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Announcing the Covet One Day Sale!! All of our Covet books are on sale TODAY ONLY for just $0.99 each. That means you can grab all of these great stories for less than $15!! To celebrate, our fabulous Covet Authors have put together a scavenger hunt with a Kindle Fire as the prize. Hop on over to the event page to join in the fun!! Covets have all the sexiness, emotion, and happily ever after that readers have come to expect and love from Entangled. They are...

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If there are any Covet titles you have your eye on, today is the day to stock up!  All Covet titles are 99 cents, today only!  Here are the deets -

Announcing the Covet One Day Sale!!

All of our Covet books are on sale TODAY ONLY for just $0.99 each. That means you can grab all of these great stories for less than $15!!

To celebrate, our fabulous Covet Authors have put together a scavenger hunt with a Kindle Fire as the prize. Hop on over to the event page to join in the fun!!

Covets have all the sexiness, emotion, and happily ever after that readers have come to expect and love from Entangled. They are firmly grounded in the contemporary world, but each novel brings in supernatural twists, breaking the contemporary and paranormal rules, alike. To find out more about our titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books you’ll be coveting next, visit the Entangled website, follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and join our Book Club!!

Check out the books here -  Covet books at Amazon

Winning the Boss’s Heart, by Hayson Manning

Read an excerpt here http://www.entangledpublishing.com/winning-the-bosss-heart/

Purchase link

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Where to find Hayson:

Website http://haysonmanning.com/

Blog http://haysonmanning.blogspot.com/

Twitter https://twitter.com/HaysonManning

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/HaysonManningAuthor

It’s already the middle of September?!  Yikes!  That means that I’m way, way behind on my diet of new Indulgence titles!  I’m going to spotlight one title each morning for the next four days, so check out these releases if they look interesting to you.  I’ll get things kicked off with – no surprise – COWBOYS!!!

Reforming the Cowboy: A South Beach Book by Marisa Cleveland

Imprint: Entangled Indulgence

About the book:

Purchase link

About the author:

Marisa Cleveland loves to laugh, hates to cry, and does both often. As a writer, she writes. Every day. Perhaps because she married her best friend, her adult romance novels focus on relationships developed through friendship and family-oriented values. She loves to connect with other writers and readers.

Marisa Cleveland loves to laugh, hates to cry, and does both often. As a writer, she writes. Every day. Perhaps because she married her best friend, her adult romance novels focus on relationships developed through friendship and family-oriented values. She loves to connect with other writers and readers.

Marisa’s Social Media:

Twitter – http://twitter.com/marisacleveland

Facebook – http://facebook.com/marisacleveland00

Google Plus – http://plus.google.com/102206201174009013772

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/marisacleveland

Tumblr – http://marisacleveland.tumblr.com

Goodreads – http://goodreads.com/marisacleveland

Title: Author:

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Entangled Publishing’s Ever After line is mostly a hit for me, so when I saw Risky Surrender, I wanted to read it.  The protagonist is an archeologist skating on the edge of the law, and she avoids personal relationships at all costs.  When she meets Keats McCall, she can’t help but be attracted to him, even though a long term relationship isn’t an option for her.  All she wants is to keep the promise she made to her father before his death, so she can finally be free to live her own life.  She discovers that McCall is the only one standing in the way of her goal, and she’s determined to keep her word to her father, regardless of the sexy man standing in the way.  Is holding on to the past preventing her from claiming her future?

I liked this novella!  Lucy has already retrieved an artifact from under McCall’s nose, but she isn’t all that eager to do it again.  After he catches her poking around the historic Indian village that he’s in charge of protecting, he’s instantly on guard.  Lucy doesn’t play by the rules, he’s learned, and he’s suspicious about her motives now.  When he discovers that she’s been living in her car, and that she can’t really afford the repairs after it breaks down, he takes her under his wing.  While he’s attracted to her, McCall’s number one calling is protecting things, be it historic sites or people.  With his privileged background, helping Lucy with the auto repairs, and even finding her a place to stay, isn’t a hardship, and it’s something that he genuinely appears to enjoy.  The more he sees of Lucy, though, the better he wants to get to know her.  She doesn’t care who his parents are or how much is in his bank accounts, and he finds that refreshing.  The fact that she has zero interest in getting to know him better is just something he chalks up to as a challenge.

Lucy has been alone since her father died two years ago.  She’s been at the mercy of her father’s benefactor, forced to pay back the debts her father incurred when his treasure hunting trips yielded nothing of value.  Lucy thinks she’s done with Malcolm, but when the artifact collector learns that she’s got a lead on an ancient statue, he makes threats against both Lucy and McCall unless she hands it over.   Yikes!

