VIXEN IN VEGAS - INTERVIEW, GIVEAWAY AND SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!

       I'm so excited to have Miss Emma Nichols on my blog today, and with all the goodies in this post so will you be! ;D I absolutely love Vegas, and love a good Vixen so what could possibly be more enticing as Vixen in Vegas? Welcome Ms. Nichols, so glad you came by and I hope you'll be back soon! :) Can't wait to read this book, I'm so hyped about it!
       So ladies (and gentlemen and bad boys) check out the blurb, read the flirty interview, listen to the Spotify Playlist and visit Ms. Nichols' Twitter, GR and Facebook ( I followed! )... and participate on the awesome swag filled giveaway ( gift cards, signed books, print books, bracelets, and more! ) ! :D

"It was supposed to be a week of simply being, of living in the moment, and enjoying every minute while it lasted. Of course, that kind of intoxication can have lingering effects. For Sin, she found herself wanting to break all the rules, to extend her time with the stranger who stole her heart. Vegas was just the right kind of place to take such a gamble. Meeting up with BE at the gondolas was a risk. Love went against everything they had promised, but the best things in life can’t be planned.

Soon Alysin will be tested. 

After guarding her heart for so long, she finally let a man in and discovered that the worst things in life happened when she least expected them. When she walked in on BE with another woman and overheard their heated conversation, she suddenly remembered there was a reason she made these rules. 

Will broken rules lead to broken hearts or will she realize that though love was a gamble, she was all in?"

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What sparked your interest in becoming a romance writer?

I often joke that I became a writer of romance and erotica because it was the best way for me to parlay my passions into a career.

What was the first romance novel you read that made an impression on you?

When I was really young, I read The Thornbirds.  It was the naughtiest book I could imagine.  I remember thinking that I needed to be able to write like that.  So, that’s what I try to do.

Tell us 5 surprising things about yourself?

1.     I have a tattoo.
2.     I want more…small, sexy, meaningful.
3.     My palate has really become more sophisticated…as evidenced by my love of sushi and asparagus…sometimes even together.
4.     I think cruising is the only way to travel.
5.     For someone so intrigued by sex, I didn’t lose my virginity for a really long time.

What is your writing environment?

I write wherever I am comfortable at the moment.  It could be in the living room, lying on the bed, on the garage couch, or even the floor.  I abhor writing at desks.  It feels too much like work and I just want to have fun with it.

One of your favorite quotes.

By Mae West: You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

Do you have a website recommendation for other writers?

http://timflanaganauthor.wordpress.com

Great ideas.  I’m working to implement them…especially marketing.

Who is your perfect hero? And why?

I think the perfect hero is perfectly imperfect.  I think he has flaws, but that when he finds love, they make him more real, less god-like.  He doesn’t have to have this model-esque body.  He says the right things, even if he doesn’t say them smoothly.  My favorite heroes are the reformed players, the ones who have been around and finally found everything they never knew they always wanted with the unlikeliest of women.

Which authors have caught your interest lately? Why?

Hmmm.  In the author groups, I’m finding ones that I try to emulate, that I admire for their skill and their abilities.  JB McGee has a new book coming out,,,Skipping Stones.  I’ve been able to beta that a bit.  And Brandy Dorsch is an aspiring writer who has an interesting looking paranormal romance coming out soon.

What type of book have you always wanted to write?

It has taken me forever, but Sin at Sea is the kind of book I always wanted to be brave enough to write.  There is something so liberating about not worrying over pushing the envelope.  At the same time, I think while writing something very erotic, I kept it classy.  That’s important.  Even my smut has a story.

Who are your dream dinner party guests?

If I could have anyone come to my parties…Channing Tatum…oh hell, the entire cast of Magic Mike.  Ummm…I don’t really think I’d need to invite anyone else…at all.  We’ll keep it nice and intimate.

What’s the last movie you watched and loved?

