LOVE'S SWEET WAGER by Jannine Corti Peska + Giveaway

Today we close our 30 Days of Promo Goodness celebration with a closer look into Love's Sweet Wager by Jannine Corti Peska! Love's Sweet Wager is now available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Watch the book video here....

[See giveaway details at the bottom of this post.]


Her gambler father murdered, Rachel Garrett joins a wagon train west to be with her aunt and the fiancé she's never met. Her dream is to forget the life she led performing on stage to earn the money her father gambled away and settle down in one place. But along the trail, she is helplessly drawn to a priest--forbidden fruit--and her hopes are shattered.

Professional gambler Reno Hunter is wanted for the murder of James Garrett. His disguise as a priest on a wagon train is foolproof, until he discovers the woman the old gambler wagered in that fatal card game and Rachel Garrett are one and the same. Can he protect his identity and his heart, or will he surrender to his desire for Rachel and risk being apprehended by the law?


Excerpt from Love's Sweet Wager:

In this scene near the river, Rachel discovers that Father Caldwell is really Reno Hunter, the man accused of killing her father.

Rachel’s open palm cracked across his face, snapping his head to the side. His ear rang but his reflexes were quick and he caught both her wrists, experience warning him that a woman didn’t stop at one slap. She struggled, fighting with all her strength. When he began to lose his grip, he clamped his fingers tighter around her small bones, forcing her arms behind her back.

“You know who I am, don’t you?” Reno demanded an answer.

Tears glistened in her eyes, but rage contorted her mouth. “Reno Hunter is supposed to be locked up in St. Jo.”

“The sheriff’s deputy was persuaded to release me.”

“I don’t believe you. You broke out with the help of your brothers.”

“They helped me escape because they know my freedom is the only way I can prove I didn’t kill James Garrett.” He released her and she stumbled back against the tree. He noticed the sudden change in her eyes, and he turned his anger on himself for making her suffer. “You’re afraid of me now, aren’t you? Just a few minutes ago you offered to confess your terrible sins to me. Now you’re looking at me as if I’m a heathen.”

Reno’s cynical smile caused her to shudder.

Compassion fled when he thought about how she deceived him with her chore girl pretense. His own disguise flirted with his mind. He wasn’t happy that he deceived her as well, but she wasn’t in possession of a marker claiming to own another human being.

“I never thought I’d find Garrett’s daughter on a wagon train.”

“If you hadn’t killed my father, I would have traveled more comfortably by stage.” Bitterness seeped into her accusation.

“I didn’t kill him.”

“It was your gun, wasn’t it?” Her gaze dropped to the gleaming weapon visible beneath his parted frock coat.

“It wasn’t me who shot him,” he insisted, wishing she’d believe him. “You can rest assured I will find the man who killed Garrett and left me to take the blame.” He purposely softened the severity in his stance and his voice. “Can I trust you not to interfere?”

“I should turn you in to Mr. Kane.” Her strident threat plucked a raw nerve.

“You won’t because you know damn well I didn’t kill your father. If I had, I wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to disguise myself.” He pointed out his uncomfortable clothing. “I would have run off and hid until the murder of your two-bit gambler father is dust in the wind.”

“How dare you speak of my father—”

“It’s the truth,” Reno barked, startling her into silence. Her bottom lip quivered. “Oh, for Christ’s sake. Don’t start bawling.”

By commenting to today or yesterday posts by Jannine Corti Peska, you will be entered to win a copy of her upcoming release, The Lily and the Falcon, Book I of her Italian medieval series. The winner will be chosen randomly via the True Random Number Generator at Random.org. Check back to see if you have won. The winner will be announced tomorrow here at The Cozy Page. [Chances of winning depend on the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.]

SLIGHTLY TARNISHED by Lilly Gayle

Today we're back with Lilly Gayle and a glimpse into her latest romance, Slightly Tarnished, which is available now from The Wild Rose Press....


Victorian romance laced with danger.

When a brooding English earl with a SLIGHTLY TARNISHED reputation marries his dead wife’s American cousin to save her from her uncle’s vengeful schemes, the sea captain’s daughter with a taste for adventure sparks desires he thought long dead.

Nicole Keller has always been headstrong and independent, but after a failed business venture and a sinking ship take her father, her home, and her childhood sweetheart, Nikki must support herself and her mother. But moving to England and marrying Chadwick Masters, Earl of Gilchrest isn’t what she has in mind. And falling in love with the mysterious earl could endanger both their lives.


Excerpt from Slightly Tarnished:

“This will be your room.” He opened the door and stood to one side so she could enter. “I’m afraid you will have to continue to make do without a lady’s maid. The only household staff I employ are Mrs. Lomax, Dickens, Cook, and my groom. My driver lives in the village as do the few maids I hire on occasion to help Mrs. Lomax with the laundry and heavier cleaning.”

Nikki smiled. “That’s quite all right, Lord Masters. I’m used to doing for myself, and it’s only for a week.”

He returned her smile and leaned forward, his warm breath fanning her cheek. “What happened to Chad? Surely we’ve gone beyond such formalities now, Nicole.”

Gooseflesh rippled over her skin. Her body quivered. “I don’t think it would be proper for me to call you by your given name.” She risked a glance at his face and wished she hadn’t. His eyes no longer looked worried. They were hot—almost feverish. Her skin heated.

“It didn’t stop you before,” he said, his deep voice a husky rumble. Despite the heat, Nikki shivered.

Oh my!

“I don’t think this is proper either,” she stammered when he brushed his lips against her temple. A delicious tingle skittered down her spine.

“No, probably not,” he said, nibbling her neck.

A strange tension rippled through her muscles, tightening them with pleasure. She arched her neck, granting him access as he slid his lips along the column of her throat. Her hands bunched the skirt of her plain, serviceable dress. Her stomach quivered.

“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless and giddy.

He pulled his hands from his pockets and pulled her closer. “I’m seducing you, I think.”

“Seducing me?” Her heart hammered against her ribs.

“Hmm. You’re doing it again.” Then he lowered his mouth and kissed her.

ANIMAL ATTRACTION by Jenna McClure

We're one day away from the midpoint of our awesome 30 Days of Promo Goodness event here at The Cozy Page! Please help me in welcoming back author Jenna McClure, whose contemporary romance and debut novel Animal Attraction is available now from The Wild Rose Press....


Environmental consultant Emmalyn Ashmore is outraged when she discovers the last minute replacement for the guest speaker at her annual conference is none other than Adam McLean, a cattle rancher whos lifestyle represents everything she stands against.

Adam McLean has never met a more contrary woman. From the time she opens her mouth, he knows she's exactly the type of woman he doesn't need in his life - ever.

But Fate has other plans, and as the sparks start to fly, Emma realizes there is more at stake than conserving just the environment. She has to figure out how to conserve her heart, before she loses it to Adam forever.

So how does this work? Do I need to show up at a particular time? Do I just talk about my article and be available to answer questions on Saturday?


Excerpt from Animal Attraction:

“It’s never good to make assumptions about people you don’t know,” he replied, throwing her words back at her.

She jerked her eyes to him, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Right. Sorry.”

Idly, he wondered if she was always this nervous, or if it was just him. Selfishly he hoped he had the same effect on her as she did on him.

“I know you’re a cattle rancher and all,” she started, “but I…”

He didn’t care for her opening words, but he liked her voice, so he concentrated on that. Besides, if he missed anything important, he’d ask her to repeat it. Over dinner, he mused as he continued to stare at her mouth. It was still moving, which meant she was still talking and he was still not listening, but she didn’t seem to notice.

Or so he thought.

Her lips stopped moving, snapped shut, then opened slightly. A brief, shrill whistle pierced the air. He jerked his eyes back to hers, and found her staring at him in angry disbelief.

If she didn’t look so mad, he might have laughed.

“Mr. McLean, were you listening to a word I said?”

