Tuesday, November 29, 2011

More Golden Reviews for Golden Dancer!

I'm sorry to keep regaling you with all this great prose about Golden Dancer, but truly, when you're the writer it never gets old!  LOL Sally Bibrary at Bibrary Book Lust reviewed the book -- the first of mine she has ever read i think. She sent me an email saying "Sorry it took so long. The good news is... i loved it." Here is her wonderful review and a link to her great site:
http://bibrary.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-golden-dancer-by-tara-lain.html 


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011
REVIEW: Golden Dancer by Tara Lain
http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bibrary-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005S6LEWO&camp=217145&creative=399373
Golden Dancer is a story of contrasts, featuring an nice guy living the sordid life of an investigative reporter, a carefree billionaire acting the role of art thief, and a ballet dancer whose androgynous beauty masks his hypermasculine skill and agility. It's the story where nothing is immediately what it seems, including the 'straight' reporter who finds himself to inexplicably attracted to a dancer for the second time in his life.

Make no mistake, this is one hot read, featuring some very inventive scenes of man-on-man-on-man love. It's both steamy and romantic, sometimes at the same time, with a ménage that should be awkward . . . bordering on uncomfortable even . . . but which is just more exhilirating for the element of danger. More importantly, it's a story where the threesome seems to develop quite naturally, without any convenient bets, dares, or coincidences to set things in motion.

This is also a solid mystery story, however, featuring some thrilling scenes of action and adventure, gorgeous set pieces, and a great collection of supporting characters. I got so engrossed in the storyline that, at times, I completely forgot this was an erotic romance, and was almost shocked to find a trio of naked men emerging onto the page!

Well-written, and just close enough to the edge of plausible to be both realistic and fun, this is a book that could definitely make a Tara Lain fan out of you.



You will find Golden Dancer at Amazon  ARe   Loose Id  And other outlets


Thank you for visiting the blog!  Remember, the Blog Tour for my upcoming release, Mistletowed, is going on at Beautiful Boy Books. Pop over and leave a comment with your email and follow the blog. You'll be entered to win my quirky mysterious, magical, M/M, M/F, M/M/F with BDSM novella!   :  )

Sunday, November 27, 2011

ONE DAY: Suzanne Forster's Books Amazingly Reduced


Hi everyone-- You have all heard me talk about the brilliant NYT bestselling romance writer, Suzanne Forster, who is my long time friend. She appeared on the blog recently when some of her books were released digitally by Open Road Media. Well, this is equally cool news. Suzanne's books are available at a big discount for ONE DAY!!! Along with a lot of other great books at Open Road. Don't miss this guys!! 
 :  )


Holiday Greetings, Everyone!

I wanted to share some exciting personal news, along with the perfect gift-giving idea.  Open Road Media is having a holiday book sale!  Open Road e-publishes everything from best-sellers on cooking and fashion to novels by literary greats like Pat Conroy and stars of paranormal romance like Cynthia Eden.  They’re also e-pubbing my Loveswept romances and I’m thrilled and honored to be in such great company. 

There’s a catch however.  The sale is TODAY, Monday, November 28th.  It’s a one-day only sale at 60% off on all books across all retailers.  Yes, that’s 60% off on their entire inventory!    

You can get there via my Open Road Author Page, and be sure to peruse the site for all the wonderful goodies being offered.  Also, be sure to watch their videos on how to give books as gifts across retailers!

Here’s a peek at my newly redesigned Loveswepts, available in all e-book formats and complete with rare photographs from my own personal collection.  Enjoy…





 
 
I’m wishing each of you all the blessings of this holiday season—peace and prosperity in abundance, and of course, great books to read.  Remember the Golden Rule of Giving:  May you get as many books as you give! 

Cheers!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

It's time. With love.

It's been a week for wonderful videos. This one is from Australia. : )

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thanks for Everything!

In honor of the holiday, here is a list of some of the many, many things for which i am thankful:

  • Being married to the love of my life for almost 30 years

.
  • Having a great job with people i enjoy and clients who pay us to do fun work,
  • Having an 89 year old father-in-law who is proud that i'm a published author no matter what i write!  LOL
  • Fantastic friends who love me and wish the best for me and allow me to return the favor
  • Having wonderful people who buy my books, support me, cheer for me and keep me writing
  • Terrific editors and publishers who make my books so much better
  • Wonderful reviews -- and even the bad ones that give me a sense of perspective
  • All the marvelous authors who have mentored, taught and encouraged me.
  • Looking at the ocean every day
  • My puppy
  • Getting to do something so ridiculously fun as write erotic romance novels
  • Surviving cancer
  • Massages
  • Movies
  • Great books by fantastic authors -- many of whom i call friends
  • For growing diversity and equality no matter how hard some people fight against it
  • For the chance to keep growing, learning, and changing
  • Sex
  • Art
  • Paris and New York
  • Chai lattes
  • The beautiful boys of romance
  • Imagination!!!
  • Another day to say YES!
  • For you, for being here.
Happiest holidays to those in the US and joyous days to all of us!  :  )


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

You Never Know!