Loved?  Wow.  It has been a while since I loved a movie.  Dating means I watch movies that the guy loves…like action, horror, and thrillers.  Me, I prefer movies with meaning, movies that speak to me…like Under the Tuscan Sun or Love Actually.

Most _____________ in high school. (popular, nerdy, sporty…) Why?

It’s funny.  I thought I was nerdy.  I thought I was shy.  And then I go to a reunion and discover that everyone else thought I was popular.  I just did my own thing, whatever made me happy.  Still do.  It’s the best way to live.

Top three things on your bucket list.

1.     Take a Mediterranean cruise.
2.     Explore Greece
3.     Take a hot air balloon ride.  That one might be challenging since I also have a fear of heights.  Still…

How did you get the idea for this particular novel?

My goal was to write this great beach read.  It kind of forced me to go through with it, get it published for summer.  I took everything that I loved about summer…the water, the beaches, the travel, vacations, hot guys, and sexy times.  There are a lot of my own personal experiences in it.

What is your favorite scene in your new release?

I love where they meet, how they meet, their interaction.  Yes, Alysin and Mr. Bedroom Eyes have chemistry from the start.

If you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?

I would love to be Alysin, so supremely confident, so independent.  She speaks her mind.  She’s very worldly.  She’s tough.

Flirting Questions

Which actor or book character do you have a crush on?
Whew…I can only pick one?  The Rock, Dwayne Johnson.

What’s your favorite body part of the opposite sex?
The chest.  I like a nice chest to rest my head on.

What does love feel like?
Scariest most incredible feeling ever.  Love is being naked and vulnerable all the time.

When was your last kiss?
I get kissed pretty much daily.  The last one that really affected me that would be harder to pin down.

What’s an absolute no-no in a relationship?
Cheating.  That’s a deal breaker.

What’s your idea of a perfect date?
I love new twists on old cliché moments.  I love candlelight dinners.  I love picnics.  Put the two together…bliss.

If you could take a romantic trip, where would it be?
Someplace warm and sandy.

Do you believe in love at first sight?
Nope.  I believe in lust at first sight.

Flirting Quickies:

Boxers or Briefs?   Boxer briefs
Facial hair or clean shaven?  Goatee
Alpha or Beta?  Alpha
Planner or Panster? Planner
White wine or red? White
Coffee or tea? Tea
Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate
Sweet or salty? Sweet
Sleep in or get up early? early
Laptop or desktop? laptop
Beach or mountains? beach
Winter or summer? summer
Cat or dog?  Cat
Twilight or Fifty Shades? Fifty Shades
Spotlight or In the Shadows?  Shadows
City or Country? Country
Clubbing or candlelight dinner? Candlelight
Backpacking or luxury hotel? Luxury hotel
Morning or night person? Both, it’s the middle of the day I suck at
Christmas or Halloween? Christmas
Optimist or pessimist? optimist

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       What made her decide to be an erotica author?
       Simple.
       How else was she going to parlay her two favorite past times into a career?
       Emma is single and loving it. Like her first character, Alysin, Sin for short, she doesn't believe in settling or in settling down. She loves to indulge in her passions whenever the mood strikes and enjoys keeping all of life's cliche moments spicy.
       Known for her sense of humor, Emma surrounds herself with friends whose antics often become the source of book fodder. Her ideal situation would be to explore the Caribbean while writing. She pursues that dream daily.

Author Links :

Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

IN BTS MAGAZINE

Check this out! For The Love of Reading made in it as well!

