Showing posts with label Contemporary Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Contemporary Romance. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Book Spotlight: Colors of Us by Sandra Bunino


Colors of Us
McAvery Brothers
Book One

Sandra Bunino


Genre: Contemporary Romance/New Adult

Publisher: Evernight Publishing


Number of pages: 240
Word Count: 62,000



Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs






Book Description:

Everything she knew to be true fell apart. Then fell apart again…

Michelle Willis is running from her past. What better place to hide than in the anonymity of New York City. Finding refuge in a tiny SoHo art gallery, she rebuilds her life one painting at a time.

A wrong turn sends Hunter McAvery on a crash course with disaster. He fights his own demons by following his big brother’s lead - drinking and bed-hopping his way through Manhattan.

A glance at Michelle’s self-portrait triggers emotions Hunter can’t tamp down. Driven to meet the artist, he discovers a fiery chemistry as their lives collide. But when their past threatens to tear them apart, can their love survive?


Music Playlist: Spotify




About the Author:

Sandra Bunino is a romance author of several novellas including The Satin Rose Experience series. Her first full-length novel, The Colors of Us from the McAvery’s series, released in August 2014. She makes her parents proud by putting her MBA degree to good use dreaming up heroes who resemble David Gandy whenever possible. When not staying up past her bedtime torturing her oh-so-sexy heroes, she can be found shopping for shoes or saving turtles.

As a social media junkie in need of a ten-step program, you can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and her new addiction, Pinterest. Sandra loves to read and chat with other readers, so she formed the Bunino’s Bookalicious Babes group on Facebook where they currently share their love of Jamie Fraser from Outlanders…and David Gandy, of course.






             WebsiteGoodreadsTwitterFacebook | Bookalicious Babes Facebook groupPinterest



Sunday, October 13, 2013

Dual Book Spotlight: Jilted and Halo's Wish

Here at Paranormal Romance Fans for Life we normally only post Paranormal Titles, but sometimes we can't resist spotlighting other titles that we love. This week we have found two great books that NEEDED to be featured on PRFFL!


What will people love about Jilted & Halo’s Wish?

Kara:  Jilted is an ultimate friends to lovers story and I really hope people love the relationship between Brett and Amy. The sex is really hot, too!

Sharon: Halo's Wish is a sweet, Christmas Romance between a pet detective in-training and a Veterinarian. They both have a love of animals and a sense of humor.

 

Since part of Kara’s book takes place on a tropical island, I’ve got to ask if you were stranded on an island with no hope of escape, what three books would you each want to have with you? (No cheating, can’t be your own)

Kara: The Park Service by Ryan Winfield (there are some great survival tips in that book), It by Stephen King, and Forbidden Pleasure by Lora Leigh.

Sharon: Linda Howard's Open Season and a couple James Patterson's Murder Club books.

Tell us about your writing process? Are you a pantser or a plotter? Do like need silence when writing or do you play music?

Kara: I am a panster to a fault. I enjoy the freedom it allows. The thrill of experiencing the story with my characters is amazing. I've tried to plot a novel from beginning to end and once I did, I felt like I'd already told the story so there was no reason to actually write it. That particular novel still remains unfinished to this day. With five kids in my house, I find it hard to write without a lot of noise. Lol. I don't necessarily play music, but I do always have the TV on.

JiltedSharon: I agree Kara, I'd rather write the book than plot it all out ahead of time. I first decide on a title and then start from the beginning and write the book. I need music to write. I don’t like silence.

If you could collaborate with any author, alive or dead, who would it be? (No cheating and saying each other.)

Kara: Wow. Tough question. Hmm…it would probably have to be Lora Leigh. One of her books was the first erotic novel I'd ever read and I was instantly hooked. She can write an alpha-male and sex like it's nobody's business. I would love to collaborate on a project with her.

Sharon: My inspiration…Janet Evanovich. One of my characters from another series has similarities to Stephanie Plum.

Since Halo’s wish has both a pet detective and a veterinarian, and I know you guys have pets, give us a funny pet story.

Kara: My puppy Nico – we're crate training him so at night; he has to sleep in his crate. We put a blanket in there for him and every single night, without fail, he will grab the blanket, roll around, growl, and bark at it until he finally gets it where he wants it. Then he just plops down and goes to sleep. It's funny.

