Reading Between the Wines Book Club: 6/1/12

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Hot Summer Nights with Robin Covington (Guest Post/Giveaway)

For the end of our Hot Summer Nights event I would like to welcome author Robin Covington who is joining us with a hot and sultry post about her new release, A Night of Southern Comfort.

A Hot Summer Night of Southern Comfort

Hot summer nights. I know them well. I grew up in Southwester Virginia where the there wasn’t much to do and the summer nights were long and sultry—the perfect chance to get up to no good. And we did. Often.

The river was a place we all went to on the evenings of June, July and August. Pick-up trucks, music playing from the speakers, skinny-dipping in the river, and bootleg beer when the older cousins showed up. And, the nights with the guy you liked where you spent hours in the tail gate looking up at the stars and . . . getting up to no good. Very good times and excellent memories. Perfect for a scene in a book. ; )

Review: Cowboy Crazy by Joanne Kennedy

Cowboy Crazy
by Joanne Kennedy
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Published June 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks
ISBN13: 9781402265495
Copy Courtesy of NetGalley

She kicked the country dust off her boots a long time ago…
Sarah Landon’s Ivy League scholarship transformed her from a wide-eyed country girl into a poised professional. Her job at the Carrigan Oil Company has given her the sophisticated life she longed for, but when she meets her boss’s black-sheep brother, she realizes her roots are showing.
But he’s ready to remind her she’s a cowgirl at heart.
Rebellious rodeo cowboy Lane Carrigan is determined to save the Wyoming community of Two Shot from the ravages of energy development, but Sarah’s convinced her old hometown needs a swift kick in the pants from the march of progress.
When a lapsed cowgirl collides with rodeo royalty, it’s bound to be a wild ride—and somebody’s going to end up in the dirt.

Goodreads
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Lexi's Thoughts:

Have you ever tried to be someone your not? Or pretended to be another person, keeping your true self hidden? There is danger there, because after a while your real self will kick down the door, grab a shot, and refuse to be locked up again.

Want some more Hot Summer Nights?

Today we would like to welcome Joanne Kennedy to the blog to share her love of cowboys, and her favorite thing about hot summer nights.

Lexi: Summer is here in all its hot sticky glory. And what happens when it gets hot enough to fry an egg on the highway? Guys take their shirts off, and what better type of guy to walk around shirtless than a cowboy. At least we get to see some on your covers. Do you get to see real cowboys (shirtless or not) in Wyoming?

JK: I do get to see lots of real cowboys, but I have to admit that shirtless-ness is far more common on book covers than in real life! The work cowboys do is dangerous and kind of dirty (in a good way, of course), so being half-naked is unfortunately not always an option. But in fiction, we can create the world we want—and I want shirtless cowboys!

Lexi: I admit I have a soft spot for Wyoming; I married my husband in the Big Horn Mountains. What is your favorite place to be in the state? Besides snuggled up to your handsome man.

JK: I love my home town of Cheyenne, but I think you got married in one of the most beautiful spots in the state, or maybe the country!

Guest Review: A Vampire for Christmas by Laurie London, Michele Hauf , Caridad Piñeiro, Alexis Morgan

A Vampire for Christmas (Includes: Sweetblood, #2.5)

A Vampire for Christmas
(Sweetblood #2.5)
by Laurie London, Michele Hauf , Caridad Piñeiro, Alexis Morgan
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Published October 18th 2011 by Harlequin
ISBN 0373776446
ARC Courtesy of NetGalley

All they want for Christmas is you…
It's the time of year for twinkling lights on trees and kisses under the mistletoe. Yet the passing of another year means nothing to the stunning immortals who lurk in the shadows of the new-fallen snow.
And they don't care if you've been naughty or nice.
Let four fanged lovers open your eyes to a passion you never dared to imagine. After all, there's no place like home for the holidays—and these dazzling vampires can't wait for an invitation.

Goodreads
Purchase at; Amazon, Barnes & Noble and The Book Depository

Jolene’s Thoughts:

18 & Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that begins on Fridays and runs through the weekend, hosted by Crystal from Reading Between the Wines. This is a Friday blog hop with the objective to find and visit other book blogs that share the same interest as you, namely books geared towards the 18 & over crowd, and make some new friends!

How to join in:

-You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 & over adult reads should be your majority.

-Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.

