• Christmas or Holiday

    Seasonal Shenanigans by Cailin Briste @CailinBriste #RLFblog #Christmas #romance

    Today’s featured book is Seasonal Shenanigans, a holiday romance anthology by fourteen romance authors, including Maya Bailey, Caitlyn Lynch, and Cailin Briste

    14 sensual seasonal tales. Including:

    Eight Secret Nights – Shoshana David

    Someone’s been leaving Hanukkah presents on Mara’s doorstep. Sweet presents. Thoughtful presents. She wonders who her secret admirer is. Hopefully it’s the cute guy who moved in next door and not the creep from 7A.

    Kittens for Christmas – Caitlyn Lynch

    Regina Brooks thinks finding a box of abandoned kittens on Christmas Eve is a disaster in the making. Fortunately, her hunky neighbor Ric is eager to help her out — in any way he can!

    Missing You for Christmas – Moxie Rivers

    When Allison’s husband, Jake, can’t get leave, it’ll be her first Christmas without him since they were married. But Allison isn’t the type of person to let that stop her, but with the help of her coworkers, and just maybe a little Christmas magic, it will still be a Merry Christmas.

    A Grease Monkey Christmas – Cailin Briste

    Fate arranges the chance meeting of two strangers in need of a little kindness on Christmas Eve. Celebrity Davon Weider, with his navy-blue eyes and muscular physique, can fill the starring role in any woman’s fantasy. But Jasline, a spaceport mech, is more impressed by his five jump speed records.

    Santa Claus is Coming – Jennie Kew

    I don’t dress up as Santa for just anyone, you know? Holly Granville isn’t just anyone. When a massive storm hits our Christmas photo shoot and we’re trapped inside a tiny hut — cold, wet, angry, and naked — our friendship irrevocably changes. But will it be for better, or worse?

    The Promise of Love – Maya Bailey

    The year is 1819. He sees a man across a room and it is like seeing himself dressed in a British soldier’s uniform. How could it be that another man bears his face? He had loved her once; she had betrayed that love. Now he must find answers. If only he could do that without laying eyes on her again.

    Underneath the Mistletoe – Ava Bari

    Police officer Nic Zanetti just wanted to spent a quiet holiday alone with his TV. Then he’s called to find a runaway little girl. When he meets her widowed mother, this Christmas will be one they never forget.

    Blizzard – Suzi Frewin

    Simon and Fallon find themselves marooned together, fearing for their lives against the Zengwee, an alien species which has dominated Earth for its resources. Neither want the complication of falling in love, but fate and Christmas have other plans.

    All I Want for Christmas … is You – Annika Steele

    On Christmas Eve, Dr. Victoria Long is determined to take her relationship with Detective Devon King to the next level, maybe even the forever kind. But will their relationship survive when Devon discovers she’s a suspect in a series of thefts?

    I Fell Through Starlight for You – Keira Fox

    It’s the earliest hours of Christmas and Lucille is thinking of closing up her bistro when an enchanting figure comes through her door seeking aid for his injuries.

    Genre Christmas romance, holiday romance

    Heat level various

    Amazon mybook.to/xmasanthology

    Authors: Caitlyn LynchLiv HoneywellCailin BristeAnnika SteeleMoxie RiversDana Kenzi‎ Susan Frewin‎  Nikola ChristainMaya BaileyTricia RameyJennie KewAva BariShoshana DavidKeira Fox

    Cailin Briste Social Media

    Cailin Briste writes science fiction romance. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, the RWA Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter, and the RWA Passionate Ink Chapter. She’s writing the third novel in her Sons of Tallav series and the second novel in her A Thief in Love Suspense Romance series.
    Website http://cailinbriste.com/
    Blog http://cailinbriste.com/category/all-posts/
    Twitter http://twitter.com/CailinBriste
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cailinbriste/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cailinbriste/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7413817.Cailin_Briste
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Cailin-Briste/e/B00GSX9QVW
    Newsletter http://cailinbriste.com/cailins-newsletter-sign-up/
    Instafreebie https://instafreebie.com/author/CailinBriste

     

  • Boxed Sets,  Science Fiction Romance

    Cosmic Cabaret: Where Hearts Collide by Cailin Briste, et.al @CailinBriste #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance

    Cosmic Cabaret: Where Hearts Collide by Cailin Briste, et.al @CailinBriste #RLFblog #SciFi #RomanceToday’s featured book is Cosmic Cabaret: Where Hearts Collide in the Greatest Show in Space a sci-fi romance anthology by CJ Cade, Kerry Adrienne, Tessa McFionn, Cailin Briste, Jayne Fury, Rosalie Redd, Selene Grace Silver, Athena Grayson, Kat Vancil, Dena Garson, Blaire Edens, Jenna Lincoln, and Diana Rivis, all USA Today, Amazon best-selling, award-winning speculative fiction romance authors.