A little surprise? Thank you for visiting the blog. : )

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Chris Redding Brings Blonde Demolition and a Lovely Anklet for One of You


Hi everyone-- Today i'm welcoming a new friend, Chris Redding. Her book Blonde Demolition (don't you love the title?) has been described as an incendiary thriller. Got your attention? Be sure and comment, because Chris is giving away a Lia Sophia anklet to one lucky person.  Here's Chris:

The Glamorous Life of a Writer
By Chris Redding

I know you think we all sit around in our pajamas. We are waited on by pool boys. Someone brings us coffee in the morning.

You think it. You think what a great job. That writer commutes in his slippers.

Well, I don’t. Sadly. I do have a day job albeit part time. That I like, don’t get me wrong. It is still time away from writing.

 In a writer’s life, they still have to pick up the kids, pay the bills and clean the house.

Which is what I am doing in between sentences. I am mopping parts of a floor and waiting for it to dry. In between mopping I am folding clothes and writing this blog post. Wow. Sounds just like your life.

Yep.

Except that I have stories in my head. Some authors have characters talk to them. I have movies running in my head. Always have. Probably always will.

And sometimes those movies distract me from the mopping and folding. I don’t mind that. Others in my house might.

I’m not complaining, mind you. When you are frustrated standing in the DMV line, I have a movie playing in my head to pass the time. I can make this movie end how I want it to end.

See, now your jealous. I know. I know.

Okay, enough writing. That floor isn’t going to mop itself.

Chris Redding lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, one dog and three rabbits. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism. When she isn’t writing she works part time for her local hospital.

Excerpt from Blonde Demolition, described as an “explosive thriller.”

Trey McCrane held her towel as if he planned to make her barter him for it. A twinkle lit his ice-blue eyes. "Towel?"
     She leaned on the metal frame of the stall, refusing to be intimidated. "Give me the towel."
     He did, easier than she thought. His gaze roved over her as intrusive as if they were his hands. Even if she hadn't been naked, she would have felt that way. Trey could look through people.
     "Don't you want to know why I'm here?"
     "No. I do want to know how fast you can make it out my front door."
     "Is that any way to greet your former partner?"
     She knew he meant partner in every sense of the word. They'd been partners in Homeland Security and in bed. "Leave, Trey. I have a good life."
     "And a bomb in your beer trailer."
     She wrapped the towel around herself and brushed past him to her bedroom down the hall. This wasn't how she'd envisioned her evening. Her vision held a bath and then bed. Alone.
Her vision had nothing to do with saving the world.

Buy Links:

Where you can find Chris Redding


Books by Chris Redding:
Corpse Whisperer
The Drinking Game
Confessions: Volume One
Incendiary
A View to a Kilt
Blonde Demolition

I will give away a Lia Sophia anklet to one commenter in the United States.

Thanks for having me today.
cmr

Thank you all for visiting the blog. Be sure and leave your comment! And stop by the TRS Thanksgiving Party between now and Tuesday to comment for a chance to win Deceptive Attraction or Golden Dancer. And here is my new animated banner. What do you think?  :  )


Photobucket




Wednesday, November 16, 2011

New Excerpt: Deceptive Attraction. Find the Answer!

Hi everyone-- Here's a fun way to get an entry in the Grand Prize Drawing on Nov 20. You can win a copy of Deceptive Attraction or of Golden Dancer PLUS a Bag of Swag including a Golden Dancer drawstring backpack, a mirror compact, a carry bag, signed post cards and much more. (Outside the US? You get both books instead of the Swag). Here's what you do. I posted an excerpt from Deceptive Attraction below. I have never posted this excerpt before. Read the excerpt and find out the name of Cal's roommate. Send an email to tara at taralain dot com. Tell me the name. You get an entry!


Excerpt: Deceptive Attraction by Tara Lain; M/M/F Contemporary
Available from Loose Id  and Amazon

Caleb Martin faces a life crisis -- and he’s pretty embarrassed about it. A talented soccer star, he has the chance to sign a lucrative five year contract and be rich and famous. Two problems -- Cal is gay and signing the contract means he has to stay in the closet, maybe for life. Plus, he’ll have to spend his years diving for soccer balls when he’d like to be helping people like the rest of his family. A one-night stand with a beautiful man rocks Cal, but the guy vanishes only to reappear where Cal is house-sitting. Too much coincidence? And then a cute tomboy throws Cal’s life choices into confusion. How could he wind up with a commitmentphobe and a woman dedicated to her work in Africa? Oh yeah, and then there’s a big surprise in a snowstorm. Cosmic joker strikes again.