I enjoyed the flow of Lucy and McCall’s relationship.  It just clips believably along, and as they get to know each other better, they slowly begin to trust each other with little pieces of themselves.  The progression seemed so natural.  Sure, they stumbled along at times, but the reasons for that were also compelling and fit so well in the overall context of the story.  Lucy was a better developed character, but she had an unconventional upbringing, following along after her father, who was always looking for that next rush, that next treasure.  It made her think that she wasn’t able to have a traditional relationship, but after losing everyone close to her, she was so over giving her heart away, only to have it returned, bruised and battered. 

Risky Surrender is a satisfying read with fun characters, snappy dialog, and just enough intrigue to keep readers on their toes.  I loved McCall, and was sad when this story drew to a close.  If you have an extra hour or so this weekend, give this novella a go.

Grade:  B+

Review copy provided by publisher

Title:  Wicked Heat Author:  Nicola Marsh

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

I am pretty game to read anything with the Entangled name printed on the cover.  I have discovered a lot of great new to me authors among their various series romances, so when I won a copy of Wicked Heat, I was all geeked to read it. I’ve read Nicola Marsh previously, and I enjoyed her other books, so when I had a break in my schedule, this book got cued up on the Kindle.

This is a hot, fast read.  Allegra is not having the best luck lately; she’s been dumped right before her wedding, and her advertising agency is on the skids.  She’s lost a big client, and some prospective new business signed elsewhere.  Desperate, she decides to risk everything on the pitch of a lifetime to score a luxury resort empire’s advertising dollars.  If she can get this done, her agency will be set for life.  It’s only after she meets Jett, a flirty, sexy Australian who is also traveling to the resort island, that she finally begins to understand that there’s more to life than working and being in control all the time.  She had been willing to marry a friend of her parents for his business connections, and now she’s thankful that didn’t work out.

Jett is at a low point in his life, too.  His best friend since childhood has been fleecing their ad agency for years, and now it’s tumbling into bankruptcy.  His partner has fled for greener pastures, leaving Jett to wallow in the mess.  Desperate to get his career back on track, he is determined to win the same account that Allegra is after.  With his pride in tatters, he finally sees something to shake him out of the doldrums.  Allegra is striding very determinedly though LAX, leaving a trail of lingerie scattered behind her. 

From the moment they meet, the attraction between Jett and Allegra combusts.  They can’t keep their hands off each other.  Allegra sees Jett as an opportunity to put her dull, restrained love life in the past, and a chance to really let go and have the time of her life.  She lives for her agency, so she isn’t expecting anything long lasting from the cocky Jett, so she’s surprised when she begins to develop feelings for him.  She knows that their relationship can’t go anywhere; they don’t even live on the same continent!  When she discovers that Jett’s on the island to pitch the resort business, too, she’s dismayed.  She can’t just tell him that she’s there to do the same thing, with an almost identical pitch!

The major conflict is Allegra’s inability to level with Jett about why she’s at the resort.  It keeps her worried and distracted, giving Jett the impression that she’s cool and detached and not really that into him.  I think this would have worked better as a shorter book, and I found my attention wandering from time to time.  I loved the setting, and both the beginning and the ending.  There were a few times during the middle that I thought both Allegra and Jett needed to grow up.  Jett in particular acted like a petulant little boy when he found out that Allegra hadn’t been completely honest with him.  Now, seeing that he’s still stinging from her friend’s betrayal, some of his behavior made sense, but I was still disappointed that he was willing to jeopardize what’s left of his career when he decides to get back at Allegra by getting very, very drunk at the very resort he is trying to score business from.

Because this is such a fast read, it’s perfect for little bursts of free time.  Load it up on your phone and you won’t even notice those annoying waits at the store or gas station, because you’ll be too busy wondering how Allegra’s going to come clean and not mess up her hot new relationship with Jett.

Grade:  B/B-

Review copy provided by publisher

Please welcome Lane Anderson, hero of Tracy March’s Tempted in the Tropics, to the blog this morning!

[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in five words or less.

[Lane Anderson]  Doctor, guitarist, loyal, cautious romantic

[Manga Maniac Café] Can you share a typical day in the life of Lane Anderson?