    Join us aboard Blue Star Line’s crown jewel, the LS Quantum. Thirteen USA Today, Amazon best-selling, award-winning speculative fiction romance authors deliver their twists on tales set in the dance halls and clubs of this luxury starship as it travels through space and time.

    Follow princes, sultans, rock stars, scientists, cirque artists, and dancers as they solve murders, track thieves, fight bullies, plan heists and fall in love.

    Genre Science Fiction Romance, Speculative Fiction
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): PG-13 to R
    Publisher SFR Shooting Stars
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0755XPYTM
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cosmic-cabaret-sfr-shooting-stars/1127023699
    Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/ebook/cosmic-cabaret
    Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/SFR_Shooting_Stars_Cosmic_Cabaret?id=-sAyDwAAQBAJ
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36144442-cosmic-cabaret

    Cailin Briste Social Media

    Cailin has been writing fiction for six years and non-fiction for two decades. Her non-fiction work has been published in magazines and in a non-fiction anthology. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, the RWA Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter, and the RWA Passionate Ink Chapter.

    Cailin loves science fiction and romance, so combining the two came naturally. She is currently writing the third book in her Sons of Tallav sci-fi erotic romance series. Shane: Marshal of Tallav and Maon: Marshal of Tallav were released in 2016 by Loose Id. Her first book in the sci-fi suspense romance, A Thief in Love Suspense Romance series, It Takes a Cat Burglar was released in May 2017.

    Website http://cailinbriste.com/
    Blog http://cailinbriste.com/category/all-posts/
    Twitter http://twitter.com/CailinBriste
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cailinbriste/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cailinbriste/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7413817.Cailin_Briste
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Cailin-Briste/e/B00GSX9QVW
    Newsletter http://cailinbriste.com/cailins-newsletter-sign-up/

  • RLF Gems

    #Romance Lives Forever @KaraJames_Autho @m_morganauthor #RLFblog

    The top post was the RLF Gems announcement last month. I did not count it among the top bloggers because that award would go to me. I’d like to see the credit go to guests. You are why I do this!

    The Top Blogger for this month is Kara James, who wins a month of free advertising on the blog. Top Blogger of 2016 was Susan V Vaughn, who won a year of free advertising for 2017.

    Top Blogger Kara James

    Website: https://www.karajamesauthor.com/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraJames_Autho
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karajames13/
    Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kara-James/e/B01N06L6ST/
    Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cR-Ojj

    The winners are judged by cumulative page views, including return and unique visits.

    Congratulations to these fine bloggers:
    1. Kara James
    2. Cailin Briste
    3. Mary Morgan
    4. Maggi Andersen
    5. Seelie Kay
    Honorable mention: Beverley Oakley, Adam Mann

    Top Chatters for the Month

    The person who gets the most comments in a month is not always the person who gets the most page views. For that reason, I instituted the Top Chatter Award. This award is for the bloggers who receive the most comments.
    This month’s winners are:

    Mary Morgan
    NJ Walters
    Caris Roane
    Maggi Andersen
    Luanna Stewart

     

    Not only does RLF post automatically to Triberr with a reach of several million, each post is also featured on the Romance Lives Forever Pinterest board http://www.pinterest.com/kayelleallen/romance-lives-forever-rlfblog/ as well as on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/RomanceLivesForever/
    When you like and share the posts it increases the reach. Thank you for sharing with your readers and friends!

    Be a Guest Author

    Romance Lives Forever uses Signup Genius to schedule guests. The system also reminds authors of their visit. One post is available each day. Once you choose a date, no one else will be able to take it. You can sign up for more than one visit; however, each visit must be in a different month.

    July – September
    http://bit.ly/rlf3Q2017
    October – December
    http://bit.ly/rlf4Q2017
    January – March
    http://bit.ly/rlf1Q2018

    April – June
    http://bit.ly/rlf2Q2018

    My thanks to all who took part this month. You made Romance Lives Forever a great place to discover new books and authors.

    Adriana Kraft, AE Wasp, Andrea Cooper, Anne Kane, Barbara White Daille, Candi Fox, Caris Roane, Collette Cameron, Dena Netherton, Denyse Bridger, Faye Hall, Jessica E Subject, Jessie Clever, Karen Cino, Linda Brendle, Livia Quinn, Luanna Stewart, Melinda Dozier, Michelle Abbott, NJ Walters, Penelope Powell, Zara West


    Do you want to BLAST PIRATES?
    I recommend Blasty. When you use it, please mark Romance Lives Forever as a legal site. Thank you!