Sheee-it! Caleb hit the ground, pain flashing through the twice-broken shoulder. Needed breath. Needed to hang on to the damned soccer ball. Don’t let go. He clutched that baby to his chest with his mitts. Pain. All over. Just your regular. Don’t let go. Scar tissue held. Rib broken? Maybe just bruised. Had to get up, kick in.
Hands grabbed him and pulled him to his feet. Crap, it hurt. Noise. Crowd cheering. No, more than cheering, going ape shit. The clock must have run out.
Whoa! Two guys grabbed him and hoisted him into the air on their shoulders. He grinned. Brave guys. He was a load. Wobbling. Hitting the ground again did not sound fun. He waved a mitt to the screaming fans. Oh yeah. Guess he’d blocked the kick that would have tied the game. Final whistle. Game over. Rocket Dogs win. The season is done. Thank God.
After getting pounded on the back several hundred times, shaking countless hands, giving five media interviews, and taking a quick shower, he stood beside the bench in the locker room trying to get his boxer briefs pulled up.
“Congratulations, Martin.”
“Great game, bro.”
“Helluva save, baby.”
Guys slapped his shoulder in congratulations, and he tried hard not to wince.
Suddenly the noise from the hall got louder. He glanced up to see the locker room door burst open. Well, crap. He pulled the briefs up fast as a wild-eyed girl, probably about nineteen or twenty, ran into the big room. “Cal. Cal, baby.”
Her eyes widened when she saw him. Where were his clothes? He grabbed for his shirt as she raced across the open space toward him, bumping into guys in towels and less. A few feet away, she hurled herself straight at his half-naked body. Think fast, Martin. Catch her, or let her fall? Oof. The shirt went flying. One hundred twenty pounds of squirming female climbed all over him. He tried to keep her from hurting herself as she grabbed his head, kissing his cheeks, trying to get to his mouth. Shit. He twisted his head. Damn, get this female off! All around him, he heard the other guys laughing. Fat lot of help they were.
He heard the door open again. Rescue. Two burly guys in security uniforms hurried toward him. Cal grabbed her waist and pushed her toward them, still wriggling. “C’mon, guys, get her off.”
The bigger guy, Harry, grabbed her. “Sorry, Cal, she got away from us.”
He smiled. “I can see how that could happen.”
Harry carried her carefully. Don’t hurt the fans. She leaned back in Harry’s arms and gazed at Cal with puppy-dog eyes. “I love you, Cal.”
He laughed. “I love you too.”
They dragged her, squirming and yelling, out of the room.
Cal glanced up. His roommate, Lex, stared at him. The guy was grinning, but there was this crease between his eyebrows. Yeah. Cal sighed. Only Lex, the coach, the owner, and one other guy on the team knew that Cal was more interested in the bare asses in the shower than in that cute girl. They were good about it as long as they didn’t have to be reminded too often. And that meant Cal got to spend ninety percent of his time pretending to be someone and something he wasn’t. Not just pretending to be straight, but also acting like a guy who only wanted to be a huge soccer star in his life. Cal sighed and finished dressing. Man, he was glad the season was over.

Bet you found it easy. Now, email me at tara at taralain dot com with the answer. Go over to Beautiful Boys Books and get all the info on the contest. There are lots more ways to win! :  )

Monday, November 14, 2011

Welcome Cassandra Carr with Sexy Menage, "Head Games". Trading Cards!

It's a delight to welcome Cassandra Carr to the blog with her new hockey-hunk menage, Head Games. Cassandra has been a buddy of mine since i first started writing and we're going to share our newbie stories and advice in a workshop together at RT in April. Hope you can come!

Remember to leave a comment with your email! You can win a whole set of Cassandra's romance trading cards AND you'll receive an entry in my Grand Prize drawing on Nov 20 for Deceptive Attraction or Golden Dancer and a Bag of Swag. Please follow this blog if you don't already! Take it away Cassandra--


Why write menage stories?

First of all, I'd like to thank my friend and fellow author Tara Lain for having me here today. I thought I'd talk about why I chose to write a menage series, since Tara's books also feature some menages.

Why do I write menage stories? Here are a couple of reasons: 
  1. I get to write more than one hero. Since I love love love my heroes, this one's a no-brainer.
  2. Menage relationships are hot! The sex is, well, varied and interesting to say the least...
  3. The dynamics behind a menage relationship are interesting to explore.
Let's look at each in detail.

As I said above, I love my heroes. If you read my books you know this is true - they steal the show every time (sorry, heroines). So if I had the chance to write not just one, but two or three in the same book? Sign me up! My heroes are sweet, but sexy, and many seem to have a sarcastic bent. They say life imitates art, or is it the other way around? *whistling*

Do readers ever think about what it's like for us menage authors to write the steamy sex scenes in our books? If not, consider this - there are at least three people to consider and choreograph. Not that I'm complaining. ;-) But the fact is, though I love writing a great M/F sex scene, there's something really challenging as a writer about writing a menage sex scene that's more than insert tab A into slot B. Unfortunately sometimes that's what menage sex scenes read like, and I can understand why. You're dealing with a lot of body parts there! I work very hard to make sure the emotions of the scene shine through the actual physical acts.