Adam scratched his chin. “Sure. You said something about me being a cattle rancher, which I already knew, and then something about your impressions. But you kind of lost me after that.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “I was trying to talk to you about how misleading your speech was.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Yeah? I must have missed that part.”

“I think you missed all my parts.”

“Trust me, I didn’t,” he drawled.

Jenna McClure: A Newbie’s Guide to Facebook & Twitter

Today we continue 30 Days of Promo Goodness with author Jenna McClure! Jenna
grew up in the urban south, but moved to Colorado to satisfy her desire for fresh air, mountains, lots of snow and wide open spaces. She became a vegetarian in 2003 after seeing a graphic film about animal cruelty. A long-time romantic, she has been reading romance novels since her sister introduced them to her as a teenager. She finally decided to merge her love of animals and studly men into a romance novel. She lives outside Denver with a gloriously goofy greyhound and two cats, one is deaf and the other extremely talkative, and all of which are named after some of her favorite fictional characters. Animal Attraction is her first published novel.

Take it away, Jenna....


If you’re like me, then the thought of doing anything approaching marketing and promotion of your new book gives you the heebie jeebies. You may be thinking “What does the word promotion even mean? Isn’t that where I get more responsbility and more money at work??” For those of us who work in the corporate world, yes, that’s what the word usually means. For an author, however, it means getting out of your comfort zone and learning how to sell yourself and your book so you can make money and become rich and famous. Doesn’t sound too hard, does it??

For me, it sounded VERY hard. I’m in introvert, which means I need more alone time than I do time with other people. So thinking about how to deal with strangers and telling them why they should read my book made me lose sleep and gain weight. But I’ve come to realize you can still be an introvert and deal with those strangers in a relatively pain-free and stree-free way. Want to know how?

It’s call SOCIAL MEDIA!

In this digital age of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and all the other media I don’t even know about, you can easily and quickly promote yourself and your book without leaving the comfort of your own home. You can even do it in your pajamas if you want. The two I use most often are Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook

If you already have a Facebook (FB) account, you’re halfway there. But did you know there is a difference between a FB profile and a FB page? Now, you may be thinking “What the heck is a FB page?”. It’s basically another way to manage your account with having to add “friends”. For example, here is my FB profile. You can see that I am able to find and friends, edit my personal profile and share what’s on my mind. But if you go to my FB page here, you can see that I have no friends, only “Likes”, and most of my personal profile information is not showing. I can still edit my page and determine if I want users to be able to post to my page, but my friends’ posts do not automatically show up, nor can they see who my friends are. Basically, one of the primary differences between a profile and a page is the information that gets shared and how you manage it. For more information on this, please visit the Facebook Help Center here.

Twitter

When I first learned about Twitter, my initial reaction was “Why would I want the whole world to know what I’m doing every five minutes, and why would anyone care?” Now that I’m an author, however, my viewpoint has changed. I do want the whole world to know about my book, and I do care if people are reading it. So I’ve learned how to tweet. A “tweet” is simply a 140-character message that is sent out to your “followers”. Followers see what you’ve tweeted about, and can re-tweet your tweet to their followers, so potentially your message can reach a LOT of people. You can even link your FB account to your Twitter account, so every time you post on FB, it gets out on Twitter too.

The key to both of these outlets is to actually use them! You have to share what’s going on with your book – the release date, the cover art, a blurb and an excerpt, your website, your blog, etc – anything and everything you want potential readers to know about it that will make them curious and tempt them to read it. And don’t be shy! Start following people and groups on Twitter. What do you like to do? Chances are there is a Twitter feed from someone in that hiking or quilting club you can follow. Who are your favorite authors? I bet most of them tweet. The more people you follow, and the more you tweet, the more followers you will get. Post news and updates on your FB account. If your budget allows, create a FB ad and let it help you promote.

Some other ways to promote are to join groups, loops and guest blogs. Yahoo! has a lot of groups from which to choose. Look at what your publisher offers – do they have blogs and loops you can join? If so, join them. Look at what other authors are doing. Offer to be a guest blogger for a day, or ask for someone to be your guest blogger. Create author pages on Amazon and any other legitimate site that has to do with publishing and/or writing. Have business cards or bookmarks made with your cover art and a blurb, and pass them out to book club members, family, friends, coworkers and random strangers you see reading (just be polite!). If you have a nice family and friends, they may even pass them out for you! Talk to your local bookstores. Do they offer any special opportunities for local authors?

The ways you can promote your book are seemingly endless, but the important thing to remember is…you have to do something if you want readers to find you. Good luck!


Thank you, Jenna, for the advice for newbies! Readers, tune in tomorrow for a glimpse into Jenna's debut novel, Animal Attraction!

PRICELESS DECEPTION by Jennifer Ann Coffeen

Hi readers! Jennifer Ann Coffeen is back today with an excerpt from her new romance, Priceless Deception, available now at The Wild Rose Press....


“The French Blue Diamond must be destroyed.”

Haunted by the words of her dying father, Lady Madeline Sinclair arrives for the London Season with much more than parties and the latest fashion on her mind. She has sworn a vow, and the beautifully headstrong and fearless Madeline will allow nothing to distract her… until she meets the infamously jilted Lord Colin, Duke of Douglas, whose dark grin and stormy eyes threaten to make her forget her duty, along with her manners.

Bound together by the mysterious diamond, Madeline and Colin soon succumb to the passion raging between them, even as the diamond eludes their grasp. But the true threat lies in the hands of Lord Rockford, whose dangerous obsession with the past has the power to destroy them both. Madeline and her Duke must make the choice to finally trust one another or lose their hearts… and their lives.


Excerpt from Priceless Deception:

“Lady Madeline Sinclair.” The deep voice bolted straight out of the darkness, making her jump. “Or should I refer to you as the innocent young lady I assaulted for no reason?”

She recognized Lord Douglas’s voice the moment he spoke, unable to banish the dangerously seductive tone from her mind, but her heart leaped all the same. She searched the garden’s muted corners before spotting him in the darkness, walking towards her.

“It took no small amount of effort to find you, Madeline.” He was obviously quite proud of himself for uncovering her name. “My mistake,” he continued, setting a half filled bottle down at her feet, “was looking for a girl in grey serge when, plainly, that is not your normal attire.” He finished with a long heat filled gaze up the length of her gown, pausing briefly on the nonexistent neckline before ending on her red cheeks. “The color suits you.”

If her encounter with the Duke of Douglas had not been seared into her mind like a tattooed gypsy, Madeline might not have recognized him at all. A different man than the one she’d met a week before. Tall and handsome in his full dress clothes, he still retained a slightly dangerous, disheveled look that reminded her of their last encounter. His perfectly starched white cravat hung loosely around his neck, the black jacket and waistcoat simple, yet with an impeccable cut, one Mr. Banbury would certainly approve of, she thought wildly. Gone was any hint of the vulnerability she had seen on his face when he was sleeping, oblivious of her presence. A politely controlled mask of confidence had taken its place, and Madeline found herself more nervous than before. “How’s your shoulder?” she blurted out, desperate to take the attention off her dress, and it couldn’t hurt to give him a little reminder, she thought wickedly, of who came out the winner in the last fight.

“Much improved,” he replied, lifting the arm slightly as though to check. “Thanks to your remedy.”

“My what?” She was having trouble concentrating.

“Garlic and vinegar,” he reminded her. “Halbert was convinced you were trying to poison us with the smell.”

She smiled, unable to help herself. “It is rather awful, but my intentions were pure.”

“That’s what I told him,” Colin said. “I couldn’t imagine such a beauty could be deceitful.”

She looked away, suddenly uncomfortable under the intense gaze.

“I promise not to hit you again,” she replied, forcing a light tone. “If you promise not to throw me to the ground and - ”

“And?” One eyebrow shot up.

“Provoke me.”