Open publication - Free publishing - More authors

See page 39. ;)

REVIEW - THE CATALYST

"Fiona is a witch who can’t leave her house; the birds have told her something bad will happen. The mailbox is as far as she’ll go. When a wolf pup stumbles into her garden, her safe, wrapped-up world heads for a free fall. But along with danger, the pup brings a chance at love - a chance an agoraphobic witch and a bachelor panther shifter aren’t likely to find on their own "

Author: Zoe Winters
Pages: 260 pages
Publisher: Incubooks on June 2012
Form: E-book (from tour for an honest review)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Preternaturals  #3
Amazon: Buy / $7.99 (Kindle) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $4.95 (Nook)
All Romance E-books: Buy / $3.95 (NOW: $1.85) (E-book)
Excerpt: Chapter 1

"Panthers don’t do responsibility. They don’t do long-term relationships. They definitely don’t raise kids. But when Z discovers a young wolf in the forest, he takes him in, unaware of the powerful beings hunting the pup.

Fiona is a witch who can’t leave her house; the birds have told her something bad will happen. The mailbox is as far as she’ll go, but even that may provide more danger than she’s bargained for. When a wolf pup stumbles into her garden, her safe, wrapped-up world heads for a free fall.

But along with danger, the pup brings a chance at love - a chance an agoraphobic witch and a bachelor panther shifter aren’t likely to find on their own." ~From Goodreads

AUTHOR’S NOTE: The Catalyst is an ensemble book that also features Jane and Cole ( from Blood Lust ) and Cain ( from Blood Lust and Save My Soul )

I'm usually skeptic about reading series out of order and as I hadn't read Preternaturals one and two I was wondering how this was gonna go down, but the plot was too delicious to pass, after all an agoraphobic beginner witch gets kidnapped by a very hot ( mostly shirtless ) panther shifter to take care of a werewolf pup that's cramping his bachelor style, it's bound to be interesting. And it was! I didn't give crap about this book being third in the serious because it was sexy, entertaining, exciting and very very well written by Ms. Winters! There were no snags in the story line even though I wasn't expecting another love story besides Fiona and Z it was welcomed and it makes me want to read the first books for sure! I especially want to know more about Cain, yummy. ;)

The romance I just simply loved, both Fiona and Z's unorthodox meeting and courtship as well as Jane and Cole's reunion and problems caused by the changed balance of power between the alpha werewolf and brand spanking new succubus. Both stories had their hot moment, but to be honest I think I would have liked bit more details in the love scenes, other than that it really was sizzling! All that yummy sexual tension and attraction sure had me humming how nice things were going.

I loved how real Fiona was, she wasn't afraid to cry when frustrated or sad in places that in real life would have girls in tears - I've come across so many fake brave heroines in my years that I always feel like I have to make a special mention when I come across a real one. Crying doesn't mean a girl isn't brave it just means she's more reletable when it's real and well placed.

You'll love this if you... love paranormal romance with shifters and multiple storylines in one novel. If you like your heroes bachelor playboys who can't seems to be able to resist the heroine no matter how hard they try!

Rating :

SHOULD AUTHORS COMMENT ON REVIEWS?

"I have seen some discussions about this online and authors get really confused. Inspired by the 3 Stars Rating Event, I decided to create this as an opportunity for us, book bloggers and reviewers, to write our opinion and let the authors know what we expect from the authors when we post a review of their book(s). And don’t forget to answer the following question:"



Should Authors Comment On Reviews?

Hi, everyone! So, should authors comment on reviews? There's two ways to look at this let's go with the Non-Tour answer first! Alright, so I've reviewed a book wither self-bought or asked to by the author, I've send a link back to them so that they can promote the review as well and know what I thought of the book. So far I see no requirement to comment, it's not necessary - but it is nice. Some do it ( :) ), some don't. If someone comments on the entry, then depending on the context of the comment it's the choice of the author to comment or not. ( in this I see no reason to encourage commenting, or prevent it )

Now, to the On-Tour answer! If an author expects and encourages readers to comment then the first rule of Social Networking Etiquette applies, Reply To All Comments - absolutely no one wants to have a conversation with themselves online ( that just makes you feel stupid and ignored ). Firstly, a commenter doesn't necessary expect a reply, but loves it when they get one from the author! This is good Public Relations, this sells your book, this will make people give you a good name when they gossip.