[Lane Anderson]  Get up. Think about Paige. Get coffee from Paige’s bakery, even though she’ll barely speak to me. See quirky senior-citizen patients in small-town Maple Creek who believe Paige’s baked goods are magic. Get more frustrated with Paige. Get an invitation to play guitar for a wedding on the lush island of St. Lucia in which Paige is the maid of honor. Say yes, even though it smacks of a set-up with Paige. Try to sleep. Worry about how many ways this could go wrong.

[Manga Maniac Café] What three words come to mind when you think of Paige?

[Lane Anderson]  Sassy, sexy, and sentimental.

[Manga Maniac Café] What do you find most exasperating about her?

[Lane Anderson]  Paige doesn’t know why it’s impossible for me to help her with her Special Recipe program, even though it benefits my patients. It has to do with my past in Austin, and I’m trying to keep that a secret. What frustrates me most is that she makes me want to risk telling her. Oh, and there’s that magic she believes in. Totally exasperating.

[Manga Maniac Café] If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be?

[Lane Anderson]  I wouldn’t have started a medical practice with my ex-fiancée. What a mess that turned out to be.

[Manga Maniac Café] What’s one thing you won’t leave home without?

[Lane Anderson]  My secrets.

[Manga Maniac Café] What do you like to do when you aren’t arguing with your neighbors?

[Lane Anderson]  I like to chill out and play my guitar. Classical guitar isn’t everyone’s thing, but I play country and rock tunes, too. People can razz me about the classical thing, but that’s how I wound up in St. Lucia with Paige, playing guitar for our friend’s wedding.

[Manga Maniac Café] Can you share your dreams for the future in five words or less?

[Lane Anderson]  Love, laugh, life with Paige

[Manga Maniac Café] Thank you!

Tour wide Giveaway $100 Amazon Gift Card

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And!!!! Tracy is also giving away a charm bracelet at each stop on the tour!!!   US Shipping address.

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Tempted in the Tropics  Suddenly Smitten Series Book 2 by Tracy March

Publisher: Entangled Publishing – Bliss

Cover Artist: Jessica Cantor

 BN

About the book:

About the Author:

Award-winning author Tracy March writes romantic thrillers influenced by her career in the pharmaceutical field, and her interest in science and politics. She also writes lighthearted romances inspired by her real-life happily ever after.

Always up for travel and adventure, Tracy has flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. She loves Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and rarely goes a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its.

Tracy lives in Yorktown, Virginia, with her superhero husband who works for NASA. They recently spent two years living in Washington D.C., and enjoy visiting often—especially when the Nats are in town.

Website: http://www.tracymarch.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracy-March/151834621538910

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Tracy_March

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575285.Tracy_March

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Hi, Claire!  Welcome to the Manga Maniac Café.  Please describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Claire Baxter] I’m an Australian romance writer, a reader, a former corporate communications manager, a gardener, and a swimmer (though not a good one).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Flirting with Danger?

[Claire Baxter] Firefighter Jasmine Mackinnon has always just been one of the guys. So no one’s more shocked than she is to find herself kissing fellow firefighter and all-around sinfully handsome playboy Aaron Parkes after a friend’s wedding. Jasmine knows she can’t risk an emotional connection with a colleague—a potentially dangerous entanglement when fighting fires together—and nothing’s more important to her than her job.

Aaron never noticed how beautiful Jasmine was until he saw her out of her firefighter duds, but there’s something about the fiery woman that tempts him. Though he knows pursuing a real relationship is out of the question for a serial dater like him, when their casual flirtation builds into something more serious, it’s not just their jobs or their safety on the line. It’s their hearts.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Claire Baxter] I’d had this heroine in my head for a long time. I knew she was tough and prickly and worked in a male-dominated workplace in which she was just one of the boys and that was exactly the way she wanted it. I also knew that she fell for a co-worker, but I had no idea what job she did.

One day during a conversation with a non-writing friend, my friend mentioned a girl she knew who wanted to become a firefighter and suddenly lightbulbs sparked to life all around me. As soon as I knew that Jasmine was a firefighter everything else about her story fell into place, including Aaron.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Aaron?

[Claire Baxter] Sexy, cheeky, commitment-phobe,

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Jasmine had a theme song, what would it be?

[Claire Baxter] That’s an easy question because I played the song every day while I worked on the story. It’s SWEET ABOUT ME by Gabriella Cilmi. Gabriella actually sings: “There’s nothing sweet about me.” Tomboy Jasmine would definitely say the same about herself.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Aaron is never without.

[Claire Baxter] Can I say his sense of humour?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find on Jasmine’s bathroom?

