Opening the pages (well, digital pages, that is) of SLOWER was a super exciting moment for me. FASTER made me fall madly in love with Jake (but if we are being honest, who doesn’t?) and desperately wish I had legs, an ass, and a man like Lou. Not to mention the whole awesomely cool job in the entertainment industry and living in California thing. So to say that I was giddy to read more about their super hot sexy times and their adorable exploration into a real relationship is an understatement.
But
Because, yeah, there is ALWAYS a but and I don’t mean the envy inducing one that Louana sports.
Nope, this but comes from the author who decided that is wasn’t enough to just let Lou and Jake ride off into the sunset with hearts, sparkles, and insane amounts of sex. Nope, no, and HELL NO. Yeah Ms. Birch managed to throw roadblock after roadblock their way.
From career struggles for both that seeped into the fabric of their relationship to family issues and communication faux pas, Jake and Lou were given so many hills to climb and battles to fight. They both had to prove to one another time and again that they felt they were worth fighting for…
Or did they?
As much as I can talk about this book all day, I also have a motor mouth and would easily (and inadvertently) give all the spoilers and then find myself on the receiving end of a good, long French tirade by an angry author. So I shall just say this: everything you thought you knew about Jake and Lou from FASTER? Every single bit of that will be tested, twisted, and tried. But you have to grab your own copy of SLOWER to see if they manage to make it out on the other side.
– Lauren Blakely, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Only Love, an all-new sexy standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow is available now!
A gorgeous former Marine with a tortured soul.
The beautiful, compassionate therapist living next door.
A meddlesome grandma determined to get them together.
I was expecting a proposal on my birthday, and I got dumped instead.
How could I have been so clueless?
Grams knew exactly how to distract me.
The “cute boy next door” who’s been helping her with yard work clearly needs a little therapy. Who better to call than her newly single therapist granddaughter?
She even fakes dementia to get me to visit, and now that I’m here she’s doing everything in her power to throw us together.
Not that I’m complaining. Ryan is the sexiest man I’ve ever met–I mean the full package, from the chiseled jaw to the massive shoulders to the rippling abs. (And yes, his package is full, and he knows exactly how to deliver it.) He makes me want to get out of my head and follow my heart. He makes me want to take chances I never thought I’d take.
He also makes me want to take my clothes off. A lot.
But he’s moody and challenging–one minute he’s an open book, and the next he’s completely closed off. He holds me like he’ll never let go, but insists he wants to be alone.
Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie is the author of the AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
This month’s Q & A session is with the impeccable Ms. Meka James. She is one of the hardest working authors I know breaking down multiple barriers in an unassuming way. Ms. James started as an indie author and has since secured two contracts with publishers. Her traditionally published books ANYTHING ONCE and BEING NEIGHBORLY will release in early 2019. Despite this, she is still an indie girl at heart and recently (as in yesterday!) released THE LISTS, a companion novella for her 2017 full length manuscript NOT BROKEN.
Ms. James has an awesome and super generous giveaway located at the bottom of her interview. Read on to check out the awesome wisdom this hybrid author has.
Hey everyone! Amelia, thanks so much for inviting me to your blog. I’m excited to be here and to share a little insight into the hodge podge-ness of my world.
First, a soft ball question: Coffee or tea? Tea! I have a cup nearly every day. I’ve never been a fan of the taste of coffee though I do love the smell.
While we’re on the subject of drinks: Have you ever written drunk? (okay yes I realize I jumped from morning beverages to late night ones, but they’re both drinks so sorta fits right?) The answer would be *possibly* it’s not that I don’t know, it’s just that I wouldn’t say I was full on drunk per se, but more tipsy. Nothing like using a little “liquid courage” to get through what might be a difficult scene.
That brings us to the next topic and a much smoother transition. Was there one scene that you found harder than most to write? If so, what was it? Um…yes, yes there has been. And actually I would say I’ve had more than one. In FIENDISH, there were a few scenes that were hard to get through, but for the sake of this interview, I’ll go with the “reveal” scene. It was the lead up to it. Calida and Seth had a rocky relationship (understatement of the century) but when we hit the big moment of her learning just how much of a “monster” he really was, the deflation of her in that moment gutted me. Immediately before that, the tattoo, how her heart broke from having her trust trampled. There’s a lot of stuff that happens in that story that was hard for me to write, but those combined scenes got me.
