Saturday, October 31, 2015

Aloha to Books I'm Grateful I Read - Giveaway Hop with Jill Marie Landis and the Tiki Goddess Mystery Series


Valerie from Stuck In Books is hosting an appropriate blog hop for November - Books I'm Grateful I Read!  I am grateful for every book ... for the escapism ... for the hope ... and for the connection to talented women - authors, publishers, bloggers, and readers.

Keeping with the theme, I am grateful for Jill Marie Landis' Tiki Goddess mystery series.  From TheTikiGoddess.com

Somewhere on the North Shore of Kauai near the end of the road you’ll find THE TIKI GODDESS BAR, famous for exotic tropical concoctions by Uncle Louie Marshall, mixologist extraordinaire. There’s a legend behind every drink and each and every one has been approved by a taste testing parrot named David Letterman. Two-for- one Mai Tai Night really packs ‘em in.

As tourists rub shoulders with locals and celebs, the surf hits the beach with a hypnotic rhythm matched only by the beat of exotic drums and the hum of ukulele music floating on the trade winds.

Who knew murder and mayhem existed in paradise?

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Jill Marie Landis lives on Kaua'i and recreates the Aloha Spirit in these cozy mysteries with a colorful cast of characters who represent the welcoming people from Hawaii.  

Here's my own blurb - 
Set on Kauai, a California divorcee relocates to the North Shore to save her uncle (from fortune hunters), the Tiki Goddess bar (from going under), and the Hula Maidens (from themselves).  Laugh out loud comedy true to the spirit of the Garden Isle.

MAI TAI ONE ON, review link

TWO TO MANGO, review link

THREE TO GET LEI'D, blurb link

TOO HOT FOUR HULA, review link

Mahalo, Jill Marie, for sharing the Aloha Spirit with readers!

Oahu chief giving thanks (makahiki)


I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about a book you are grateful to have read.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 14, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 15.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Follow along the blog hop (and giveaways) at this link.







Friday, October 30, 2015

Aloha to Laura Trentham and AN INDECENT INVITATION - Book Review

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Keeping her safe is difficult, keeping a proper distance from her is downright impossible.

Lady Lily Drummond understands only too well the danger of spy work. Her father, a preeminent master spy, has been missing for months, and her brother barely survived his final mission for the Crown. Lily is still determined to help find her father, no matter how hard her brother and his best friend try to keep her in the dark.

Busy trying to untangle the web of deceit surrounding the Earl of Windor’s disappearance, Crown spy Gray Masterson also has to ensure Lily Drummond, the gangly, awkward child who was his constant shadow growing up, doesn’t get herself ruined at her London debut. But the girl with scraped knees and elbows has evolved into a lush, sensual beauty surrounded by a bevy of suitors.

Realizing Lily is going to investigate on her own if he doesn’t let her join the hunt for her missing father, Gray assumes he can give Lily a few minor tasks to pacify her, but he quickly learns she is a valuable asset. Moreover, she fairly crackles with life and warmth—things he craves after his dark years in service.

Warning: This book contains spies, scandals, naughty liaisons in houses of ill repute, men who think they know everything and women who know they do not.


BBCs' mini series of Pride and Prejudice 

Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies. - Jane Austen


Gray Masterson spies a beautiful woman at a London ball, forgoing his task for the evening - make sure his best friend's younger sister is staying out of trouble.  He is surprised to learn the beautiful woman is the gangly girl from his childhood.  No matter what Lady Lily Drummond looks like, she is still stubborn.  Gray must persuade her to abandon her efforts to find her father.  He must keep Lily safe ... and Lily from distracting him from his own investigation to rescue his mentor.

Trentham delivers a romantic adventure wrapped in a spy mystery in Regency England.  Lily is a smart heroine who has learned to flirt her way through London in search for her father.  Yet she has a vulnerable side, including a long standing attraction to Gray.  Gray is an honorable gentleman who can't keep his eyes (and hands) off Lily.  Together, Lily and Gray make a formidable team of friends to lovers, navigating twists in this entertaining read.  The creme de la creme is Lily's brother - the wounded warrior - who will no doubt find love in a future book.

Recommended read for fans of historical romance, spy story lines, and humor laced intrigue.

I received a print book from the author for an honest review.

More from Pride and Prejudice

I am giving away Regency swag to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Lily attends a costume ball - what would be your costume?  

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 7, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 8.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Laura and her books at lauratrentham.com.

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Coming in January 2016

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Aloha to Leigh Greenwood and FOREVER AND ALWAYS


HE KNOWS SHE CAN NEVER BE HIS...

Logan Holstock, oldest of three brothers orphaned on the Santa Fe Trail, has always been content knowing his brothers were alive and happy somewhere in the vast and brutal West—until he learns he may be dying. Certain he has little time left, Logan sets out to find them and end his days near a family he’s never known...and stumbles across a strong yet vulnerable widow who makes him yearn for what can never be his.