He laughed then, a full rich sound that seemed to drop the tension from his face. More recognizable now, Madeline felt her shoulders relax.

“I am sorry,” she added. “My behavior that day was unforgivable. I do hope we can start over as friends Lord Douglas.”

She held out her hand, the small warning bell in her head quickly silenced.

“It would be my pleasure.” He took the offered fingers, bending slightly to press them against his lips. Not a trace of improperness, but a sigh caught in her throat all the same and she held it there, no longer breathing.

In the back of her mind she knew this was not a good idea. She knew perfectly well she should invent some excuse, run straight back into the ballroom and discuss Lady Farris’s flowers. She didn’t move.

“And since we are already intimately acquainted, I must insist you call me Colin.”

“Colin,” she said, finally exhaling so the name rushed out in a breathless tone. She wildly though of something else to say, but never managed a word.

Colin pulled her to him, the kiss as much of a surprise as her own response to it. Madeline’s body instantly betrayed her, melting against the strong arms that held her until she had lost all sense of her earlier outrage. The world fell away, leaving nothing behind but Colin’s searing lips blistering her own, and the faint smell of lilacs. She gave into the kiss, responding with equal passion, relishing the low growl of approval from Colin’s throat. He shifted against her, sliding his hands down her hips then lifting her from behind until she was pressed against him, more erotically than she ever thought possible. The feeling was overwhelming, jolts of pleasure made their way through her limbs as Madeline clung to him. He broke free of her mouth, dropping his lips to her neck, circling the white skin until he stumbled onto a most sensitive spot directly below her left ear. A giggling shriek followed the discovery and Madeline was swept away, all sense of fear vanishing in the newfound feelings.

A MAN LIKE THAT by Alison Henderson

Alison Henderson is back today to give us a peek into her latest romance, A Man Like That, available now from The Wild Rose Press and Amazon....


Jessamine Randall, fearless crusader and champion of the downtrodden, is not a woman to be left waiting at the altar. When her fiancé disappears hours before their wedding, the ever-resourceful Jessy hatches a plan to track him down and bring him back where he belongs.

Morgan Bingham knows he’s no good. Never has been. Never will be. A former outlaw is no fit husband for the only daughter of the town judge, despite her misguided notions. Besides, after ten long years away from home, it’s time to return to the hills and face his demons.

Ill-prepared, but armed with unshakeable certainty, Jessy follows Morgan to his family’s cabin deep in the Ozark Mountains where she’s sucked into a whirlpool of deep secrets and old hatreds. While she struggles to bring light and hope into their dark lives, her greatest challenge is Morgan himself. Can she ever convince him he’s worthy of love?


Excerpt from A Man Like That:

Jessy took a step forward and slid her arms beneath his jacket and around his waist. “Now aren’t you going to kiss me?”

He grabbed her wrists and threw her hands off him as if she harbored a dread disease.

“Are you sure you don’t want to kiss me?” she persisted. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” Her seductive tone was pure torture.

Morgan scowled and didn’t answer. He had no intention of answering the first question and wasn’t sure about the second. At the moment, it required every ounce of strength and resolve he had to keep from jerking her into his arms and taking everything she offered and more.

He stared down at Jessy’s face in the flickering firelight. Her sparkling eyes beckoned him. Her moist lips parted in invitation. But the same fresh innocence that had always stopped him held him back again.

He could take what he wanted; he knew it. There was no one around to stop him, and Jessy wouldn’t resist. She was crazy enough to think she loved him.

It would be so easy to give in, so easy to forget the past and the future for a few sweet hours in her arms, to forget their differences and lose himself in the generosity of her love. But he couldn’t do it. To take her and leave her would be to steal something more precious than her virginity. He would be stealing the bright fire that formed the essence of her, the fire that had drawn him from the beginning. As much as he wanted her, he prayed for the strength to resist her.

Alison Henderson: Promotion Off the Beaten Track

30 Days of Promo Goodness continues today with author Alison Henderson! Alison grew up in Kansas City on the edge of the prairie. One of her favorite memories is of the fringed turquoise cowgirl outfit she received for her fifth Christmas. She went off to New York to study art history at Vassar College but never lost her admiration for the fortitude of the pioneers who settled the American West. She began writing when her daughter entered pre-school and was quickly captivated by the creative process. Although she has traveled the world from Japan to Tunisia, Alison has never strayed far from her Midwestern roots. She and her husband are empty-nesters living in Minnesota, and their daughter is a graduate student in Chicago....
Now take it away, Alison....

I currently have two published (mid)Western historical romances, Harvest of Dreams and A Man Like That. Both are set in Missouri—hardly the first place you think of when you think historical romance. Because they take place just after the end of the Civil War, they don’t fit into any convenient category, making promotion much more challenging. They’re also not available in brick-and-mortar bookstores or from traditional wholesale sources. How have I managed to sell any books? Besides guest blogging at a wide variety of sites, I came up with a couple of unusual venues to sell my books.

My first book, Harvest of Dreams, is set in Weston, MO, a small river town just north of Kansas City, where I grew up. I wanted to make the most of the connection, but since I haven’t lived in Kansas City for almost twenty-five years, I wasn’t sure how. I had neglected to consider the full power of maternal devotion.

My mother was so excited about my book that she not only bought a carton full to give out to anyone who might read it; she also didn’t hesitate to tell everyone she met about it. I had used a local historic home, the John Wornall House, as the inspiration for my heroine’s farm house, so my mother marched in and told the director all about my book. The director was thrilled, and the upshot was an invitation to speak and sign books at a Valentine’s Day evening soiree at the Wornall House.

My mother also got me a referral to a lovely woman who owns an interior design and gift shop in Weston. The shop owner was very excited about carrying a book set in her town and invited me to do a signing at a special monthly Saturday tourist event sponsored by the merchants’ association. I had a great time meeting locals who were interested in the history of their town and tourists who were visiting the local B&B’s and shops for Valentine’s Day.

My second book is set in the Ozark Mountains, and I don’t have any connections there. I wanted to find a way to capitalize on the setting again, so I designed a flyer with a picture of the cover, a blurb, and purchase information. I sent it, along with a polite, friendly letter to every merchant who might carry books in the Lake of the Ozarks region, as well as Branson. Both areas draw large numbers of tourists in the summer and fall, and my book has a gorgeous autumn cover, so I suggested a romance novel set in the local area might make a lovely souvenir.

I don’t know yet if this effort will bring any sales, but it’s another example of thinking outside the box promo-wise. These days, whether we’re published with a large New York house, or a small indie press, authors have to apply as much creativity to promotion as to writing. We might as well try to have a little fun with it.


Thank you, Alison! Readers, tune in tomorrow for a glimpse into Alison's latest release, A Man Like That! Until then, she invites readers to visit her on the web at www.alisonhenderson.com!

SLEEPING WITH THE LIGHTS ON by Brenda Whiteside

We continue today with Brenda Whiteside, author of Sleeping with the Lights on, which is available now from The Wild Rose Press....


After two failed marriages and countless relationships, Sandra Holiday thinks she’s met the man to end her years of less than perfect choices; choices that not only derailed her travel-related career plans but also left her single and broke.

Carson Holiday, a Las Vegas country crooner with swoon-inducing good looks, spent his adult life pursuing a recording contract and love, never holding on to either. After eighteen years, he drops back into Sandra’s life, reigniting an attraction he can’t deny.

When Carson reappears, Sandra must choose again. Only this time, nothing’s as it seems. A secret admirer, a redheaded stalker and an eccentric millionaire throw her on a dangerous path, with Carson her only truth.

As life confronts her with yet another turning point, will her decisions find her eternally sleeping with the lights on – or will she finally discover a way to turn them off?


Excerpt from Sleeping with the Lights On:

“Carson, have you ever considered dating?” I couldn’t get over the six marriages.