If you decide not to comment you risk the following attached to your name: Unavailable, aloof, snobby, snotty, indifferent and you don't want that wither you're a beginning author or a pro.

Blogging 101 - Rule #1 - Reply to all comments. Easiest way to be liked, to be talked well of and to be recommended.

If you don't comment while On-Tour with For The Love of Reading, I'll cover for you because I follow the First Rule of Blogging. ;) The nicest authors I've ever been On-Tour with have a been commenters.

BLEEDING HEARTS - REVIEW AND GIVE AWAY

"Marek is drawn to Sophie, her light and kindness, a stark opposite of his life as one of the Demivampires, a creature evolving to be a vampire, one of the dead soulless monsters.
Marek suspects she's a Sophia Oracle a woman with the essence of Isis with the power to help the demivampires, to stop the evolution to something straight out of nightmares."

Author: Ash Krafton
Published: Pink Narcissus Press on March 2012
Pages: 370 Pages
Form: E-book (from the author for an honest review)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Demimonde #1
Amazon: Buy / $ 12.64 (Kindle)
Amazon: Buy / $16.95 (Paperpack) ( EU price, click to see US )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $8.99 (Nook)
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $16.95 (Paperpack)

Sophie Galen has a great deal of empathy for her fellow man, she's an advice columnist, destined to help people, unable to turn another way, but when she meets Marek she sees a man tortured and dark, and she knows he needs her help, wither he wants to acknowledge it or not.

Marek is drawn to Sophie, her light and kindness, a stark opposite of his life as one of the Demivampires, a creature evolving to be a vampire, one of the dead soulless monsters.
Marek suspects she's a Sophia Oracle a woman with the essence of Isis with the power to help the demivampires, to stop the evolution to something straight out of nightmares.

Bleeding Hearts was absolutely amazing reading experience! Krafton writes with heart, emotions and skill and it shows! I absolutely loved the language, it was perfect, engaging and entertaining the reader. I rarely come across books so well written, but Bleeding Hearts was so enjoyable to read that you could tell the first few pages in that is was going to be great!

The plot was deep and thorough, this book was an introduction to the demivampire world, everything got told, and it was done gradually over time while the plot still moved on and the characters become people instead of staying as just mere characters. I loved the subplot, and it kept nagging in the back of my mind as the main plot proceeded, loved it!

The characters were completely believable, they shared common emotions, big and small and they all became likeable and some lovable. Sophie, in who's point of view the whole book is in, you can't help but love she's generally sarcastic in the wholehearted way and not just when it suits the story. She's really wise and kind, without being a push over or stereotypic oracle. She was so entertaining to read, a superb heroine!

The romance was in the background, there was some but not much, I loved Marek's passion and intense focus on Sophie but seriously who dates and waits over a month to hit the sack together when the attraction so obviously is there. That was the only thing that lowered the rating of this book - I would have wanted more romance, it wouldn't have had to be graphic or anything, but I needed to have it there. But it's no more than a ½ star knowdown as the book is so good even without the romantic element being stronger.

In all Bleeding Hearts was a super read! And I highly recommend it to Urban Fantasy lovers and Sweet Paranormal Romances fans - and if you aren't a lover or a fan but can stand vampires give this ago, the writing is fantastic!

Rating :

The author, Ash Krafton is giving away one e-book of Bleeding Hearts to one lucky reader here so take part in the Rafflecopter! 

If you do take part, answer this question in the comments: 

"Do you like your vampires tradional or with new twist?"

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GUEST BLOG ~ THE FUTURE IN YOUR DREAMS BY CESAR

I have the author of "Book of Prophecies" Cesar stopping by today with a cool Guest Blog titled "The Future In Your Dreams", without much further ado here you go! And if you have guestions or comment don't be afraid to leave them here, theres a good chance to get answers straight from the author!

The Future In Your Dreams

by Cesar

        I would say that more than a fair few people think that foretelling the future is a load of rubbish. Of course I would love nothing more than to sit down and discuss it in depth with them, I love to have the odd philosophical debate. But I have to say that I too, once thought that foretelling the future was just nonsense.

