accident, but intentional.

Hubby and I went home immediately. At that point, no one knew what else might happen. We spent the next few days glued to the news reports like everyone else. We were numb. How could someone do something this horrible? Even now just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. No matter how long I live, I'll never understand the kind of hatred that leads to such an action. My thoughts and prayers are with those who died that day and those who survived and have to live with the shadow of this tragedy.

On a happier note, this was also a weekend of personal remembrance. Hubby and I celebrate our wedding anniversary in August. This year marked 23 years of married life. But September 10th is our own personal date--it marks our first date and the begining of our life together. 27 years ago this past Friday, we had our first date. We'd only met a week before that, introduced by a mutual friend. Who knew that all these years later we'd still be together. It's been interesting, to say the least. It's been hard work and a lot of fun. It's been an adventure and a blessing. It's been up and down and everywhere in between. But through it all, there's been love. I hope the next 27 years are just as wonderful.

I hope you all had a good weekend with family and friends. Hold your loved ones close and tell them how much you care. Life can be shorter than we think and you don't want to risk missing the opportunity.

Have a great week!

Flashback Friday

My latest Ellora's Cave release is Out of Shadows. This series about immortal Shadow warriors actually began as a short story.

Shadows Stir appeared in the Ellora's Caveman: Dreams of the Oasis IV Anthology. The second book was Beyond Shadows.

All the books can be read as stand alone reads. I find as I write each book I learn more about these amazing warriors. I'm certainly not finished with them yet and plan to return to their world again.


BLURB:

Warriors of the Shadow Realm are facing their own demise, so the Shadow Lord sends one of his Ryders into the world to protect a woman who might hold the key to their very survival. Gideon finds more than someone to protect. He finds a woman to love.

Jo Harris is a woman on a mission to find her missing sister and she'll do whatever it takes. She encounters a mysterious stranger who becomes both protector and lover. But will their love be enough to save them both from the encroaching shadows?


Read an Excerpt

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Guest Blogging at TRS Blue Blog

I'm guest blogging today over at The Romance Studio Blue Blog. I'm talking about autumn and how my love of myth and legends has inspired my writing. Drop by and tell me what are your favorite books and movies for this time of year as autumn closes in and Halloween grows closer.

Monday, Monday

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The weekend is almost gone, but not quite yet. We still have one more day in the holiday weekend to enjoy. I'll be doing some relaxing as well as trying to do some odds and ends things around my office.

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I hope you're all enjoying the Labor Day weekend.

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Have a safe and happy one!

Featured Author

I'm one of the featured authors over at The Romance Studio Blue Pages for the month of September. Drop by and check out my interview. I'm talking about writing, legends, upcoming projects and more. :)

September Newsletter Now Available!

The September issue of Awakening Desires—the Newsletter of Romance Author N.J. Walters—is now available! Be sure and check out all the latest news, an excerpt from my upcoming release and more.

As always, you can find my husband’s popular column: Confessions of a Romance Author’s Husband.

As well, 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.