“Dating?” He looked at me and smiled. “You mean instead of marrying.” He shrugged. “I’ve been rethinking it…since Melanie, who next to you was the best marriage I’ve had and even then she didn’t compare. You’ll always be the best. Special.”

He melted me with his choice of words. I couldn’t speak. Carson told me I had been one of those really good things about his life. The adage came to mind – you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.

“Man, this weather is good chili weather.” He stretched his arms in appreciation of a nice spring Minnesota night. The phrase rang pure Texan. I guess you can’t take Texas out of the Texan no matter how long it’s been. “Let’s do this again tomorrow night, Sandra.”

“I can’t. I have plans,” I said relieved. Sort of. This evening, supposedly a one-time meeting should be a brief hello. I had a life.

“Your caller?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

He actually said good. Why did he find every aspect of my life so pleasing?

“Then lunch?” He reached out and took my hand. “We haven’t had nearly enough time to talk. Unless, we extend this night some more.”

“I don’t think that would be such a good idea.” Actually it would be a great idea for all the wrong reasons. “I have to get up so early for work.” I needed to call Wesley and put Carson out of my mind. Carson Holiday needed to slip back into my past.

“Then I’ll take you to lunch.” He nudged me with his shoulder affectionately.

“When do you go back to Vegas?”

He hesitated. “In a day or two.”

“You sound rather vague.” And still allusive. What could be the big secret about this charity gig he couldn’t divulge?

“I have a few more things to find out. I’ll be out of here as soon as I get all my questions answered. It’s complicated.”

“Carson, honestly, how complicated can a gig –”

He stopped walking when we reached the edge of my apartment complex and pulled on my hand so we faced each other. My head said turn and run but my legs wouldn’t respond, mushy from wine or Carson and moonlight. I couldn’t be sure which.

“Have lunch with me tomorrow, darlin’.” He looked at me, not smiling. His hand let go of mine and his fingers gingerly brushed along my forearm while I couldn’t break the connection between our eyes. “Another hour of your time with a long lost friend?”

“Yes.” My voice went all husky and come-hither. I wanted to kick myself for being so easy.

“Good. What’s the address of your office?” He turned and took my hand again, leading me toward the door of the building. I struggled to shake off the moon shadows and to remember where I worked. Once inside the building, I took a scrap of paper from my purse and wrote the address.

“And now I’ll walk you to your door and say goodnight,” he said tucking the scrap of paper in his pocket. “Unless you want to have me in for a goodnight drink.” I didn’t answer. If he’d only known my uncertainty about my renewed attraction to him, a little persistence might have made me cave. He took my hand again. “Okay, then –” His mouth gaped. I followed his bewildered look to my apartment door.

TRAMP

We both stared at an ordinary piece of white typing paper, taped to my door, with no other marks or writing other than the one word, and then looked at each other. He gave me one of those arched-eyebrow-quizzical looks, but I couldn’t find my voice. We looked back at the paper like maybe we missed part of it. The black block letters couldn’t be mistaken for anything other than what they said. And I knew whose artful hand had branded me.

“What have you been up to since we last saw each other, darlin’?”

STORM'S INTERLUDE by Vonnie Davis

Welcome, readers, to Day 4 of 30 Days of Promo Goodness! Vonnie Davis is back to give us a closer look into her latest romance release, Storm's Interlude, available now at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble....


Nurse Rachel Dennison comes to Texas determined to prepare her new patient for a second round of chemo. What she isn’t counting on is her patient’s twin brother, Storm Masterson. Despite her initial attraction, Storm has two things Rachel can’t abide: a domineering personality and a fiancée.

Half Native American, with the ability to have "vision dreams," Storm dreams about Rachel for three nights before her arrival. Both are unprepared for the firestorm of emotions their first chance encounter ignites. Ultimately, it is Rachel’s past—an abusive, maniacal ex-boyfriend—that threatens to keep them apart…and Storm’s dreams that bring them together again....


I was in a bit of a snit when I started Storm’s Interlude. Rejection stings, and I was stinging at the time. I wanted to write about a different hero than the alpha male. Someone more gentle, more caring, more approachable. Who knows why; perhaps I was suffering from INOC (in need of chocolate) at the time.

No one liked him.

Heck, by the time I got done writing the book, I barely liked him.

So my muse and I had a bit of a tiff. I was grumbling that I didn’t want to write the typical alpha male story. “Well, if you think you can’t,” she hissed in my ear. I shot her a dirty look. I professed I didn’t know how to write sex scenes. Just the thought of it made me blush. Oh, I’m no prude; I enjoy reading them…and have been known to stand in a bookstore, leafing through the pages until I came to the sex scene just to see if it was scorching enough. But write on? Me? “Too bad you’re not passionate enough to write sex,” she said as she buffed her nails on my t-shirt.

Don’t you hate a challenge? They just set my blood pressure to boiling. So I sat down, opened my laptop and powered it up, glaring at the bossy wench as I did so. Then I wrote the most bizarre opening scene I could think of as steam puffed out my ears.


Opening Scene from Storm's Interlude:


Someone swaggered out of the moonlit night toward Rachel. Exhausted from a long day of driving, she braked and blinked. Either she was hallucinating or her sugar levels had plummeted. Maybe that accounted for the male mirage, albeit a very magnificent male mirage, trekking toward her. She peered once more into the hot July night at the image illuminated by her headlights. Sure enough, there he was, cresting the hill on foot—a naked man wearing nothing but a black cowboy hat, a pair of boots and a go-to-hell sneer.

Well, well, things really did grow bigger in Texas. The man quickly covered his privates with his black Stetson. Rachel sighed. The show was evidently over. Should she stand up in her Beetle convertible and applaud? Give a couple of catcalls? Wolf whistles? Maybe not.

She turned down the music on the car’s CD player. Sounds of crickets and a lonely bullfrog in the distance created a nighttime symphony in the stillness of this isolated stretch of country road.

Lightning bugs darted back and forth, blinking a display of neon-yellow glow.

The naked man strode toward her car, and Rachel’s heart rate kicked up. Common sense told her to step on the gas, yet what woman wanted to drive away from such a riveting sight? Still, life had taught her to be careful. She reached into her handbag and extracted her chrome revolver. Before he reached her car, she quickly slid her gun under the folds of her skirt.

Just let him try anything funny—I know how to take care of myself.

Both of his large hands clasped his hat to his groin. His face bore annoyance and a touch of chagrin. “I need a ride.” By his bearing and commanding tone of voice, she guessed the man was used to giving orders and having them followed.

Her gaze took a slow journey across his face. Even in the moonlight, she could see traces of Native heritage. His shoulder-length ebony hair, too long for her tastes, glistened against his bronzed skin. Proud arrogant eyes sparked with anger. Because Rachel believed in indulging herself, she allowed her gaze to travel over his broad shoulders, muscular chest and tight abdominal muscles. She saw a thin trail of dark hair starting below his navel, and, knowing full well where it ended, she fought back a groan. Her eyes slid back up to lock on his. “You need a pair of pants, too.” Knowing her voice hummed with desire, she cleared her throat, hoping the naked man hadn’t noticed.

He looked up at the sky for a beat. “Just my freakin’ luck! A birthday party gone bad, and now I’m bein’ ogled by some horny kid with damnable blue eyes.”

What the heck was wrong with her eyes? She quickly glanced in her rearview mirror and saw nothing amiss. She narrowed those “damnable blue eyes” and sneered. “Look, buster, I’m not the one prancing around Texas naked as a jaybird. I’ll have you know I’m hardly a kid.” She glanced down at the black cowboy hat. “And, furthermore, stop hiding behind that big ol’ Stetson. From what I saw, a French beret would do the job.”

There, let the arrogant fool stew on that while he strutted back to whatever rock he’d crawled out from. She slammed her car in gear and sped off. She swore she wouldn’t look in her rearview mirror. Nope, she would not look. As if the mirror were a magnet emitting a powerful homing signal, her gaze slowly slid to the glass surface. He was standing where she’d left him…What do you think? Did she go back?

