Authors After Dark NOLA wrap up….

This was my first time ever visiting NOLA and I have to admit that I found the experience to be a tad overwhelming. I think that can be attributed to the fact that AAD and the hotel were located right on Bourbon Street.

If you’ve never been, Bourbon Street can be an assault to the senses. The partying and drinking lasts until the wee hours of the morning. Add in quite a few strip clubs and sex shops and I guess it’s just not my cup of tea. I don’t drink so I’m sure that was an issue for me too. There are an abundance of people watching opportunities though!

I do want to add that the people of NOLA are unbelievably nice and helpful and despite all the festivities I always felt 100% safe. Which kind of surprised me because I was warned constantly not to go here or there without a posse of at least 10 people etc. I walked everywhere with my husband or just a few other people in tow and we were always fine.

I can see the allure of the city and I would go back again – I just don’t think I would stay right in the middle of all the chaos.

AAD was an awesome event and I attended several informative panels. For great author photos check out Pam from Midnyte Reader’s AAD Panel post.

I was so excited to catch up with Pam (whom I already know from meeting at BEA) and Tori – the Book Faery. Tori, mama Book Faery and my husband Kevin were pretty much inseparable for the duration AAD. Aaahhh we have some pretty hilarious memories from AAD/NOLA.

I also finally got to meet a few Twitter and blogger friends – Engarde, Missie – The Unread Reader (oh my god – she is so adorable and nice!), Chelsea – Vampire Book Club (SO nice!), Kimberley – Living Fictitiously & her husband Toby. These two of the nicest people you will ever meet. EVER.
Okay – so here are a few pictures from NOLA!

Well – it’s me so you know I’m going to start with food right? My first breakfast was Banana’s Foster French Toast from Stanley:



Then lunch at The French Market – fish tacos. They were delicious (and healthy)!

    

You can’t go to NOLA and not a have a beignet! As everyone says I found the best ones to be at Café Du Monde.



My favorite meal and BEST dessert was at Emeril’s. Yes, it was expensive but SO good. I had the best appetizer of my life there – grilled peach bruschetta with pesto, prosciutto, and fresh mozzarella. Died and went to heaven with that one. Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture but here’s the banana cream pie – zomg…..



Awesome ice cream at The Creole Creamery! You can even order a sampler bowl and try several flavors.



There are a lot of art galleries in the French Quarter and here’s a picture of a cute sign I saw while strolling through in the morning before the shops opened.



Mer-men! Odd trinket shops abound in NOLA – you can find almost anything from voo-doo dolls to mer-men apparently. Very Black Dagger Brotherhood no? If the Z and company were mer-men instead of vampires of course.



My favorite day was a trip to the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery #1. The place is just so broken yet beautiful and haunting. You can feel the history. I’m not one for tours but I wish I took one while I was here.

     

  

The Red Dress Run was going on while we were there and it’s a charity run where everyone (men/women, and a few dogs that spotted) wear red dresses. It was so much fun to see until they all got trashed and threw up all over the streets lol Like I said Bourbon Street is all about partying and I’m a little too boring for that at this stage of my life.



This is my biggest score from AAD!!! I had Carolyn Crane sign my Gumby and her two books from my FAVORITE UF series – the Disillusionist trilogy. She is the nicest person and was always funny and informative at all her panels. (I think she might have been on almost everyone too!! Poor girl had to rush around all day Friday!) She also gave me a mini Pokey to go with my Gumby keychain and trading cards from the series.



I already bought my tickets to AAD Savannah! Check out next year’s author line up and events here

If you attended AAD NOLA - don't forget to link up reviews to all the awesome books you received to Midnyte Readers Authors After Dark Reading Challenge!

AAD Authors Spotlight & Giveaway: Suzanne Johnson

Authors After Dark is just a few short weeks away and today author Suzanne Johnson is stopping by with a hi-freakin-larious guest post and guide to surviving NOLA in August.

Suzanne is also giving away a copy of her latest book Royal Street. Be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of her post.

Welcome to For What It's Worth Suzanne!

New Orleans in August….Are you NUTS?

The countdown is on…only a few short weeks before Authors After Dark descends on New Orleans for the 2012 meltdown. Literally.

As a debut author, this will be my first AAD, and I’m totally psyched about it. Lots of other authors. Lots of readers. And my favorite city in the world, where I’ve been lucky enough to spend most of the past twenty years as a resident.

But I have to admit, once I got over my initial excitement about AAD, my second thought was: August in New Orleans? Are they insane?

New Orleans is a place one flees in August, you see. On (thankfully) rare occasions, you might be fleeing a hurricane, as I’ve done several times, including Hurricane Katrina in August 2005—an experience that inspired my urban fantasy novel Royal Street and the Sentinels of New Orleans series.
But don’t freak out over hurricanes. Most of the time, one flees New Orleans in August because, well, let’s just say hell hath no heat to rival the Big Easy in the dog days of summer. Even dogs don’t want to spend their days there.

So as a New Orleanian by choice if not by birth, who has lived through my share of New Orleans’ brand of August, I’ll offer five tips to help you know what to expect—and how to enjoy yourself.

1) You’re going to sweat. Just accept it. Okay, if you’re a delicate flower, you can say you “glow” or “glisten.” Whatever you want to call it, dampness will cover your body. All of it. If you’re outside, it will be hot dampness. If you’re inside, it will be cold dampness. (Yes, it is possible to sweat even with the air conditioning cranked down to Polar. Humidity, baby.) Your pores will be the size of craters. Don’t worry about makeup. It will melt within moments and you will resemble a raccoon-eyed humanoid with pancake batter on your face. But don’t worry—everyone else will look just like you.

2) All that sweating will dehydrate you, so drink lots of water. If you’re going to enjoy New Orleans’ bounty of cocktails (you MUST go to the Napoleon House at the corner of Chartres and St. Louis and order a Pimm’s Cup), staying hydrated is even more important. You do not want to faint of dehydration and be found on Bourbon Street with raccoon eyes, your face covered in what looks like pancake batter, and the remnants of a Sex on the Beach drooling down your chin. Trust me on this.