Sharon: I want to start by saying I didn’t teach Ardy,  our cat this, my husband did. When it's dinner time Ardy runs around in her, what we refer to as the  Cat-a-trail in the garage and decides where she wants her food to be put. She doesn't have a bowl; she won’t eat out of a bowl. Then my husband has to climb a step stool and sprinkle her food in the spot she chose. Spoiled I ask?

Which character from your books would you most like to have a cup of coffee with?

Kara: Can I pick more than one? From Jilted, it would have to be Amy King because she says some of the funniest things. From all of my other books, it would be Levi Corbin because he's a true southern gentleman and he's just plain sexy.

Sharon: Definitely Pete, Corny's ferret from The Corny Myers Series. He's a kook and loves coffee.

What advice can you give authors looking to be published?

Kara: Don't rush it and don't give up. So many authors start trying to get their books published long before they're ready. Slow down, take a few steps back, and really make sure it's ready before you submit it to agents/publishers/editors. Once it is ready, though, don't let the rejections get you down. Just keep submitting. 

Sharon: I agree with Kara. What's also important is to build your brand, your presence, even before you're published. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc..

As a reader, what grabs you about a story?

Kara: The characters. I have to feel connected to them by chapter three or I stop reading. Even though I write and read romance, I don't buy into that love at first sight crap. Lol. Sure, the initial physical attraction has to be there, but I need more than that. And I absolutely love a book with characters that get under one another's skin. Show me some tension, some humor, and some playful flirting and you'll get me every time.

Sharon: When I was younger I needed heat between the characters. Now I enjoy thrilling suspense, maybe with some bumps and bruises. Untimely the story has to be well written.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

Kara: Most people are surprised when they hear I have five kids. I was an only child growing up and I hated it, which is why I was determined not to do that to my own children.

Sharon: I love animals and all of my books have animals in them. People are always surprised to hear I only have one cat. They assume I have my own zoo.

What was it like the first time you had contact with a fan?

Kara: I would liken the feeling to the same as when I got my first acceptance letter. It was a lot of smiling and shrieking and "Oh my God's." My first contact with a fan was when I finally felt like I'd made it, like I was a "real" author.

Sharon: I'd sent a paperback copy of Love Crazed, book four of The Corny Myer Series to a fan and when she received it in the mail she was so excited she took a picture at her mail box and posted it on Facebook. That made me feel great!

Tell us about your book cover?

Kara:

Sharon: I had to have puppies and kittens on the front because both character's love animals. The hero and heroine are happy and smiling because it's Christmas.

What can we look forward to next?

Kara: I'm finishing up the sequel to The Georgia Corbins, which is slated for a July 2014 release. I'm working on a story that is loosely titled, Sabrina and the House of Mirrors, which is a modern day take on Jack and the Beanstalk. I'm slowly plowing my way through my erotic paranormal romance, Eternally Bound.

Sharon: Halo's Wish is book one in the Dreams Come True Series. I'm almost done with book two in the series and I'm feverishly working on book three. I'd like to have all of them released before Christmas.

Book Title: Jilted
Author: Kara Leigh Miller
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 9.15.2013
Length: 49K
Heat Rating: Hot

Book Blurb:
Amy and Brett have been friends since they were kids; and their friendship has withstood the test of time. But can it withstand Brett's fiancée, Vanessa?

Brett Hudson has often wondered what it would be like to be more than Amy's friend, but when he's chosen as the newest professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars, he meets Vanessa, one of the shows costume designers and it's a whirlwind romance that ends in a wedding proposal. As the big day draws closer, Brett begins to think that marrying Vanessa might be a bad idea. She wants him to give up Amy. Completely. Will he give up his best friend for the woman he's supposed to marry?

Amy King is heartbroken to learn that Brett is marrying another woman. But, when Brett is jilted at the altar, he begs Amy to go on his honeymoon with him. A week on a tropical island with her best friend, the man she's fantasized about for years is a dream come true for Amy. But when Brett suggests crossing the line from friends to lovers, Amy is reluctant. Will she risk years of friendship for one night of passion?

