RT Recap Day 2 - Catching Up with Friends

On Tuesday morning, I enjoyed breakfast with Rae Latte, a book blogger in the Washington, DC, area.  Check out her blog at this link. We chatted about her first RT convention last year in Las Vegas ... and what she expected this year in Atlanta. I loved her enthusiasm for all things romance!

I later met KC Bateman (link) for morning coffee.  KC is a British ex-pat now living in the US ... and writing historical romance.  She charmed me with tales from her alter ego as a fine arts appraiser and on screen antique expert for British reality television shows.

I lunched with my roommate, Danielle Gorman, a book blogger who created Ramblings From This Chick (link). She is also an author assistant at Author's Pal (link) - an assistant I recommend!  After lunch, we took the skywalk to the Marriott ... where scenes from the second Hunger Games movie were filmed.

We joined the growing crowd for the first workshop of the week - RT Advantage with Liz Berry, cofounder of 1001 Dark Knights (link). Liz was spot on with her advice for authors - published and aspiring - to make the most of the RT Booklovers Convention. Thanks, Liz, for your guidance!

After hobnobbing in the lobby, I walked over to the Hard Rock Cafe with my sisters in arms - Navy surgeon Tamara W. and Air Force Veteran Julie Day (link).  I was among those who are good with their hands!  Multi-genre author Sara Humphreys (link) stopped by our table to chat.

For this week of recaps, I am giving away a sampling of books and swag from RT. To enter the giveaway,

1. Have you visited any movie or TV locations? Naturally, I toured several locations for Hawaii Five O. And H50 came to Hickam AFB multiple times ... I even spotted LL Cool J at this link for a crossover episode with NCIS: LA.

2. Comments are open through Monday, May 15, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 16.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Atlanta Marriott 

Aloha to Sara Humphreys and TROUBLE WALKS IN (McGuire Brothers No. 2)

Reminder - I have a special giveaway for July at this link.

He could be the man to rescue her

Big city K-9 cop Ronan McGuire loves women, loves his dog, loves his job—but when old flame Maddy Morgan moves into his jurisdiction, he can’t think about anyone else. Ronan knows she’s way out of his league, but he’s determined to help Maddy live life to the fullest.

In more ways than one

With tragedy in her past, Maddy has immersed herself in work and swiftly made a name for herself in the hot New York City real estate market. She’s looking for safety, not love, but Ronan McGuire is as persistent as he is sexy, and his crooked smile is hard to resist. But all other concerns are wiped away when Maddy goes missing and Ronan and his bloodhound K-9 partner are tasked with finding her and bringing her home.

Sara Humphreys is the award-winning author of two paranormal romance series. The McGuire Brothers series is her first foray into contemporary romance, and the first in the series is an RT Book Reviews Top Pick. A public speaker and public speaker trainer, Sara lives with her husband and four sons in Bronxville, New York. 

Learn more about Sara and her books at novelromance.net.

Alternate cover for 

Brave The Heat (Book 1)

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Aloha to Sara Humphreys and BRAVE THE HEAT

 

Men in Uniform by Sara Humphreys

Who loves a man in uniform? ME!!! I also love a band of brothers and that’s why I simply had to write The McGuire Brothers series. These five sexy bros are all men in uniform and they are as devoted to each other as they are to their jobs. When the guys introduced themselves to me (I know that sounds weird but that’s kind of how it feels when the characters come to life in my head) one of the first things they told me about themselves was which uniform they wore.

Gavin, the hero in Brave the Heat is the oldest and the fire chief in their hometown. Ronan, the second born, is a K9 officer in New York City and a die-hard ladies man. His longest relationship, outside of his family, is with his partner, a bloodhound named Bowser. Tristan is the middle son, and admitted bad-boy. A former Navy SEAL, he is now freelancing as a gun for hire and bodyguard. The twins, Finn and Dillon, are the youngest of the bunch. Finn is an armed first responder in Miami and Dillon is an Air Force pilot but is on leave due to PTSD.

What I love most about these heroes—and all men in uniform—is their unwavering commitment, fiercely protective nature, and a clear sense of right and wrong. They are devoted to family and their mission—whatever that may be. All uniforms are sexy, except for maybe the UPS or mailman gear. If you find a hot mailman or UPS guy…please share.

To celebrate the release of my McGuire Brother series, I’m here to count down my fave men in uniform from movies and television:

1. Chris Pine in Star Trek: The reboot of Star Trek is probably the best example of re-casting ever! Pine does Captain Kirk proud and looks fine in his Star Fleet uniform.

2. Don Johnson in Miami Vice: A throwback, I’ll admit but don’t lie…you loved him in those white linen pants and the big shouldered blazer. The music? You’re hearing it right now, aren’t you?

