• Character Sketch,  Vampire

    Character Sketch: Carina Tranquilli from Haven @celiabreslin #RLFblog #vampire

    Haven 

    About the Book

    Title: Haven
    Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
    Author Name: Celia Breslin
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    San Francisco
    nightclub owner Carina Tranquilli works hard, plays hard, and never allows the death
    of her parents and her twelve-year memory gap to get her down. But her life takes
    a left turn when a witch attacks on her twenty-fifth birthday.
    Three hauntingly familiar vampires emerge to reveal she possesses
    a latent power. To protect her from their enemies, they admit to wiping her memories
    clean and abandoning her as a child, but now they need her help. As she struggles
    to evade her new protectors and even newer enemies, she meets Alexander, an enigmatic,
    undead musician. Insta-lust flares, leaving her wanting more.
    With evil’s minions hounding her every move, and everything she
    thought she knew turned on its head, Carina must harness her burgeoning power, unravel
    her vampire family’s web of deceit, and fight to have a love life…without getting
    killed in the process.

    Buy This Book

    Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Haven-ebook/dp/B00DQH3SZI/
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/haven-celia-breslin/1117105185?ean=2940045320832
    ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-haven-1225460-149.html
    Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/haven-13

    About the Character

    Name: Carina Tranquilli
    Age: 25
    Gender: female
    Birthplace: Italy
    Profession: club owner
    Ethnicity/Species (if not human): human, vampire
    Describe his/her body build, skin tone, height and weight. Include
    any unique features such as dimples, freckles, or scars: 5′ 7″, curvy and fit,
    130 pounds, long legs, wavy and thick dark brown hair she prefers to wear straight,
    brown eyes, pale skin, no freckles, ear and navel piercings
    Who is the significant
    other in your character’s life?
    Alexander, a vampire musician.
    How does your hero dress?
    Carina prefers black clothing. Form-fitting pants or jeans, boots
    (sexy or combat), small skirts w/cute shirts, sexy little black dresses, etc.
    How educated is this character?
    Is she book smart, self-taught, widely-experienced?
    College graduate.
    Does she scrape by, live
    comfortably, live extravagantly?
    She’s a trust fund orphan and a business owner. She does well
    for herself.
    What is your character’s
    viewpoint on wealth? Not necessary, nice to have, important, obtain at all costs?
    Wealth is to be shared with family, friends, and those in need.
    What is your character’s
    family like?
    Very protective.
    Is she close to family?
    Yes. But it’s a rocky road.
    What is your hero’s biggest
    personal flaw?
    She’s stubborn and fiercely independent, sometimes to her detriment.
    How emotionally expressive
    is your character to others?
    Very. She has no poker face. Her emotions are obvious to one
    and all.

    About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.

    Why do you think your
    writer chose to write about you?
    I wouldn’t leave her alone until she did!
    What do you wish your
    writer would write next?
    I’d certainly like to take care of Team Evil so another battle
    round with them would rock.
    What other character from
    your book do you think your writer should write a book about? Care to tell us why?
    Well, I’d say my mentor Jonas, but she already did that in Vampire
    Code (released Oct. 2013). So, I’d vote for Stella, another vampire from Team Good.
    Is there anything you’d
    like to say to your writer?
    Celia, thanks for letting us out to play in Haven!

    Author Bio

    Celia lives in California
    with her husband, daughter, and two feisty cats. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal
    romance, and has a particular fondness for vampires and the Fae. When not writing,
    you’ll find her exercising, reading a good book or indulging her addiction to Joss
    Whedon’s TV shows and movies.