        Let me tell you a quick story about my own experiences that resulted in me changing how I viewed the future. When I was eight years old I was going through a pretty rough time. One outcome was that I began to have re-occurring dreams about a bridge and something floating in the water of a canal. I remember being haunted by these dreams for a long time until they eventually faded away, maybe returning only once a year or so.

        Then in my mid-twenties I had a massive turn of events in my life, an end to a marriage, severe depression and an end to attending church. I even ran away to a foreign country and slept on the sofa at a friend’s house; it was a desperate situation, but three days later, one of my friends went missing and I joined the search party.

        There I was, in the passenger seat of the car and for some unknown reason the memory of that dream came flooding back into my mind. I asked the driver to stop and I got out, and I walked to a nearby canal, which was shockingly similar to my dream, and there I found my friend, not drowned in the water, but at the waters edge planning to jump.

        Indeed many people dismiss dreams all too easily I think, today psychology has taken over to make explanations that has led many people to believe that dreams belong only to the subconscious part of our mind, a wrong assumption in my mind. Dreams have often been called visions in the past, viewed as something that foretold the future, and visions form part of the history of most religions around the world. So next time that you find yourself having a dream, maybe you should write it down, maybe even buy a dream interpretation book, as that very dream may be telling you something about your future.

Niina : I personally do believe in foretelling the future... in fact I tell the future all the time with my tarot cards, it is though, that the future we are going to have changes with every action we take, if we stay inactive our future will be what was once told - but if we take action we begin on our journey to a new future. I love the future, it's intriquining, but I love the Present even more... and I try to make sure it's always a Great one!

Cesar has a very experienced background in the spiritual world. He was brought up in a Christian family, but branched out from that base as he got older, seeking answers about the world around him, and the spiritual world around him. 

In his mid-twenties dramatic events occurred in his life which challenged his very existence, but he learned from these experienced and most of learned that how that life is not just in our own hands. Now Cesar is a firm believer that everyone has their own path to walk in life, and part of that walk is all about the choices that you make. Some people choose a good life and some a wicked life, but most of us live the life in the middle, influenced by the world around us and our own upbringing, Cesar understands that life is simply not black and white.

Website

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LIGHT UNDER THE HOUSE (2 BOOKS IN PRICE OF 1)

 

Join the Blitz!

 

For TODAY ONLY, when you purchase Light Under the House by Aaron Drew for just $.99 on Amazon.com, with your proof of purchase, Aaron will gift you another book of your choice valued at the same price of $.99, (exluding Erotica). That's 2 books for the price of 1! So jump on the bandwagon and go get yourself some awesome books!

 

Send Proof of Purchase to bkwalkerbooks@comcast.net with your Amazon receipt and the book of your choice ( title and link ) and preferred email. Once it's been verified, Aaron will gift you your book and send you a personal note of thanks.

 

 

QUEST BLOG : MAKING AN ARROGANT "UPPER-CLASS" MAN LOVABLE?

Let me introduce you to Aurora Lightbourne the first Guest Blogger ever to appear on For The Love of Reading! The next stop on her Virtual Book Tour is at Ink Puddle on Oct. 3rd, where the author stops over at that blog for a guest blog as well, so make sure you don't miss out on that!

A. Lightbourne is the author of Brass Hearts: A Steampunk Fairytale classic Romantic tale, set in a picturesque steampunk world.

"All Dulcy Spry wants in life is to inherit her father's small, family business, and help run it while she waits. But after a fateful encounter with the snobbish Mr Pridget on the roadside Dulcy's best friend, Alise, and younger sister, Rosa, drag the reluctant Miss Spry into high society, where lies, manipulations and family secrets threaten to ruin her peaceful life and cast her into the dismal prison of an unwanted marriage.