  • It Takes a Cat Burglar by Cailin Briste @CailinBriste #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance
    New Writer Tips,  Science Fiction Romance

    Going Indie by Cailin Briste @CailinBriste #RLFblog #amwriting #SciFiRomance

    Going Indie by Cailin Briste @CailinBriste #RLFblog #amwriting #SciFiRomanceGoing Indie by Cailin Briste

    As a traditionally published author, I’ve done most of the marketing for my sci-fi suspense romance novels. My publisher advised that I spend my time writing more books. That’s good advice. But I wasn’t ready to leave it at that. Going indie means having freedom.

    Initially I focused on getting my name out there and building my author platform. (Social media, newsletters, and such.) Book sales would follow like B follows A. At least I hoped so. Hearing how well other authors had done in Kindle Unlimited, I decided I needed to take the plunge and gain new readers through that service. It Takes a Cat Burglar was written with that in mind.

    The learning curve for Indie publishing was both easier and worse than I expected. The marketing wasn’t difficult because I’d done many similar things with my Sons of Tallav series published by Loose Id. There was just more of it. Hiring a professional editor was a no brainer, duplicating the process at my publisher. The real booger was formatting. Eventually I managed to create a beautiful Amazon eBook edition and release It Takes a Cat Burglar on May 7th.

    Within days I realized the cover wasn’t right. I redid it but not in time for the first round of advertising. Cover matters. In June when the book went on sale I had a fabulous new cover. Still no huge rush to buy the book followed. Hmmm. A decision had to be made. Continue doing what didn’t seem to be working or change things up.

    Thus, I’ve pulled It Takes a Cat Burglar from Kindle Select, so it will no longer appear in the Kindle Unlimited catalog. It also allows me to drop the price from $2.99 to $0.99. The book is also now available through Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Google Play. My run in Kindle Unlimited wasn’t successful. I’m still a new author. If the program continues it may be more worthwhile for my books sometime in the future.

    Meanwhile, I’ve taken my publisher’s advice and continue to write more books. I’m working on Rand: Son of Tallav the third in the Sons of Tallav series. Educated by the Master will release in October in the Cosmic Love Cabaret anthology. It’s a prequel to the fourth Sons of Tallav novel which will feature Master Trey. I’ve also started on Cade’s story in the A Thief in Love Suspense Romance series.

    With It Takes a Cat Burglar priced at 99 cents I hope many more readers will discover the sexy thieves Darcelle Lebeau and Sebastian St. Croix.

     

    Today’s featured book is It Takes a Cat Burglar: A Thief in Love Suspense Romance, a sci-fi suspense romance by Cailin Briste.

    When Darcelle Lebeau throws off the invisible chains that keep her bound to her family, she discovers a new vocation. Tempted to enter the illegal playground of a man she nicknames Matou, she becomes a cat burglar in training. Deeply ensnared with each task he entices her to fulfill, she fails to discover his identity and true intentions.

    Sebastian St. Croix, a wealthy businessman, has a dark side. He’s a thief, a cat burglar who steals art and historical objects. For one year, he trains Darcelle to become his assistant, remaining incognito, observing her from afar. His admiration grows along with his desire for her with every phase-one challenge she completes. Phase two will test the limits of his control. Hands-on personal training? Yes. Sex? No. With his sister’s happiness at stake, nothing, not even the tempting Darcelle Lebeau, can interfere with accomplishing the biggest break-in of his career.

    Genre Sci-fi Romance, Romantic Suspense

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    When Darcelle Lebeau throws off the invisible chains that keep her bound to her family, she discovers a new vocation. Tempted to enter the illegal playground of a man she nicknames Matou, she becomes a cat burglar in training. Deeply ensnared with each task he entices her to fulfill, she fails to discover his identity and true intentions.

    Sebastian St. Croix, a wealthy businessman, has a dark side. He’s a thief, a cat burglar who steals art and historical objects. For one year, he trains Darcelle to become his assistant, remaining incognito, observing her from afar. His admiration grows along with his desire for her with every phase-one challenge she completes. Phase two will test the limits of his control. Hands-on personal training? Yes. Sex? No. With his sister’s happiness at stake, nothing, not even the tempting Darcelle Lebeau, can interfere with accomplishing the biggest break-in of his career.