Excerpt:
"It's because you go for the wrong type of guy," Brett said matter-of-factly, pouring a third shot down his throat. "Those muscle bound jocks are all bark and no bite. They look good on the outside, but they're a mess on the inside."
Amy threw a piece of ice at him and laughed. "And the goody two shoes, school teacher types you date are much better?"
"Nope." He grinned. "Which is why we're both still single."
She sighed. "Yeah, so much for my dream of having kids."
"You're young. I'm sure you'll find someone." He drank his last shot and chased it with his beer.
"I'm thirty, Brett. By the time I find a man, date him, and get married, I'll be an old hag with no viable eggs."
The thought of Amy finding a man to marry and have kids with didn't sit well with him. He couldn't stomach the thought of losing her. "I'll tell you what." He leaned across the table and pointed at her. "Three years from now, if neither of us are married, I'll marry you and give you as many babies as you want." Brett's words were slurred. Yup. He was definitely drunk. He wouldn't have made that proposition otherwise.
"Yeah right." Amy rolled her eyes. "You and me? That would be like fucking my brother. Thanks, but no thanks."
He flinched at her words. "You think of me as your brother?" That bothered him a lot more than it should, especially considering he'd never once thought of her as a sister.
She shrugged. "We're best friends. How else would I think of you?" Amy glanced away, and then set her gaze on him again. "Why? How do you think of me?"
Oh shit! He hadn't expected the conversation to backfire on him like that. What was he supposed to tell her? That he thought of her as a best friend that he wanted to fuck? No, he definitely couldn't tell her that. "As a friend, I guess. I don't know. It's not like I sit around and think about how I should think of you. You're Amy."
"And you're drunk."
"Maybe a little." He grinned. "So, do we have a deal or what?"

Author Bio:
Kara is a multi-published romance author who dabbles in young adult, new adult, paranormal, and contemporary romances. However, her genre of choice will always be erotic romance. She's a member of the CNY Writers Haven and the Romance Writers of America. Writing is her passion and she loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with her fellow authors and her fans.
Today, Kara resides in Upstate New York with her husband, five kids, three cats, and two dogs. When she's not reading or writing, she's spending time with her family and friends.
Nothing excites Kara more than hearing from her fans. So, send her a note. She'll go total fan girl over it!

Social Media Links:
Website/Blog: www.karaleighmiller.com
Email: karaleighmiller@yahoo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KaraLeighMiller
Twitter: www.twitter.com/KaraLeighMille1
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/KaraLeighMiller

Halos Wish1Book Title: Halo's Wish
Author: Sharon Kleve
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Christmas Romance
Release Date: 9.15.2013
Length: 11K
Heat Rating: Sweet

Book Blurb:
Halo Ann Carlyle wishes for a home, family, and a boat-load of pets. What she gets is a bruised hip, a lump on the head, a broken ankle, and her new yellow Honda Civic is demolished.
Rich McFarland, a sexy veterinarian, keeps showing up in the most unexpected places, promising everything she's ever wanted.
Halo believes she only has time to pursue her career as a pet detective and must ignore her growing attraction to achieve her dreams.
Will Halo trust her heart, and find a way to get both for Christmas?

Excerpt:
She'd just placed another call through to Pemsky's office, which went straight to his voicemail, when the office door opened. Halo smiled and looked up into dreamy, gold-flecked green eyes, short sandy brown hair, a slight cleft chin, and full lips set in a hard line. Even with the stern look he had on his face, my hormones jumped into overdrive.
Mr. Dreamy cleared his throat—she must've been staring. In her most professional voice she said, "Good morning. How may I help you?"
He removed a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and unfolded the sheet.
"I was parked in front of the Beacon Hill Ale House and my driver's side mirror was sideswiped by one of Pemsky's Security's SUV's Friday night."
Halo loved the Beacon Hill Ale House. Every Saturday night the Ale House allowed local bands to jam together. That's where she'd met her last loser boyfriend. She'd had a lot of loser boyfriends. She's currently on a hiatus from dating, but she wouldn't mind jumping back into the dating game for this dream-boat.
He handed her the piece of paper.
"I wasn't able to get a look at the driver, but I got the license plate number of the vehicle that hit my car and drove away."
He emphasized the last part.
"I'm very sorry about your car. I'm sure Mr. Pemsky will be happy to cover the damage." Halo checked the company log and Pemsky's name popped up as the driver—she gulped.
 
Author Bio:
Sharon Kleve was born and raised in Washington and currently lives on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband.
Sharon is a writer of paranormal and contemporary romance. She loves romance. She loves reading romance, living romance, and especially loves writing about romance. She gets no greater feeling than watching her characters come alive in each other's arms. Most of all, she loves giving her characters the happily ever after they deserve—with a few bumps and bruises along the way.
One of her favorite things to do is picking up a new book and sinking into the story, immersing herself in the emotions between the characters. She hopes to inspire her readers the same way her favorite authors have inspired her.
When not writing, she can usually be found either curled up in her recliner with her cat and a good book, or in the kitchen baking sourdough bread or bagels.