    Author Social Media

  • Gay or MM

    GA Hauser Author of Snapped @AuthorGAHauser #RLFblog #LGBT

    Snapped 
    Genre :Gay Romance
    Publisher The GA Hauser Collection, LLC
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    About the Book

    Thirty-nine year old, Bryce Hayes
    thought when he left the military and joined the Seattle Police Department, there
    would be nothing he couldn’t handle. He’d seen it all; the worst of what mankind
    could do to each other.
    But the Seven Deadly Sins had yet
    to rear their ugly head. Lust, Greed, Envy, Sloth, Pride, Wrath, Gluttony. And Bryce
    was about to encounter them all embodied in one man.
    What Bryce witnessed on his first
    phase as a student with Field Training Officer Kohl Abbott, he found inconceivable
    corruption. As a thirty-nine year old ‘rookie’ paired with the senior officer from
    hell, Bryce had no idea when he was told to ‘stay put’ in the patrol car, that his
    training instructor Abbott was breaking fingers and kneecaps for protection money
    from the small local businesses.
    While in the Special Forces, Bryce
    was taught to shut up, to not reveal information. But this time? When the net came
    down on the corruption he was caught in the snare. Bryce was tossed out of the department
    with the garbage, but was not prosecuted. He never knew why not.
    Twenty-eight year old Joel Vandergrift
    lived up on Capitol Hill in Seattle,
    worked as a photographer and taught literature classes at night. But, his real love
    was writing. Having his first few novels hit the bestseller lists, Joel was gaining
    recognition and finally thought earning a living as a writer was a possibility…
    until his apartment is broken into, and his computer with all his work on it, is
    stolen.
    A day later, Joel sees his latest
    bestseller being sold, but under someone else’s name.
    The irony of just having met a bartender
    named Bryce Hayes, whose behavior was suspicious to Joel, made Joel believe Bryce
    had a hand in the treachery.
    But Bryce knew the reality.
    Kohl Abbott was writing under an assumed
    name, his first best seller documenting his ‘life of crime’. Even though Abbott
    had served time in the county lockup for his deeds, he had been released early.
    Abbott knew dirt on many men, including cops and councilmen…including Bryce.
    What at first had been an ultimatum
    for Bryce from Abbott to find something nasty to discredit Joel as a top writer,
    had changed. Secrets, lies, and disastrous decisions that were impossible to take
    back, push Joel and Bryce together- as lovers, then as reluctant enemies. And it
    isn’t until one man finally has had enough that fate takes over.
    SNAPPED!
    Lust, Greed, Envy, Sloth, Pride, Wrath,
    Gluttony- The ‘Infamous 7’ change one man from a cynic into a killer. And Bryce
    sees first hand, how war is not only fought on the battlefield, it is also drawn
    from the mighty pen.

    Buy This Book

    Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Snapped-G-Hauser-ebook/dp/B00I9IQCWA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1391634034&sr=1-1&keywords=snapped+hauser
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snapped-g-a-hauser/1118530598?ean=9781495278907
    ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-snapped-1406006-148.html
    Bookstrand http://www.bookstrand.com/snapped

    Interview with GA Hauser

    Why did you write this
    book?
    This book was inspired by the corruption in all aspects of life,
    and the fact that there can always be good lifted up from the ashes.
    What is your favorite
    genre to read?
    It used to be gay erotic romance, but I no longer have time to
    pleasure read.
    What is your favorite
    character from fiction (not including your own characters)?
    I don’t have a favorite character from fiction.
    Do you enjoy films and/or
    TV shows? Which are your favorites?
    I do enjoy some TV, and don’t go to see many movies. But I don’t
    have any ‘favorites’ at the moment.
    What are you working on
    at the moment, and what are we likely to see from you in the coming months?
    Action Series Book 15 Saying Goodbye

    Author Bio

    Award-winning author G.A. Hauser was born in Fair Lawn,
    New Jersey,
    USA and attended university in
    New York
    City. She moved to Seattle, Washington
    where she worked as a patrol officer with the Seattle Police Department. In early
    2000 G.A. moved to Hertfordshire,
    England
    where she began her writing in earnest and published her first book, In the Shadow
    of Alexander. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has written over ninety novels, including
    several best-sellers of gay fiction. GA is also the Executive Producer for her first
    feature film, Capital Games.
    G.A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2010,
    2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, and Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets
    and Misdemeanors, Best Author 2007.