    Publisher Hot Sauce Publishing
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Takes-Cat-Burglar-Thief-Romance-ebook/dp/B0727MJK45/

    Cailin Briste Social Media

    Cailin has been writing fiction for six years and non-fiction for two decades. Her non-fiction work has been published in magazines and in a non-fiction anthology. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, the RWA Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter, and the RWA Passionate Ink Chapter.

    Cailin likes to flip convention on its head, creating a universe in which each planet is a study in different what ifs. What would happen to alpha men on a matriarchal planet? How would society handle it if girls born on their new planet developed empathic senses?
    Website http://cailinbriste.com/
    Blog http://cailinbriste.com/category/all-posts/
    Street Team http://cailinbriste.com/cailins-street-team/
    Twitter http://twitter.com/CailinBriste
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cailinbriste/
    Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/102592935378667862505
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cailinbriste/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7413817.Cailin_Briste
    Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cailin-briste
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Cailin-Briste/e/B00GSX9QVW

  • It Takes a Cat Burglar by Cailin Briste @CailinBriste #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance
    Science Fiction Romance,  Suspense

    It Takes a Cat Burglar by Cailin Briste @CailinBriste #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance

    It Takes a Cat Burglar by Cailin Briste @CailinBriste #RLFblog #SciFi #RomanceToday’s featured book is It Takes a Cat Burglar: A Thief in Love Suspense Romance, a sci-fi suspense romance by Cailin Briste.

    Sebastian St. Croix is a wealthy businessman with a specialized hobby. He steals things. As in entering without permission and purloining expensive artifacts and art objects. This could be his flaw, a penchant for taking what doesn’t belong to him, but it isn’t. He’s a thief in a white hat. The items he takes have all been previously stolen from public museums and are in private collections. He returns these priceless works of art once he appropriates them.

    Like most romance heroes, Sebastian is handsome. When Darcelle sees him for the first time after a year of interacting through notes this is what she thinks. “He was gorgeous. Only a master sculptor could have formed a face of such perfect symmetry. The masculinity of his high cheekbones, angled jaw, and straight brows was softened by his exquisite lips. From beneath black locks slanting over his forehead, pale green eyes stared at her.”

    On the surface it doesn’t look as though Sebastian has any flaws.

    Rich? Check.

    Good looking? Check.

    Uses his skills for good? Check.

    But a romance book isn’t as fun to read if the hero doesn’t have at least one flaw he must struggle with or overcome to find his happily ever after. The aspect of Sebastian’s personality that makes him an exceptional cat burglar also makes his love life one of physical release with no long-term connections. He must be in control. And then Darcelle Lebeau enters his life. She exposes that flaw, so that even Sebastian recognizes he must change or lose her.

    It Takes a Cat Burglar is a novella, so the length limits creating a hero with multi-layered flaws. The best full-length romances are a spider web of the hero and heroine’s flaws, intractable situations, and devious villains. I personally love a hero who struggles to relinquish control. When he lets go, the result is so satisfying.

    Which flaws are your favorites? Are there some flaws that would make a hero unacceptable? What about dark heroes? The darker the hero, the more flaws he has, but getting a bad boy to fall in love is a huge favorite among romance readers. So, what part of the bad boy persona is flawed and what shouldn’t change? Let me know what you think.

    It Takes a Cat Burglar: A Thief in Love

    When Darcelle Lebeau throws off the invisible chains that keep her bound to her family, she discovers a new vocation. Tempted to enter the illegal playground of a man she nicknames Matou, she becomes a cat burglar in training. Deeply ensnared with each task he entices her to fulfill, she fails to discover his identity and true intentions.

    Sebastian St. Croix, a wealthy businessman, has a dark side. He’s a thief, a cat burglar who steals art and historical objects. For one year, he trains Darcelle to become his assistant, remaining incognito, observing her from afar. His admiration grows along with his desire for her with every phase-one challenge she completes. Phase two will test the limits of his control. Hands-on personal training? Yes. Sex? No. With his sister’s happiness at stake, nothing, not even the tempting Darcelle Lebeau, can interfere with accomplishing the biggest break-in of his career.

    Genre Sci-fi suspense romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    Publisher Hot Sauce Publishing
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727MJK45/

    Cailin Briste Social Media

    Cailin has been writing fiction for six years and non-fiction for two decades. Her non-fiction work has been published in magazines and in a non-fiction anthology. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, the RWA Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter, and the RWA Passionate Ink Chapter.

    Cailin loves science fiction and romance, so combing the two came naturally. She is currently writing the third book in her Sons of Tallav sci-fi erotic romance series. Shane: Marshal of Tallav and Maon: Marshal of Tallav were released in 2016 by Loose Id. She’s also working on a novella for an SFR Shooting Stars anthology tentatively title Educated by the Master.