Okay, let’s shake off the dark and move on to something a little more light and fluffy. Do you write in comfy clothes or treat it more like a “job” and wear more professional attire? Comfy all the way! For me putting on a pair of jeans is considered dressing up.
Next up, something near and dear to my heart, the covers. How important is a cover? For me cover design is the BEST part of the process. I actually start thinking about cover options early on. Seriously I have partial WIPs with no clear direction yet, but I’ve spent time scouting stock images for possibilities. Having a cover for my story makes it “real” and seeing the idea I had for it be translated into something tangible, I get all giddy with excitement!
We’re gonna take a break from your regularly scheduled interview for a little woe-is-me moment with this next one. Has there been a bump in your journey that, looking back, was a gift? Yes, there was a three year gap between the release of FIENISH and NOT BROKEN even though I started writing the latter before the first actually went out into the world. There were hiccups that took major shots at my self-confidence. If you’re on Twitter, or Instagram, or any other social site and follow writers, you’ll probably have seen them talking about finding their squad. I was a lonely soul for a while. I’d try to find a home so to speak, but never quite fit. I’ve had writing partners that would back out, most times without even saying anything, completely ghosted. Then I found IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group), and their monthly blog hops nudged me back into the writing game. From there I started branching out again, and again I kissed quite a few frogs in my hunt for a home. But thanks to the #authorconfession hashtag game on Twitter, a semi-woe-is-me tweet got the attention of Tia Barber who invited me into a chat of romance writers and those ladies have been a serious blessing! I’m convinced that if I had written NOT BROKEN to completion it wouldn’t have been the same as it turned out. My RChat squad is to thank for that.
I can combine these last few questions into one big answer because they are related to my writing process. I’m a pantser! I will get the basic idea for the story, characters, and location, then write out the first chapter or two because being new, they are typically most chatty at the beginning. Being a pantser also means I edit as I go, which is against the grain of *most* writing advice. I can’t “word vomit”, meaning I don’t just get the story out and worry about fixing it on edits. It’s why events like NaNoWriMo aren’t for me. In fact, I spend more time editing while writing so I can cut down my time in #editinghell because I really REALLY dislike the editing phase.
Being a pantser also means I need to have proper motivation to write and that comes in the form of music most times. I have a weekly segment on my blog called Music Monday where I showcase different songs. Some relate to my writing, because each project has a playlist, and others are just fun songs I like. I’ll end this interview by sharing the song that inspired NOT BROKEN’s title. The lyrics speak to the entire relationship between Calida and Malcolm. It came up in my playing rotation by total accident and it made me pause. I listened to it on repeat for several cycles because I was like “YES THIS IS THEM!”
“Not Broken” by Skye
Sorry this got wordy, but if you’ve read my first two books, you know I’m a wordy gal. LOL Anyway this was fun, and I want to thank Amelia again for hosting me.
Until next time
~Meka
To enter for the chance to win one of the THREE fabulous prizes our guest this week is offering, head over to her website and fill out the CONTACT ME form https://www.authormekajames.com/contact.html. In the comment section enter how many pieces of candy are in the jar. The closest guess wins the jar (and, most importantly, the candy!) as well as paperback copies of both NOT BROKEN and THE LISTS. The next two closest guesses will win free ebook copies of NOT BROKEN. This contest is only running until 12/1/18 so hurry to get your guesses in!
I had the pleasure of hosting the cover reveal, release blitz, AND having Coralie Moss as my very first author interview on this blog. With all that combined there is one SIGNIFICANT part missing… the actual review!
MAGIC REMEMBERED is the story of Calliope Jones, an earth witch on the cusp of something every human woman is either acquainted with or dreading (I, myself, being in the latter category) menopause. This season of her life, however, holds more power than any of her previous 41 years. It is the point at which she discovers someone she once loved and trusted had been draining her of her magic. It is where she meets an intriguing stranger that reignites more than just her supernatural abilities. And it is the time where she transitions into a fuller, richer, more authentic version of herself.