Logan knows he shouldn’t love Sibyl Spencer—he couldn’t bear leaving her a widow all over again. But as he finds himself drawn deeper into the lives of this small Western town, he can’t escape the longing to find peace in her arms. When he discovers that his death sentence is anything but, Logan swears he will do whatever it takes to prove himself to the woman he loves...and show he believes their love is worth fighting for. 


Leigh Greenwood is the USA Today bestselling author of the popular Seven Brides, Cowboys, and Night Riders series. The proud father of three grown children, Leigh resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. He never intended to be a writer, but he found it hard to ignore the people in his head, and the only way to get them out was to write. 

Visit him at leigh-greenwood.com.

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Sourcebooks offers an excerpt from FOREVER AND ALWAYS, The final book in the Cactus Creek Cowboys trilogy ...

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I was hoping to catch you before you left.”

“Why?”

“To tell you not to come in to work tomorrow. The swelling seems to have gone down a little, but you aren’t looking very strong.”

Something inside him gave way. It was a moment before he realized it was his resolve to keep his distance from this woman who obviously cared for him a great deal. He was sure she believed the swelling had gone down because she wanted it so badly. Knowing that removed the final barrier, and he reached out to take Sibyl’s hands. It was almost too much for his self-control when he received an answering squeeze.

“How could I have been so lucky to find someone to care as much as you and Kitty?”

“We wouldn’t care so much if you weren’t so wonderful.”

The sincerity in her voice was his undoing. Any shred of restraint vanished. Before he knew what he was doing, his arms were around Sibyl, and he was kissing her with an ardor all the more intense for having been denied so long. When he realized she was responding just as eagerly, it was nearly too much. Still, he fought to keep control. It almost wouldn’t matter if he dropped dead afterward. He would have had this one moment of indescribable happiness.

Finally, Sibyl broke the kiss. “You’ve got to take better care of yourself. You may not care what happens to you, but I care very much. Now before I say something I can’t retract, I’m going back inside.” She kissed him again—quickly this time—then turned and almost ran back around the corner of the house.

Logan was unable to move for several moments. His life had taken a turn so abrupt that it had thrown him off balance. Did Sibyl love him as much as he loved her? It seemed impossible that could be true. Still, she had responded to his kiss and kissed him again. Surely she wouldn’t have done that out of mere sympathy. The euphoria started to wear off, leaving him feeling week and shaken. Needing to sit for a few minutes, he walked over to the steps and sank down. Trusty approached and whined softly.

“I’m not going to fade out on you yet,” he told the dog. “In fact, once I get my strength back, I’m going to do everything I can to live. I might even see that doctor. I never knew holding a woman in my arms could make me feel like I’ve been half asleep for my whole life.”


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Books 1 and 2 in the series ...

Aloha to Cynthia Eden and SHATTERED

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Cynthia Eden always greets me at conventions with a big smile. She joins us for a cozy chat to celebrate the release of SHATTERED, Book Three in her LOST series ...

Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes dark tales of paranormal romance and romantic suspense. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Cynthia is also a three-time finalist for the prestigious RITA® award . Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over fifty novels and novellas.

Cynthia is a “hybrid” author. She has published extensively with New York (her New York publishers include Avon, Kensington, Grand Central, and Harlequin), and she has also enjoyed success in her indie writing career.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.


Learn more about Cynthia at cynthiaeden.com.


Kim:  Alabama! What is your favorite sight, smell, and sound of the Heart of Dixie?

Cynthia:  I love our beautiful beaches! I am just a short, thirty-minute ride from the Gulf of Mexico, and I love visiting those sandy shores. So my favorite sight would be the beach, my favorite smell would be the salty air, and my fave sound is the crashing of the waves on the shore.

Kim:  From your random facts, what's your favorite quote from the Princess Bride? Have you based any of your heroines on Lois Lane? Have any plots included spelunking?

Cynthia:  Of course, my favorite Princess Bride quote *has* to be “As you wish…” I just wish I could get my husband to tell me that in answer to everything!

The heroine of MIDNIGHT’S MASTER was a reporter who shared many Lois Lane characteristics. ;) I love a spunky reporter!!!

And I have included spelunking in a book—I couldn’t resist! In SCREAM FOR ME (romantic suspense), my villain took his victims deep into a cave. So the hero and heroine had to track him by going through a series of deep tunnels under the ground. That story gave me the chance to remind all would-be cave explorers of the caving motto… “Always carry three lights!” Because no one wants to ever be trapped in total cave darkness. (In that instance, you wouldn’t even be able to see your own hand if it was placed right before your eyes.) Sorry—I just went off on a caving tangent!

Kim:  Tell us about SHATTERED - what inspired it?


Cynthia:  I’ve written about a few serial killers in my romantic suspense novels, and when I wrote those characters, I found myself thinking…even serial killers have family. And that made me wonder…what would it be like to have a family member who was a serial killer? In SHATTERED, my heroine, Sarah Jacobs, is a profiler—she can get into the mind of a killer like no other person can. Sarah was trained to be this way—trained by her father, an infamous serial killer known as Murphy the Monster. 