I’m honored to say Storm’s Interlude recently got a 5-Star review from Single Titles Reviews. “Loved every morsel of this story. Each chapter brought a smile to my face, the chemistry between Storm and Rachel is a barn burner. A compassionate story that takes a difficult subject and brings hope to a family struggling to figure out what will happen next. When they begin to live day to day, the love of each person in this story brings a warmness to every page. A wonderful book.”

SADDLE UP by Marie Tuhart + Giveaway

Welcome to Day 2 of August Promotion Month here at The Cozy Page - welcome back Marie Tuhart whose latest book, Quicksilver Ranch: Saddle Up, is available now at The Wild Rose Press!

Enjoy this sneak peek and don't forget that commenters from today and yesterday will be entered to win a box of romance books (see yesterday's post for rules)...

At loose ends after her best friend's wedding, Angie Davidson needs a vacation, so when the gorgeous yet aloof co-owner of the Quick Silver Ranch insists she stay to explore their sexual attraction, she agrees. Though she eagerly bows to his commanding touch in the bedroom, Jared's distant air after lovemaking sparks too many bad memories. Dare she yield to his sexy persuasion and prove he has nothing to fear or will he abandon her like everyone else in her life?

Eager to explore Angie’s vulnerable, submissive nature, Jared plans two weeks of toys and other naughty play. However, the last time he reached for a woman—mentally and physically—she rejected his dominant streak. Jared has no intention of letting Angie that close, no matter how sweetly she shivers beneath his hands.

Can two bruised hearts discover a way to make their tantalizing escape into the perfect way of life?


Excerpt from Quicksilver Ranch: Saddle Up:

Angie drank in the feeling of his body against hers. His hardness to her softness, and part of her wanted to melt in a puddle at his feet, another part wanted to be bold and daring.

“Becca mentioned that you're closing down the ranch for a while.” Maybe a little flirting would work.

“Two weeks. There needs to be some renovations done, and the staff needs some downtime. It was a good time to do it with Tyler gone.”

“How much can be done in two weeks?” She thought back to when they were renovating the offices she now worked in, it seemed like it took months and with every little problem the workmen came to her.

“A lot, if you know how to motivate people.”

“Really?” Angie tilted her head up and fluttered her eyelashes. “And how would you do that?”

The corners of Jared's lips tilted up. “Lots of money.”

Okay, subtle flirting wasn't working with him. Her fingers trailed over his broad shoulder, to his neck, where she stroked his dark brown hair. His hand tightened on her lower back, bringing their hips together. And Angie swore she could feel his hard erection. Good, he wasn't immune to her.

She let her fingers skim from his neck, down over his shoulder blade, down his spine, over his well-defined ass, until she could rest her palm over his butt cheek. Then she squeezed it.

“Behave.” His breath brushed her ear and he swatted her ass.

“You hit me.” She couldn't believe it; he actually smacked her on the ass. Not that it hurt, but heat flowed through her body making her nipples grow harder. She’d never realized a little swat could make her so hot.

“I'll do worse if you don't behave yourself, Angie.”

“Promise?” The word was out of her mouth before she even realized it. The music ended, Jared escorted her back to the table and pulled out her chair.

His palms cupped her cheeks, tilting her face up to his. “We'll talk later.” He dropped a hard brief kiss on her lips before striding away.

Angie's heart skipped several beats while she observed Jared cross the room. She put her fingers to her lips and sank down onto the chair with her core pulsing with need and her panties wet. If he met her later, they wouldn't be talking if she had anything to say about it.

If you would like a bookmark and post card, post your email address in the comments and Marie will contact you directly.

Contest entrants have until 12 EST time tonight to get their comments in, either on today's post or yesterday's. The winner will be announced tomorrow evening! Thank you, Marie, for sharing with us! I can't wait to read Saddle Up!

Kindle & DigiBooksCafe

Today something exciting is going on at one of The Wild Rose Press's ebook distributors! By buying any title(s) from Digi Books Cafe, you'll be entered in the Summer Hunt for a Kindle. That's right - every purchase at Digi Books enters you for a chance to win a Kindle! There's tons of great titles up for grabs at Digi Books, including Bluest Heart ($3.75) and Bet it on my Heart ($4.00) - as well as some of my personal favorite TWRP authors like Wendi Darlin, Stacey Joy Netzel, and any Wayback, TX series installment.

And speaking of The Wild Rose Press, the web store is up and running again online and, thankfully, none of the buy links have changed. The BOOKS page on my website has now been updated to include Kindle buy links for Blackest Heart and Bluest Heart, which were the only ebooks on my backlist not available in this format until now! Blackest Heart, the first book in the Ridges of Wayback, TX trilogy and 1st Place More Than Magic Novella, is available now from Kindle for just $3.00 while the second and bestselling book in the trilogy, Bluest Heart, is $3.75! Not bad, huh? I'm so glad Kindle readers get to enjoy the trilogy in its entirety. (See the third and final book in the trilogy, Bet it on my Heart, in Kindle here!)

On another happy note, the first two books in the Ridges of Wayback, TX trilogy are now available in audio through Amazon, too! If you prefer audio books to ebooks or paperbacks, buy Blackest Heart and Bluest Heart in audible for just $4.89 at Amazon (both are regularly $7.99). Readers who really love audio books can get one of these titles free at Amazon with an Audible.com 30-day free trial membership....

For a peek into Blackest Heart, the book has been featured by author Jennifer Jakes at Warm Days, Cool Nights and Hot Guys....

More News...

Another update for readers, this one more detailed…. Now that I’m back from vacation! First of all, let me say that as much as I love the family lakehouse, it’s good to be home and back to relative normalcy.

These next two weeks, I’ll be guest blogging. On Friday, June 10th, I’ll be at Icy Snow Blackstone’s blog discussing how legends influence writing. Next Wednesday, June 15th, I’m bringing western romance to Jennifer Jakes’ blog. Stay tuned – I’ll be posting links here as they come.

Thank you to new subscribers to my newsletter! You’ve made my week already!

If you haven’t been to visit The Wild Rose Press’s website, there are some changes being made. Until updates are fully available tomorrow or Wednesday, the site is accessible through http://www.wildrosepress.us. Also – buy links for my TWRP books may be changing. If links from my website to TWRP aren’t working, I’ll be updating those as soon as possible. And if you notice something on my website that isn’t working, feel free to email me at my contact addy: amber@amberleighwilliams.com .

Some good news from The Wild Rose Press – all my TWRP titles will also soon be available in Kindle. As it stands, only two of the four ebooks are currently available for Kindle readers through Amazon.com. Soon Blackest Heart and Bluest Heart should appear on my Amazon Author Central page for Kindle! As soon as they are available, I’ll be sure to make the announcement here!

In this month’s newsletter, subscribers will find out how to send Facebook friends a free audio book gift through my audible publisher AudioLark! If you aren’t a member of my exclusive mailing list, click the pink button on the right sidebar to subscribe. It only takes a few seconds.

Thank you to author Debra Kahn for including my Sweethearts of the West post, “Setting the Scene: The Black Hills” in this weekend’s Debra Kahn Daily.

20 Questions with...Judy Jarvie

We're in the exciting final stretch of The Cozy Page's 20 Questions Valentine's Event! Today we welcome Judy Jarvie and the heroine of her latest romance, Flirting with the Fireman - Flick Truro! Flirting with the Fireman is now available from The Wild Rose Press....

Cyber sparks...combustible consequences

Felicity Truro's diary is fast filling up with problems. First there's the ugliest bridesmaid's dress in the world, then there's her sick aunt's serious secret. But it's Rod McAllister, the handsome firefighter best man with attitude, who's melting her willpower and frazzling her nerves the most.