-Copy the html for the button above and place it at the top of your post.

-List & answer the ‘Question of the Week.’

-Place your name and blog title in the linky below and the url for a direct link to your post

-Visit the other blogs on the list and say 'Hi!' Following each blog is not mandatory but I know it is always appreciated, and if someone comments saying they’re a new follower it’s polite to follow back. J It’s always nice to spread the 18 & Over Book Blogging love!

-Contact me (readingbetweenthewines10 at gmail dot com) with any questions!

Question of the Week: If you could only gift one book to someone which book would it be?

Today I would like to welcome two special guests for our Hot Summer Nights event, one of my new favorite erotic romance authors, Roni Loren, and Jace from Roni's upcoming release of Melt Into You!

Summer is not my favorite season. In Dallas, summer is kind of like the north's winter--miserable. We end up stuck inside for most of it because no one wants to hang out in 105 degree heat. So since I'm a bit of a summertime scrooge, I decided to ask Jace, one of the heroes in my Loving on the Edge series to give us some summer-themed movie suggestions if we need something to do when we're hiding from the heat.

And of course he had to break down his suggestions by what the occasion calls for.

Summertime Movie Suggestions via Jace Austin from MELT INTO YOU

If you're hanging out with friends and want to laugh...

The Officer Says "I Do"
(Semper Fi #1)
by Jeanette Murray
Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: July 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks
ISBN13 9781402265402
ARC Courtesy of publisher and NetGalley

He always puts duty first...she's a free spirit with an unshakable belief in Fate.
He loves routine and order...she brings chaos and creativity wherever she goes.
They're going to balance each other perfectly--or drive each other completely, utterly insane...On a wild pre-deployment celebration in Las Vegas, Captain Timothy O'Shay encounters free-spirited beauty Skye McDermott, and for once lets down his guard. Now his life is about to take off in directions he never could have imagined...

Goodreads
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Viviana’s Thoughts:
Fate is defined as “that which is inevitable predetermined; destiny”. Add that to the “Opposites Attract” statement and we got ourselves a fun, entertaining and a cleverly written romance novel!

Hot Summer Nights with Samantha Grace (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Samantha Grace is joining us today to talk about her new release, Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half, and she has a fun post to share with us that is sure to make your summer night even hotter!

Hi, I’m Samantha Grace, one of the newer voices in Regency historical romance. It’s great to be here at Reading Between the Wines talking about my second book in my Beau Monde Bachelor series, “Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half”.

He has no idea what he’s getting into…Widowed philanthropist Lady Amelia Audley would like nothing more than to forget wealthy bachelor Jake Hillary, but it’s blasted difficult when he is seated next to her at a dinner hosted by his mother. It’s even harder to forgive him for kissing her senseless a year earlier then disappearing without a word. Yet, Amelia must endure Jake’s company if she wishes to benefit from his mother’s connections and win support for a project dear to her heart, the renovation of the foundling hospital.Jake Hillary has known nothing but heartbreak since he met Amelia. First, she chose his closest friend instead of him then she dismissed his love letters and took up with a rake while he tended to urgent family matters. When his debauched brother sets out to seduce her, Jake risks his heart once more and begins to court Amelia. Soon he and Amelia discover an abiding affection for one another, a love that has survived despite the efforts of others to keep them apart. Happiness seems within their reach at last until the past resurfaces and threatens to destroy their love forever.

Wicked Nights
(Angels of the Dark #1)
by Gena Showalter
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Expected publication: June 26th 2012 by HQN Books
ISBN 0373776985
Copy courtesy of author

From the New York Times bestselling author who brought you the Lords of the Underworld comes a dark, seductive new series featuring angels poised on the brink of destruction....
Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless-and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions, at any cost...until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.
Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation-or her ultimate damnation?

Goodreads
Purchase at Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble and The Book Depository

Crystal’s Thoughts:
Gena Showalter is sure to sweep readers away with these sexy, bad boy angels in her new Angels of the Dark series, a spin-off of the hit paranormal romance series, Lords of the Underworld.