[Claire Baxter] When we meet Jasmine you will never find make-up in her bathroom. Nor will you find perfume or hair-styling equipment. She simply doesn’t bother with any of that girlie stuff.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Aaron’s greatest regret?

[Claire Baxter] Oh, good question. Possibly his greatest regret is that he wasn’t able — wasn’t enough — to stop his mother drinking herself to death after his father disappeared.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Claire Baxter] Romantic comedy and light-hearted women’s fiction authors such as Jill Mansell, Cathy Kelly, Marian Keyes, Carole Matthews, Jennifer Crusie, Rachel Gibson. All very different voices, but their stories are funny as well as heart-warming. That’s what I hope to achieve with my writing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Claire Baxter] A mug, hot water and a teabag. Can’t write without my tea.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What was your biggest distraction while working on Flirting with Danger?

[Claire Baxter] Same as always…the internet. I’ve now installed Freedom, the app that switches off internet access for a set amount of time. It’s good, but I can always find something else to distract me, eg, weeds in the garden, bookshelves that need re-organising (I’ve had to turn my chair around in my workspace to stop me staring at the bookshelves and thinking of ways to re-organise them!).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Claire Baxter] Spark by Brigid Kemmerer. I think one of the reasons it had such an effect is that I don’t read YA or paranormal. This book is both YA and paranormal, and totally blew me away. I haven’t read the other stories in the series yet, but I will. Definitely.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Claire Baxter] I’m sure I’ve loved reading since I saw my very first ABC book, but the one I remember that swept me away to a fictional world was Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. It was the first in a series of 12 about children who had adventures in boats. I read all of them and was so sad when there were no more to read, but I quickly discovered other books to love.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Claire Baxter] I read, of course. I record episodes of my favourite TV series and watch them in blocks – I love murder mystery series especially. I work in the garden – there’s always something that needs doing out there.

If I have a whole day off I love to go for a drive with my husband, either into the Adelaide Hills or to one of South Australia’s many beachside towns. Occasionally we’ll fish from the jetty, but more often we’ll just enjoy being near the ocean.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Claire Baxter] Website: http://www.clairebaxter.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ClaireBaxterAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ClaireBaxterAu

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/374466.Claire_Baxter

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Amazon link

 BN

Flirting With Danger by Claire Baxter

Publisher: Entangled Publishing – Bliss

Date of Publication: September 9, 2013

Number of pages: approx. 190

Cover Artist: Jessica Cantor

About the book:

About the Author:

Claire Baxter writes contemporary romantic fiction of all lengths. Her short stories have been published in commercial women’s magazines around the world, while her novels have been translated into 20 languages and have been nominated in the Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year Award, the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Awards, and the Cataromance Reviewers’ Choice Awards (Winner, Best Harlequin Romance).

Before following her passion to write full-time, Claire was an award-winning corporate communications manager. Earlier, she worked as a translator and a PA.

Claire grew up in Warwickshire, England, but for more than 20 years has called Australia home. She considers herself lucky to live near one of Adelaide’s beautiful metropolitan beaches where she loves to walk and think up stories.

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Excerpt

Jasmine awoke, surprised that she’d managed to sleep at all, with a raging thirst thanks to downing enough champagne to float a small sailing boat. Well, not so much in truth, but way more than she was used to, and enough to give her a pounding head and make her swear to stay away from Zoe at any future parties Leanne might throw.

As she drank her third glass of water, the full horror of the kiss returned to her with appalling clarity. Aaron might have kissed her first, but she had flung herself at him.

Groaning, she bent over till her forehead met the countertop with a satisfying clunk. But it wasn’t satisfying enough, so she lifted it and let it drop again. And again. How could she have been such an idiot? Of all the dimwits in the world, she was the award-winning, cake-taking number one of all time.

For pity’s sake, if she’d had to lose control, why couldn’t it have been with someone else? Someone she didn’t work with. Someone she didn’t hold in such contempt—outside of work, that was. She had nothing but respect for him as a fellow firefighter. His private life was another matter entirely.

Aaron knew how she felt about his lifestyle; he could hardly be unaware, since she’d made it as clear as she possibly could during the time they’d worked together. And she’d been equally critical of the women who fell for his charm—the charm she’d always claimed to find unfathomable. Now, she’d behaved no better than a woman he’d picked up in a pub.