Social Media Links:
Email: sharon.kleve@yahoo.com
Blog: http://authorsharonkleve.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sharonrkleve
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SharonKleve
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5399389.Sharon_Kleve
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sharon-kleve/56/ab/691/

Rafflecopter Giveaway Info:
Prizes:
  • One (1) Winner will receive a $25 gift card to a book seller of      their choice
  • One (1) Winner will receive Kara Leigh Miller's complete backlist,      which includes five novellas and two full-length books
  • One (1) Winner will receive Sharon Kleve's complete backlist, which      includes six books
  • Three (3) Winners will receive a signed paperback copy of Kara Leigh      Miller's, Death of a Waterfall
  • Three (3) Winners will receive a signed paperback copy of Sharon      Kleve's, Love Crazed
Enter Here To Win: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Direct Link:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ODg1YzliOTNiYjk5ZGU2MzdiMTM3MWMwMjg1ODM1OjE4/
Legal Information:
- Entering this contest means you have read, understood, and agree with all rules and regulations stated.
- Entrants must be 18 or older (or age of majority in your country) to enter and to win.
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- Contest Starts 00:01EST September 15, 2013 and Ends 12:59EST October 16, 2013 and open to International participants.
- Winners will be notified via email, Twitter, or Facebook no later than 12:00EST October 18, 2013
-Respond by date to collect prize is 14 days from notification date.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Book Review: Eat, Play, Lust by Tawna Fenske

This is a little different from our normal posts, but with a cover this great we couldn't resist accepting this book for review! So if you are up for a great contemporary romance--we recommend checking out:

Eat, Play, Lust
by Tawna Fenske

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, Flirt Imprint
Date of Publication: 8/26/13
ISBN: 978-1-62266-245-6
Number of pages: 57

Our Review:


This was a delightful tale of, well, eating, playing and lusting. A quick read, this novella had me smiling from the opening chapter. Paddleboard Yoga? Really? While I cannot envision it, Yoga instructor
Cami Pressman has no problem doing just that. She also has a thing for Tater Tots, which I can absolutely understand.
When new client and hunky chef, Paul Hammond shows up for his very first aquatic yoga lesson, his lack of coordination, his humor, and his enthusiasm for cooking have Cami gaping, enticed, and all thumbs. For his part, Paul is equally taken with his instructor, and can’t manage a non-embarrassing sentence to save his life.
The water, the mutual infatuation, the passion for food, and good humor all work together well to make Eat, Play, Lust a fun read.

-Cary Morgan Frates

Amazon | BN | 

Friday, September 6, 2013

Author Interview: Eat, Play, Lust by Tawna Fenske

This is a little different from our normal posts, but with a cover this great we couldn't resist accepting this Author Interview and book review (coming 9/11)! So if you are up for a great contemporary romance--we recommend checking out:

Eat, Play, Lust
by Tawna Fenske

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, Flirt Imprint
Date of Publication: 8/26/13
ISBN: 978-1-62266-245-6
Number of pages: 57

Our Interview with Tawna Fenske:
It goes without saying that we love our books, and it is always fun to discover a little bit about the mind behind the work. We hope you enjoy our visit with Tawna Fenske, author of Eat, Play, Lust.

Tawna, where are you from and from where/who did your love for writing come from?
When I submitted my author bio for my debut novel, Making Waves, I mentioned I'm a third generation Oregonian. Since then, my dad hasn't let me forget that I'm actually a FOURTH generation Oregonian. I grew up on the rainy side of the state in Salem, but have lived in the mountainous high desert of Central Oregon for the last 16 years. I've been an avid reader since age 7, and my love of writing stemmed from that same place.
Ah, the Great Northwest! And your region is especially beautiful. Tell us, can you say that your journey to publication was difficult? If so, what were the hardest moments to get through?
I would say my journey to publication was difficult in the same way you might say a root canal without Novocain is mildly owie.
The short version of the story is that I wrote a couple crappy novels before selling a book to Harlequin’s “Bombshell” line in 2005. Then my editor called—on my 32nd birthday, the same day my cat died and I was told I’d be fired from my job for disobeying the company’s pantyhose requirement—to inform me the line was being cancelled a month before my scheduled debut.