Ah, the psychology behind the menage relationship. Did I mention I was a psych major in college? I find all the dynamics that surround a menage relationship to be fascinating. Whether it's the internal conflict of "OMG am I going to be with two guys for the rest of my life?" to "I'm getting lambasted in the press for this", there is a whole different set of circumstances and potential problems when you consider a menage relationship. As an author that's the kind of thing that makes you want to sink your teeth in and write the hell out of that story!

What's your favorite part of menage stories?

Thanks again to Tara for hosting me! I'll be around if you have any questions or comments!

BIO: Cassandra Carr is a multi-published erotic romance writer who lives in Western New York with her husband, Inspiration, and her daughter, Too Cute for Words. When not writing she enjoys watching hockey and hanging out on Twitter. Her debut novel, Talk to Me, was released by Loose Id on March 22, 2011. Head Games, Buffalo Intimidators book 1, released on November 2, 2011 from Siren Bookstrand, Caught will release December 13, 2011 from Loose Id, and Impact will come in early 2012 from Ellora's Cave. For more information about Cassandra, check out her website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com, "like" her Facebook fan page athttp://www.facebook.com/AuthorCassandraCarr or follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr.

BLURB: Leo Laporte and Scott Schaeffer are teammates on the ice and roommates off it who also share women. They’ve been coming into Kelly Chase’s bistro after games for months, and they know they want her. As the attraction grows, the men realize they want more than a one-night stand - they want forever.
Kelly’s not so sure. Yes, she wants both men. But a permanent ménage relationship? That’s taking giving her heart away to a whole new level, and a chance she’s hesitant to take. Then Leo is injured and Scott’s on the trading block, and she realizes this may be her only shot at true, everlasting love.
There are so many questions swirling around inside Kelly’s head. Can she believe in Leo and Scott’s love? And will her business and her reputation survive once people find out she’s with two men?


And here is the whole first chapter of Head Games for your pleasure!!