3) Go to the Café du Monde early in the morning. Yes, it’s worth crawling out of bed at 7 a.m. to get there before the heat visibly shimmers off the sidewalks. And the Quarter’s kind of cool and laid-back and wonderful in the morning when things are still quiet and moving slowly. Tip: when you order beignets and get powdered sugar all over yourself—and you will—save your water glass and dip your napkin in it to clean yourself up. Big sign that you’re a tourist? You’re walking around with pancake-batter makeup on your face and powdered sugar all over your boobs.

4) Go to Canal Street and ride the streetcar all the way to the end of the line and back. It’ll cost about $1.50 and is worth every penny. You’ll see the the CBD (Central Business District) and bits of a lot of New Orleans’ distinctive neighborhoods like the Irish Channel, Uptown, the university area around Tulane, Audubon Park, Riverbend and Carrollton. The architecture is gorgeous, and the clang of the streetcar bell and sound of it rumbling along its tracks is unique to NOLA. Tip: The streetcars are not air-conditioned and the drivers get grumpy if you don’t have exact change, so this is another good morning activity—except not at rush hour, since you’ll fight for a seat with locals trying to get to work. (And don’t call the streetcars “trolleys” unless you want “tourist” to be stamped on your pancake batter-covered face.)

5) Have fun! If there’s one thing New Orleans knows how to do, it’s how to lay back, relax, and enjoy yourself. The locals might talk funny, but they’re super-friendly and are insanely proud of their beautiful city. They love to share their culture with visitors—even ones wearing raccoon eyes and pancake batter. And if you see me around the hotel during AAD, looking pale and makeup-less, stop and say bonjour! I might buy you a Pimm’s Cup.


About Suzanne: Suzanne Johnson is the author of a new urban fantasy series beginning with ROYAL STREET and RIVER ROAD, both coming in 2012 from Tor Books, and ELYSIAN FIELDS, coming in 2013, also from Tor. A longtime New Orleans resident now living in Auburn, Alabama, Suzanne is a veteran journalist with more than fifty national awards in writing and editing nonfiction. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama, and a native of Winfield, Alabama.

During her daytime job, Suzanne is associate editor of Auburn Magazine, the quarterly magazine of the Auburn University Alumni Association. She has also worked at Tulane University in New Orleans, the University of San Diego, Rice University in Houston, and at the University of Illinois. Awards include: the Robert S. Sibley Award for the best university magazine in the U.S. and Canada, for the Rice University Sallyport; feature writing awards in 2009 and 2010 from Writer's Digest magazine; and more than 50 awards in writing and editing from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Suzanne is an active member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and is a member of the Georgia, Southern Magic, and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal chapters of RWA.
Find her online: Website |  Blog | Twitter | Facebook 


When Hurricane Katrina destroys the barriers between modern New Orleans and the Beyond, an apprentice wizard braves the chaos of her struggling city to find her missing mentor, fend off the undead pirate Jean Lafitte, and control her annoying new partner--not to mention find a serial killer before he finds her. ~ Goodreads | Amazon

GIVEAWAY!

Fill out the Google doc below to win a copy of Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson in the format of your choice. International entries welcome.


THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED. THE WINNER IS ERIN F

AAD Author Spotlight: Lissa Matthews

Please join me in welcoming author Lissa Matthews to the blog today as part of my Authors After Dark Spotlight series.
This is the last of my AAD author spotlights and I’m closing this feature out with this great interview with Lissa!
Thank you to all the authors who stopped by For What It’s Worth for guest posts and interviews. You can find them all here. I can’t wait to meet everyone in New Orleans August 8-12th! (Authors After Dark)

Karen: Describe yourself Twitter style - 140 characters. (feel free to use Twitlonger :-) )
Lissa: Coffee whore who procrastinates extraordinarily well at the written word, who is a musician, sports fan, queen baker (in my head), cool mom, supportive friend, and always learning

K: Use the same format to describe your writing or your latest book.
L: My writing: It's personal and emotionally driven, passionately fun, ever changing and evolving, quirky, full of Southern appreciation, sassy, my own...

K: Your About Me on your website says that you are so addicted to coffee that friends "are surprised she hasn’t floated away on a caffeine-induced cloud while giving life to feisty heroines and hunky heroes." Do you have a favorite coffee and just how deep does this addiction go?L: See, I don't know if I'm supposed to divulge the truth to the masses or not. It would completely destroy my coffee credibility. I can plead the 5th on the addiction part, right? I own a Keurig, 2 French presses, a small espresso machine, and I cold brew coffee all the time for what I call iced coffee crack.
As for a favorite coffee... In my Keurig, I love dark roasts. For whole bean coffee, I love Starbuck's Red. Lately though, I've found I am in love Larry's Beans. They're a small company here in North Carolina, sustainable facilities and organic coffee. I love their Mightier Mocha Java and their Cowboy Blend coffees.

Karen: I am currently addicted to Godiva Breakfast Blend coffee. I brew a pot and make a cup of iced coffee every morning. It’s like drinking a fudgesicle.

K: Do you have a playlist for your books or music to listen to that helps you write?
L: Yes. I have always written to music. Usually it has to be something that I know well, something that can be 'noise'... If it's a new song that I love, I can't write to it cause I'm paying too much attention to it. When I wrote the Blue Jeans and Hard Hats books, I listened to Neil Diamond over and over and over again. The music didn't distract me, it was 'noise' in the background, but it helped center me and focus me on the writing. I listen to a lot of Nickelback and Breaking Benjamin as backdrops for books. I listen to a lot of country too... newer guys like Justin Moore and Brantley Gilbert, love Miranda Lambert and Pistol Annies. I wrote Twisted Up listening to Sugarland and SHEDaisy.

K: What are you most looking forward to at AAD in August?
L: Seeing people I haven't seen in a while. I'm hoping that a few more readers will know my name this year. I am looking forward to the panels I am on. I am terribly nervous and have an awful case of stage fright (it was a challenge during speech class in college and even more of a challenge when I had solos in symphony). I don't do well talking in front of people, but I am looking forward to the panels. I am on a M/M panel and that should be a lot of fun. I love reading it and writing it. I am on a Keeper Shelf panel as well and honestly, there are so many books on my keeper shelf that I don't know which ones I'll talk about.

K: Is there a book you've recently read that you would tell everyone to go out and buy right NOW!
L: Sadly, no. I've read a lot of books lately and maybe I'm just in a funk. I'm not really loving anything. In the last year, I've read some that I'd tell everyone to go out and buy though... First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones, Driving Mr. Dead by Molly Harper, Dakota Cassidy's Trophy Wives series, and any of Delilah Devlin's cowboy books. Now, the first two books I listed here are not usual reading for me, but they had me laughing out loud so often that I just couldn't put them down.