3. Erik Estrada in CHiPs: Another oldie but goodie. Something about a man on a motorcycle…and those sunglasses.

4. Bradley Cooper in American Sniper: Not only an incredible performance but he filled out those fatigues nicely.

5. Chris Kyle in real life. A true American hero. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Gavin, and all of the McGuire brothers, wear their uniforms proudly and like most men in service, they are as devoted to their families as they are to their duties. I think it’s that quality which stands out above all the rest—devotion. Isn’t that what all of us want? We want to be loved, cherished, and protected and no one does that better than a man in uniform.

The only fire he can't put out...

Jordan McKenna is back in town, and Fire Chief Gavin Maguire's feelings when he sees her after all these years are as raw as the day she left. Then he was just a kid wearing his heart on his sleeve. Now he spends every day trying to atone for the tragedy he couldn't prevent.

Is the torch he carries for her

Jordan's life has not exactly worked out the way she expected. A divorced mother of two with a failed acting career, Jordan's biggest concern about coming back to Old Brookfield was seeing her first love. But when a series of suspicious fires breaks out, Jordan and Gavin realize that dealing with the sparks between them may be the least dangerous of their problems.

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

iBooks

Sara Humphreys is the award winning author of the Amoveo Legend series. The third book in the series, UNTAMED, won two PRISM awards--Dark Paranormal and Best of the Best. The first two novels from her Dead in the City series have been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award. Sara was also a professional actress. Some of her television credits include, A&E Biography, Guiding Light, Another World, As the World Turns and Rescue Me.

She loves writing hot heroes and heroines with moxie but above all, Sara adores a satisfying happily-ever-after. She lives in New York with Mr. H., their four amazing sons, and two adorable pups. When she's not writing or hanging out with the men in her life, she can be found working out with Shaun T in her living room or chatting with readers on Facebook.

sarahumphreys.com

facebook.com/sarahumphreysauthor
twitter.com/authorsara
Goodreads

Sourcebooks is hosting a special giveaway at this link.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Kim's picture of FDNY

Celebrate Little Victories - Liberty States Fiction Writers' Create Something Magical Conference

Last weekend, I took the train to New Jersey for the Liberty States Fiction Writers (LSFW) Create Something Magical Conference.   The two and half hour train ride was a wise decision as Mother Nature decided to celebrate the Spring with snow.  It was beautiful to watch the countryside blanketed in white fluff ... and I was thankful that I was not driving in it.

Upon arrival at the conference hotel, I took a quick nap before joining Kimberly Rocha from Book Obsessed Chicks.  She coordinated a big table for readers, bloggers, and authors at the Kona Grill ... gotta love the restaurant name!   Kimberly is an enthusiastic blogger who brings the romance community together ... I enjoyed meeting three readers and one aspiring author new to me.  I also chatted with Wendy LaCapra, who is celebrating her debut release, LADY VICE.

Chocolate Dessert

On Saturday morning, I played Scattergories with Jennifer L Armentrout, Cat Johnson, and Elisabeth Staab - my team came in second place with our ability to list many places starting with the letter N.   

Sylvia Day  gave an inspirational speech during lunch, noting that our fear holds us back from success.   During lunch, I sat next to Ruth A Casie - I enjoyed stories from her world travels. 

Following lunch, Sylvia hosted a cozy chat with readers.   I asked her to share what she learned as an Army linguist that helped her with her writing career.  Sylvia answered, "Teamwork".  Thank you, Sylvia, for your service!  

I also attended the Reader/Author mixer, giving readers the opportunity to meet authors and complete a "scavenger hunt" of sorts.  During the mixer, I chatted with Holly Bush - a historical author new to me.  And ... I won a Kindle Fire XD! 

We ended the day with a dance party hosted by Kimberly ... Damon Suede is the Dancing King! 

On Sunday morning, I attended Family Feud with Damon, Sara Humphreys, and Judi Fennell.  I left Damon speechless with my answer to one question ... you'll just have to ask him! The conference ended with a pizza party and fond memories of Romanceland.

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

1.  Leave a comment about your favorite "game" - Scattagories?  Jeopardy?  Family Feud?  Something else?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 4, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 5.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

Blue Hawaiian

Aloha to Sara Humphreys and VAMPIRES NEVER CRY WOLF

 

Vampires are nothing but trouble…

As far as beautiful vampire Sadie Pemberton is concerned, werewolves shouldn’t be sticking their noses into New York’s supernatural politics. They don’t know jack about running a city—not even that hot-as-sin new vampire-werewolf liaison who’s just arrived in town.