Brass Hearts is a Cinderella-esque type story. It is a sweet, old fashioned romance, complete with bad impressions, lies, misunderstandings and social divide."

When asked "How one goes about making an arrogant "upper-class" man lovable?" I have to pause for a moment. I am not sure if Pridget was 'lovable', but I at least hope he was 'likable'.

I think in order to get past the readers', and main character's, first impressions you have to know, and like, the character pretty well yourself. You have to have determined why he would give a bad impression, how it would come about, why would it not iron itself out, what events or people would help instigate it or keep it going and for what reasons.

With Pridget, as you learn during the book, he was raised to be a very serious person, groomed to be the head of a business from a young age. So he really has no appreciation for the value of anything outside of his social/economic circle. He doesn't even really have an appreciation for his own business, his father treated it more as a burden he could not wait to pass of on his son as soon as he was legally able. That doesn't make Edmund a bad guy, just possibly a socially awkward one, especially with those of inferior income. The people he grew up with also fueled his snobbish notions, Synthia Vonn for one.

When he comes in contact with Dulcet for the first time, you have to admit, she did not present a good first impression herself. They both got off on the wrong foot. If they had met for the first time as Alise's mini-ball when Dulcet was all dolled up, clean and presentable, things may have taken a different turn. Especially once her connection got out. But as it was, Edmund had to start appreciating her value in a non-monetary way, which was not something he was taught.

 Little things added up for him. He was wary of her from the start because in his position every woman he came in contact with fawned all over and pestered him once they knew how much money he had. He kept suspecting, and watching out for, her to do the same, but she never did. So while he was watching her suspiciously he got to witness her interactions and start to see how others valued her.

Before he knew it he was doing things he didn't quite understand and tried to make excuses for. But eventually his 'real' nature is revealed, but not to Dulcet right away.

To keep her from noticing his good points too soon I have to keep her distracted. Which wasn't hard with her sister butting in at all the 'good moments' , her worrying over rumors, sidetracked with Deerek, concerned about her sister's interference with Alise and her ever present desire to just get the heck out of there and go back home.

So as far as writing Edmund Pridget; you start out with a basically good guy, throw up  a barrier to his true self with some misunderstandings, acquired social prejudices and general distrust and then slowly peel back the layers to 'hopefully' reveal the real softie inside. And Voila! You got yourself a rich teddy-bear that is wild about your misfit Heroine, and a pretty sweet little romance story to boot.

But only the reader can say if I succeeded in making him 'lovable', why not read it and see for yourself?

About A. Lightbourne : 

I began writing stories almost as soon as I learned to write. From my 1st grade 'journal' full of tales of rabbit adventures to my first full length book at 14.  I have always had a love for writing stories.

Besides words I also have a love for tech. From an early age I built 'bread boards', soldering diodes and components to create such things as a light detecting alarm clock and other such ...useless things.  I moved on to building my first DOS PC at 15. I also graduated School at 15. Later on I became a certified PC tech.

I am happily married with lots of furry little 'children'.  Most of which I raised by hand when a local rescue group or friends brought me orphaned babies to bottle feed.

Most of my writing is SciFi/Fantasy based, and almost all of it contains humor. I like short, fun, humorous stories.

My favorite authors are Jane Austen and Douglas Adams.

I hope you enjoy reading my work as much as I enjoy writing it. 

You can visit the author at her website and buy Brass Hearts there as well!

Tour Stops:

September 27 - Guest Blogging at Playground 51 

September 29 - Author Interviewed at The Magic Attic

October 1 - Guest Blogging at For The Love of Reading!
October 3 - Guest Blogging at Ink Puddle
October 5 - Author Interviewed at The Booksisterhood

October 7 - Guest Blogging at Bookish Delights

October 11 - Author Interviewed at Laurie's Thoughts & Reviews

October 13 - Guest Blogging at Librarian Mouse
October 17 - Author Interviewed at The Fairytale Nerd

October 20 - Brass Hearts Review & Giveaway at Reviews By Molly