“I can’t take it anymore!” Leo Laporte, goaltender for the Buffalo Intimidators, glared at his teammates as they glided past him after the third goal in the first ten minutes of the game was scored. “You guys either play some fucking defense or I’ll jam my stick where the sun don’t shine! You got that?” Crouching down into his stance, he banged said stick on each post just as he did before every face-off at center ice. Looking up, he saw the head coach, Tom, waving at him. A quick glance to Tom’s left showed his goaltending partner, Scott Schaeffer, warming up. “Fuck!”
Tom called a time-out, and Leo skated to the bench, bracing for the tirade. “You guys need to get your heads outta your asses, pronto. You’re down by three already and the game’s hardly even ten minutes old. Since you don’t seem to want to play for Leo tonight, we’ll see how you do with Scott in net.” Tom threw a sympathetic look Scott’s way. “Good luck saving anything with these jackasses in front of you.” Tom wasn’t known for mincing words, and tonight was no exception.
Leo opened the door to the bench and squeezed around one of the team’s hulking defensemen as best he could. 
Glaring at the man, he thought, Slug’s not good for much tonight. Certainly not getting out of my way.
The guy was built like a tank and made a much better door than he did a window, as Leo could attest on that third goal. The puck had been in the net before Leo had even been able to react.
Leo clapped Scott on the shoulder. “Good luck, man.”
Scott nodded and took the ice. Performing a few quick stretches in the crease, he raised his catching glove to signal his readiness to continue play. Leo sat down, taking a long pull from a water bottle he’d grabbed from the shelf in front of him. No one said a word to him, which was just fine. 
The team responded to Scott being in net and scored two goals by the end of the first. Leo stalked into the dressing room, heading straight for the can. Just as he’d planned, by the time he got out, the second period was about to start. Tom told him he was going to continue to play Scott to see if they couldn’t salvage the game, and Leo nodded. It irked him that he’d been left out to dry, but he also knew damn well they’d done the same to Scott in the past. It was one of those weird hockey things no one could put a finger on, and Leo didn’t even try.
After trundling back to the bench for the second period, his stomach growled. The noise caused his mind to wander, straight to the tall, curvy woman with a mess of curls his hands just itched to plunge into. Right now, Kelly Chase was probably pulling her famous apple pie out of the oven at the bistro where he and Scott had been going for dinner after games for nearly a year. Thinking about seeing her made his cock harden inside his jock and he willed it down. Having a hard-on when wearing a cup was a pretty damn unpleasant experience—one he wasn’t eager to go through at the moment.
He’d bet she knew he’d been pulled, but he’d also put money on the fact that if anyone made an ass-hatted comment about why, she’d shut them right up. Kelly knew her hockey, and she watched every game on the big screen TV housed behind the counter at her bistro as best she could in between cooking meals for the customers. He could almost smell her special sour cream apple pie. She only made it on home game days when she knew Leo and Scott would be coming in afterward for their postgame meal. She’d even named it after the team, calling it “Intimidating Apple Pie.” There was sure as hell nothing intimidating about it, but it was definitely sinful, which was just how he liked it.
Thinking about her and her pie brought his mind to other subjects, like what she was most likely wearing that night. It drove him crazy the way she dressed in these cute little light-pink T-shirts with “Kelly’s” emblazoned on the front, right across her ample breasts. Even her chef’s clogs—also light pink—were cute. But her body wasn’t cute. It was sexy as hell. She was all bumps and curves, in all the right places. She wasn’t a dainty little thing, standing only about an inch shorter than his five foot ten, and he loved that about her.It gave him something to hold on to, should he ever be blessed with the opportunity to get into her checkered chef’s pants.
Leo was jerked out of his lust-hazed stupor by the “heads up” shout from his teammates. A puck was sailing right for him, and he automatically knocked it down with his blocker before it could do any damage. He didn’t wear his goalie mask on the bench, and if his reflexes weren’t lightning quick, he would’ve taken a puck right to his grill.
Head in the game, Leo.
Settling back, he watched his team tie it up by the end of the second. During intermission, Tom took both he and Scott aside and said he wanted to put Leo back in. Scott shrugged. He’d always been the more easygoing of the two men. Their combined personalities meshed well, which translated into a successful goaltending partnership and a friendship that had spanned nearly eight years.
Leo stretched out and took the ice for the third. Their opponent seemed momentarily surprised by another goaltending change but recovered quickly and gave the Intimidators a challenge. In the end, Leo got the win by one goal. After accepting the congratulations of his teammates, he bopped Scott on the head as they left the ice together. “Kelly’s is on you tonight, bro,” Scott said.
Leo snorted. He’d been expecting no less. “Not a problem. I hope she made apple pie.”
“She always makes apple pie if there’s a home game.”
They rushed through their postgame interviews and hopped into the shower. Only a half hour after the buzzer, they were climbing into Leo’s Range Rover on their way to Kelly’s. When they walked in, she turned from behind the counter to greet them. Leo caught sight of her luscious tits straining the material of her T-shirt and his dick twitched. He quickly ran his hand over it.
Down, boy.
“Hey guys. Good game, both of you.”
“Thanks,” they answered in unison, sliding onto stools.
“How about some apple pie?” Leo said, licking his lips already. An image of him nibbling pieces of it off of her flew into his head. Man, was he horny tonight…
Kelly put her hands on her hips. “You know better than that. I never let you have apple pie until after you eat a good meal.”
Leo rolled his eyes. “Fine.” Perusing the specials written on a chalkboard underneath the TV, he ordered shepherd’s pie. Scott asked for a chicken souvlaki wrap, and they settled back to relax as Kelly went into the kitchen to make their food. “I fuckin’ love those T-shirts. I’d give up a mil of my salary just to be that T-shirt for a day.”
“Don’t I know it…” Since it was late, Kelly was waiting tables herself, in addition to cooking, and both of them tracked her as she bustled around behind the counter. Coming back over, she poured them both ice waters and plopped silverware in front of them before going into the back once again. There were still a few customers, but everyone gave the Intimidators their privacy here—it was one of the reasons Leo and Scott loved to come here so much. The primary reason, of course, was Kelly herself. 
“Okay, so let’s go over everything again—make sure we’re on the same page here,” Leo urged.
“All right. Can’t hurt. We need to present a united front if we’re gonna do this.”
“Exactly. So both of us want her.” They’d been attracted to Kelly since the moment they’d laid eyes on her, but had come to the realization a few months ago that their feelings ran deeper than simple lust.
Scott nodded, his eyes as determined and focused as Leo had ever seen them. “Yes, we both want her, and the only way that will work is if we share her. But we need to make it clear at some point, maybe not right up front, that we want her more than just sex.”
“And we think tonight is the night?”
“She’s definitely intrigued.” Scott paused and Leo could practically see the wheels turning in his friend’s head. “Even when we mentioned a threesome last week, she didn’t run.”
“Yeah, and did you see the expression on her face? She wants it.”
“I think so, too. But don’t forget. We can’t push her too hard. And everything one of us does affects the other. We can’t let her tear us apart, and if this thing starts to do that, we need to reconsider.”
“Agreed,” Leo answered. He held up his fist. “Even now, even with Kelly, bros over hos, man.” The two men did a quick fist bump and Leo relaxed a little.
A few minutes later, Kelly backed out of the kitchen, her arms laden with plates, and both men paused to admire her ass in her tight chef’s pants. She caught them staring and just shook her head, laughing. 
Yes, they were done waiting for her to come around. It was time to put Operation Seduction into action.