Review: Kissin' Tell by Lorelei James

Kissin' Tell
Rough Riders #13
by Lorelei James
ebook
Published June 26th 2012 by Samhain Publishing
ISBN 9781609288488
Copy courtesy of Publisher

She once led him around by a string. Now he’s the one holding the reins.
Georgia Hotchkiss swore wild horses couldn’t drag her back to Sundance, Wyoming. So it’s ironic she’s forced to take a rodeo PR job in her former hometown—right before her ten-year class reunion. The only thing worse than facing her cheating ex-husband and his pregnant wife? Showing up to the reunion without a date. Fate smiles on her when she runs into her former classmate and current cowboy hottie Tell McKay. With his infectious smile and fun-loving ways—not to mention his banging body—he’s the perfect solution to her problem.
Tell McKay had it so bad for Hot Lips Hotchkiss during high school that he let her run roughshod over him. But he is no longer that easily manipulated boy—these days he’s earned a reputation with the ladies that lives up to the McKay last name. He agrees to escort her to the reunion with one stipulation; that Georgia proves she has left behind the goody-goody cheerleader of the past—by sharing his bed.
Their sexual chemistry flashes so bright, they barely notice that the reunion has come and gone, and now they’re tangled up in another dreaded “R” word—relationship. But if Tell wants to get the girl this go-around, he’ll have to come up with a whole new set of knots to tie up her heartstrings.
Warning: Contains a sweet talkin’ wild cowboy with a wagon load of crazy-hot sex fantasies and the mad bedroom skills to back up his claims.

Goodreads
Purchase at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Lexi's Thoughts:

For anyone who felt awkward in high school and dreamed of dating someone you were sure would turn you down. And for everyone who has gone to a class reunion with butterflies in your stomach, waiting to see if everyone else has changed as much as you have. And for all those girls who dream of finding your own cowboy. Kissin’ Tell is so for you.

Welcome back to our Hot Summer Nights event everyone! Today I would like to welcome two new paranormal romance authors that you definitely need to check out if you haven't already, Tes Hilaire & Elisabeth Staab. These ladies are joining us today with a super fun post and game for their summer Darkness tour, enjoy!

Let’s Make a Match!

Tes: Today we’re going to have a little bit of fun. As a way to get to know our characters better, we’re going to play a game that I like to call the Pina Colada Dating Game. Basically, we tell you some of our characters favorite things and you have to match them up to their owner. The winner gets to go on a date with their favorite charact--*ccuuuu* Sorry, hold on... *I wince, pressing a finger against my earpiece* …Uh huh...*nodding my head* Oh, okay... *nods some more* Got it, but don’t you think... *clears throat as I throw a chagrined smile to the audience* Sorry about that peeps. I’ve just been informed that due to lack of commitment on our characters’ part, we’ll be unable to deliver that promised date. We will, however, be able to provide a signed copy of our books to two separate entrants (all commenters will be entered). BUT to sweeten the pot, the first person to guess the matches correctly will win a personalized goody (bookmark/trading card or some such) signed by the character they would have wanted that date with. Sweet, huh? Okay, so, take it away, Elisabeth!

Please give a warm welcome to authors L.J. Garland and Debie Gould along with special guest, Abby!

Sins of the Mind & A Taste of Red River

LAURA: Hey, Debbie, today we’re meeting Abby Montgomery, the heroine from Sins of the Mind, at the Red River Café. (bell jingles above door) Wow, everything smells so good.

DEBBIE: I’m going to need to hit the gym if we keep getting food at every stop we make. But I hear they make and awesome roast beef and cheddar melt here.

LAURA: Mmm. Coffee. Yep, gonna need a cup to go with that melt for sure! And quit talking about the gym…I know you’re just thinking about those hottie guys we saw in there a while back. (snort) Workout. Right. (nudges Debbie) Hey, there’s Abby over there at that table.

DEBBIE: Hi, Abby. Thanks for meeting us here. I’m trying to decide between the roast beef and the open face hot turkey sandwich.

Guest Review: Thoroughly Kissed (Fates #2) by Kristine Grayso

Thoroughly Kissed

(Fates #2)

by Kristine Grayson

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 5th 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca (first published February 1st 2001)

ISBN 1402248547

ARC Courtesy of Publisher & Netgalley

Kristine Grayson's bestselling fairy tale romances bring the classic stories into the present day, where fairy tale characters must grapple with the complexities of modern life as well as their own destinies. Emma (Sleeping Beauty) fell into a magical coma that lasted for a thousand years when a boy she didn't even liked kissed her. Now that Emma's awake, she's determined to be a normal girl...a normal girl who is deathly afraid of kissing. When she meets history professor Michael Found, Emma has to choose between her fear of kissing and her potential Prince Charming.