Mahalo, Cynthia, for giving a glimpse of your romantic life!  I am giving away a print copy of SHATTERED to one randomly selected commenter.  

Criminal psychologist Dr. Sarah Jacobs is all too familiar with the kind of bad boys who belong behind bars. But the dark, dangerous man she meets in the New Orleans underworld is a new kind of ruthless, and all too irresistible.

Jax Fontaine doesn't claim to be a good guy, but he's loyal to his own code and brutally honest about what he wants. He and Sarah may be worlds apart, but when they're skin to skin, nothing matters but the heat between them.

And when a deranged killer targets Sarah, Jax will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.


To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Alabama - what do you know about it?  

I know the battleship USS Alabama is anchored in Mobile Bay as a memorial park at this link.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 31, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

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Other books in the LOST series ...


Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Aloha to Shannyn Schroeder and HIS WORK OF ART


Why New Adult?

By Shannyn Schroeder

I never thought I would write New Adult. When the category (genre?) popped up, it slowly gained attention until suddenly it was everywhere. People argue about what New Adult is and what it isn’t. I spent a long time thinking about it so I could try to explain what it is and how my novellas are different from my single-title contemporaries. Many people argue that NA is just Young Adult (YA) with sex. It’s not. I’ve read YA with sex. They weren’t NA.

The best way I have to explain the difference is by using two movies from the 80s (and yes, I’m showing my age). The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire both came out in 1985 and they are perfect examples of the differences between YA and NA.

The Breakfast Club (for those of you who are too young and have not experienced the great culture of the 80s) is about a group of teens who are all stuck in Saturday detention together. Each character is from a different clique within the school – the princess, the athlete, the criminal, the brain, and the basket case. The movie is about these teens and their lives, even though they never leave the school. The focus is on who they are, how they relate to their parents, and how they fit in at school. They challenge each other and the stereotypes that they embody, but they know that come Monday morning, they will go back to who they are. In the life of a teen (as I can attest to being the parent to a couple) the whole world revolves around them – or so they think.

St. Elmo’s Fire, on the other hand, follows a group of friends who have just graduated college. They, too, struggle with who they are, but it’s not their place in school, but their place in the world. They have to deal with the reality that they are adults and they have responsibilities and bills and jobs. They can’t just go sit at the bar and get drunk every night like they did for the past four years. Life is suddenly real and they aren’t sure how to handle it. They’ve come to the realization that the world does not, in fact, revolve around them. If they screw up, it’s on them to fix it. It causes a whirlwind of, “How the heck do I do this adult thing?”

I don’t think I could ever write YA. To me, adolescence isn’t fun. Mine wasn’t and I look at my kids and it still doesn’t look like fun. Sure, it has its moments, but I don’t think I could capture the voice that YA requires.

Now, NA, on the other hand … There’s something interesting and magical about that age. Stepping up and truly discovering yourself and standing on your own two feet for what might be the first time can be heady and exhilarating and scary as heck. Therein lies the draw for readers and authors of New Adult. 


HIS WORK OF ART

Reese Carter is definitely not your average college girl. She’d prefer to spend Saturday nights playing Hero’s Crusade than attending a wild frat party on campus. When she bands together with Adam, fellow comic enthusiast and illustrator, it appears that Reese has formed a dream team sure to propel her writing into the comic hall of fame.

Adam Hayes has never met a girl like Reese. She’s sassy, smart, and loves talking comics, although he can’t see why she’d choose DC over Marvel. He’s thrilled to finally put his artistic chops to use in their upcoming comic project. But this relationship is strictly professional. Or so he tells himself. When the two combine forces, they churn out magic in more ways than they had planned; they never expected to develop a steamy romantic sub-plot of their own…



Shannyn Schroeder is the author of the O’Leary series, contemporary romances centered around a large Irish-American family in Chicago and the new Hot & Nerdy series about 3 nerdy friends and their last spring break. When she’s not wrangling her three kids or writing, she watches a ton of TV and loves to bake cookies.

shannynschroeder.com
twitter.com/SSchroeder_
facebook.com/shannyn.schroeder

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Aloha to Eileen Richards and AN UNEXPECTED WISH



Isn't this a sweet cover?  Eileen Richards joins us today with a sexy guest post from an expected source ....

Having Fun with the Bible in Regency England

When I first read Song of Solomon, I was fifteen and determined to read the Bible cover to cover. What I discovered, to my delight, was poetry of sexual love. IN THE BIBLE! Who knew? Imagine my delight to find this hidden romantic gem in the Bible. It was every bit as racy as my favorite historical romance novels of the time.

I am no Biblical scholar by any stretch of the imagination, but when I needed some lines from the Bible for Vicar Cecil Worth to read to Anne Townsend in An Unexpected Wish, my memory of the sexual descriptions in Song of Solomon came back to me.