    Website http://cailinbriste.com/
    Blog http://cailinbriste.com/category/all-posts/
    Twitter http://twitter.com/CailinBriste
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cailinbriste/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cailinbriste/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7413817.Cailin_Briste
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Cailin-Briste/e/B00GSX9QVW
    Newsletter http://cailinbriste.com/cailins-newsletter-sign-up/

  • Book Release,  Science Fiction Romance

    It Takes a Cat Burglar by Cailin Briste @CailinBriste #RLFblog #SciFi #Romance

    Welcome Cailin Briste author of It Takes a Cat Burglar, a new sci-fi romance.

    Why did you write this book?

    It Takes a Cat Burglar began with a prompt in a Goodreads group writing event. The characters wouldn’t keep to the prompts story line, so I put it aside and wrote another story for the group. I had thought of including it in a boxed set, but when that fell through I decided to self-publish the novella. Now I intend to write additional A Thief in Love Romances and make a series.

    What is your favorite genre to read?

    If you go by the number of books on my kindle, historical romance wins by a landslide, Regency romance in particular. I love the fantasy aspect of many of these novels.

    Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?

    My favorite character comes from the Foreigner series by C. J. Cherryh. Bren Cameron is the only human allowed to interact with the Atevi. Humans landed on the Atevi planet after a disaster separated them from human space. He’s supposed to be writing a dictionary that will allow the two species to talk effectively to one another. A difficult task because the Atevi are wired completely differently from humans. In the first book someone tries to kill him, and the entire series (20 books) is set in motion. I love his struggle to communicate, to find the words that have meaning to humans and Atevi, to keep the delicately balanced peace between the two species.

    What are you working on at the moment?

    My works in progress include a novella for the next SFR Shooting Stars anthology, the Cosmic Love Cabaret. It’s the love story of Master Trey from the first Sons of Tallav book Shane: Marshal of Tallav. He was a Dom at the Opio Institute, a sex school, but now works at the Whip Hand, a BDSM club. He’s been delegated the task of explaining dominance and submission to the newly hired creative director of the Whip Hand’s cabaret.

    I’m also about a third of the way into Rand: Son of Tallav, the third book in the Sons of Tallav series. It’s the story of Randolph, the owner of the Whip Hand, and best friends of Shane and Maon, characters from the first two books. He’s a sadist, so this book is taking a lot of thought.

    What books will we see from you in coming months?

    The Cosmic Love Cabaret boxed set will be available for pre-order in September and released in October.

    Please tell us about your latest book.

    Genre

    Sci-fi Romance, Romantic Suspense

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    When Darcelle Lebeau throws off the invisible chains that keep her bound to her family, she discovers a new vocation. Tempted to enter the illegal playground of a man she nicknames Matou, she becomes a cat burglar in training. Deeply ensnared with each task he entices her to fulfill, she fails to discover his identity and true intentions.

    Sebastian St. Croix, a wealthy businessman, has a dark side. He’s a thief, a cat burglar who steals art and historical objects. For one year, he trains Darcelle to become his assistant, remaining incognito, observing her from afar. His admiration grows along with his desire for her with every phase-one challenge she completes. Phase two will test the limits of his control. Hands-on personal training? Yes. Sex? No. With his sister’s happiness at stake, nothing, not even the tempting Darcelle Lebeau, can interfere with accomplishing the biggest break-in of his career.

    Publisher Hot Sauce Publishing
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Takes-Cat-Burglar-Thief-Romance-ebook/dp/B0727MJK45/

    Cailin Briste Social Media

    Cailin has been writing fiction for six years and non-fiction for two decades. Her non-fiction work has been published in magazines and in a non-fiction anthology. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, the RWA Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter, and the RWA Passionate Ink Chapter.

    Cailin likes to flip convention on its head, creating a universe in which each planet is a study in different what ifs. What would happen to alpha men on a matriarchal planet? How would society handle it if girls born on their new planet developed empathic senses?
    Website http://cailinbriste.com/
    Blog http://cailinbriste.com/category/all-posts/
    Street Team http://cailinbriste.com/cailins-street-team/
    Twitter http://twitter.com/CailinBriste
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cailinbriste/
    Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/102592935378667862505
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cailinbriste/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7413817.Cailin_Briste
    Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cailin-briste
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Cailin-Briste/e/B00GSX9QVW
    Newsletter http://cailinbriste.com/cailins-newsletter-sign-up/