    Contest

    Visit Dawn’s Reading Nook for info on contests. http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/

    Author Social Media

    Website http://www.capitalgamesthemovie.com

    Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/G-A-Hauser/e/B005JT3LMQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

  • Character Interviews,  Christmas or Holiday

    Character Interview: Eva Kenward from Once Upon A Montana Christmas @alannalucas27 #RLFblog

    Once Upon A Montana Christmas 

    Title Once Upon A Montana Christmas

    Genre Historical
    Romance
    Author Name Alanna
    Lucas
    Book heat level
    (based on movie ratings): R
    Miss Eva Kenward does
    not want to spend another Christmas alone. Leaving Queen Victoria’s
    England, she journeys to America in search of an uncle but finds herself
    on the rugged frontier of Montana.
    And with no money and no acquaintances, the rudest man she has ever met is the
    one she must engage. Especially considering the precious bundle in her arms.
    “Hunt”
    Strauss has been fooled before by beauty. So when the ravishing young woman
    arrives on his doorstep, he suspects her of ulterior motives. But perhaps the
    baby she holds truly is his kin…and when Miss Kenward finds herself stranded
    after a hotel fire, he reluctantly agrees to help. Bringing her to his
    sprawling ranch, Hunt tries to keep his distance. But the enticing woman and
    her enthusiasm for the season soon prove that fairy tale love stories—and
    holiday wishes—really can come true.

    Buy This Book

    Publisher http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/once-upon-montana-christmas
    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00H5D49DY
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/once-upon-a-montana-christmas-alanna-lucas/1117653494?ean=2940045486361
    Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/once-upon-a-montana-christmas

    Interview with Eva Kenward

    Tell us about yourself, please.
    My name is Eva Kenward. I am
    originally from England
    where I was a companion to my stepmother’s aunt. It was a comfortable, albeit
    boring life. My only relations are a half-brother, and a distant uncle. I love
    to read and have always been fascinated with tales of the Wild West.
    What is it that you want, but cannot have?
    Authors call this the conflict of the story.
    I want to be part of my family, but my
    stepmother and half-brother have other ideas for my future. I have a distant
    uncle in California.
    Although he has not responded to my letters, I hope to be reunited with him in
    the near future.
    What inner doubt causes you the most
    difficulty?
    I constantly worry that when I finally
    succeed in reaching California
    and find my uncle that he will have even less interest in me than my dead
    father.
    What’s your external complication? In the
    story world your author created, explain what it is you fear most.
    My greatest fear is to never find my uncle
    and be part of a real family. My life gets considerably complicated when I lose
    all my funds, clothing…everything! I am forced to find work while my dream of
    reaching California
    slips further away.
    Tell us about your significant other, that
    person who makes living worthwhile.
    What would that person say about you?
    What is your family like?
    My mother died when I was a little girl and
    my father soon remarried. At first I was excited to have a stepmother, but that
    excitement gave way to loneliness. She never had time for me, always too
    concerned with the latest soiree or fashionable pursuit. My half-brother was
    far worse. He was the heir and controlled my entire existence.
    Are you happy with the way your story ended?
    Why or why not?
    More than happy. All my hopes and dreams
    came true in the wild west I love so much.

    About the Writer

    You
    have the length of a tweet (140 characters) to describe yourself as a writer. Let’s
    see what you can do.
    I’m a panster learning to plot. I love to
    research, but I have to set time limits.
    Was
    there anything you discovered about this character that was a surprise to you?
    How willing Eva was to leave a comfortable
    life behind in England
    and venture into the unknown by herself.
    When
    you wrote about this character, what made you the most happy?
    The simple joy she found in experiencing
    Hunt’s family traditions.
    Why
    do you write?
    I write because I love to write.
    What
    do you want to write next?
    A Regency romance. The central theme is
    family, but my hero loses sight of what is most important when he becomes
    obsessed with vengeance.
    Is
    there anything you’d like to say to your readers?
    I hope you enjoy the story as much as I
    enjoyed writing it.