Well…
All of that is assuming she can manage to survive the Blood Ceremony, help her son contain his own magic, and protect the mysterious Tanner from the dark force he is battling.
No big deal, right?
Check out MAGIC REMEMBERED on Amazon and Goodreads to find out how our heroine fairs… but be warned this is only book one in the Calliope Jones Series. There are many more twists and turns coming your way when you reach The End.
Today’s book review is exceptionally exciting for me (and I basically function as an ADHD Tigger on crack so when I am exceptionally excited… well let’s just say watch out) on several levels.
First and foremost, it features my darling Malcolm Frankel in his leading role as my husband… errr… I mean Calida’s husband. Yeah. Her. Malcolm is special and amazing and precious and completely taken by me.
Second, it is an extension of the happily ever after Calida and Mal found in NOT BROKEN. Now if you’ve paid attention to my reviews AT ALL, I am a huge believer in the HEA. Not HFN, not a cliffhanger, a full on puppies-and-babies-and-rings-and-weddings level HEA. If you find yourself in a diabetic coma by the end add just a little more sweet and I might be happy. But getting a glimpse into the after of happily ever after warms the cockles of my disgustingly romantic heart.
Finally, this release marks the first book baby that I pushed my heart out to see come to fruition. At the end of NOT BROKEN I (rather shamelessly, I might add) begged and pleaded with Ms. James to take something she had teased about through NOT BROKEN – Calida and Mal’s kinky bucket list – and give a little more insight into what exactly that might entail. Because when you combine Mal and sex I am completely all in and need ALL the details. Out of the kindness of her fabulously wonderful smutty writing heart, she caved and now THE LISTS has been released. You are all very welcome. Because, trust me, you will be wanting to thank somebody for molten sex Ms. James weaves with such talent.
Now, you must get thee to Amazon and order THE LISTS for a fabulous read that is just the distraction needed from family and holidays and drama and stress. If you don’t already own a copy of NOT BROKEN, order one of those while you’re at it. You will NOT be disappointed.
Once upon a time, you fell in love with a caveman.
His needs were basic, his ambitions primal, his love fierce.
Now, fall in love with Ehd all over again…through Beh’s eyes.
Luffs—Shay Savage’s holiday gift to Transcendence fans everywhere!
♦ ♦ ♦
Shay Savage is an independent author from Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lives with her family and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. Her hobbies include off-roading in her big, yellow Jeep, science fiction in all forms, and soccer. Savage holds a degree in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.
From the author: “It’s my job to make you FEEL. That doesn’t always mean you’ll feel good, but I want my readers to be connected enough to my characters to care.”
Savage’s books many books span a wide variety of topics and sub-genres with deeply flawed characters. From cavemen to addicts to hitmen, you’ll find yourself falling for these seemingly irredeemable characters!
His world was water and rhythm. Hard work and drive kept Royal O’Connell one step ahead of his competition. His spot on the swim team, keeping his scholarship, was the only plan that mattered.
His world was ebony and ivory. Natural talent and ambition set Camden Morgan apart from the other music majors. His dedication scoring him a full ride.
Normally, their paths would have never crossed….
But when Royal meets his best friend’s new roommate, his big plan and Camden’s controlled environment faces a variable that could destroy it all.
Attraction.
The world they live in had no room for error. That undeniable pull between them was dangerous and neither one of them could’ve prepared for the choice they’d have to make.
Love isn’t always an easy road and, when everything they’ve worked for is on the line, they’ll have to decide if being together is worth the risk.
♦ ♦ ♦
Amanda lives in Utah with her family where she moonlights as a nurse on the weekends.
If she’s not busy with her three munchkins, you’ll find her buried in a book or behind the keyboard where she explores the human experience through the written word.
She’s obsessed with all things Austen and Oreos, and loves to connect with readers!
She’s not the woman I thought … but dammit, she’s the woman I want.
Lovely Little Liar, a sexy standalone from New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner, is LIVE!