Can Flick survive being a bridesmaid for the eleventh time whilst falling for the groom's aide for real? And how will she cope when Rod needs a stand-in and she's promoted to top of the candidate list?

Judy sat down with Cozy correspondent, Tink, earlier in the week to talk about her heroine, Flick Trurro. Here's 20 Questions with Judy Jarvie! Take it away, Tink....

Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much?
Judy: Flick dancing? Not so much. She’d be too protective of her killer heels for major strutting – though she might kick them under the table by the end of the night! A girl can only withstand so much temptation.

Tink: Do you prefer to spend the night at the theatre or at a bike show?
Judy: Theatre – something feelgood and upbeat. Especially with a pre or post-theatre meal (preferably Italian). Especially if there’s cheesecake for dessert!)

Tink: Do you give relationship advice or think it’s a bad idea?
Judy: Flick and relationships is a tricky issue. This is part of the whole problem in Flirting With The Fireman. Men are like books – the bestsellers make Flick suspicious. She definitely keeps her ‘relationship’ ideas to herself but wears her disapproval of Rod McAllister openly. Sadly for Flick – she might have figured this charming, hunky fireman out wrong.

Tink: Describe the ideal hero – rough and tumble highlander, titled gentleman of the ton, modern-day bad boy, or supernatural anti-hero?
Judy: Bad boy with a good heart – and ideally a uniform! Just don’t tell anyone! Especially not Rod.

Tink: Would you rather tell someone you love them or show it?
Judy: Show it the shy way. Opening up isn’t Flick’s bag. Even to her best friend Linda. And there’s reasons for that – she’s hidden her deepest hurts from herself for a long, hard time.

Tink: Travel to the past or into the future?
Judy: The past. Flick has deep issues that are unresolved. And someone from the past left her sooner than she was ready for. This book aims to unravel Flick’s tight emotions slowly but surely.

Tink: Bubble bath or hot shower?
Judy: Sudsy shower. She’s usually on the hop between library organization meetings and bridesmaid dress fittings! Life’s a bit manic right now and a quick shower’s just the ticket.

Tink: Flats or high heels?
Judy: High. Designer. Some demand a wait list! Though Birkenstocks can have their place when chilling out.

Tink: Flowers or chocolate?
Judy: CHOC. Most definitely. But don’t talk about calories. Just make sure pralines are heavily represented.

Tink: G-rated or unrated?
Judy: The library might censor anything too hot – but Flick would read it beneath her desk!

Tink: Alpha or beta?
Judy: How about a compromise? Alpha allure with a beta heart.

Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out?
Judy: Sigh. Isn’t this the problem?! Waiting, waiting – always waiting and denying interest. Flick has reached the point of no return with Rod McAllister – he’s about to woo her properly.

Tink: Favorite love song?
Judy: Patience – Take That. Hero and Heroine have to show a lot if this before they find their happy ending.

Tink: For Valentine’s would you rather go out or stay in?
Judy: In. With a good book. Avoiding the canoodling couples and taking solace in dessert!

Tink: Karaoke: yes or no?
Judy: How could Flick sternly warn library users to be quiet if they caught her doing karaoke on a Friday night? Flick would secretly love to let it all go with a mic!

Tink: Describe your most romantic moment.
Judy: All I’ll say is it involves a very special cheesecake. You’ll have to read Flirting With The Fireman to find out.

Tink: Boxers, briefs…or kilts?
Judy: Oooh. My creator is a Scottish writer so she’s urging me towards a kilt. I’d have to say uniform is the essential ingredient here.

Tink: What is your idea of a dream date?
Judy: One without arguing. One without mishaps. One that doesn’t involve all things going wrong would be good. Rod and Flick have ‘date problems’ on a large scale! Some of them involve hospital treatment.

Tink: Valentine’s Day watch: sappy love story, romantic comedy or forgo all of the above and go with the action flick?
Judy: How about meal and a foot massage? Those high heels take it out of a gal! And Rod’s a thrilling view in his own right.

Tink: And, most importantly – do you like your man clean shaven or with a five o’clock shadow?
Judy: Now that depends when. Returned from work shadow and lines under the eyes is a killer look when your man’s been saving people from burning buildings. But clean shaven, arriving at the library with a smile and a spritz of spicy cologne – how’s a girl to choose? Both – double helpings please!

Thank you, Judy, for answering Tink's intrusive questions!

Readers, learn more about Judy, Flick, and her other books at her webiste! Judy Jarvie worked in Press and PR in London until she moved back to Scotland and realised she'd been spurning her one burning love of writing. So she gave in to the call to do it and has kept going ever since. Now the writing keeps her sane and happy and dreaming up new heroes on a regular basis. She lives in a village in Scotland with her husband and two very special daughters who keep her out of trouble. Her next release, Nanny Behaving Badly, launches tomorrow, Valentine's Day!

And now for an excerpt from Flirting with the Fireman....


Rod McAllister scanned ‘Fusion Cooking Made Fabulous’ then clocked the county librarian heading his way.
As Flick Truro’s killer heels pounded marble he smiled in greeting. He knew she couldn’t stand him; she wore it like a stiffly starched shirt.

“Good evening, Rod.”

“Hi Felicity, how are ya?”

“Fine. You?” The heel clicks continued as she passed on and a light cherry blossom scent teased him.

“I’m trying to be good with these books of yours.” He nodded to the way he nursed the volume in his hands like a swaddling infant.

“In what way good?”

“Careful attention. In case you fine me for improper book handling.”

Why had he said that? Was his mouth programmed to misfire around Flick?

Stopping, she threw him an over shoulder stare. It was pure Titian painting. But if she realized what he was thinking she’d kill him, no question.

“S’okay I’m not that strict. I won’t handcuff you if you crease a page. I don’t have a cell downstairs for offenders.”

The urge to laugh bubbled inside him. “Shame. Could be fun.”

Her lips stayed in a firm line. “I’d make you read Crime and Punishment instead.”


Readers, be sure to check back in tomorrow for more winner announcements from earlier this week and the last day of our 20 Questions Valentine's Event!

20 Questions with...Mariposa Cruz

Welcome, readers, to The Cozy Page's 20 Questions Valentine's Event! We'll be counting down to Valentine's Day with 14 guest authors, 20 questions, excerpts, and prizes! To kick off the festivities, please welcome author of Howl, Mariposa Cruz!

Mariposa Cruz balances writing with working as a fulltime corporate paralegal. As a writer she has interviewed a variety of characters from cowboy crooners to rock divas. Her articles have appeared in local magazines and indie newspapers. She currently resides with her own pack of two teens in Reno, Nevada.

Her novel, Howl, is a paranormal romance available now from The Wild Rose Press....

As if Kate Owens doesn't have enough problems as a struggling single mom and paralegal, a brutal animal attack outside her office plunges her into turmoil. At work, she is attracted to her rescuer, Jack Walker, an attorney wary of commitment. Every morning after the attack she awakes drenched in blood beside the body of a mangled stray. Kate's days become a battle to maintain control while her nights are a disturbing blur of dreams. Will Kate's nightly madness harm her young daughter?

Lone wolf attorney, Jack Walker understands the reason for his paralegal's exhaustion and haunted demeanor. Jack has pursued the beast since law school graduation and he knows the creature's relentless thirst for revenge. Can Jack save Kate from her attacker and her own savage nature?

Our Cozy correspondent, Tink, sat down with our guest earlier this week for 20 Questions with Mariposa Cruz! Take it away, Tink....

Tink: Are you the first one on the dance floor or not so much?
Mariposa: I might not be the first on the dance floor, but I’ll definitely be there for the last dance!

Tink: Do you prefer to spend the night at the theatre or at a bike show?
Mariposa: I love a night at the theatre.

Tink: Do you give relationship advice or think it’s a bad idea?
Mariposa: It's probably a bad idea, but I give advice anyway.