    Author Bio

    Alanna Lucas grew up in Southern California.
    From an early age, she took an interest in travel, incorporating those
    experiences into her writing. When she is not daydreaming of her next travel
    destination, Alanna can be found researching, spending time with family, or
    going for long walks. Alanna Lucas is a member of the Romance Writers of
    America, East Valley Authors, The Beau Monde, and Celtic Hearts Romance
    Writers.

    Author Social Media

  • Contemporary

    Interview: Zanna Mackenzie author of If You Only Knew @ZannaMacKenzie #RLFblog #contemporary

    If You Only Knew 
    Genre: chicklit / contemporary romance
    Author: Zanna Mackenzie
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG

    Interview with Zanna Mackenzie

    Why did you write this
    book?
    The characters popped into my head and wouldn’t shut up! I had
    lots of ideas and scenes in my head for If You Only Knew and I knew I just had to
    tell the story.
    What is your favorite
    genre to read?
    I would say it is mostly chicklit / contemporary romance though
    I have read some thrillers.
    What is your favorite
    character from fiction (not including your own characters)?
    I loved Becky Bloomwood from Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series
    and also Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. In some ways I think they’re
    similar – they both have a mischievous side which endears me to them.
    Do you enjoy films and/or
    TV shows? Which are your favorites?
    Yes, I love films and TV and have quite varied tastes. My favourite
    film is probably The Adjustment Bureau with Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, it’s a fantasy,
    thriller, romance and I think the chemistry between the two main characters really
    fizzes. With TV programmes I like all sorts, from period dramas to science and nature
    programmes. I’m very keen on series like Hart of Dixie, Nashville, Parenthood, Gilmore Girls and Once
    Upon A Time.
    What are you working on
    at the moment, and what are we likely to see from you in the coming months?
    My next book (my third novel) is launched on February 7th
    and is called If You Only Knew. I have another two books planned and partly written
    so I’m loving working on those again. They’re both in the chicklit/contemporary
    romance genre. One looks at the downsides of dating someone famous and the other
    has a mystery feel to it when the main female character finds herself having to
    investigate her family history to find answers to questions about her future.
    Please tell us about your
    latest book.
    Would you have the courage to feel the fear and fall in love
    anyway…?
    Faith owns The Coffee Pot in the outdoor adventure sports mecca
    of Derbyshire’s Peak District. She hasn’t had a man in her life for a while, as
    she has been too busy serving cakes to weary rock climbers and mountain bikers to
    find time for the complications of a relationship with the male of the species.
    Then Zane and Matt arrive on the scene as the new owners of the
    Carrdale Adventure Sports Centre.
    Dating Zane, she soon discovers he’s not the Mr Perfect she thought
    he was; and why is he so reluctant to talk about his past?
    As for Matt – well, to Faith he isn’t Matt at all because he
    was a completely different person when he broke her heart all those years ago.
    With her new boyfriend and her first love running Carrdale as
    business partners – Matt out to cause trouble and Zane keeping secrets – Faith struggles
    to keep the peace between them whilst trying to figure out how she feels about the
    two men in her life…