I spent the next several years cycling through an agent that didn’t quite work out and writing manuscripts that almost-but-didn’t-quite sell.

When my agent landed me a three-book deal for my romantic comedies in 2010, the joy was somewhat dampened by the fact that my marriage of 13 years crashed and burned like a short-circuited vibrator hurled angrily at the bedroom wall.

Though I’ve rebounded now and life’s pretty awesome, there’s always a roller coaster component to any author’s career. The biggest lesson I’ve learned through all the ups and downs is that it’s possible to find humor in almost every situation. That’s probably why I write romantic comedy instead of navel-gazing, angsty literary fiction.

Wow, you have had a bumpy road! Thankfully, your sense of humor has obviously not been damaged, and you have topics galore, should you ever decide to go the angsty route. As for your not-angsty writing style, can you describe what that is in five word?
Quirky, offbeat, steamy, funny, wine-fueled. Er, did that last one count as one word or two?
I think that final one is in Wikipedia as one word, so no worries. Tell us what movies you are currently excited to see?
Sorry, I suck at this one. I have the attention span of a gnat, and visual mediums don't seem to hold my interest. I can sit all day engrossed in a book, but put me in front of a movie and I'll fall asleep in three minutes.
Well, I think that's pretty understandable. So, what are you currently reading?
I'm not happy unless I'm reading at least three or four books at a time. Currently I'm reading Tess Gerritson's, "Last to Die," "Beautiful Ruins" by Jess Walter, "Where We Belong," by Emily Giffin, and "No One's the Bitch," by Jennifer Newcomb Marine and Carol Marine, and “Divergent,” by Victoria Roth.
If you weren't a writer, what other careers would you pursue?
I'd like to be a pirate, an astronaut, or the person who auditions male strippers.
Haha, would you consider hiring an apprentice? Hold on, back to being serious (mostly). If you could create a holiday of your own, what would it be called?
Natinal Cook Naked Day. We already celebrate this in my house, and aside from the occasional scorched nipple, it's a rousing success. Well, as long as we remember to close the blinds.
Yikes, that sure would get people excited about cooking - maybe even me! For people who haven’t read your novel, how would you summarize the plot?
It’s the story of Cami Pressman, a yoga instructor with a few food issues and a secret lust for junk food. She falls for Paul Hammond, one of her students who’s a gourmet chef with a habit of sticking a foot in his mouth. It’s a quirky, short, funny little story a lot of readers have told me they finished in one sitting.

What are two of your pet-peeves?
Shopping carts blocking the aisle, and people with no sense of humor.
To you, what makes a good story?
Sex, food, and laughter (not necessarily in that order).
What usually turns you off about a story?
Characters who are too stupid to live, self-indulgent melodrama, and mushrooms.
If you could collaborate with any author, who would you choose, and why?
I adore Jennifer Crusie and would love to get together with her for a pillow fight in our pajamas, but it's possible our writing styles are too similar for collaboration. It might be fun to team up with a male author whose gritty style is counter to my quirky, lighthearted one. Maybe mystery author Bill Cameron?
What is on your night stand?
I plead the fifth on this one (but thank you for the reminder I need batteries).
What is your favorite book?

Too many to name, but on the list would be Jennifer Crusie's, "Welcome to Temptation," Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander," Kurt Vonnegut's "Player Piano," Judy Blume's "Summer Sisters," Kristan Higgins’ “Just One of the Guys,” and Jonathan Tropper's, "How to Talk to a Widower."
Thank you, Tawna! I appreciated this time with you, and look forward to reading more from you (and perhaps cooking) in the future.

Amazon | BN

** Tawna will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Eat, Play, Lust to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.


About the Author:
Tawna Fenske traveled a career path that took her from newspaper reporter to English teacher in Venezuela to marketing geek to PR manager for her city’s tourism bureau. An avid globetrotter and social media fiend, Tawna is the author of the popular blog, Don’t Pet Me, I’m Writing, and a member of Romance Writers of America.
She lives with her gentleman friend in Bend, Oregon, where she’ll invent any excuse to hike, bike, snowshoe, float the river, or sip beer along the Bend Ale Trail. She’s published several romantic comedies with Sourcebooks, including Making Waves and Believe it or Not, as well as the interactive fiction caper, Getting Dumped, with Coliloquy.

Contact the Author:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads  a Rafflecopter giveaway