Karen: Oh no!!! Not the dreaded reading funk! Molly Harper and Dakota Cassidy are always fun reads for me too. Thanks Lissa!

Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Lissa’s latest:


Graham Hall is a twenty-six year old Texan with the job of his dreams: being a freelance travel writer for a national publication. He’s just finished his latest article about small winter resort destinations in Colorado and has earned some personal down time. With the six month lease not yet up on the small cabin he rented, Graham decides to stick around the area for a while and in the process, finds himself agreeing to a blind date with a feisty, down on her luck in the love department, candy maker named Jane.

After all, what could it hurt?

Jane, completely oblivious to the set up, arrives at Graham’s isolated little valley cabin to deliver a box of her handmade Chocolate Kick truffles. From the moment Graham opens the door, Jane is tongue tied and ticked off. Edward, her business partner and most certainly former best friend, set her up. When she regains her ability to put two coherent words together, plus size, mid-thirties Jane apologizes for intruding and assures Graham that she will take care of the mistake.

What ensues is a series of encounters and confrontations between Jane and Edward, Jane and Graham, and Edward and Graham. At the heart of it all, is Jane’s happiness. Edward wants this for her more than anything. Graham finds himself caught up in her tart tongue and curvy body and isn’t about to call his all too real pursuit a failure, no matter how many times she says no.

With her inability to continue denying herself the man she affectionately refers to as Cowboy Surfer in her head, she gives in and is rewarded with scorching hot sex and a lot of follow-up phone calls after she learns the truth of Graham’s attraction. His persistence leads Jane to believe that life doesn’t have to revolve around chocolate truffles, but rather should revolve around a delicious, well traveled and well built younger man. Amazon - Melting Jane

AAD Author Spotlight: PJ Schnyder

Please join me in welcoming author PJ Schnyder o to the blog today as part of my Authors After Dark Spotlight series.
This will be my first visit to NOLA so I’m interested to hear PJ’s tips for keeping cool in the sultry New Orleans heat during AAD.

Sultry summer in NOLA and Tips for Con Survival

We've got a little over a month to AAD NOLA. It's going to be right in the middle of the sultry summer and along with lots of promo, swag and prizes to give away to readers I'm packing for con survival.
The savvy traveler tends to have the practical list of packing necessities. But for a con, and especially AAD in NOLA, there's a couple of considerations I'm using to tweak the list.

- Bottled water or Bottles with built-in filters
Hydration is key at any con, but when it is as high a humidity as NOLA tends to be in August a person may not realize they're thirsty. Drink lots of water, in addition to the fun drinking you may plan to do. ;)
I travel with a bottle equipped with a built-in filter. This saves me a lot of $$ on hotel stays and airport travel. However, I've been told by former NOLA residents that the tap water in recent years is so strongly metallic that my usual filter bottles might not be sufficient. Dunno for sure, but I'm going to bring them anyway and give them a try the first night. If it's a no go, then I'll scamper out to a nearby store and pick up bottled water.

- Dress for the heat
Believe it or not, skirts are nice for me in the heat. Happily, my usual con attire is mostly skirts so I should be good to go.
Many of the attendees plan to explore New Orleans and there are quite a few author sponsored field trips booked up solid. I'd recommend dressing to stay cool and bringing sun block. Even on hazy, overcast days the more delicate complexions are going to come back like steamed crawfish.

- Up Do
I know we're all hoping to let our hair down and have fun, but we may want to have the fun and keep our hair up off our necks. It's gonna be warm and the air conditioning in the older buildings of NOLA is rumored to be not quite as effective as newer structures. I don't know for sure, but I'm going to be ready just in case. :P

- Masquerade Ball
Bring a fan to the ball (and everywhere). Fans are a lovely accessory and as a couple of us authors learned at SPWF earlier this year, fans are life savers in hot weather when corseted and be-bustled.
A mask isn't required to attend AAD's Masquerade Ball. The costume contest for this event is all about the best overall costume and the theme is characters of New Orleans. I'm looking forward to seeing readers dressed as their favorite character from a New Orleans story or legend.

There you have it, my tweaks to my usual travel packing list. And as a treat for you all in the spotlight, here's a snippet from Hunting Kat. Kaitlyn has been tricked into an enforced R&R on Dysnomia Space Station and Skuld packed her bag for her:


Entering the room, a quick survey took in the sumptuous king-sized bed and full bathroom. Skuld had gone all-out. The message notification blinked from the console in the sitting area.

I know, Kat, we know you're mad. Dev's image materialized on the holo projector, his expression stone-cold blank except for the slightest twitch at the corner of his mouth. He wasn't even trying to look repentant, the jerk. She wondered what the penalty would be for killing her captain. It might be worth it. But consider this a deception for the greater good.

It will keep up the training sessions with Chester in your place so your communications experiment wonít fall behind schedule. Skuld’s image popped up over Dev's shoulder. Find yourself some nice man-flesh in uniform and take him for a tumble!

Dev made a shooing gesture, the holo flickering in response. He must have decided to wrap up the message before Kaitlyn got well and truly worked up into a rage. Back in two days. Your message is delivered, so take some R and R. That's an order.

The holo projector darkened. The sneaky bastard.

What in hell was she supposed to do for two days? And no. She refused to follow Skuld’s directions.
And how was Skuld going to simulate the communications training Kaitlyn had wrestled into the tube rat's tiny head? Visions of borked terminals and spontaneously combusting circuit boards flashed before her eyes. The ferret's havoc would give Skuld repair work for weeks. Course, considering this bit of misguided scheming, she had it coming to her.

Kaitlyn turned to study the duffel bag sitting at the foot of the bed. Sighing, she unsealed the seam and peered inside.

Yup. Nothing but lingerie and one change of clothing, for two days. She cursed and sent the bag flying into the far wall.

Damn it. She needed a drink.


Find PJ online: Website | Twitter @pjschnyder | Facebook | Tumblr

AAD Author Spotlight: Louisa Bacio

Please join me in welcoming author Louisa Bacio to the blog today as part of my Authors After Dark Spotlight series.