    Excerpt

    This couldn’t be happening.
    Zane had said his business partner
    was called Matt. She was sure of it. Yes, he’d definitely just introduced him as
    Matt. But the man standing before her wasn’t Matt.
    It was Aaron.
    Faith wiped her hands on a tea–towel.
    She wanted to speak, but couldn’t get her brain into gear enough to make her mouth
    form the words.
    She’d thought Aaron was gone from
    her life.
    It looked as though she was wrong.
    She took a step back, wrapping her
    arms around herself. Suddenly she felt cold and shaky. Aaron was back? This was
    impossible.
    Yet here he was, standing in her kitchen.
    She felt dizzy and light-headed.
    How should she react? Should she admit
    they knew each other? Why had Aaron changed his name to Matt anyway? Would he prefer
    it if the fact they knew each other was kept quiet?
    But she knew she couldn’t keep something
    like that from Zane.
    As she debated what to say and do
    next, the room remained awkwardly silent. Zane was looking at her questioningly.
    What should she say?
    Come on, think, woman. Think.
    Too late. Aaron spoke first.
    “Faith, it’s amazing to see you
    again after all these years.”
    OK. So he didn’t want to keep it a
    secret that they already knew each other.
    “Aaron,” she managed to
    say. “This is a bit of a shock.”
    “That’s an understatement,”
    Matt said, stepping forward to pull her into a hug.
    “Hang on a second,” Zane
    said, pushing into the room. “Aaron? That’s your proper name isn’t it?”
    He raised enquiring eyebrows at Matt. “What’s going on? You two already know
    each other?”

    Buy This Book

    Amazon US
    http://www.amazon.com/You-Only-Knew-Zanna-Mackenzie-ebook/dp/B00I72RU9W
    Amazon UK
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Only-Knew-Zanna-Mackenzie-ebook/dp/B00I72RU9W/

    Author Bio

    Zanna Mackenzie lives on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border
    with her husband, 4 dogs, a vegetable patch that’s home to far too many weeds and
    an ever expanding library of books waiting to be read. Being a freelance writer
    and editor of business publications is her ‘day job’ but, at every opportunity,
    she can be found scribbling down notes on scenes for whatever novel she’s working
    on.
    She loves it when the characters in her novels take on minds
    of their own and start deviating from the original plot!
    If You Only Knew is Zanna’s third novel; her previous books,
    The Love Programme, and How Do You Spell Love? were both published in 2013.

    Author Social Media

  • Modern Western

    A Game of Chance @LaurenLinwood #RLFblog #western

    A Game of Chance 
    Gambler Jed Stone journeys to California to track down Simon Morgan, the man
    responsible for his best friend’s death. Arrested for robbery and murder upon arrival,
    Jed is shocked to see his face on a wanted poster. He escapes before his hanging,
    unaware that the man guilty of those crimes is the twin brother he never knew existed.
    In a case of mistaken identity, Jed acquires the most famous whorehouse in San Francisco in a rigged
    card game his twin is meant to win.
    Lily Frontiere takes over running Lucky Lil’s from her dying
    mother, the house madam who shielded her by sending her away to boarding school.
    Lily’s intelligence and astonishing resemblance to her mother help in her charade,
    but she’s entered a world she knows little about. She clashes with the handsome
    stranger who turns up with the deed to Lucky Lil’s in hand, yet she is attracted
    to the charming risk taker.
    But Simon Morgan seeks both Lily’s hand and ownership of Lucky
    Lil’s—and he will go to any means to possess both. Will Jed foil his nemesis while
    bringing his outlaw brother to justice and win Lily’s love?

    Buy This Book

    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00HQVHR98

    Author Social Media

  • Character Sketch,  Contemporary

    Character Sketch: Kelly Mancer from Lies That Bind @kathylwheeler #RLFblog #contemporary

    Lies That Bind 
    Genre Contemporary Romance
    Author Kathy L Wheeler
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    A modern day woman shouldn’t have to marry for convenience to
    protect the identity of her daughter. So how exactly does Kelly Mancer find herself
    exactly in that situation? She doesn’t want a man. Any man. Danger has a way of
    changing a woman’s mind.
    Alex Gentry needs Kelly, but convincing her to help him pluck
    his younger sister from a dangerous enemy would not be easy. Soon the tables turn
    and Kelly becomes the prey. Alex may save his sister, but at what cost?