This is one of my favorite scenes in the book. Let me set it up for you. It’s Sunday morning and in true Regency style, our parishioners were sitting in their assigned seats. Our heroine, Anne, sat with her sisters on one side of the knave. Our hero, Nathaniel Matthews, sat with his grandmother in the Matthews pew near the front of the church.

Mr. Worth, while a young man, is starting to bald. He is barrel chested but still has enough of the poppycock in him to think quite highly of himself. His mother, a dour, self-righteous woman always sat in the front row. There was a rumor that she wrote his sermons because her son couldn’t be serious enough.

The service starts quite normally until Cecil Worth’s eyes met Anne’s across the church. Suddenly he opens the Bible to Song of Solomon and reads Chapter 7 from the King James Version:

How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.

3 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.

Imagine that its 1818. You are sitting in church and listening to the sermon just like every single Sunday. Then imagine that the Vicar, a rather slimy young man, focuses intently on you and reads this to you during the service.

Let’s just say that Anne made her escape from the church as quickly as she could without being scene. The scene embarrasses her but it also a catalyst for Nathaniel to wake up and see her as someone he admires. She handles herself with grace and dignity despite her embarrassment and his teasing.

Anne and Nathaniel will be tested again by the good vicar during the course of the story. But don’t worry, Cecil gets his just desserts in the end.

I hope you’ll give An Unexpected Wish a read an enjoy reading the scene as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think.



AN UEXPECTED WISH

Anne Townsend doesn’t ask for much. Plain and poor, she’d settle for the funds to put food on the table. Making a wish on the fabled Fairy Steps is hardly a solid solution, but to see her two sisters taken care of, Anne’s willing to try anything. Yet when she finds herself suddenly surrounded with suitors, romance is now a possibility for the spinster everyone always ignored except with the one man who will never want her…

Nathaniel Matthews has no time for courting. As the eldest, he has his family’s lost fortune to rebuild, and his reckless brother to manage before he gambles his future away. Odd that Nathaniel can think of little but kissing bright-eyed Anne, who seems to be fighting off admirers from all sides. Is it the country air, or is Nathaniel ready to discover that love has a magic all its own?

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBook


Eileen Richards has been writing for most of her life. Poetry, totally inappropriate answers to essay questions in school, and interesting error codes during her 30 year IT career has prepared her for the manic world of publishing.

She writes sassy regency romps set in the small villages of England where the rules are bent a bit and gossip rules the day.

Eileen resides with her husband and their diva of a greyhound in North Carolina.

facebook.com/eileenrichardsauthor 
eileenrichardsauthor.com
pinterest.com/EileenRAuthor/an-unexpected-wish

Kim's note:  Check out the Pinterest link to find out which TV star inspired the book's hero ... a personal favorite here at SOS Aloha!

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Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Aloha to Anne Barton and ONE WILD WINTER'S EVE - Launch Day Blitz


For the evening crowd ... Anne Barton is celebrating the release of ONE WILD WINTER'S EVE, Book 4 in the Honeycote Series

ONCE YOU'VE HAD A TASTE OF SCANDAL . . .

As the Duke of Huntford's sister, Lady Rose Sherbourne follows the rules of well-bred society. Always chaperoned. Never engaging in unseemly behavior. Well, except for that one summer, years ago. And yet she's never been able to forget that handsome stable master or the stolen moments they shared. She's always wondered what might have happened if he hadn't disappeared without a word . . . Now she's about to find out.

YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK

Charles Holland never expected to see Lady Rose again. And yet the years haven't lessened his devotion-or his desire-in any way. Despite their differences in class, Charles cannot stop himself from wanting to possess her. But as they uncover one intimate secret after another about her family, they realize that, this time, their love may come at a very dear price . . .


Anne Barton began swiping romance novels off her mom's bookshelf as a teenager, so when she had the chance to spend a semester in London-home to her favorite heroes-she packed her bags and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.

Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anne found her way back to writing the stories she loves and in 2011 won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® for Regency Historical Romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband (who, sadly, is not a peer of the realm-but a great guy nonetheless) and her three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. Her weaknesses include reality TV, cute-but-impractical shoes, and caffeinated beverages of all kinds.
Forever Romance offers an excerpt from ONE WILD WINTER'S EVE ...

“What are you doing?”

The voice was authoritative, rich, and deep. And hauntingly familiar.

She turned, hiding the letter behind her. She made a clumsy attempt to shove the drawer shut with her bottom but only succeeded in bumping the desk, which rocked on spindly legs. The man must be a servant. If she could manage a haughty tone, she could probably talk her way out of the situation. But she’d never been particularly good at haughty. Her face burned.

“I was looking for something.” She looked at the man, hoping he wasn’t half as intimidating as he sounded, and froze.

Dear God. It couldn’t be.

“Rose?” He blinked, clearly as stunned as she, then quickly corrected himself. “Lady Rose?”

“Charles.” The sound of his name on her lips was surreal. She’d thought that her feelings for him had withered, dried, and blown away like dead leaves.

She’d been wrong.