Thanks so much to Cassandra for being here!! Remember to comment to WIN Cassandra's trading cards and to get an entry in my Nov 20 drawing. More details about the drawing are at http://beautifulboysbooks.blogspot.com  :  )

Friday, November 11, 2011

Putting the SQUEEEEE in Sequels!


Romance sequels. Love ‘em or hate ‘em? Many readers love sequels because they’re already invested in a world and its characters and want to see more and more. This is great for an author. Your readers are waiting with bated breath for your next book and new readers are likely to want to buy the previous books in the series. IF you don’t disappoint them! I’ll bet you can think of several big name authors whose series finally just ran out of steam. They keep writing but more and more readers jump ship as they are expected to pay top prices for boring, badly written books. That’s why many publishers don’t want more than three books in a series.

This month, I’m introducing the third book in my Genetic Attraction series. It’s called Deceptive Attraction and it follows (chronologically) The Scientist and the Supermodel and Genetic Attraction. (You don’t have to have read those other books to enjoy it and know what’s happening.) Funny, I didn’t start out to write a series. I wrote Genetic Attraction as a stand-alone book. But I was lucky enough to create some very compelling characters in that first book. Even I wanted to know why and how Jake and Roan, my young scientist and supermodel, met and fell in love before they became a threesome with Dr. Emmaline Silvay. So the prequel, The Scientist and the Supermodel, was born. In that book, up pops an amazing character -- Jake’s younger brother, Caleb. Cal has some great scenes in The Scientist and the Supermodel and suddenly he was crying out for his own book. Cal is the star of Deceptive Attraction, also a M/M/F ménage, but very different from Genetic Attraction. My original trio appears importantly in this book, but Cal and his two lovers, a pretty boy and a tomboy, are the central characters.

Two things seem true to me about series. First, compulsion. Writing that next book should feel compelling and important. There need to be characters crying out to be heard and stories longing to be told. If the sequels are written just because it might sell more books, readers are going to know and start to bail out. 

Second, new central characters are a pretty good idea. Trying to carry a series with one central character again and again is really tough because the readers have no one else’s point-of-view in which to become involved. Eventually, you know that lead character so well it can get boring. I wrote the Scientist and the Supermodel from Jake’s POV. Readers have begged to see the story through Roan’s eyes, but I can’t do that. The love story has been told. Their story is complete. They have their HEA and I won’t mess with it. I don’t like sequels in which complications are introduced to tear apart two lovers that you’ve already enjoyed getting together. I think it cheats the readers. Roan appears in Deceptive Attraction and there is a chance he will appear in yet another book, but he will still be madly in love with his two scientists.

Yes, it’s true. There could be another book in the Genetic Attraction series. There is a character who is calling my name. Want to guess who it is? He’s a minor figure in at least one of the books. I’ll let you know if my publisher says yes! In addition, i'm just completing the sequel to my summer romance, Volley Balls. This book will be called Fire Balls and stars a minor character from the last book. Want to guess that one?Yep, sequels seem to have become an important part of my life. Hope you enjoy them.  

Thanks so much for visiting the blog.  ;  ) 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Golden Dancer Gets a Night Owl Top Pick!

Hi everyone--

I just received an email announcing my review of Golden Dancer at Night Owl Reviews and i am one happy camper. Click on the link if you'd like to read the whole review which is just delicious. Golden Dancer is a Night Owls Top Pick. Here are a few quotes from Reviewer Terri:


The characters are fantastic. Each has a history, a family and a profession. Seeing how them mesh together is interesting. There are a lot of issues that they must work through which gives each character a chance to grow and change. None are even remotely the same yet they work well together.
Once again I have picked up and read a book that is not my cup of tea and well outside my comfort zone due to an author I really enjoy reading haven written it. As usual, the terrific writing kept me totally interested in the story. I love storytellers that can write anything and make you like it!
Okay, Ms Lain has a fan and I will probably read everything she writes, even when it is outside my comfort zone. That’s just how good her stories really are.
Now you know why i'm happy dancin' all over town. Want to read more about Golden Dancer?
Go to Loose Id or Amazon.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Welcome Natalie Acres with Cowboy Boots! Giveaway.

Hi everyone--


It's my pleasure to welcome Natalie Acres as my guest today. Natalie is on Blog Tour for the release of her new book, Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts, the third in her Cowboy Boots series. Here's a few words from Natalie about her series:



Thank you for hosting a blog stop during The First Annual Natalie Acres Boot Scootin’ Boogie Blog Tour!

I’m excited to share information about the Cowboy Boots series in celebration of my new release, Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts. The third book in this romantic suspense saga, Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts is by far the ‘hottest’ of the series.