Karen: Describe yourself Twitter style.
Louisa: Quirky, creative writer & busy mom who moonlights as a professor/editor. Loves the paranormal, and believes Love Knows No Bounds.

K: Use the same format to describe your writing or your latest book.L: Planning three weddings? That’s insanity. The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf embark on a nuptial excursion that tests their love.

K: Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you follow before writing?L: It all depends upon what I’m writing … sexy love scene? I like to get in the mood with a glass of wine, nice music, maybe a little bit of reading and then I create in bed! If it’s a suspenseful, paranormal scene, I’ll often watch Ghost Hunters or Ghost Adventures before and during.

K: Do you have a favorite snack that you need to have around?L: Sweet: Pomegranate Jelly Bellies and Cinnamon Bears.
Salty: Pumpkin seeds

Karen: Pomegranate Jelly Bellies??? Must investigate further……

K: What are you most looking forward to at AAD in August?L: Being back in New Orleans, and participating as an author. I’ll be talking about reading runes, and doing demonstrations. Plus, there’s that absinthe bar within walking distance, too!

K: Is there a book you've recently read that you would tell everyone to go out and buy right NOW!L: The Fireman Who Loved Me. I recently met the author Jennifer Bernard at a signing at Sunshine Books near my house. I lived less than 10 minutes away for 13 years, and they specialize in all romances. Jennifer’s hot firemen kept me up until 3 a.m. finishing the book, and didn’t disappoint. (Book 2 Hot for Fireman just was released.)

Thank you for stopping by For What It’s Worth today Louisa!

Find Louisa: Website | Facebook | Twitter



New Release:

The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf: A Threesome Wedding Adventure  Planning a wedding can be stressful and crazy-making. Planning three weddings at the same time? That’s insanity. While The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf embark on a nuptial excursion, Silver & Nick hold down the home fortress in New Orleans.
And as if everyone doesn’t have enough to deal with, the Voodoo King comes calling with a magic elixir that diminishes sexual inhibitions and an eerie quiet spreads across the French Quarter. Life as they know it may never be the same.
The threesome is forced to put off honeymoon bliss in order to banish the demons of their past, and embrace the uncertainty of the future. ~ Goodreads
Order Now from Ravenous Romance

AAD Author Spotlight: Beth Williamson

Please join me in welcoming author Beth Williamson (also writing as Emma Lang) to the blog today as part of my Authors After Dark Spotlight series. She’s talking cowboys, badass men & redemption!

She’s learning to live. He’s forgotten how. Love will be their teacher.
Lettie Brown has lived in the shadow of violence. After escaping her brutal past, she’s finally at home in Forestville, Wyoming, where she would live a normal life—if she knew how. She’s content working at The Blue Plate and printing the town newspaper, if not happy. Then a stranger stumbles into her world and turns everything upside down.
Shane Murphy is a shell of a man, destroyed by the aftermath of the war, his personal tragedies and a penchant for cheap whiskey. When he lands, literally, on Lettie’s feet, his future takes a hard right turn.
As they fumble through a relationship that should not have been, a deep love takes root, one that cannot be denied. Together they discover a bond as unbreakable as steel and as undeniable as life itself—until the past rears its ugly head and threatens the happiness they’ve found in each other. Amazon:  Endless Heart

Thank you for stopping by For What It’s Worth today Beth!

What ís so good about being the guy in the White Hat?

As a western romance writer, I have all sorts of heroes in hats, the cowboy kind that is. Not all of them are honorable men though. *gasp* Yes, it's true, sometimes my heroes don't where the white hat.

I am very much the kind of writer who tries to stay true to real life. I've had heroines who are homeless, disabled, bitchy and even scarred physically. I've had heroes who are drunks, suffer from PTSD, or missing a limb. Yes, the book is an escape from reality but in order to identify with the hero/heroine, I feel like they have to feel real to me, and consequently, to the reader.

So my heroes can also be bad guys, who find their way to a good place with the love of a heroine. I've had heroes who are truly badasses, men you would not want courting your daughter.

The first was Hermano, who made an appearance in my first book, The Bounty. In the first scene, Hermano was torturing the hero, Tyler Calhoun, to give him information. Nice guy, eh? He pops up throughout the book, and the next, The Prize, dancing in the shadows in the periphery.

Well, what happened next was Hermano kept whispering in my ear while I slept, telling me he needed his own story, por favor. I couldn't resist the pull of such a dark, sexy man, one who valued loyalty but would kill in a blink if need be.

Thus, my third book, The Reward, became Hermano's story. He was Malcolm Ross y Zarza, a half-scottish, half-mexican man with a past of his own, one that thrust him into the role of a bandito.
He's unapologetic for his actions and his choices - one of the things I love about him. He's real, y'know?

The second hero with a gun and a dark soul is also from the Malloy family books, Kincaid. Oh, Kincaid, how I love thee. He first appeared in book five, The Gift, as a man hired to kill the heroine, Adelaide. Somewhere along the way he became friends with Brett Malloy, the most reticent and quietest of the brothers. So when Brett's story, The Tribute, was published, Kincaid played a major role. He found a friend in Brett that he'd not found before. At the end of The Tribute, Kincaid disappears only to resurface in his own book, Hell for Leather.

A man who survived a wickedly awful childhood, Kincaid tries to start over, to emulate the man he wants to be like his friend Brett. He finds a place to be, and a new name, Cade Brody, and tries to keep his dark past buried beneath the roots of a pine tree. It takes a strong woman, Sabrina, to force him to confront that blackness and find the love he deserves.

My third serious badass hero is Grady Wolfe from Ruthless Heart, my first book published as Emma Lang. Grady is the penultimate bad guy - who will take any and all jobs for money. He'd been an assassin since he was fifteen, darkest of dark. It takes a scientific, brainy heroine like Eliza Hunter to smash through the castle of hell he lives in, and find the man he could be.

My next release has another hero who is a badass, and this time is a Texas Ranger. Brody Armstrong first appeared in the Circle Eight: Matthew as the investigator for the crimes committed against the Graham family. Black hair, ice blue eyes and an attitude to match, Brody was a mysterious force who needed to return for his own story, The Circle Eight: Brody. He wears a black hat and is hard as the land he protects. Fortunately for him, Olivia Graham is just as tough and stubborn as Brody. Clash of the Titans, y'all. :)

Brody lost his brothers, survived the war, and joined the Rangers to do something with his life. He has a lonely existence, relying only on himself, on the trail and constantly in danger. When he meets the Grahams, the family knocks some longing into him. Then Olivia knocks him on his ass. In the end, Brody finds what he didn't know he was missing. The love of a woman and a future with a family he needed.