He was the same as she remembered—confident, solid, and steady. But he was different too. His hair had turned a darker shade of gold, and he seemed to have grown all over. His neck was thicker, his jaw stronger. He’d traded the patched trousers and threadbare shirt that he’d worn in the stables for buckskin breeches and a nicely tailored jacket, both of which showed his strong physique to advantage. But the biggest change in him was the way he looked at her.

And it nearly broke her heart.

For instead of looking happy to see her, like he was anticipating a few stolen moments of summertime bliss, he looked suspicious. The laughing amber eyes that had always welcomed her to the stable glowered, chilly and remote.

She choked out the obvious question. “What are you doing at Lady Yardley’s?”

“I could ask the same of you.” The words, formal and clipped, didn’t fit with the Charles she knew.

She raised her chin and matched her tone to his. “I’m acting as a companion to Lady Bonneville, and we’re guests of the countess.”

“You’re a companion?” He raised a brow, skeptical.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Once, she would have willingly explained everything to him. For even before she’d regained her voice, she’d shared her whole being with him—she’d been as honest and open as it was possible for her to be. But now, his question irritated her. It presumed too much—a connection, a trust, a bond.

“I don’t see where it’s any concern of yours.”

“Forgive me.” But the look he leveled at her belied his apology. It said, Fine. We can play it that way if you’d like.

Fighting the urge to shiver, she folded the letter behind her back. She felt for the drawer, slipped the note through the crack, and slid the drawer shut. “You’re no longer a stable master.” It was an idiotic thing to say, but she had to say something—anything—to fill the vast and unnatural gulf between them.

“No.” His stiff smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“And I think it’s safe to presume,” she stated saucily, “that you’re not Lady Yardley’s companion.”

“I am not.” This time, his smile was genuine.

Dangerous, that. She gripped the edge of the desk behind her to keep her knees from wobbling.

He took one step toward her. “I’m her steward.”

Ah, he’d been too busy moving up in the world to reply to her letters. She couldn’t blame him for wanting to better his station in life—that had always been his dream. Perhaps he wanted no reminders of the days he’d spent mucking out stables. But those days happened to be the ones she most treasured.

“Congratulations are in order then.”

“I’m grateful to Lady Yardley for giving me the opportunity.” He took another step toward Rose. “And I am in her debt.”

The show of loyalty to his employer stung—especially since he seemed to have forgotten the sultry summer days and the confidences they’d shared. “I’ve no doubt you’ve proven yourself worthy.”

He strode closer, till only an arm’s length separated them. His clothes might have been more refined, but the man beneath them was not. He looked like he’d be more at ease chopping wood and hammering nails outdoors than reviewing ledgers and attending to correspondence in a study. The merest shadow of a beard covered the lower half of his masculine face, but his lips, soft and full, captured her attention. She’d imagined kissing him so many times that she could almost convince herself she had.

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More books from the Honeycote series ...


Monday, October 26, 2015

Aloha to Eva Leigh, FOREVER YOUR EARL, and SCANDAL TAKES THE STAGE

 

Its Two for Tuesday with Eva Leigh!

FOREVER YOUR EARL: The Wicked Quills of London # 1

Eleanor Hawke loves a good scandal. And readers of her successful gossip rag live for the exploits of her favorite subject: Daniel Balfour, the notorious Earl of Ashford. So when the earl himself marches into her office one day and invites her to experience his illicit pursuits firsthand, Eleanor is stunned. Gambling hells, phaeton races, masquerades…What more could a scandal writer want than a secret look into the life of this devilishly handsome rake?

Daniel has secrets and if The Hawk’s Eye gets wind of them, a man’s life could be at stake. And what better way to distract a gossip than by feeding her the scandal she desperately craves? But Daniel never expected the sharp mind and biting wit of the beautiful writer, and their desire for each other threatens even his best laid plans.

But when Eleanor learns the truth of his deception, Daniel will do anything to prove a romance between a commoner and an earl could really last forever.

Buy Links: Amazon | B &N| iTunes | Kobo


SCANDAL TAKES THE STAGE: The Wicked Quills of London #2

Successful playwright Maggie Delamere has no interest in the flirtations of noblemen like Cameron, Viscount Marwood. She once paid dearly for a moment of weakness… and vows to rebuff the wildly persistent-and irritatingly handsome-scoundrel at every turn. But when pressure to deliver a new play hampers her creativity, an invitation to use his country estate as a writer’s retreat is too tempting to resist...

For years, Cam has admired Maggie’s brilliant work and he can’t pass up the opportunity to discover if the beautiful, mysterious playwright is as passionate and clever as the words that flow from her quill. He’s never offered a lady his bed without being in it, but if it means loosening Maggie’s pen-and her inhibitions-he’ll do exactly that.

But soon Cam’s plans for seduction become a fight for Maggie’s heart. He’s more than the scandalous, carefree rake society believes him to be… and she’s the only woman who has ever noticed.