Goodreads

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Fiona’s Thoughts:

Thoroughly Kissed is a unique take on the age-old tale of Sleeping Beauty. Only this time, Sleeping Beauty gets to do the saving, while her Prince plays the supporting role.

Tuesdays have never been so sexy!Sexy Snippets is a weekly feature hosted by Reading Between the Wines for the 18+ crowd. To join in just grab the button, post a sexy paragraph or two from your current read and share the author & title so other participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like. Then add your post to the linky below so everyone can follow along. Have a sexy good time!

Good Monday morning lovelies! I hope everyone enjoyed the weekend. Hot Summer Nights continues with author Kristine Grayson and a special post from the star (or so he thinks) of her new release, Thoroughly Kissed!

Darnell’s Hot Summer NightsKristine Grayson
Author’s Note: Darnell isn’t one of the main characters in Thoroughly Kissed, although he thinks he is. Thoroughly Kissed is the story of Sleeping Beauty, who woke up in our time (as part of Utterly Charming) and ten years after that rude awakening, is now a history professor at the University of Wisconsin. She comes into her magic and discovers that she needs help using it. Because it’s out of control, she needs help traveling to her mentor. Her boss, Michael, helps her make the trip (partly because he finds her very attractive). Until Sleeping Beauty, whose real name is Emma by the way, meets Michael, the man in her life is her cat Darnell. Or, as he chooses to believe, the man in her life remains Darnell; he just tolerates this human guy because that guy makes Emma happy.

Hot summer nights. When you have piles of black fur, hot summer nights sound a bit uncomfortable. They’re not, not if your human (slave) has this magic air conditioning thing. Then you can stretch out (comfortably) in your favorite window, and watch other creatures suffer. Dogs, panting in the heat. Birds, wilting in the heat. It’s marvelous. Just marvelous.

Review: The Closing by Stella K

The Closing
by Stella K
Paperback, 248 pages
Published May 8th 2012 by Armida Publications
ISBN 9789963706273
Copy provided courtesy of publisher

When Bella Nars, a savvy corporate lawyer in her mid-twenties, is summoned to fly to Moscow for the closing of a multi-million dollar transaction fixed on her birthday, she expects to spend her days locked up in Savoy Hotel Moscow embarking on endless negotiations with an army of bankers and lawyers. An accidental yet intriguing encounter the first evening of her stay in Moscow sends Bella straight to hospital rather than her luxurious hotel room. The person responsible for her injuries is called Dima P, a mysterious figure about whom Bella knows absolutely nothing. The only thing she can be sure of is that he has the most penetrating, indigo-coloured eyes she has ever seen. An incessant source gives her the strength to endure the hardships that turn her world up-side-down. For how long can Bella continue to flirt with a devious game of Russian roulette in the name of love? In a time when countries and economies crumble, and human lives have become disgustingly expendable, how much is a person's life worth in the end?

Goodreads
Purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and The Book Depository

Lexi's Thoughts
The Closing is full of fast paced action, guns, deals, and a whirlwind romance. Stella K has created characters you will be unable to stop thinking about, even after you put down her book.

Good morning lovelies and welcome to Hot Summer Nights, and event hosted by us here at Reading Between the Wines and the amazing Shannon at Cocktails and Books! Today we are kicking things off with the fabulous romance author, Laura Wright!

WHAT’S IN YOUR GARDEN?

It’s officially summertime. I know this because my kids are out of school, and running amuck. I wish they wouldn’t run that way, but again it’s summertime and children are allowed and even encouraged to be nutty in hot weather. At least I think that was what my mom used to say. She liked summer, liked seeing us outside and getting into trouble – the sweet, non-threatening, stay outa jail kind of trouble. After breakfast, she would send us outside where everything was conducive to amuck running: lots of old appliance boxes to make forts, a creek, old clothes for costumes, and a garden to plant and to pick from.

I remember planting all sorts of veggies with my mom and sisters: beans, peppers, tomatoes, rhubarb - watering it and watching it grow - then running to the house three doors down and stealing their cherry tomatoes which were already ripe and plentiful. (ahhh, summertime thievery.. the memories.. yeah, I know, so much for non-threatening, stay outa jail fun..)