A Siren-Bookstrand LoveXtreme title, Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts introduces readers to Abby Rose and her team of seven fellow operatives. With a deadly mission in front of them, Abby’s team members are forced to face regrets as they come to terms with the fact they’ve fallen in love with one of their own. Now, with Abby taking an inside position on a very dangerous mission, Abby’s men work around the clock to make sure she leaves this assignment alive!

Since Natalie's Cowboy Boots books have been bestsellers, i thought it would be fun to get a taste of the first book, Cowboy Boots and Untamed Hearts. That will get you ready to read the whole series. 

Blurb:

Sydney has a problem with Bitch. The horse her father treasures more than gold is running loose and a blizzard is headed for Southwest Virginia. After spending the entire morning chasing the darn animal, she decides she probably won’t earn Cowgirl of the Year for her efforts.
So what's a damsel in designer jeans to do? Call in reinforcements and fortunately, she knows where to find them.
The Donovan men are known for their good looks, alpha-male ways, and their skills behind stacks of hay bales. It's their skills that often keep Sydney up late at night, only she's just dreamed about them. She's never had the opportunity to act on fantasies because her father's career often kept her on the move.
A winter storm strikes out and the Donovan brothers want to take the first step and make Sydney their own. Only first they'll reveal a torrid past and answer some tough questions about their family and Sydney's father. Soon, they discover their innocent little Sydney harbors several secrets of her own and from out of nowhere, a stranger rides in the storm with a surprise for the Donovan brothers.

Excerpt:


Her feet touched the floor, sort of, or did they make contact at all? She wasn't sure. The air around her held a different texture than what she remembered before she fell asleep. She couldn't see anything but shadows, or were those imagined, too?

Maybe she was dreaming.

Guns fired and a few blasts went off around her.

No, she didn't have audible dreams. Not like this.

Someone held her, close enough to form a second skin. He guarded her with his own large frame and whispered something in her ear. Reassurance maybe, or was it a warning?

She tried to focus, but it wasn't easy. When her personal bodyguard released her, her hand was quickly cupped in a much larger one.

Riley was the one who dragged her. They hurried down the hallway like it opened up in front of them only to allow their passage. Then the area sealed off behind them. She heard a swooshing sound and a breeze assured her of a lot of movement. Bodies formed a wall and shielded them. Guns fired with repetition.

It was indeed like a dream, at first. Riley helped her through the darkness, like a man determined to haul his woman out of danger. He tucked her at his side and carried her away.

Sydney glanced over her shoulder. She saw men, too many of them rushing at them. Oh God, this is a nightmare. She reminded herself of those she had as a teenager. This wasn't any different, she told herself. Over and over again, she tried to make a believer out of herself. Only, it didn't work. Reality was hard to deny.

"Riley!" She heard Brock's voice, the anger and pent-up rage filling the area. "Riley! Tell me something, now!"

Horror. That's what she heard. Brock's rage and his uncertainty.
"Ice cream, baby! Count on it!" Riley used her safe word and gave it a whole new meaning. In the midst of terror, he used her phrase to inform the others. She was safe.

"Riley," she mumbled. Her throat, even though dry, finally allowed her to mutter his name. She tried to keep up, hold on, survive…and above all else, live.

Her home was black. The rooms were never this dark. She felt around for a switch and Riley smacked her hand away. "Leave it off, doll," he said. "Only do what I tell you to do."

"What's happening?" she asked, ignoring the fact that he pulled her into the freshly fallen snow and lifted her into his arms. They were waist deep. There wasn't a way out.

Gunfire and loud kabooms surrounded them.

"Riley! This is crazy! You can't possibly carry me through this much snow!"

He pushed forward. Determination etched in his jaw, he seemed to swim through the drifts. A tight line of concentration drawn in his brow, he tried to hold her above him but even as he cradled her body to his, must have recognized his failure.

She was freezing and her teeth chattered to prove it.

"Shh." He pressed on, inching closer and closer to the largest tree in their yard.

"Riley! We can't make it out here. We're going to freeze to death."

"Just a little more," he said, offering her assurance. "Hold on tight, baby. We're almost there."

He stopped short of reaching the tree. His hips jerked and he jiggled his lower leg back and forth.

Panic shook her. They weren't getting out of this alive. The only positive she found in any of this was that she wouldn't live to see or hear about her father's disappointment. He wouldn't be too pleased with the Donovans either, if any of them survived.

Riley pressed forward, his body a rock of tremendous strength, he grunted aloud as he tore through nature's defiance with more power than a workhorse, more determination than those fighting wars. He wasn't ready to admit or accept a failure.

She silently prayed for them. They had to make it. Brock and Luke, Kevin and Jett, if she couldn't make it out of this, they had to survive. She didn't want to die in vain and oh heaven help her, she couldn't stand to think of Riley losing his life to save hers.