Buy Links: Amazon | B &N | iTunesKobo


EVA LEIGH is the pen name of a RITA® Award-nominated romance author who writes novels chock-full of smart women and sexy men. She enjoys baking, Tweeting about boots, and listening to music from the ‘80s. Eva and her husband live in Central California.


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Avon Romance offers an excerpt from FOREVER YOUR EARL ...

Chapter One

“Though London presents itself to the world as the apotheosis of all that is moral and upstanding, it might shock our readers to learn that the appearance of virtue can be a very clever disguise. It is the opinion of this humble periodical that wickedness and deception are far more common than our readers may apprehend. Thus the necessity of this most respectful scrap of writing—that we may, through the revelation of the scandalous activities of our Town, provide necessary guidance. But leading a life of probity may be difficult, especially when presented with temptation…”

—from The Hawk’s Eye, May 2, 1816

London, 1816

A man rich in wealth and scandal walked into Eleanor Hawke's office.

Eleanor was no stranger to scandal. Anything immoral, disreputable, shocking, or titillating made its way into the pages of her newspaper—particularly if it involved the wealthy and elite of London Society. She detailed all of it for her thrice weekly publication, The Hawk's Eye. Nobody wanted to read about ordinary shopkeeper Mr. Jones who might or might not be spending time with the humdrum widow Mrs. Smith.

No, The Hawk's Eye sold strictly on the basis that it published the latest scandalous doings of Lord This and Lady That. All, of course, under the pretense of decrying the lack of morals in this fair city, and that these lurid activities ought to serve as object lessons to the young and impressionable.

And it was Eleanor's job as owner and publisher to see to the moral education of London.

Which was utter rubbish, naturally.

But scandal put bread on her table and kept the rain off her head, and she readily immersed herself in it—the spirit of free enterprise, and all that.

Still, when Daniel Balfour, the Earl of Ashford himself walked into the offices of The Hawk's Eye on a Wednesday afternoon, blocking the gray light as the door opened and closed, it was both shocking and inevitable that he should do so. Unsurprisingly, he clenched several copies of her paper in his hand.

Lord Ashford marched through the cramped warren of rooms, writers' heads lifting from where they bent over their desks to watch in open-mouthed amazement as he passed. Eleanor’s private office lay at the end of the corridor, giving her an ample view of the scene as it played out before her.

The earl stopped in front of Harry Welker's desk. The young writer stared up at the Lord Ashford, the men separated not just by the expanse of battered oak, but circumstance and birth.

“H…how might I help you, my lord?” Harry asked, his voice cracking.

“Tell me where Mister E. Hawke is.” Lord Ashford had a deep voice, rounded by generations of excellent breeding and noblesse oblige.

“Mister Hawke, my lord?” patent confusion in his voice.

Lord Ashford pointed to one of the papers he carried. “It says here that The Hawk's Eye is owned and published by one E. Hawke. Where will I find him?”

“Nowhere, my lord,” Harry answered. “There's no Mister Hawke here.”

The earl scowled, clearly not used to being denied. “This scurrilous rag cannot publish itself.”

“It doesn’t,” Eleanor announced, setting aside her quill and standing. “If you're looking for Miss Eleanor Hawke, I’m right over here.”

Lord Ashford looked directly at her, and for the first time, she had a sense of what a rabbit might feel like when sited by a wolf. But she wasn't the only one at a disadvantage. The earl couldn't hide the shock in his expression when he discovered that the publisher and owner of the paper was, in truth, a woman—which gave her a small measure of gratification.

He turned from Harry without another word and walked straight toward her. And she could only stand, pinned by his gaze, as he approached.

The closer he got, the more she realized how dangerous the earl was. Perhaps not in the traditional sense—though she'd heard and written about the duels in which he'd fought and won—but certainly in the realm of masculine allure. Her few times seeing him were from a distance: the theater, the races, at a public assembly. She knew him by sight, but he didn’t know her, and they’d never met. And in those instances her vision had been good enough to recognize that he was a fine specimen, well-formed, handsome—everything a rich and notorious nobleman should be.


Friday, October 23, 2015

Aloha to Cruising ...



I'm off to Florida for a weekend cruise to the Bahamas.  I am joining college friends who all turned 50 this year ... including moi!  Above is a picture from the ship when my teens' spring break cruise with my mother.

I will be off line 'til next Tuesday.  So I'll post the weekly winners when I return.

Meanwhile, it's RED Friday.  RED is Remember Everyone Deployed. Check out this classic post by Sharon Hamilton about RED Friday at this link.

Plus check out my "warrior" post on my travel blog, ALOHA ON THIS MIND, at this link.

Mahalo,

Kim in the Caribbean






Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Aloha to Lia Riley and BEST WORST MISTAKE

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Lia Riley is celebrating the release of  BEST WORST MISTAKE, Book 3 in her Brightwater series ...