    Buy This Book

    Amazon http://amzn.com/B00G83MO0W
    Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lies-that-bind-kathy-l-wheeler/1117341532?ean=2940045370042

    About the Character

    Name: Kelly Mancer
    Age: 28
    Gender: Female
    Birthplace: Dallas,
    Texas
    Profession: Bookstore clerk
    Ethnicity/Species (if not human):
    Describe his/her body build, skin tone, height and weight. Include
    any unique features such as dimples, freckles, or scars: slight build, olive complexion,
    tiger-like eyes, long, black, thick, straight hair.
    Who is the significant
    other in your character’s life?
    Alex Gentry
    Does she scrape by, live
    comfortably, live extravagantly?
    Kelly lives frugally. She scrapes by due to circumstances beyond
    her control. She doesn’t ask for much, and she certainly doesn’t expect much.
    Does she have children?
    Kelly has been blessed with a most precocious five year old daughter,
    who is much too old for her age. The child tends to spout out the most inappropriate
    words believing no one hears them, until Alex Gentry finally enlightens her. Her
    response? “Are you gonna tell on me?”
    What past event causes
    your character the most fear?
    The corporation Kelly originally worked for was the target of
    a major takeover by Gentry Acquisitions. When Alex Gentry (lead takeover) had to
    leave town for a meeting on a Friday afternoon just before the end of the merger,
    it left Kelly in a vulnerable situation that not only caught her by surprise but
    changed her life dramatically.
    What is your character’s
    biggest need at the beginning of the story?
    To provide for her daughter, Taylor; keep her safe.
    What is your hero’s biggest
    hopes and dreams?
    She doesn’t want much. Perhaps a small house with a big enough
    bathroom to accommodate a bathtub with large clawed feet.
    When (if) he lies or is
    upset, what gives him away?
    What a most apropos question. This whole story is based on the
    lies connected between all the players. Why does Alex insist Kelly and he marry?
    In current times, marriage is not a criteria to have children. In their case, however,
    the crux is much more crucial.

    About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.

    Was there anything your
    writer discovered about you that was a surprise to one or both of you?
    Not so much about me, specifically, as Taylor. Taylor
    must have given her fits on more than one occasion. She set Alex on his heels too.
    It was a most entertaining journey.
    Why do you think your
    writer loves to write?
    I believe she truly loves to write. In some cases the words have
    flowed from her fingers to the keyboard in a most impressive fashion. Just ask Lorianne
    of Maybe It’s You, the previous Bloomington Series story. She wrote it in four months.
    What do you wish your
    writer would write next?
    Well, I wish she complete book four, Little Kenny’s story. He
    has a fascinating history. I know she has a really strong start.
    Is there anything you’d
    like to say to your writer?
    Thank you so much for bringing Alex and me back together. I couldn’t
    have chosen a more perfect father for Taylor.
    Now, if only his mother would respect our boundaries regarding a dog.

    Author Bio

    Kathy L Wheeler, born in Presque Isle,
    Maine, actually grew up in the Dallas, Texas
    area. She migrated to Boulder and Longmont, Colorado
    for high school. So how she ended up in Oklahoma
    is as much a mystery to her as anyone. She graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma
    with a BA focus on Management Information Systems and vocal music minor.
    Kathy is an active member of the Oklahoma Romance Writers. She
    has served as Pres-Elect, President and recently completed a four year stint as
    the Vice President of Communication. She has nine published books and remains active
    in her publishing pursuits. Her critique partners vary from an internationally published
    author of Harlequin, Grand Central and NAL to a current editor of The Wild Rose
    Press. Kathy loves the NFL, holds NBA Thunder season basketball tickets, adores
    musical theater, reading and writing—and just to round things out—karaoke.
    Besides belonging to her local RWA Chapter, OKRWA, Kathy belongs
    to other chapters of the national organization as well: The Beau Monde and DARA.
    Kathy lives in Edmond,
    Oklahoma with her musically-talented,
    attorney husband, Al. They have one grown daughter and one bossy cat, Carly, who
    acts as if she was the rescuer rather
    than the rescue-ee

    Author Social Media

    Blog http://kathylwheeler.com/blog-right-sidebar/