I never thought of myself as cynical, but getting dumped at the altar changes a man.
Now, I’m all about my job. About building my business and getting on with my life. Don’t get me wrong; I still love women. I love the way they look. The way they smell. The way they feel. Especially the way they feel. And I’ve pretty much made it my mission to give each and every woman who shares my bed the ride of her life.
But getting close? Getting serious? Giving a woman my trust again?
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
Or so I thought.
Then I met her. It’s funny how things can change in a heartbeat. How one case of mistaken identity can change everything. But there she was, all business and completely uninterested in me. And damned if I didn’t want her. Crave her.
Most of all, I wanted to help her. To keep her and her sister safe. But the more I get to know her, the more I want her. The whole package. The complete woman.
And the miracle is that she wants me, too.
Trouble is, we’ve both been burned before. Now, I know one thing for certain—the only way that we’ll survive the heat that crackles between us is if we both find the courage to leap into the fire together.
Lovely Little Liar is a novella originally published as Bitch Slap. Minor edits, such as expanded scenes, have been made to this book.
Kenner (aka Julie Kenner) is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal and #1 International bestselling author of over one hundred novels, novellas and short stories in a variety of genres.
Though known primarily for her award-winning and international bestselling erotic romances (including the Stark and Most Wanted series) that have reached as high as #2 on the New York Times bestseller list, JK has been writing full time for over a decade in a variety of genres including paranormal and contemporary romance, “chicklit” suspense, urban fantasy, and paranormal mommy lit.
JK has been praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations” and by RT Bookclub for having “cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them.” A six time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award, JK took home the first RITA trophy awarded in the category of erotic romance in 2014 for her novel, Claim Me (book 2 of her Stark Trilogy) and in 2017 for Wicked Dirty in the same category. Her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series (as Julie Kenner) is currently in development as a television show.
Her books have sold over three million copies and are published in over twenty languages.
In her previous career as an attorney, JK worked as a clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and practiced primarily civil, entertainment and First Amendment litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California, as well as in Austin, Texas. She currently lives in Central Texas, with her husband, two daughters, and two rather spastic cats.
She’s the one who got away. He’s the boy she can’t forget…
Forgiving Keven, an all-new suspenseful, second-chance, new-adult romance from Siobhan Davis, the USA Today bestselling author of When Forever Changes and Inseparable, is coming January 7th!
Cheryl
They say you never forget your first love, but I’m determined to prove Keven Kennedy is just a random boy from my past.
It’s not like I still think about him after all this time. Or daydream about how hot his kisses were and what it felt like to have his hands on my skin.
Nope, that’s not me. I’m in a happy place in my life. Engaged to a great man and finishing the last year of my photography degree.
Yet, since I returned to Massachusetts, everything reminds me of the boy who ripped my heart to shreds. Especially when my fiancé’s constant business trips, and dwindling attention, raises old fears to the surface.
And then the unthinkable happens—Keven saunters back into my life, turning it upside down once more.
It’s ironic he thinks he’s protecting me when the only one I need protecting from is him.
Keven
They say you never forget your first love. In my case, it’s true. Most everyone in high school thought Cheryl and I were a match made in heaven and that nothing could tear us apart. Until I messed up spectacularly and lost the best thing to ever happen to me.
Years have passed, girls have come and gone, but no one has laid claim to my heart in the way Cheryl did.
I thought she was lost to me forever, when an unexpected encounter with an uptight FBI agent, and an intriguing proposition, brings the beautiful blonde back into my life.
I didn’t hesitate to sign on the dotted line.
I let Cheryl down once before. I’m not going to fail her this time.
Forgiving Keven is a STANDALONE title in the Kennedy Boys world. No cliff-hanger and a guaranteed HEA.
USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis writes emotionally intense young adult and new adult romantic fiction with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She is the author of the international bestselling Kennedy Boys, Saven, and True Calling series’.
Siobhan’s family will tell you she’s a little bit obsessive when it comes to reading and writing, and they aren’t wrong. She can rarely be found without her trusty Kindle, a paperback book, or her laptop somewhere close at hand.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
Amelia Foster 