Choking back tears, she screamed out at once. "Riley! Take me back!"

He wiggled his leg again. "Shit, Sydney. Just be quiet for one second."

She looked back at the house. She saw a large form in one of the front windows. The person seemed to lurk over them, right above them, and he stood in one place, watching them. She felt his eyes on her and then she saw a gun.

Duck! Riley! Duck!

                                                                   *****

"Are they clear?" Kevin's head mashed against the master bedroom wall. "Riley? Jett? Luke?" He took a deep breath and then shoved a clip in his gun. "Brock? Damn it to hell somebody answer me!"
A large form shifted behind him, Kevin wheeled around and pointed his gun, then lowered it. "Shit, don't sneak up on me like that."
Brock grabbed his forearm and pushed him toward the large recreation room. "Would you rather I announce it so everyone can find us. Move your ass. That cry for Momma outburst, or whatever the hell you call it, just compromised your position."
Once there, Brock gave Kevin a push inside. Jett slumped over Luke's body.
"Luke?" Kevin rushed to his brother's side.
"He's all right," Brock said in passing. He moved his hand to the curtains and looked out over the yard before pointing to the door. "Keep your gun aimed over there."
"What the hell have you brought up on us?" Kevin knelt beside of Luke and ignored Brock's order. He stared at his oldest brother before he swiped Jett's hand away to take a peek at Luke's shoulder. "You gonna make it?"
Luke pressed his head against the wall. "Yeah, bullet only grazed the skin.
"Did Riley and Sydney make it out?" Kevin questioned Jett.
"They're out," Brock answered, watching the snowmobiles leave the property.
"How about everyone else? Did they all leave?" Jett asked.
"How would I know? I have no idea what the count was from the beginning. They all came out of nowhere and at once," Brock replied.
"I asked you a question," Kevin reminded Brock. "Who are you running from?"
Brock narrowed his gaze on Jett and he continued to work at bandaging Luke's shoulder. Apparently, the effort required his undivided attention.
Kevin tossed aside his weapon and rushed him. "Damn it! Answer me!" He held him pinned to the wall, his clothing bunched up in his hands. "Who followed you here?"
Through gritted teeth, Brock hissed. "I think you got the wrong brother."
With steady hands, Jett tucked in the white cloth at both corners and gave Luke a good once over. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Good as new," he said patting the wound but wincing the second he touched it.
From a squatted position, Jett slowly stood again and walked over to the window with a pointed question for Brock. "I take it you remembered about all the tunnels?"
He confirmed it when he said, "Dad went over everything with me a dozen times before I met up with you." He pointed to the large oak. "Leave it to Riley to make his way to the best hideout on the place."
Luke raised his eyebrow. "I doubt he sees it that way. I don't know about you guys but buried alive isn't something I find all that appealing."
"He's never been in the bunkers," Jett informed him. "Dad kept him away from the business for as long as possible."
Brock stroked his rough growth of yesterday's stubble. "Well pretty boy, let me tell you all about that particular bunker. Riley chose it specifically since he's in good company down there."
"Tell him later," Kevin growled. "Tell me what you meant by `wrong brother' and don't point at Luke because I'm not buying it." He narrowed his gaze on Jett all at once.
Brock chuckled. "Yeah, you got one of `em in your sights. The other one is buried under that drift out there with one beautiful snow angel."
Jett's clenched his fists. Brock backed away from him and took another position near one of the other windows. Kevin moved closer to Jett searching for answers.
"Tell me about Venezuela," he demanded.
"Kevin, right now we have a few other things to—
"Tell me about South America." Each word barely squeezed beyond Kevin's tight lips. "Now."
Luke searched for a better understanding, too. "Kevin and I know that last operation had its problems, something went terribly wrong when you and Riley were in Caracas."
"Jett, when you two came back here, Riley wasn't the same. He was a loose cannon ready to fight—or knowing Riley, fuck—anyone or anything just to work out his anger. He covers it up with humor, but he ain't right, and you know it!"
"Great," Brock groaned. "The one with the loosest screw has my woman underground."
"She's not your woman!" Jett shouted, and he probably believed his outburst.
"I beg to differ," Brock said, turning to check out the youngest. "Ever been shot before?"
"No, and this doesn't count. It missed."
"Barely," Brock advised.
"Jett!" Kevin screamed. "I want some answers."
"Can you wait for them, sweetheart?" Brock snarled. "I mean, considering we don't know who is still here with us, can you reschedule this walk down Memory Lane for another more appropriate time? I'll try to arrange tea and crumpets."
Thank you so much to Natalie for visiting the blog. Remember, leave a comment with your email and you receive an entry in my Blog Tour Contest for Deceptive Attraction with the drawing on Nov 20. And thank you for coming by.  :  )