Tink: Describe the ideal hero – rough and tumble highlander, titled gentleman of the ton, modern-day bad boy, or supernatural anti-hero?
Mariposa: I’m drawn to supernatural heroes.

Tink: Would you rather tell someone you love them or show it?
Mariposa: To me, actions always speak louder than words.

Tink: Travel to the past or into the future?
Mariposa: Past

Tink: Bubble bath or hot shower?
Mariposa: Bubble bath

Tink: Flats or high heels?
Mariposa: Flats

Tink: Flowers or chocolate?
Mariposa: Flowers (they last longer than chocolate!)

Tink: G-rated or unrated?
Mariposa: Unrated

Tink: Alpha or beta?
Mariposa: Alpha

Tink: Would you make the first move or wait it out?
Mariposa: I prefer to wait.

Tink: Favorite love song?
Mariposa: “Saint” by Elton John

Tink: For Valentine’s would you rather go out or stay in?
Mariposa: I’d rather have a cozy evening at home and avoid the crowds.

Tink: Karaoke: yes or no?
Mariposa: No—my best performances are in the car.

Tink: Describe your most romantic moment.
Mariposa: Hanging on to my honey as we flew across the turquoise waters of St Thomas on a jet ski.

Tink: Boxers, briefs…or kilts?
Mariposa: Kilts

Tink: What is your idea of a dream date?
Mariposa: My dream date would combine my two favorite passions music and dancing, either slow dancing in an intimate club or swing dancing in a honky tonk.

Tink: Valentine’s Day watch: sappy love story, romantic comedy or forgo all of the above and go with the action flick?
Mariposa: Bring on the action flick and extra butter on the popcorn please!

Tink: And, most importantly – do you like your man clean shaven or with a five o’clock shadow?
Mariposa: Clean shaven

Thank you, Mariposa, for answering Tink's instrusive questions! Readers, if you'd like to learn more about Mariposa and her books, visit her on the web!

And now for an excerpt from Howl....

“Pierce called me this morning. He’s here. He left cigarette butts near your window. I spent all day tracking him.”

Kate hugged her knees trying to shake a sudden chill.

“When I think about what he did to you…”

“I’m all right. I want to be with you in any way, shape, or form.” Kate put her arms around him.

His shoulders were rigid with tension. Kate turned his face toward hers and kissed him slowly, her free hand stroking his beard.

“I never realized you could be such a tease,” Jack murmured into her ear.

“I never knew you could be such a beast,” Kate replied and kissed him again.

He returned her kiss, pulling her onto his lap. His hands slid up her shirt caressing her bare back while she snuggled closer and wrapped her legs around him.

The first howl startled them.

“Damn,” Jack muttered.

Kate sighed. “We can’t be late for dinner?” she murmured.

“No. I’m not going to rush this time. We’ll continue this later in bed. I’ll wait for you outside.” His fingers traced the curve of her bare thigh when he released her. He kissed her hard on the mouth then turned and left her to change alone. If he lingered much longer, they would miss dinner.

Jack paced outside while he waited for Kate to join him. Changing in the chilled, night air cooled his ardor. He heard the others in the distance and his stomach growled. Searching the forest for Pierce all day, he hadn’t slowed to eat. What was taking her so long? It wasn’t as if she needed to freshen up her make up or curl her hair. Finally, after several long minutes, a small, silver wolf joined him. She nipped at him playfully as they raced to meet the others.

The hunt seemed to take longer than usual while they chased their prey deep into the forest. No longer overwhelmed by sounds and scents of the forest, Kate appeared exhilarated by the hunt.

Several hours later, slightly winded from their pursuit, they slipped into Jack’s room. He had changed and waited for her in bed when Kate crawled through the side door and burrowed under the covers. A faint cry came from beneath the blankets while her limbs shifted and reformed. Breathlessly, Kate emerged beside him, her blonde hair tousled. With an exasperated groan, she held up her arms, the silver wolf’s paws still splayed from her wrists.


20 Questions continues tomorrow with more from Tink and our second guest! Check back for prizes, more fun and excerpts throughout the week!

News & Updates...

Coffee Time Romance is bringing in the New Year with a bang! The extravaganza starts Monday, January 10. The Wild Rose Press is joining the party all day Saturday, January 15 with new releases, excerpts and possible giveaways! Be sure to join the fun! For more author/publisher dates, click here for the party schedule. (I'll post a reminder next Friday or Saturday morning....)

This week at The Roses of Prose is our first foray into our new resourceful format. We're also introducing our newest rose, Jerri Hines! Stop by any day this week - we're reviewing book-related social networking sites. To read my Monday post on Shelfari, click here!

BET IT ON MY HEART Audio Debut!

It's here! The final addition to the Wayback Ridge audio collection, Bet It On My Heart! Get it today at AudioLark for just $2.49 before it goes back to its regular $7.99 listing tomorrow....

ANTE UP! Keefe Ridge’s bronc-busting days are nearly over. Despite that and the fact that he is slowly making his dream business venture a reality, Wayback’s wildest cowboy doesn’t see any reason to settle down. He is even willing to bet that marriage isn’t in the cards at all for him.

Agent Calli Morlani came to Wayback on a mission: to bring Stella Ridge back to Hollywood. When Stella refuses, she dares Calli to take in some local color and see what Wayback has to offer. Whether that includes Stella’s devastatingly charming brother becomes irrevelant once Calli finds herself in bed with him – in more ways than one…

Will it take a tough city girl to make the Wayback playboy finally fall long and hard? Or will Keefe give Calli a reason to stay? Place your bet!

To hear an excerpt read by narrator Betsy Navilier, click here....

What People Are Saying About Bet It On My Heart...

Night Owl Romance: Keefe and Calli are two people definitely so opposite from each yet the same in so many ways. They may see from different sides of the world but Wayback has a way of bringing to soul mates together. Amber Leigh did a beautiful job in bringing other characters to life like Stella and Keefe’s brothers. This was definitely a great story and can’t wait for more from this talented author.

Long & Short Reviews: Fantastic writing, sizzling dialogue, and an unforgettable story make Bet It On My Heart a must read. Be sure to pencil this title onto your TBR list for some quality time in the reading chair. I can’t wait for more in this series, as well as anything from the library of Ms. Williams, who has become one of my must read authors. She wrings every single emotion possible from your heart, only to put the pieces back together again with a shiny red bow. It’s an emotional journey that leaves one heck of an impression, which is what every fantastic romance should strive for.

Fallen Angel Reviews: Tempers flare but hearts win out in Bet It on My Heart. Amber Leigh Williams does a fantastic job mixing former characters into this current storyline. They are all loveable and frustrating just like real family members. I enjoyed the chemistry and sexual tension between Calli and Keefe. This is an HEA read you can bet on.

Visit AudioLark to purchase the complete Ridge family saga in audio today, starting with 1st Place Novella Blackest Heart and its antipicated sequel, Bluest Heart!

And if you missed yesterday's exclusive excerpt from Bet It On My Heart at Chatting with Anna Kathryn, be sure to click on over...

Special Guest: Nana Malone

Today we welcome fellow The Wild Rose Press author Nana Malone to The Cozy Page! Nana's latest, Game, Set, Match, is a new contemporary release....

Off the court, tennis star Jason Cartwright’s playboy image is taking a public beating. On the court, he’s down forty-love. A knee injury is shutting down his game, and the paparazzi are splashing his love life on every magazine. A comeback is in order, but the makeover he needs to save his faltering career is in the hands of the woman he loved and left fifteen years ago.

While single-mom, Izzy Connors, sees people for who they really are through the lens of her camera, even without it, she knows Jason isn’t the star he appears to be. Although his charm and good looks haven’t dimmed since he broke her heart, all she sees is his wasted talent and playboy lifestyle.