Sometimes the worst mistakes turn out to be the best…

Smoke jumper Wilder Kane once reveled in the rush from putting out dangerous wildfires. But after a tragic accident, he’s cut himself off from the world, refusing to leave his isolated cabin. When a headstrong beauty bursts in, Wilder finds himself craving the fire she ignites in him, but letting anyone near his darkness would be a mistake.

After her Hollywood life went up in smoke, Quinn Higsby decided to leave Tinseltown behind and return to Brightwater to care for her ailing father. She spends her days in a small bookstore, until her peaceful existence is up-ended by a fascinating but damaged man. Quinn is determined not to be scared off by Wilder, not once she’s experienced the heat of his passions.

But when an arsonist targets the community and Wilder is accused, he must confront the ghosts of his past. Will his desire for Quinn burn him up or will he be able to tame the wildness inside and rekindle a hope for their future?


Lia Riley writes offbeat romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.

A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound pretty sweet.

She and her family live in Northern California.

Learn more about Lia and her books at liariley.com


Lia has also lived on Kauai, home of the Waimea Canyon (above).  I am giving away Hawaiian swag to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1.  What's the most off beat thing you have done?  My family enjoyed exploring the offbeat town of Hanapepe (link) on Kauai.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 24, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 25.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

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Wednesday's Warriors - Aloha to Sharon Hamilton and SEAL BROTHERHOOD: LUCAS (Band of Bachelors, Book 1)

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I always smile when I think of Sharon Hamilton - she's an enthusiastic supporter of military families.  She is celebrating the release of SEAL BROTHERHOOD: LUCAS, the first book in a new series, Band of Bachelors:

Special Operator Lucas Shipley thought his troubles were past him, when he discovers they've only just begun. Recently separated from his wife of five years, he gets some unwelcomed news. He thought his living arrangement, with four other separated or divorced buddies from SEAL Team 3, was temporary. Now, he understands he has to move on with his life.

Marcy Gelland is one of the smartest, most successful realtors in San Diego County. She's hired by Lucas' soon-to-be ex-wife to help her liquidate their joint holdings and help orchestrate a speedy departure from Lucas' life. Based on what Marcy's been told, Lucas deserves any amount of pain she or her client can dish out to him.

But when they are left alone together in the remote Northern California woods, they ignite a personal bonfire that threatens to burn down the whole forest. Marcy is forced to see she has been misled.

Amidst the backdrop of hardened bachelor SEALs with their unsolicited, anti-long- term relationship advice, and a criminal gang operating nearby, Lucas must do what he's always done and never gotten proper credit for: be the hero that saves the day.


Sharon Hamilton is a NYT and USAToday bestselling author most known for her SEAL Brotherhood series.

Her Golden Vampires of Tuscany are not like any vamps you've read before, since they don't have to go to ground and can walk around in the full light of the sun.

Sharon's Guardian Angels struggle with the human charges they are sent to save, often escaping their vanilla world of Heaven for the brief human one. You won't find any of these beings in any Sunday school class.

All of Sharon's books are available on eBooks (most formats), print and Audible.

A lifelong organic gardener, Sharon lives with her husband in the Wine Country of Northern California, where most of her stories take place. When she's not writing, she's getting verra verra dirty in the mud or wandering Farmer's Markets looking for new Heirloom varieties of vegetables and flowers.

Learn more about Sharon at authorsharonhamilton.com.

Sharon with her narrator JD Hart and Navy Surgeon Tamara Worlton
RT Giant Book Signing in Dallas

Sharon is giving away a special pink camo swag bag to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Sharon's home state of California - have you visited the Golden State?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 24, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 25.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Heartfelt tribute to Navy SEAL Adam Brown
Dog Beach on Hickam AFB, Hawaii

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Wednesday's Warriors - Aloha to Codi Gary and I NEED A HERO

  

Sergeant Oliver Martinez joined the military to serve his country—not plan parties. But after a run-in with his commanding officer, Oliver is suddenly responsible for the Alpha Dogs Training Program’s upcoming charity event. Worse, he’s got to work with the bossiest, sexiest woman he’s ever met—who just happens to be the general’s daughter.

When it comes to military men, Evelyn Reynolds is not interested. And with the opportunity to launch her new PR firm at the charity event, she doesn’t have time for some sexy, arrogant jerk with a hero complex. Evelyn is determined to keep things professional—if only she can ignore how Oliver’s muscles fill out a t-shirt and the infuriating way he makes her heart pound.

But when tempers flare and a scorching kiss turns into so much more, Oliver and Evelyn will have to decide if this attraction is forever…or just for now.

Amazon | B & N | GooglePlay | iTunes | Kobo



An obsessive bookworm, CODI GARY likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Codi offers an excerpt from I NEED A HERO ...

Oliver Martinez sat stiffly in the wobbly office chair, the room stifling despite the hum of the air conditioner above his head. He wasn’t usually the nervous type, being that military police didn’t allow time for panic, but facing off against General Reynolds, the man who pretty much held his career in the palm of his hand . . .

Well, he figured he had a right to sweat with the way the older man was staring him down.