Guest Review: By Royal Command By Laura Navarre

By Royal Command

By Laura Navarre

Expected publication: July 12th 2012 by Carina Press

ISBN13 9781426894008

Word Count: 101,000 words

Courtesy of author & Netgalley

Two brothers. One woman. Three hearts at war. Katrin of Courtenay's husband is dead—and she doesn't mourn him. He was cruel and controlling, and she doesn't need a husband to hold her northern keep. But her vengeful uncle, the King of England, has other ideas: intent on marrying her off, he's ordered his Viking-bred warrior to return her to court. On the journey, the Viking captures her interest, and for the first time Katrin understands passion. But her guard is honor-bound to deliver her to the king, and so it is settled—she must wed the mysterious Rafael le Senay, the Baron of Belmaine. A forced marriage to a stranger slowly becomes something more, and Katrin realizes she is in love with Rafael. But with the shadow of her former lover hanging over her, and Rafael's powerful brother making dangerous plans, can Katrin negotiate the delicate balance between survival and happiness?

Goodreads

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Viviana’s Thoughts:

Action by Liz Borino (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Please give a warm welcome to author Liz Borina and the characters from her new M/M romance, ACTION, Zack and Steve!

Dom

“Go on this blog and talk about what it’s like to be a Dom,” she told me. Really, Liz? Be a little more vague, why don’t you? For a woman that demands specifics on every detail of our lives, so she can write them well, her writing prompts leave something to be desired. *Deep breath* I’m Steve Michaels, one of the main characters in Liz Borino’s forthcoming Action. And that question is not an easy one to answer. Playing the Dom in club scene, as I did for around six years, is significantly different than the D/s relationship I have with my boyfriend, Zack. The clubs taught me the rules of the lifestyle, what it’s like to be on both sides of the dynamic, tested my limits, and showed me what I wanted long-term.

Review: Dance with the Devil (Dark-Hunter #3) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dance with the Devil
(Dark-Hunter #3)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Mass Market Paperback, 362 pages
Published December 1st 2003 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN 0312984839

Zarek's Point of View:
Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and solitude.
Insanity: A condition many say I suffer from after being alone for so long. But I don't suffer from my insanity-I enjoy every minute of it.
Trust: I can't trust anyone...not even myself. The only thing I trust in is my ability to do the wrong thing in any situation and to hurt anyone who gets in my way.
Truth: I endured a lifetime as a Roman slave, and 900 years as an exiled Dark-Hunter. Now I'm tired of enduring. I want the truth about what happened the night I was exiled-I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Astrid (Greek, meaning star): An exceptional woman who can see straight to the truth. Brave and strong, she is a point of light in the darkness. She touches me and I tremble. She smiles and my cold heart shatters.
Zarek: They say even the most damned man can be forgiven. I never believed that until the night Astrid opened her door to me and made this feral beast want to be human again. Made me want to love and be loved. But how can an ex-slave whose soul is owned by a Greek goddess ever dream of touching, let alone holding, a fiery star?

Goodreads
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Crystal’s Thoughts:
Emotional and heart-rending do not begin to describe Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dance with the Devil.

Angel Betrayed by Cynthia Eden (Guest Post/Giveaway)

I'd like to welcome one of my favorite paranormal romance authors back to Reading Between the Wines today, Cynthia Eden! Cynthia is joining us with her upcoming release of Angel Betrayed, the second book in her The Fallen series.

Let’s Talk Heroes!

Hi, everyone! Happy Friday! Oh, I do love Fridays. ;) I’m excited to be at Reading Between the Wines (and thank you to Crystal for inviting me over). Today, I thought I’d talk about one of my favorite things…

A good hero.