Werewolves are too sexy for their own good…

The last thing Killian Bane wanted was to end up in New York City playing nice with vampires. Unfortunately, he’s on a mission, and when he encounters the sexiest, most stubborn female vamp he’s ever met, he’s going to have to turn on a little of that wolfish charm…and Sadie’s going to learn a thing or two about what it means to have a wild side…

Goodreads link
Amazon: link
Barnes and Noble: link
iBooks: link

Sara Humphreys has been attracted to the fantasies of science fiction, paranormal, and romance since her adolescence when she had a mad crush on Captain Kirk. An actress and public speaker, Sara lives in Bronxville, New York with her husband, who is very considerate of her double life, and four amazing boys.

sarahumphreys.com
facebook.com/sarahumphreysauthor
twitter.com/authorsara
pinterest.com/authorsara

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Sara offers an excerpt from VAMPIRES NEVER CRY WOLF ... 

Sadie forced herself to look Killian in the face, and the instant she did, she knew it was a colossal mistake. His eyes looked like pools of liquid gold, and she could swear he saw straight through to her very soul. A growl rumbled in his chest and Sadie gasped. His eyes flickered and shifted into the glowing amber eyes of his wolf. The sudden and instinctive change was a glaring reminder of who he was…who they both were.

In a remarkably steady voice, Sadie whispered, “Last night should never have happened.”

“The only thing about last night that shouldn’t have happened was the way it ended,” Killian rasped.

Sadie stilled when his large hand cradled her cheek. Despite her best efforts to resist him, her body quivered uncontrollably as he surrounded her in every way a person could be surrounded. When the heat of his palm seared against her skin, a needy moan escaped her lips. She sagged against the stack of boxes. Desire curled inside her like smoke, and regardless of the litany of warnings that ran through her head, Sadie’s hands found their way to the front of Killian’s shirt. She grasped the fabric, still warm from the heat of his body, and pulled him closer. The evidence of his desire pressed against her hip, and images of him in all his naked glory came roaring back into her mind. Sweet Jesus, the man had a body that looked like it had been hand carved by the gods themselves.

“Is that so?” Sadie pulled his shirt loose from his jeans and slipped her fingers underneath before trailing them along the hard planes of his stomach. Arching one eyebrow, she held his heavy-lidded gaze and unsheathed her fangs. “How do you suppose it should have ended?”

“The same way it should end every night from now on,” he growled. Killian slid both hands into her long hair. Sadie shivered when his fingertips grazed her scalp. He pressed his hips against her before slipping his thigh between her legs. Sadie gasped with pleasure as he put pressure on just the right spot, and when a moan escaped her parted lips, a cocky grin emerged on his. Killian tightened his grip on her hair and leaned in so his mouth was just a breath away. “Every single night should end with me buried deep inside you.”

Aloha to Sara Humphreys and VAMPIRE TROUBLE

Aloha!  RWA wiped me out and I experienced schedule trouble. I apologize to Sara Humphreys and Sourcebooks for the delay in posting this interview.   It is my privilege to host Sara - author extraordinaire and fitness motivator to celebrate the release of VAMPIRE TROUBLE, Book 2 in her Dead in the City series:

A fledgling vampire ignites a war...

Maya remembers the last moments of her life as a human with haunting clarity, and every man she meets pays the price...until Shane. Finding herself in the middle of a bloody fight between vampires and werewolves, Maya has no choice but to let the devastatingly sexy vampire guard get close to her.

And that’s not all that heats up...

Shane Quesada, a four-century-old vampire sentry, is known for his cold, unemotional precision, but once Maya begins to invade his dreams, his world is changed forever. His job to protect her is swiftly replaced by the all-consuming need to claim her as his own.

Amazon
Apple iBooks
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository
Books a Million
Google Books
IndieBound
Indigo

Sara (middle) with fans at RT14 in NOLA.

Kim:  So great to see you at RT in NOLA. What did you learn from this fan-intense experience?

Sara:  Lots of stuff!!!

1. Wear comfortable shoes.

2. Get ready to give lots of hugs.

3. Romance readers are THE BEST ever!

Kim:  Let's chat about your childhood crush on Captain Kirk. What would he think of the war between vampires and werewolves?

Sara:  Kirk would be on the lookout for the hottest vampire chick and sexiest werewolf lady he could find. He might be a Captain but he's the horniest guy in the universe.

Kim:  What inspired the world you created in VAMPIRE TROUBLE?

Sara:  I love New York City and on more than one occasion I've wondered what secrets it holds in all those dark corners. It's a gritty, sultry, sexy, decadent, and mysterious city. What better place to host a coven of vampires? If I were a vampire, that's where I'd want to live. A vamp could walk the city streets at night and nobody would give them a second glance. It's the perfect place for a vampire to blend in.

Kim:  What's next for Sara Humphreys?

Sara:  In February I'll have a new Amoveo Legend novella called UNBOUND and then in March the 3rd Dead in the City novel will be out. VAMPIRES NEVER CRY WOLF is Sadie's story and she hooks up with a certain werewolf prince. Then in July my first contemporary romance will be released. BRAVE THE HEAT is the 1st book in The McGuire Brothers series and I am so excited for readers to get Gavin's story...and his brothers. Did I mention they're all men in uniform?

