Highland Storm Releases Today

It's release day for Highland Storm. :) If you'd like to meet my historical Highland hero Alexander and his bonny lass Isla, check out the book's page at the publisher's site to read a free excerpt.

Highland heir Alexander Gordon is the answer to the disgraced Isla Forbes’ prayers—but should she redeem herself by killing him to avenge her brother, or let him rescue her by becoming his wife?
 
A Gordon man ruined Isla Forbes’ life. Blamed for her brother’s death and desperate for escape from her father’s abuse, she journeys to a saint’s spring to plead for help. A fierce storm that sweeps across the highlands drives her into the arms of the striking Alexander Gordon, heir of Benstrath and half-brother to her own brother’s murderer. It’s obvious he’s the answer to her prayers…but should she redeem herself by killing him to avenge her brother, or let him save her by loving him?

Available here in all ebook formats, including direct send to kindle.

Six Sentence Sunday - Highland Storm

         "I didnae mean to doubt that ye’ve suffered,” Alexander said, his eyes darting to her scar again, his gaze so heavy on the livid flesh that Isla imagined she could feel it, like a physical touch. “I only asked because if ye think my life will ease your troubles, then you’re verra welcome to take it.” 

Isla gaped at him, her teary eyes growing wider and wider as he unsheathed his dirk. He wielded it deliberately with his left hand while he seized the collar of his shirt with his right, holding it taut. She watched, spellbound, as he split the fabric slowly from his collarbone to his navel, baring his chest, which was slick with rainwater. He shifted his hold on the dirk, gripping the blade as he extended the hilt towards Isla.

Thanks for stopping by to check out the very first six I've shared from Highland Storm, which releases tomorrow. As anyone who knows me knows, heroes in kilts are my all-time favorites, so I've really been looking forward to sharing this with you all. :)

Romantic Moment in History: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor & Jessie Walmisley Marry

1899 (exact date unknown)

Celebrated British Composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor & Jessie Walmisley Marry

Samuel was a very talented composer who produced his most famous work, a musical called Hiawatha's Wedding Feast, at the age of 23. He married his former classmate, pianist Jessie Walmisley. Interracial marriages were very controversial during their time. Until a day before the wedding, Jessie's family was vehemently opposed to the marriage and did everything they could to try to prevent it. Samuel & Jessie didn't let that stop them, though. I think the fact that the couple was willing to face the cruelty of strangers and even their own family for the sake of their love is very romantic indeed.

The couple remained married until Samuel's death. They're pictured above with their two children.

Southern Accents and the Heroes Who Have Them

My hero Jack (Lonely Alpha) has a Southern accent (he's from Tennessee).  It's one of the things I like about him.

But I wasn't always such a fan of Southern accents. In fact, when I first moved to the South, I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about them. Maybe it was because I worked at restaurants and occassionally had trouble understanding people. But over time, I got used to it, and I can't remember the last time I couldn't make out what someone was saying. But for a while, while working as a hostess at a steak house, I found it kind of hilarious that so many people would ask for 'ass' in their drinks. They were saying 'ice', but to me, it sounded just like 'ass'. And then, the other staff would go out of their way to get me to say words with 'O' in them, because they found the way I pronounced those words highly amusing.

Nobody ever really thinks of themselves as having an accent, do they? I mean, other people might think of you that way, but I think most people just naturally assume that the way they speak is the natural way. Which never really makes much sense, because each language has its own set of diverse accents and dialects.

But nowadays, I do like Southern accents. Especially the one that are more drawling and easy than the twangy kinds. (There are different kinds - and maybe that description sounds weird to people who've never lived in the South. I don't know. But I think it would make sense to most who've lived here.)

Plus, if someone is really attractive (as the heroes in  my books inevitably are), most people are probably going to think of their accent as attractive too.

I stopped caring about the ass/ice thing when I became acquainted with the deliciousness of iced tea. I don't care what you call it, it's amazing.

What about you? Do you like Southern accents - maybe you have a favorite hero who has one? Do you think of yourself as having an accent, and if so, what kind?

Six Sentence Sunday - Lonely Alpha

It was crazy. She knew that, and yet, she wanted nothing more than to touch him. No, she wanted to do more than that. She wanted to climb onto him, stroke his cock to its full length and feel it slide inside her. She wanted to ride him until a fresh layer of sweat shone on her skin. She wanted him, bad.

Thanks for stopping by to read six from my brand new release. :) Last week, I introduced Jack as my best-smelling hero ever. LOL This week, I opted to share a decidedly naughty six. Hope you enjoyed!

Lonely Alpha Released Today

My sexy werewolf romance Lonely Alpha released today (1/19/2012), so silver bullets and sparks are flying at major ebook retailers everywhere.