Who doesn't like a dark, tortured hero? Each of these men personified what I want to see happen to all badass men, redemption. I find the bad heroes are the ones who steal my heart, especially those in the black hat riding a horse. ;)

About Beth: Beth Williamson, who also writes as Emma Lang, is an award-winning, bestselling author of both historical and contemporary romances. Her books range from sensual to scorching hot. She is a Career Achievement Award Nominee in Erotic Romance by Romantic Times Magazine, in both 2009 and 2010. website | Twitter | facebook | goodreads

AAD Author Spotlight & Giveaway: Rosalie Lario

Please join me in welcoming Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance author Rosalie Lario to the blog today as part of my Authors After Dark Spotlight series.


First off, I’d like to thank Karen for inviting me here today. In honor of my upcoming attendance at the Authors After Dark Conference in New Orleans, I’d love to talk about one of my favorite topics: New Orleans itself!

My obsession with this southern city started when I was a preteen and first read Anne Rice. About a decade later, I had the occasion to go several times for Mardis Gras, and each visit only made my love for this magical place grow. There’s something about NOLA. Walking the historic streets, you can just imagine there are ghosts, vampires, and other supernatural beasts lurking around. Topped off with the amazing French Quarter bars and restaurants, it’s a wonder anyone ever leaves! 

If you haven’t been to NOLA but wonder what it’s like, trust me, it’s worth a visit. If you do plan on going, here are a few suggestions on how to spend your time:

•    Bar hopping on Bourbon street. You can’t visit this amazing city without spending time on Bourbon street, and what better way to enjoy all the history than to tour the bars, some of which have been there since before your parents were born!

•    Ghost or cemetery tour: There’s an abundance of these in the city, and it’s well worth your time to take one or more of them.

•    Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo on Bourbon Street. Yes it’s a bit touristy, but where else will you get to visit a place like this?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with my work, I’m the author of the paranormal romance series, Demons of Infernum. The series features four half-brothers who work as interdimensional bounty hunters in New York City.

Giveaway!Blood of the Demon (Book 1 in the series), stars half-demon Keegan and his heroine, Brynn. Part of this story takes place in New Orleans, and for your enjoyment I’d love to include one of those scenes. Also, one person who responds to the following question will win an ecopy of Blood of the Demon:

Have you ever been to NOLA? If so, what was your favorite part of the city?


Please leave your comment and a way to contact you if you win. (Email/twitter handle etc.)
Giveaway ends Saturday 6/9 at 11:59pm ET
Winner announced Sunday 6/10


Blood of the Demon: Keegan lives to exact revenge on the evil demon who sired and abused him. When his father devises a plan to bring on the apocalypse, he and his three half-brothers, interdimensional bounty hunters for the Elden Council, are charged with capturing and delivering their father for punishment.

Art gallery owner Brynn Meyers has no idea that her ability to read memories embedded in objects and drain people of their life force means she has demon ancestry. Unfortunately for Brynn, she’s also the key to raising an ancient zombie army, which puts her on every demon’s Most Wanted List.

And no one wants her more than Keegan’s father.

Keegan must protect Brynn from his father by any means necessary, but he’ll have to learn to harness the other half of his genetics—the far deadlier, uncontrollable half—when he starts to fall for the one woman standing between him and the vengeance he so desperately seeks. The one woman he’ll never be able to resist.

EXCERPT: Keegan was struck by the uncomfortable realization that this was the first time they’d been alone since he’d almost kissed her. How foolish he’d been.

Worse, he still wanted to kiss her. Very much.

Seeking to break the tension, he walked to the window and glanced out of it. Crowds of revelers swarmed the streets. It would be so easy to get lost in a crowd this size. So very easy.

He surprised himself by turning back to Brynn. “Want to go out for a bit?”

“Really? I mean, yeah, I’d love to.” She hesitated. “I hate to ask, because I really, really would like to go, but is it safe?”

“Should be safe enough in the crowd of people. The odds of Mammon finding us here are slim. It’s not as if he has a GPS tracker on you. Your apartment and your gallery, on the other hand, won’t be safe to return to until this mess is figured out.”

“My gallery.” Her face took on a pained expression that disappeared so swiftly he thought he might have imagined it. She grabbed her long, black coat and followed him to the door. “Why do I need to stay inside at all, if Mammon can’t track me?”

“I said the odds are slim. Not impossible. He’s got demons working for him everywhere. Given the consequences if he does find you, I’d say it’s better to err on the side of caution.”

Brynn appeared lost in thought as they hopped in the elevator and he pressed the button for the opulent lobby. When she turned to him, a vulnerable look haunted her gaze. “Are you going to be able to find him, Keegan? Do you think you’ll be able to stop him?”

The quiver in her voice just about killed him. Hoping to reassure her, he lifted his hand to caress her cheek. “Yes, Brynn, I do.”

Something hot and heavy blazed in her eyes, something that made it impossible to look away. His breath caught.

The elevator opened and three interested pairs of eyes peered at them.

For the first time he realized they’d edged closer together, until they stood mere inches apart. Clearing his throat, he hastily broke away.

Brynn hugged her coat to her as they stepped into the frigid cold. The smell of stale beer and piss stained the air around them. Drunken revelers wearing masks and beads careened past them, laughing riotously as they zoomed down the street carrying beer cups.

“I didn’t realize it was Mardis Gras until we got here,” she said.

“Mardis Gras?” He frowned, unfamiliar with the phrase. “What’s that?”

With an exasperated shake of her head, she said, “How is it that you seem so normal, yet you know nothing about popular culture?”

“We learn as much as we can before visiting other worlds, but our timelines are usually pretty short.”

“Sometimes you amaze me.”

She explained the history behind the celebration while he watched the throngs of people walking past, some barely dressed.

“I’m afraid some of these people are going to freeze to death,” he told her.

Brynn followed his gaze to a thin woman wearing nothing more than a mask, pasties, a thong, and what looked like her weight in beads. She laughed. “Most of them have probably had so much liquor they barely even notice.”