Can Izzy put the past behind her and help Jason get his game, and his image, back on track? Or will the click of her camera shatter his world as well as his heart?

What compelled you to write in your chosen sub-genre? What is your favorite aspect of this type of story?

Contemporary suits my voice. Hilarious as it may be to have me using slang in a historical, somehow I think that wouldn’t sell. Lol!

How did you come up with the premise of Game, Set, Match? What do you like most about this story?

A friend of mine started adoption procedures a few years ago. It got me thinking about adoption scenarios you never see. Then add in a few complications like a birth mother who’s still in the picture, a birth father who has no idea about his son and you’ve got some serious conflict.

Tell us about the heroine. How do you think readers will identify most with her?

Izzy is struggling to keep her family together while building her career. She’s loyal and protective and she guards her emotions, but she’d give everything of herself for those she loves. Every woman will identify with her strength. It’s what we all pull from to be mothers, friends, lovers.

Tell us about the hero. Is he an alpha or a beta? What will readers like most about him?

Lol. Well, let’s say he’s somewhere in-between. In a world of flash and not much substance, Jason is looking to find meaning in his life again. He might be a macho sports star but he’s at a crossroads in his life where he might lose all of that, so he’s a little more in tuned with himself. And Gosh, I hope readers will find him sexy and honest. But mostly sexy :)

What kind of research did you have to do for this storyline?

Well, as the daughter of an avid Wimbledon fan, I had the tennis part down. When I say avid, I mean avid! Every spring/summer in our house if there was a television on, there was tennis showing. As a former athlete, I know what it’s like to lose your future over an injury and how that changes your outlook. At I’ve pretty much had a camera hanging around my neck since I was about ten or so. I love how photographs give a (pardon the pun) snapshot of time.

How does this book compare with other books on your backlist or that you have written?

Game, Set, Match is my debut novel. The previous novels are hidden in the back of a drawer somewhere. And let me tell you, that’s where they belong. I started writing with no idea of story structure, plot or characterization. I thought a cute meet and sizzling chemistry were all I needed. It took me eleven years three completed manuscripts and more rejections than I care to count but I’m finally here I certainly hope I’ve learned something since the first manuscript.

Now for the fun part of the Q&A! What is your zodiac and what is it telling you today?

I’m a Leo. And my horoscope today is telling me I don’t’ have to be an expert at everything and to cut myself some slack. Hmm. Fitting since I’m a perfectionist.

If you could set a story in your real-life setting, what would it be? Heartfelt contemporary, high-flying fantasy, or steamy romantic suspense?

Heartfelt contemporary. My husband and I met the first day of our freshman year of college. We’ve been together for the past fifteen years.

If you were a mixed drink, what would you be and why?

Ha! Had to ask hubby. He says a Bloody Mary. Because of that kick of Tabasco :)

What recent read would you recommend?

Anything by JR Ward. I’m obsessed. It’s taken me three days to plow through the first two novels.

Ah, a kindred spirit! I'm a BDB fan, too! What is your favorite smell and what makes it significant?

The smell of roasting plantain. As a little girl growing up in Ghana, I remember my mother making it for me as a snack. I pretty much love plantain any way you make it.

And last but not least, if you found the Mirror of Erised from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, what would you see in it? (Note: If you aren't an HP junkie like me, the Mirror of Erised is a magical object that is inscribed “I show not your face, but your heart’s desire.” Orphaned Harry sees his parents, his friend Ron sees himself distinguished as Head Boy and Quidditch Captain, and Albus Dumbledore supposedly sees himself with a pair of socks.)

Uhm. I am a self-confessed total HP junkie. I would see me, my husband and my daughter on the beach in Ghana. And as my husband helped Siaki build her first sand castle, I’m settling back to enjoy a New York Times bestseller with my name on the byline.

Would you like to share an excerpt from Game, Set, Match! with readers today?

Absolutely!

Dark glasses masked his eyes, but Izzy knew behind them, she’d find intense heat able to strip her to the soul. His tousled blond hair just as she remembered it, a little unkempt, as if he hadn’t bothered with it. He was every bit the Hollywood playboy portrayed in the press. And that devil-may-care sexiness was going to be the death of her.

Before she could say anything else, his strong arms and a warm musky scent enveloped her.

Involuntarily, her body stilled like an ice sculpture as her breasts came into contact with the hard planes of his chest. Unable to process the situation, she heard a faint clatter as his sunglasses fell to the floor. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to think of the last time she’d seen him, the last time he’d abandoned her for Sabrina.

“Damn, Izzy, you look amazing.” He set her down, but kept hold of one of her hands. Whiskey eyes poured warm amber over every inch of her body. “How’ve you been?”

The source of her greatest humiliation wanted to know how she’d been, as if they were old buddies. She reminded herself they, for all intents and purposes, were old buddies, until she’d made the mistake of pegging him as her first lover.

Behind Jason, his companion, with his rugged dark good looks and infectious smile, saved her from having to speak. Not that she could have. “Did I miss something, Jase? You two know each other?”

Jason’s smile flashed, making her want to do all manner of inappropriate things. Smash his head in with a frying pan? Strip him bare and see if he still looked as good as he promised? Launch a full TET offensive on him with her lips?

Not necessarily in that order.

Thank you for sharing today, Nana, and congrats on your debut! Readers, if you'd like to find out more about Nana and her debut novel, visit her website. You can get your copy of Game, Set Match at The Wild Rose Press and Amazon!

The Latest News...

I just wanted to pop in and announce that the audio release date for Bet It On My Heart (Book III in the Wayback Ridge Trilogy) has been pushed back to September 28. I'm still finalizing my notes on the audible version of the book and a cover is forthcoming.

September 2010 has so far been pretty intense with three audio book launches - my first! Thank you to The Wild Rose Press for choosing the Ridge family saga to be published in audio. What an unexpected and thrilling honor! I mentioned this time last year that I had no idea the Ridges would go so far as to be published in paperback. It really blows my mind that they're now charging their way into the audio-verse. After what AudioLark's art department has delivered with the first two books in the trilogy, I really can't wait to see what they give me for Keefe and Calli's cover!

Just a little bit of a head's up on what else I'm up to this month. An ill-advised file transfer bit a good chunk out of my Regency WIP. Speaking now from experience, if you're going to transfer your manuscript files, please do so on a good night's rest. Rewriting is a five-letter word that ryhmes with "itch...." Thankfully, my notes on the lost material are still intact so it shouldn't be too much of a set-back. I also have been brainstorming for my fourth paranormal and came up with a nice story-arc that will lead nicely into book five of the series. I've gone around and around on where to start this story and finally found the perfect opening. I'm excited to write the scene but some organziation is in order so I can get all my scattered plot points in a row. I'm thinking Halloween would be the best time to tackle the beginning of book four! *cue wolfish howling*

When I'm not picking my way through the audio versions of the Ridge trilogy or pre-plotting my vampire's upcoming storyline, I'm reading like a maniac to keep up with my September TBR. I'm not complaining, though. I'm especially looking forward to reading Larissa Ione's final Demonica installment, Sin Undone. With October coming up fast, that should really put me in the spirit! Next month, I'll be lining up my third quarter recommended reads. Until then, look for my historical reviews at The Season where owner Beverley Kendall has set up pages for her reviewers. And for the latest reviews and chances to win titles - from romances of just about every sub-genre to mystery - be sure to check out The Season Blog. And speaking of Halloween 2010, I think I've found my costume, courtesy of NAL and Bertrice Small's latest. ALW meets The Border Vixen.... Yeah, I think it could work. Now to talk the hub into a kilt. The sword should cheer him up :)

On the subject of my Monday postings at The Roses of Prose, the blog is going through a revamp. No final decision has been made on when our new format will go live, but while there will be no Monday postings from me, Saturday Spotlights are unchanged. In fact, stop by this weekend to win a free paperback romance from fellow TWRP author Cate Masters!