When Mandy leaves the city behind and embarks on a retreat to the Great Smoky Mountains, she expects to spend the week alone with nature and a stack of novels. Instead, she ends up trapped on a remote mountain by a big game hunter who’s hell-bent on bagging a werewolf. Lonely alpha wolf-shifter Jack, the last of the once-strong Half Moon Pack, is his target. Jack is determined to keep Mandy safe while hunting his hunter, but being around Jack brings out a wild side Mandy never knew she had. As silver bullets fly, so do sparks. If they can manage to defeat their attacker, Mandy will still have one problem to contend with: Jack is convinced that she’s his mate.

Where to find it:

Amazon (US)

Amazon (UK)

All Romance

Smashwords

More retailers coming soon...

The Power of a Short Story

Yesterday, I set out on a shopping expedition, thoroughly expecting to come home with some seriously awesome fashion finds. Several malls and shopping centers later, with very sore feet I returned home with nothing but a sports bra and neon-colored, floral-explosion flashbacks that had me wondering if I'd just relived the early 90's. I found solace in the internet, where after half an hour's browsing I found exactly what I wanted, and in colors much more flattering to my complexion than day-glow yellow and blinding fuschia. The internet gives us so many choices, and affords so much variety and convenience. And not just when it comes to clothing.

I'd like to leave certain fashion fads in my childhood years where they belong, along with 'eaten' cassette tapes.

A few years ago I thought of short stories as something to be found between the pages of magazines, or perhaps grouped together in the occasional anthology. With the emergence of the e-reader though (love my kindle!) I find good stories of all lengths at my fingertips, and I've been reading a variety of novels / novellas / short stories. A few years ago, I read virtually nothing but novels. But you know what? I like the diversity on my (virtual) bookshelves, and I think that short stories can be just as powerful as longer works.

In fact, I still vividly remember a short story that I read one day during my English class period in my junior year of high school. (It was a strange story. Wish I remembered the name or author.) For one normally really boring hour or so, I was able to escape my mundane English class and be caught up in a fictional world. I think that's the beauty of short stories - they're quick, engagingly paced (because at that length, they have to be) ready-made escapes.

And I know I'm not alone in my appreciation of short stories. My best-selling title (in several venues, and overall)  is actually my short story, Party Girl. When I got the idea for a story about a party planner who gets (accidentally) roped into planning a bachelor party and falls for the host, I had no idea the little 47-page tale would become so popular.

Conclusion: short stories are here to stay. Recycled 90's fashion is hopefully not!

What do you think? With the popularity of ebooks, do you find yourself reading a wider variety of story lengths than when print dominated?

When to Expect Lonely Alpha

Just a quick update - Lonely Alpha will hit virtual bookshelves this weekend.

When Mandy leaves the city behind and embarks on a retreat to the Great Smoky Mountains, she expects to spend the week alone with nature and a stack of novels. Instead, she ends up trapped on a remote mountain by a big game hunter who’s hell-bent on bagging a werewolf. Lonely alpha wolf-shifter Jack, the last of the once-strong Half Moon Pack, is his target. Jack is determined to keep Mandy safe while hunting his hunter, but being around Jack brings out a wild side Mandy never knew she had. As silver bullets fly, so do sparks. If they can manage to defeat their attacker, Mandy will still have one problem to contend with: Jack is convinced that she’s his mate.

I'm really looking forward to sharing Jack and Mandy's story with readers. I'll tweet/share/blog the store links when Lonely Alpha is available. :)

Six Sentence Sunday - Lonely Alpha

She jerked her wrists, and this time they slid from his grasp easily. Stumbling backward a few steps, she took deep, cleansing breaths, trying to rid her lungs of his rich scent. It was having a strange effect on her; that natural, woodsy perfume he’d acquired from his time alone in the mountains. He smelled like a man completely at home in the wild. It was a raw smell; primal and slightly intoxicating in its simplicity… “I’m an idiot,” she mumbled under her breath, shaking her head and squeezing her eyes shut, trying to forget the way his hot body had felt against hers.

Thanks for stopping by. :) This is the first six I've shared from Lonely Alpha, which will be hitting virtual bookshelves everywhere super-soon. Hope you enjoyed! I'll definitely be posting more during the next few weeks.

Romantic Moment in History: Marie and Pierre Curie say 'I do.'

July 26th, 1895

Scientists Marie and Pierre Curie marry.

Together, this couple made some extremely important scientific discoveries. I think the idea of a husband and wife team changing the scientific world is really romantic.

See those bicycles in the photo? They used the money they received as wedding gifts to buy those, so they could take rides together.

Six Sentence Sunday - Hot Ink

It was sandwiched between her and Eric’s bodies, their closeness the only thing holding it up. She silently implored some higher power to not let him move as she scrambled for a hold on the material, and as she shifted almost imperceptibly, she realized that there was a reason why he was holding so still – he was hard.