When I read a book, I want to fall in love with the hero. I want to root for him. I want to think he is just the most amazing person ever. I need him to be good (or, well, a really good bad boy), and there are certain hero characteristics that always lure me in:

Quickie Review: Night Embrace (Dark-Hunter #2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Night Embrace

(Dark-Hunter #2)

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Mass Market Paperback, 408 pages

Published July 13th 2003 by St. Martin's Press (first published July 1st 2003)

ISBN 0312984820

Dear Reader,
Life is great for me. I have my chicory coffee, my warm beignets, and my best friend on the cell phone. Once the sun goes down, I am the baddest thing prowling the night: I command the elements, and I know no fear. For centuries, I've protected the innocent and watched over the mankind, making sure they are safe in a world where nothing is ever certain. All I want in return is a hot babe in a red dress, who wants nothing more from me then one night.
Instead, I get a runaway Mardi Gras float that tries to turn me into roadkill and a beautiful woman who saves my life but can't remember where she put my pants. Flamboyant and extravagant, Sunshine Runningwolf should be the perfect woman for me. She wants nothing past tonight, no ties, no long-term commitments.
But every time I look at her, I start yearning for dreams that I buried centuries ago. With her unconventional ways and ability to baffle me, Sunshine is the one person I find myself needing. But for me to love her would mean her death. I am cursed never to know peace or happiness— not so long as my enemy waits in the night to destroy us both.
—Talon of the Morrigantes

Goodreads

Purchase at Barnes & Noble and Amazon

Crystal’s Quick Thoughts:

Night Embrace was another great addition to the Dark-Hunters series! Was there ever a doubt though? No way, this is DH that we're talking about here people!

How to join in:

-You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 & over adult reads should be your majority.

-Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.

-Copy the html for the button above and place it at the top of your post.

-List & answer the ‘Question of the Week.’

-Place your name and blog title in the linky below and the url for a direct link to your post

-Contact me (readingbetweenthewines10 at gmail dot com) with any questions!

Question of the Week: If your current read was made into a movie who would you cast as the characters?

Dream Chaser (Dark-Hunter, #14) (Dream-Hunter, #3)

My current read is Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dream Chaser, Xypher & Simone's book. And here is who I would cast...

TOur: Tarnished Halo by Kayden McLeod (Guest Post)

Today I would like to welcome author, Kayden McLeod, who is joining us with her upcoming release of Tarnished Halo!

Dear Reader,

Hello all! Thank you so much for having me here today.

While writing angels and demons isn’t new to me, writing them in the capacity of the Demon Queen series is. This series became as a writing blog project for two friends: Cindy Jacks, Kirstin Boyd, and myself. We had separate stories, with characters we’d created, who on the occasion intermingled in minor roles. But we moved on to other projects, and my lead character, Liwet wouldn’t leave me be. She had a story to be told above and beyond what blog showed, or what I’d ever imagined. With their blessing, I removed my story, formerly known as Dark Angel, and rewrote, adding new characters, taking away others, and reshaping the two leads: Liwet and Oriax. I cut scenes, and added new information, until Tarnished Halo was born.

Sourcebooks Amazon BIG DEAL - 40 eBooks on sale until Saturday, 6/24

There is a great deal on Sourcebook eBooks going on right now and we want to share it with you!

Sourcebooks has 40 eBooks currently on sale through the Amazon Kindle BIG DEAL. There’s a variety of titles, including romance, fiction, kids/YA and non-fiction. Below is the full list. Please note that these are only the Sourcebooks titles. For a full idea of what is on sale during the Big Deal, please visit http://amzn.to/LBZ2Fy.

Hello lovelies and welcome to the Kissin' Tell Kick Off Blog Hop hosted by Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews and Under the Covers Book Blog! We're here to celebrate the release of the newest Rough Riders novel from the fabulous Lorelei James, Kissin' Tell. So sit back, have yourself a gander, enter some giveaways, and then hop around a bit!

Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13)
by Lorelei James
ebook
Expected publication: June 26th 2012 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN139781609288488

She once led him around by a string. Now he’s the one holding the reins.
Georgia Hotchkiss swore wild horses couldn’t drag her back to Sundance, Wyoming. So it’s ironic she’s forced to take a rodeo PR job in her former hometown—right before her ten-year class reunion. The only thing worse than facing her cheating ex-husband and his pregnant wife? Showing up to the reunion without a date. Fate smiles on her when she runs into her former classmate and current cowboy hottie Tell McKay. With his infectious smile and fun-loving ways—not to mention his banging body—he’s the perfect solution to her problem.
Tell McKay had it so bad for Hot Lips Hotchkiss during high school that he let her run roughshod over him. But he is no longer that easily manipulated boy—these days he’s earned a reputation with the ladies that lives up to the McKay last name. He agrees to escort her to the reunion with one stipulation; that Georgia proves she has left behind the goody-goody cheerleader of the past—by sharing his bed.
Their sexual chemistry flashes so bright, they barely notice that the reunion has come and gone, and now they’re tangled up in another dreaded “R” word—relationship. But if Tell wants to get the girl this go-around, he’ll have to come up with a whole new set of knots to tie up her heartstrings.