Surely, a dangerous state for beings as fragile as humans. He saw something ahead and grabbed her hand. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

Fighting to pull her through the crowd, he led her to a booth where a man sold masks and beads. Keegan picked an elaborate purple and gold full-face mask with feathers on one side. “This one suits you.”

“It’s pretty.” She put it on and he moved behind her to tie the strings in the back. “If I’m wearing one, you need one, too.”

Keegan shrugged, then chose a black and gold jester mask that he figured was masculine enough. He squatted, waiting impatiently while Brynn tied it behind his head. Her intoxicating scent closed in on him, overwhelming even the foul stench of the streets.

Too close. She stood far too close for comfort.

As soon as she finished tying the knot, he pulled away and turned to face her.

“That looks great on you,” she said.

Laughing, he paid the man at the booth. He led her away from the huge, swaying mass of people on one end of the street. When they approached another crowd pocket, he grabbed her hand, and this time he didn’t let go. He told himself it made sense, given the amount of people on the street. But he didn’t try to fool himself—touching her felt good. Her cool hand warmed in his, and he envisioned what it would feel like for her soft fingers to caress other parts of his body.

Cursing inwardly, he forced himself to think about something else. He scanned the crowd, searching for any signs of danger, but found nothing.

“Maybe Ronin was right about hiding out here.”

Her glance was curious. “Why do you say that?”

“The crowd—not to mention the masks—should provide more than enough safety.”

“Ooh, does that mean I actually get to leave the hotel room?”

Keegan laughed at her eager tone, squeezing her hand. “As long as one of us accompanies you, I don’t see why not.”
Find out more about Blood of the Demon at Entangled Publishing or at my website www.rosalielario.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Rosalie Lario practiced real estate law for several years before finally admitting to herself that negotiating contracts wasn’t nearly as fun as dreaming up stories. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son in their home state of Florida, as well as searching out things that go bump in the night. Follow her on: Website | Twitter | Facebook

AAD Author Spotlight: Megan Grooms

Please join me in welcoming author Megan Grooms to the blog today as part of my Authors After Dark Spotlight series.

Karen: Describe yourself Twitter style - 140 characters. (feel free to use Twitlonger :-) )
Megan: Well I am a Marine wife, I work at an animal hospital and I just had my first child in January.


K: Use the same format to describe your writing or your latest book.
M:The last book I put out was a short story called Halloween Maddness, with werewolves. I'm thinking about making a book with the characters from that book, there was a lot of stuff that could still go on with them.

K: Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you follow before writing?
M: I have to be in a good mood to write. When I'm annoyed or upset I seem to just stare at the screen not able to focus. I also have to have it quite or  I will get distracted.

K: Do you have a favorite snack that you need to have around?
M: Not really, I do like to have a glass of water close at hand however.

K: What are you most looking forward to at AAD in August?
M: I'm looking forward to meeting new people and some of the authors that I have been fans of for a while that will be there this year.

K: Is there a book you've recently read that you would tell everyone to go out and buy right NOW!
M: I haven't had time to read recently but I am looking forward to the new book by Jeaniene Frost Once Burned. I'll have to make time to read that one, I love Vlad the main guy in this book.

Karen: Thank you Megan! I think a lot of people are anxiously awaiting Vlad’s book.

You can find Megan on her Blog & on Goodreads or Twitter

AAD Author Spotlight: Interview with Melanie Card

Please join me in welcoming author Melanie Card to the blog today as part of my Authors After Dark Spotlight series.



Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.
But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.
However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive… ~ goodreads | Amazon: Ward Against Death (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer, #1)

Thanks for being here today Melanie!

Describe yourself Twitter style - 140 characters. YA Fantasy author who writes about dark magic, adventure, & romance. Also a cat lover addicted to chocolate and coffee.

Use the same format to describe your writing or your latest book. Ward Against Death: a reluctant necromancer who’s tricked into helping an undead assassin solve her murder.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you follow before writing? I try to stick to as regular as schedule as I can, so I suppose to you can call it a ritual. I make sure I get up with my hubby—when he goes to work, so do I. I always make a cup of coffee (sometimes two) and I don’t open my email until after 11am. Some days I can do it, some days I can’t, but I find I can get into a rhythm with whatever book I’m working on if I can stick with that schedule.

Do you have a favorite snack that you need to have around? I’m not much of snacker, but I always have a coffee or tea with me—particularly in the winter. I like warm hands when I’m writing, and I really like warm hands when I’m thinking. I find hugging my cup between my palms relaxing and can help me figure out motivation and plot problems when I’m stuck.

What are you most looking forward to at AAD in August? I can’t wait to meet everyone. I’m new to conferences (I’ve only done one other small, writer-focused conference) and think an intimate small conference like AAD would be perfect for me.

Is there a book you've recently read that you would tell everyone to go out and buy right NOW! Well I read a mix of YA and adult (and am crazy behind on my to be read pile). I recently finished Stacey Kennedy’s Supernaturally Kissed and would highly recommend it for those who love fast paced read with super hot, steamy chemistry between the hero and heroine. And for the YA reader (which also has hot but no graphically steamy chemistry) is Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Obsidian.

Karen here: Melanie is a new to me author. I’m discovering quite a few because of these spotlights. I was excited to discover that Ward Against Death is told in alternating pov’s with both Ward and Celia. It's rare enough to have a male pov but even rarer in UF/paranormal. I just downloaded the book and hope to review it soon.




About Melanie Card:

Melanie has always been drawn to storytelling and can't remember a time when she wasn’t creating a story in her head. Her early stories were adventures with fairies and dragons and sword swinging princesses.
Today she continues to spin tales of magic in lands near and far, while her cat sits on the edge of her desk and supervises. When she’s not writing, you can find her pretending to be other people with her local community theatre groups.

Connect with Melanie:
Facebook / Twitter / goodreads / Melanie Card.com

AAD Author Spotlight with Stacey Kennedy

Please join me in welcoming author Stacey knnedy to For What It’s Worth as part of my AAD Author Spotlight series.

Karen: Hi Stacey! Welcome to For What It's Worth.

Stacey: Thank you for having me!

K: Tell us a little about yourself and your books.
S: I love paranormal romance/urban fantasy and erotic romance, and love a series more. Nothing can hook me in more than an adventure and one that keeps on going. I love a page turner, one that keeps me up late into the night and makes my eyes burn because I can’t stop reading.