Karen was oblivious, and Mina could only hope that she’d stay that way. Even after she managed to get ahold of the rebellious silk, she didn’t try to escape his grasp. The fact that she’d just had her first kiss in ages in front of her best friend and on camera was embarrassing enough. She could at least spare Eric – and herself – the awkwardness of Karen realizing that the kiss hadn’t been play-acted solely for the benefit of her photographic vision.

Romantic Moment in History: Kissing the War Goodbye

I've decided to start a new blog feature where I showcase a romantic moment in history each Friday. Figured I'd kick it off with a classic...

Kissing the War Goodbye

An American sailor kisses a young nurse on August 14th, 1945, the day when Japan surrendered, effectively ending WWII.

I've always loved this photo. :)

Lonely Alpha - New Book Coming Soon

I said I'd announce my latest book when the new year rolled around. Here it is. :)

When Mandy leaves the city behind and embarks on a retreat to the Great Smoky Mountains, she expects to spend the week alone with nature and a stack of novels. Instead, she ends up trapped on a remote mountain by a big game hunter who’s hell-bent on bagging a werewolf. Lonely alpha wolf-shifter Jack, the last of the once-strong Half Moon Pack, is his target. Jack is determined to keep Mandy safe while hunting his hunter, but being around Jack brings out a wild side Mandy never knew she had. As silver bullets fly, so do sparks. If they can manage to defeat their attacker, Mandy will still have one problem to contend with: Jack is convinced that she’s his mate.

Coming Soon

Want the latest updates on Lonely Alpha and when it'll be hitting virtual bookshelves? Just check back here, or watch for my Twitter & Facebook updates.

Champagne Fumes and Other Forbidden Things (Kindle Fire giveaway)

Please note: The contest has ended. Congrats to winners Lilaz (Kindle Fire), June ($80 Amazon gift card) & Mary K. (a book of mine - her choice). And a big thank you to everyone who visited my blog and shared their New Years memories. There were so many good memories. Here's wishing you all the best in 2012! :)

Today I'm taking part in a New Years Blog Hop. Here's how it works: I share a favorite New Years memory in this post, and everyone who comments will be entered in a random drawing. There are two fantastic prizes: a Kindle Fire and a $80 Amazon gift card. Yeah, I know - awesome! :) Plus, by commenting on this specific post, you'll be entered in a drawing for a copy of one of my books (your choice). Just be sure to leave your e-mail address or some method of contact in your comment so that you can be contacted if you win one of the prizes.

And after you read my tale of forbidden alcoholic fumes, don't forget to check out the directory of participating authors so you can visit their posts too. (The more comments you leave, the more entries you get in the Kindle / gift card drawing.)

Now for my New Years memory...

This happened a few years ago at a family New Years gathering. My younger brother was 16, and I was just old enough to escape our mom's holiday interference. Unfortunately for him, he was not.

As midnight approached, our aunt made the rounds with a bottle of champagne, pouring a modest amount into all our cups - just enough to toast in the New Year with. A mouse could have chugged one of those portions and still have been completely sober. Which is why it may come to a surprise to anyone who doesn't know my mom (and my aunt - her twin) that my aunt suddenly paused just as the champagne was about to flow into my brother's cup. "Suzie*, is it all right if he has some?" she asked, facing my mother with a look of genuine concern plastered across her face.

My mom actually thought about it. As my brother looked on with an expression of disbelief, our mother pondered the question before she reluctantly consented that he could have "just a little bit". (Meanwhile, our 12 year old girl-cousin is crowing in the background over her centimeter of holiday champagne.)

And so, my sixteen year old brother was demasculated by just a few words from our mom, in front of more than a dozen of our family members - definitely not his preferred way to begin the new year. He was so disgusted that he refused to drink any champagne and left the room, claiming that he couldn't be in close proximity to the champagne bottle, lest breathing a whiff of the alcoholic fumes cause him to become intoxicated.

Of course, being the good sister that I am, I tease him about fumes every New Year, and we all laugh. And we still don't drink champagne (which certainly isn't to say that there isn't any drinking at all).

***

*I called my mom 'Suzie', figuring she wouldn't want to be mentioned on this blog by her actual name. lol

***

What about you - any favorite New Years memories you'd like to share? Thanks for stopping by, and good luck in the drawing. ;)

Six Sentence Sunday - Hot Ink

Did Eric think so too? Karen might not have even sent him a photo yet, but if she had, what had he thought when he’d seen it? Mina cupped a handful of warm water and let it stream over her side, washing away the soap. Taking a clean towel from the small bathroom closet, she patted her skin dry. She loved the tattoo. If only she didn’t suspect that she just might be able to feel the same way about the man who’d done it for her.