Warning: Contains a sweet talkin’ wild cowboy with a wagon load of crazy-hot sex fantasies and the mad bedroom skills to back up his claims.

Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Today I have the chance to interview author, Laura Navarre who is on tour for her upcoming release of By Royal Command!

Crystal: Hi Laura and welcome to Reading Between the Wines. Thank you for joining us today!

Laura: Thanks so much for having me! I’m a huge oenophile and used to own a small vineyard, so I am fully supportive of the concept of savoring a fine vintage while enjoying a stellar read.

Crystal: Yay, you'll fit right in then!
Wow, you have led an exciting life outside of writing! Can you share with us a little bit about your work as a US diplomat?

Hot Summer Nights #Erotica #BlogHop (Score Goodies!)

Hot Summer Nights is a blog hop hosted by erotica author, Skye Warren, for all the kinky authors, bloggers and readers out there! Two outta three, woot! This hop will run from June 20th - 24th and feature plenty of naughty giveaways for you to lust after. ; )

So what are we giving away today? A brand new paperback of the hot erotic romantic suspense, BARE FACTS by Katherine Garbera. (US or Canadian residents only please.) Here's a bit about it...

Summer is here and you know what that means; hot sultry nights and even hotter books! To celebrate we have some of the best in romance joining us, take a peak at what we have in store....

June 24th : Laura Wright (Giveaway)

June 25th : Kristine Grayson (Giveaway)

June 26th : Tes Hilaire & Elisabeth Staab (Giveaway)

June 27th : Samantha Grace (Giveaway)

June 28th : Roni Loren

June 29th : Joanne Kennedy (Giveaway)
June 30th : Robin Covington (Giveaway)

*Schedule subject to change without notice.

And don't forget to check out Cocktails and Books for more great authors and giveaways!

Monday, June 18, 2012

Sexy Snippets: Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1) by Gena Showalter

Tour: The Wild Princess by Mary Hart Perry (Excerpt)

Welcome back! :) Now I would like to introduce you to author Mary Hart Perry's debut novel in her new Victorian romance series about Queen Victoria's five daughters, The Wild Princess! Available July 31st, 2012.

The Wild Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria's Daughters

by Mary Hart Perry

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: July 31st 2012 by William Morrow & Company

ISBN 0062123467

The marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert produced nine children—five of them princesses, all trained for the role of marriage to future monarchs. However, the fourth princess, Louise—later the duchess of Argyll—became known by the court as “the wild one.” She fought the constraints placed on her brothers and sisters. She broke with tradition by marrying outside of the elite circle of European royals at a time when no child of the English throne had wed a commoner in 300 years. Some said she married for love. Others whispered of scandal covered up by the Crown.
In fact, many years after Louise’s death, a civil lawsuit claimed that the teenage princess secretly gave birth to a baby boy out of wedlock. One Henry Locock sought to prove through DNA evidence that his grandfather was Louise’s child, delivered by Queen Victoria’s gynecologist then secretly adopted by the doctor’s young son and his wife, thereby avoiding scandal and preserving the line of succession to the throne. But the mysteries and drama involving Louise’s life don’t stop there...This is her story.

Goodreads - Amazon - B&N

Excerpt:

Darcy Burke’s Secrets & Scandals Series (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Good morning lovelies, I hope everyone had a fab weeked! Today I would like to welcome historical romance author, Darcy Burke, over who is joining us with a fun & very fitting post and giveaway!

Wine Pairing: Oregon Pinot with Darcy Burke’s Secrets & Scandals Series

I live on the edge of Oregon’s Pinot noir wine country in the northern Willamette Valley. Our climate here is similar to France, which enables us to produce Pinot noir that rivals those crafted in France, and in some cases surpass. I love Pinot noir and think Oregon Pinots are among the very best in the world. I thought it would be fun to pair an Oregon Pinot noir with each of my books. Read on for information about each wine* and book, and why I paired them!

*For simplicity, I did not select specific vintages.

Pages

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Monday, June 25, 2012

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Friday, June 22, 2012

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Monday, June 18, 2012