Witty characters, dominant men, danger, action, romance and hot sex―oh my!

My urban fantasy romance novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll find fast paced action, emotions we can all relate to, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed.

My erotic romance novels are just that…erotic. There is nothing better than taking the dominant men I love and watching them do wicked things to their women. I make the stories as hot as I possibly can and usually the characters take it a step further to even make my cheeks blush. But I just can’t write without a little humor added into the mix so that’s always a must have in my stories. And of course what’s a story without a big dose of emotional characters, too.




K: The main character, Tess, from your Frostbite series can see ghosts and help them pass over. Is this a talent you would like to have? Do you think you would help them or try to avoid them as Tess does with Kipp in the beginning? (although Kipp is rather hard to ignore!)

S: Heck no! I’m such a chicken when it comes to the supernatural. Sure, I find it so interesting, which is exactly why I write about it. But you’d never catch me joining in on a ghost hunt. I’m perfectly content with watching television shows like Ghost Hunters where I’m safe and not actually searching for ghosts in the dark.

But I suppose if I had the talent, then I would help them. I can, though, understand Tess’s frustration. I think it would take a while to get used to such an ability, and furthermore I would find it annoying if I never had a moment to myself. Plus, it wouldn’t be much fun for everyone to think you’re crazy if they see you talking to yourself!

K: Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you follow before writing?

S: I need coffee! It’s as simple as that. I cannot write a word if I don’t have a coffee next to me. It gives me an extra bit of oomph in my energy levels, and it’s a great way to take a break if I need to think something over.

K: What are you most looking forward to at AAD in August? Have you been to NOLA before?

S: I’ve never been to NOLA, and that’s what makes me most excited. When I was deciding what conference to go to this year, hearing that AAD was in NOLA was one of the reasons I picked it. I’ve always wanted to go to NOLA. Add that to how much fun it’s going to be, and it wasn’t a hard decision.

I’m really looking forward to meeting everything face-to-face that I’ve gotten to know through Twitter and Facebook. But I’m also pretty darn excited about all the events AAD has planned. It’s going to be a blast!!

K: Who are your favorite authors? Is there one that has influenced or encouraged your writing?

I’m a huge fan of Keri Arthur, Jeaniene Frost, and Katie MacAlister. They’ve all influenced my writing because it was their books that hooked me on urban fantasy romance. If it hadn’t been for them, I never would’ve fallen head-over-heels for the genre, and am now addicted to it!

K: Can you give us a little sneak peek at what's in store for Tess & Kipp in Demonically Tempted (Frostbite book 2)?

Tess & Kipp’s next journey, Demonically Tempted released on April 13th! And I suppose the most important thing I can say about their second book is that Tess will get answers that she’s been longing for. But just because she has found answers doesn’t mean a whole new set don’t rise.
This book was always planned to be a transition book. It’s stepping deeper into the paranormal elements, and is full of tension. There is a huge cliffhanger at the end of this book, which leads into the third book, MYSTICALLY BOUND, which releases in Fall 2012. And that book has always been the one that I’ve been dying to write. So, I cannot wait to get started on it!

For now, here’s a look at Demonically Tempted!

Tess Jennings, now a member of the Memphis Police Department, is on her first cold case. The suspected suicide of Lizbeth Knapp ten years ago isn’t a theory her family accepts—they believe she was murdered.

But the case is only one of Tess’s worries. Ghosts are talking, and word of her abilities rapidly spreads. A dark ghost is terrifying the spirits of Memphis, and she must force the entity to cross over.
Tess doesn’t have to do this alone. Not only does she have her ghost-lover, Kipp McGowen, but the department has brought in a medium. Dane Wolfe might answer all her questions, but he also brings a world of trouble. Will Tess finally have all she’s ever wanted, or will everything she’s vowed to protect be ripped away?

EXCERPT & BUY LINK - Demonically Tempted

Website | Blog | Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page


Stacey Kennedy’s novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart-squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and they even give you a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you’ll also find fast-paced action, life-threatening moments and a big bad villain who needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance eBooks bestseller lists.
Stacey welcomes comments from readers. You can find her at www.staceykennedy.com.
Thank you Stacey!

AAD Author Spotlight with Cynthia Eden & ARC Giveaway!

Please join me in welcoming one of my favorite authors to the blog today! Cynthia Eden writes steamy paranormal romance with sexy shifters, vampires, demons and fallen angels as well as romantic suspense stories. I had a chance to meet Cynthia at a book singing and she is just THE nicest person. PLUS she brings chocolate to her signings!

**Winner of the ARC of Angel Betrayed is CYP @ Bookalicious Story!

Take it away Cynthia……

Hi, everyone!! I’m so excited to be chatting with you about New Orleans today (a big thanks to Karen for inviting me over).

The first time I visited New Orleans, I was nine years old. And, yes, at age nine, I became addicted to the city. ;)

There’s just a special feeling in New Orleans, an energy that seems to throb in the air. The jazz music drifts on the breeze, the scent of beignets teases your nose, and, if you look closely enough, you just might find a few ghosts looking back at you. Ah, New Orleans! Love!

So I wanted to share a few of my “Must-Do” spots in New Orleans with you.

First up…okay, this is obvious, but you should NEVER visit New Orleans without getting beignets.  Go to Café du Monde, sit yourself down, get a cheap plate of beignets, and let that powdered sugar cover you. Trust me, you won’t regret the indulgence. 

Next…Jackson Square.  (The Square is right in front of St. Louis Cathedral, another must-see stop for me). I love the Square because on its exterior, you will find dozens of street artists, performers, and fortune tellers. For $15, you can get tarot cards read, you can have a psychic gaze into your future, and you can find out just what good things might be waiting for you.  Then you can stroll over to the Cathedral and see the beauty inside or you can take a stroll down Pirate’s Alley and imagine what life was like 100 years ago…

Ready for a scare? On the next stop, be sure that you don’t travel alone. Actually, I’ll just go ahead and say, for safety’s sake, I don’t think anyone should ever visit one of the cemeteries in New Orleans without companions. So—go with buddies and have a group scare.  I’d start with the St. Louis Cemetery (this is where you can find Marie Laveau’s tomb—ahem—is she actually in there? Not according to locals, but that’s a story for another time).  Travel inside the cemetery and you’re bound to get some good inspiration. Well, I do, anyway.