“What do you have to say for yourself, Sergeant?” General Reynolds asked.

A thousand excuses ran through his mind, but none of them would appease the general, Oliver knew that. He hadn’t become an MP to be liked; even his family knew he wasn’t a people person. He was hardworking, sharp as a tack, and a mean son of a bitch when you got on his bad side—qualities that made him an excellent MP. And military police was exactly where Oliver belonged. He got to bust heads and keep order; it was structured, and there were rules. He was the good guy.

But this time, he had stepped in a big old pile of shit trying to play the hero.

“I did what I thought was right, sir,” Oliver said.

“You instigated a confrontation with a civilian that turned into an all-out bar brawl,” General Reynolds said. Although his tone and outward expression seemed calm, Oliver hadn’t missed the eye twitch on the left side of the general’s face. The man was beyond furious, and nothing Oliver did or said was going to make things better for him.

Why had he decided to go out with the guys on Friday? His buddies from group therapy, Dean Sparks and Tyler Best, had convinced him that he needed to get out and blow off some steam. He hadn’t expected to take down some rowdy kid or have the cops called on them. The civilian police had been cool, though, once he explained the situation, and as they hauled the kid off for drunk and disorderly, he’d thought that was the end of it.

Until he’d shown up for work this morning only to have Tate tell him he wasn’t on rotation and that the general wanted to see him. Oliver hadn’t had any idea what the meeting was about, but he’d never expected to get his ass chewed over something that wasn’t even his fault.

“It wasn’t a brawl, sir. I contained and subdued him too fast for that.”

Oliver regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. They sounded arrogant, and that wasn’t going to score him any points.

Especially since the civilian in question was the general’s son.

Despite knowing this, Oliver tried again to explain his side. “I just mean, and with all due respect, sir, that the civilian was drunk and harassing several women, and when I politely asked him to leave them alone, he threw the first punch.”

General Reynolds’s salt and pepper mustache twitched, and Oliver wondered for half a second if the general was messing with him and if he was secretly amused that his son had been taught a lesson in respect.

“I don’t care if he threw a hundred punches. You should not have engaged. You did not have to break his nose or sprain his wrist while you were restraining him.”

Okay, so he wasn’t amused. But no matter how angry the general might be, Oliver wasn’t going to apologize for roughing up the little punk. The kid had thrown a sucker punch that had lit fire to Oliver’s jaw, and it was still sore. And if the kid hadn’t fought him so damn hard, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt in the first place.

Would he have handled things differently if he’d known who the kid’s dad was? Maybe. But there was nothing Oliver could do about it now except take whatever punishment was meted out to him.

“It seems to me you could use a little time out of the field to learn how to channel your aggression . . . in other ways,” General Reynolds said.

Now the general was smiling, and unease swept over Oliver.

“Have you heard of the Alpha Dog Training Program?” General Reynolds asked.

“Yeah, I know a few of the guys running things,” Oliver said.

And neither Best nor Sparks had been happy about it at first. The Alpha Dog Training Program was the brainchild of some PR expert hoping to create a good public image for the military by training shelter dogs for specialty jobs like military, fire, police, search and rescue, and therapy. And if the animals-getting-a-second-chance angle didn’t just make you weepy, the dogs were being trained by troubled kids under the supervision of MPs.

It was meant as an alternative punishment for nonviolent juvenile offenders. Instead of being locked up in a detention center with months of community service tacked on top, they were sent to Alpha Dog. They shoveled shit, fed and cared for the dogs, and learned how to teach them basic obedience. The place was set up with barracks for up to twenty-five kids at a time. The goal was to give them a skill and refocus their energies. The program even helped them with job placement at several Sacramento veterinary hospitals and rescue organizations. It was a better deal than most kids in the system got.

“Well, I’m glad you’re familiar with it, because you’re going to help organize and promote their upcoming charity event,” General Reynolds said.

Oliver choked in surprise. “I don’t know anything about fundraising!”

The general’s eyes narrowed and glittered. “Well, this will give you a chance to develop a new skill.”

Oliver just sat there, weighing his options. If he pitched a fit and accused the general of abusing his power because Oliver had hurt his son’s delicate feelings, he’d be committing career suicide.

“How long will I be out of the field, sir?” he asked.

“Until I think you’re ready,” General Reynolds said.

Oliver nodded grimly. The only option open to him was to bite the bullet and do the job.

“You’ll report to the Alpha Dog Training Program today. The event coordinator will be there at eleven to give you instructions on what you’ll be doing. I do hope you take this time to learn some discipline, Sergeant Martinez.”

Fuck you.

Taking a deep breath, Oliver stood up and saluted the general. As soon as he barked, “Dismissed,” Oliver was out the door, wishing he was headed home to beat the hell out of his punching bag. This whole morning had sucked donkey nuts, and the last thing Oliver wanted to do was be around a bunch of teenagers or his friends.

Not that Best and Sparks weren’t good people, but he knew that the minute they found out about his little time-out, they were going to laugh it up.

Especially Best.