Sara at the RWA14 Literacy Signing

I also chatted with Sara at RWA and look forward to seeing her at Hallowread (link) in Ellicott City ... practically in my backyard!  Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of VAMPIRE TROUBLE to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,

1.  Are you a fan of Captain Kirk or other characters from STAR TREK - past or present versions?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 16, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 17.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Sara and her books at novelromance.net.

Aloha to Sara Humphreys, VAMPIRE TROUBLE, and Dead in the City Cocktail Contest

To celebrate the recent release of Sara Humphreys’ latest Dead in the City title, VAMPIRE TROUBLE, Sourcebooks is holding a contest to create the official Dead in the City series cocktail!

Before Monday, July 28, 2014, we’re asking readers to submit their unique cocktail recipe to Casablanca@sourcebooks.com for a chance to have their creation named the official Dead in the City cocktail and have it featured in Sara’s next Dead in the City title, VAMPIRES NEVER CRY WOLF (March 2015). Sara will announce the winner in a video where she makes the drink!

Everyone who sends Sourcebooks their recipe will also be entered in a random drawing to win a Dead in the City themed prize pack including martini glasses, drink supplies, and other sweet treats!

Be sure to follow Sara Humphreys on Facebook, Twitter, and her Website for more details on her latest release, VAMPIRE TROUBLE, including exclusives of her fabulous paranormal romances!

What's your favorite cocktail?  Back in college, I loved Long Island Iced Tea.   Today, I'm happy with a Mai Tai!  One randomly selected commenter wins a book choice from my convention stash, including several Sourcebooks titles.  Comments are open through Saturday, July 12, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 13.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

 

Aloha to Sara Humphreys and VAMPIRE TROUBLE

Sara Humphreys had no trouble motivating romance readers to join her for early morning exercise during the RT Booklovers' Convention - the dedicated group met atop the Marriott Hotel for T25 workout.  They seemed to have an extra spring in their steps during the convention.

Sara made exercise look so easy ... and reading vampires is also easy with her Dead in the City Series.   Sara is getting ready for the launch of Book 2, VAMPIRE TROUBLE, available July 1 from Sourcebooks Casablanca:

A fledgling vampire ignites a war...

Maya remembers the last moments of her life as a human with haunting clarity, and every man she meets pays the price...until Shane. Finding herself in the middle of a bloody fight between vampires and werewolves, Maya has no choice but to let the devastatingly sexy vampire guard get close to her.

And that's not all that heats up...

Shane Quesada, a four-century-old vampire sentry, is known for his cold, unemotional precision, but once Maya begins to invade his dreams, his world is changed forever. His job to protect her is swiftly replaced by the all-consuming need to claim her as his own.

Praise for Tall, Dark, and Vampire:

"Shines with fascinating new characters... from the very talented Humphreys!" —RT Book Reviews, 4½ Stars, Top Pick of the Month

"Laughter, action and a steamy love story." —Long and Short Reviews

"Riveting, outstandingly written... A must read for all vampire lovers." —Bitten by Love Reviews

"Engaging... Humphreys skillfully blends intrigue and romance." —Publishers Weekly

Sara (middle) at RT's Sock Hop

Sourcebooks Casablanca is offering a pre order gift ...

Send proof of your pre-order of Vampire Trouble by Sara Humphreys (PUBLICATION DATE: July 1 2014) and we’ll send you a special Dead in the City bookmark and an “I <3 amps="" button="" font="">

We’ll send these gifts to anyone who shows us their pre-order receipt until June 30th, or supplies run out. Just email your receipt to casablanca@sourcebooks.com.

Additionally, everyone who sends us their proof of pre-order will also be entered in a random drawing to win three necklaces just like the one Maya wears in Vampire Trouble. These necklaces will be given away as the preorders hit the 250, 750, and 1,000 preorder mark!

And if preorders hit the 2,000 mark, then one lucky entrant will receive a $200 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Be sure to follow Sara Humphreys on Facebook, Twitter, and her Website for more details leading up to the release ofVampire Trouble, including more exclusives, and MUCH MORE of her fabulous paranormal romances!

The winners of the jewelry will be announced on Sara Humphreys’ Facebook page as we hit each threshold – so stay tuned!

To whet your appetite for VAMPIRE TROUBLE, Sourcebooks Casablanca is giving away a print copy of Book 1, TALL, DARK, AND VAMPIRE, to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  When you think of vampires, what comes to mind?   

I think of Count Chocula cereal (obviously my mind is set on eating, not exercising).

2.  Sourcebooks' giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, June 21, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Coming next year ....