I used all of these New Orleans scenes in my Fallen books for Kensington Brava. I was so excited to have the chance to write about the city that I love so much! And, hey, how about a giveaway?  I’ll give one commenter an ARC of my July 2012 release, ANGEL BETRAYED (featuring all of these New Orleans scenes). To win, just tell me why you’d like to visit New Orleans.

*Answer Cynthia’s question with your email or twitter handle in the comment section by Sunday April 22 11:59pm EST. I’ll pick a winner Monday April 23rd. Open internationally.

Thanks for checking out my post!
Best,
Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
ANGEL BETRAYED—06/26/12
When you betray an angel, there’s hell to pay…

Description - Angel Betrayed: Sammael–call him Sam–was an angel once. An Angel of Death. But the dispassionate, watch-from-above thing just wasn’t working for him when it meant watching evil torture innocent souls day in and day out. It might have cost him his wings, but these days he gets to apply the direct method on the bad guys. Problem is, what’s making his life difficult is a bad girl…

Seline O’Shaw needs protection, and with the hounds of hell on her tail, she’s not going to quibble too hard about where she gets it. Sam’s virtue is questionable, but he’s smoking hot, massively powerful, and owes her a favor. So what if she’s getting a little case of angel lust? There are some damn deadly sins after her hide…

Karen: Thank you Cynthia. AAD will be my first time visiting NOLA and I can’t wait to check out all the places you mentioned, especially Café do Monde for beignets. I can’t believe I’ve never had one.

AAD Spotlight: L.A. Witt

Please join me in welcoming author L.A. Witt / Lauren Gallagher to For What It’s Worth as part of my AAD Author Spotlight series.

Describe yourself Twitter style - 140 characters. Abnormal romance author with two pen names and way too many voices in my head.

Use the same format to describe your writing or your latest book. Brainstorm. Outline. Write. Re-outline. Write. Re-outline. Write. Scream. Finish. Edit. Submit. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you follow before writing? Not really, but I do have a hard time getting into my groove if I haven't checked my favorite blogs/websites, don't have my cat on my desk, or don't have my drink handy.

Do you have a favorite snack that you need to have around while writing? Bottled water. Otherwise I'll just munch incessantly, which doesn't help with my attempts to lose weight.

What are you most looking forward to at AAD in August? Hanging out with authors and meeting readers!

Is there a book you've recently read that you would tell everyone to go out and buy right NOW! I am actually woefully behind on my TBR pile right  now, and have mostly been reading Margaret Atwood lately. So...anything by Margaret Atwood!

Thank you for stopping by today! Can't wait for everyone to finally meet in August!

About the author: My real name is Lori A. Witt.  I was born and raised in Seattle, spent five years in Norfolk, Virginia, then moved to Okinawa, Japan, at the end of 2008, where I currently live with my husband and two cats.  In late 2011, we relocated back to the States to spend three years in Nebraska.
author website

Latest releases:

For the Living by L.A. Witt amazon | goodreads
What this Woman Wants by Lauren Gallagher amazon | goodreads

AAD Author Spotlight–Abigail Barnette & Giveaway!

Please join me in welcoming Abigail Barnette, author of Wolf’s Honor, to For What It’s Worth as part of my AAD Author Spotlight series.

Welcome Abigail!

Describe yourself -Twitter style in 140 characters. (feel free to use Twitlonger :-) ) At first I though this said, "Describe your twitter style," and I put, "I make poor decisions." Describing myself twitter style, though... "Author. Lover. Pirate. Part time tuba enthusiast. Jack of all trades, master of none. Fond of Skittles and Danny Trejo."

Use the same format to describe your writing or your latest book. "Noble werewolf breaks his code of honor to protect a human woman. They fall in love. Thirteenth century setting, historical werewolves."

Do you have any superstitions or rituals that you follow before writing? I don't have any superstitions, really, but I do tend to turn off or severely limit my access to the internet when I have to be serious business about writing. I have this horrible tendency to go, "Wait, I should research what kind of shirt he would be wearing," and from there I go, "Well, since I'm online, I'll just check Twitter," and then I end up at Cracked.com reading all day.

Karen: checks Cracked.com…….doesn’t return to finish formatting this post for 1/2 hour……

Do you have a favorite snack that you need to have around? I'm actually losing weight, so I've cut the snacking. I drink a ton of water, though.

What are you most looking forward to at AAD in August? Seeing all my awesome AAD friends. When you see people only once a year, you really look forward to seeing them again. Also, the bad ass karaoke party we're throwing Saturday afternoon for Resplendence Press. Everyone better be there, it's not to be missed!

Is there a book you've recently read that you would tell everyone to go out and buy right NOW! Right now I'm on a huge Robyn Carr kick. I worship her. I'm reading Forbidden Falls at the moment, and it's another winner. I don't care if you hate contemporary romance, if you miss out on Virgin River, you're just missing out on what is possibly the best romance has to offer right now. Someone gave me the first book in the series, I was like, "Oh, good, a Marine. And a baby. And a midwife. And a small town. It's like someone combined everything I hate in a romance and forced them into one book." And then I had to eat my words, because I loved it, and have loved every single book in the series since. She makes the characters so incredibly real.

You can find Abigail on her website or writing as Jennifer Armintrout author of the USA Today bestselling Blood Ties series on website | twitter

Abigail is giving away one e-book copy of her latest release Wolf’s Honor releasing on April 11, 2012 from Resplendence Press.


A low-born, half-breed who is more human than wolf, Henry Barley has never been able to ignore the cruelties visited upon the human servants at Blackens Gate. Powerless to stop the abuses perpetrated by his clan members, he knows he can save one… but rescuing her might test his vow to never love a human.
At first viewing Blackens Gate as an escape from the poverty of her village, Ursula finds a much harsher reality inside the castle’s walls. With a secret she must guard at all costs, she must place her life in the hands of a wolf, and the only man who has ever treated her with kindness and respect.
Though he owes the ruler of Blackens Gate his very life, Henry cannot leave Ursula to her dark fate. In accepting his help, Ursula places her trust in a man she knows she should fear, and Henry must face a foe even greater than Lord Canis himself – a woman who needs him, and who may even come to love him.


GIVEAWAY!

You must be 18 to enter – leave your name and email or twitter handle to contact you if you win in the comments section below.

Giveaway ends Friday April 14th at 11:59 pm EST