Tempted in the Tropics by Tracy March

About the book:

Early Praise:

“This is a terrific book! The storyline is fresh, modern and engaging. This is a fast-paced read the flows fluidly from beginning to end. The author does an excellent job of creating sexy seduction scenes that sizzle with heat.” – LJT on Goodreads

“Oh. My. Gosh. I so loved Tempted in the Tropics by Tracy March. It was entertaining from start to finish with the perfect blend of romance, laughter, and passion.” – Amy on Goodreads

About the author:

Award-winning author Tracy March writes romantic thrillers influenced by her career in the pharmaceutical field, and her interest in science and politics. She also writes lighthearted romances inspired by her real-life happily ever after.

Always up for travel and adventure, Tracy has flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. She loves Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and rarely goes a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its.

Tracy lives in Yorktown, Virginia, with her superhero husband who works for NASA. They recently spent two years living in Washington D.C., and enjoy visiting often—especially when the Nats are in town.

Buy links:

 B&N | Kobo Books

Tracy’s links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Giveaway!

Tropics Beach Bling prize pack including a charm bracelet, ring and a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card.

Flirting With Danger by Claire Baxter

About the book:

About the author:

Claire Baxter writes contemporary romantic fiction of all lengths. Her short stories have been published in commercial women’s magazines around the world, while her novels have been translated into 20 languages, and have finalled in the Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year Award, the Booksellers’ Best Awards, the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Awards, and the Cataromance Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

Before following her passion to write full-time, Claire was an award-winning corporate communications manager. Earlier, she worked as a translator and a PA.

Claire grew up in Warwickshire, England, but for more than 20 years has called Australia home. She considers herself lucky to live near one of Adelaide’s beautiful metropolitan beaches where she loves to walk and think up stories.

Buy links:

Amazon | B&N | Kobo Books

Claire’s links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway!

Enter for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card

Title: Gamble in Gold Author: Natalie Anderson

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

I’ve read one other novella by Natalie Anderson, and it really worked for me (Melt).  Gamble in Gold, sadly, did not.  Even though it featured one of my favorite tropes,  it was too short and too predictable to keep me engaged in the story.  Worse yet, a day after reading it, most of the plot has escaped my memory, so it’s also fairly forgettable.  Mango the dog, though he played only a small role, was the most memorable character for me.

Lexie is crashing at Luke Marchetti’s flat while he’s out of town.  He’s supposed to be gone for a month, so color Lexie very surprised, and also embarrassed, when he walks into his home and finds her in the kitchen.  In a gold negligee.  At the sight of him, Lexie is overcome with many emotions.  She’s had a monster crush on him since she was a foreign exchange student staying with his family in high school, and to her dismay, she hasn’t gotten over it.  Mix in the hurt from his cool dismissal of her – after sharing her first kiss – and she’s instantly on edge and angry.  He’s probably still a man whore, lacking any ability to have a real, caring relationship.  When she discovers that he’s hurt his leg in a training accident, though, her heart thaws, just a little.  Maybe he’s not so bad?

Unknown to Lexie, Luke has been attracted to her since she was a shy guest in his parents’ home.  When they’re caught kissing, his father tells him in no uncertain terms to keep his hands to himself.  With Lexie off limits, Luke turns to serial dating to forget her.  All he does is frustrate himself and break her heart.  With so many misunderstandings between them, can he convince her to give him a second chance?

I think my favorite part of Gamble in Gold was Luke’s realization that Lexie is the one for him, and that he’s finally ready to settle down with one woman.  When she coolly brushes off their night together as nothing more than a one night stand, it’s his turn to be hurt.  Lexie is beating herself up for succumbing to Luke’s charm, knowing that it will only result in heartache, so she wants to cut to the chase and make him think that he means nothing to her before he can do it to her.  Luke must plead his case, and he has to face some of his fears about a lasting relationship as he does so.

I was also disappointed with the length of GiG.  Based on the file size, I thought it would be longer, but the included preview took up a big chunk of the end.

Grade: C/C-

Review copy provided by publisher

Welcome to my stop on Christine O’Neil’s CHAOS blog tour!   I was able to ask Christine some questions about her new book, so check out what she has to say!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Christine O’Neil] Introverted geek w/a love of TV (Sherlock,Dr Who,GoT) books (HP,Divergent)&movies,quick to laugh&makes a mean double chocolate layer cake.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about CHAOS?

[Christine O’Neil] Chaos is about a girl who finds out that she is a semi-god descended from Aphrodite with the powers to suck the love (and subsequently, the life) out of people with her fingertips. She meets a boy at school who is superhot, but also the bane of her existence. Come to find out, he’s more than he seems and not exactly human himself. Here’s the blurb!

My name is Maggie Raynard. After sixteen years being just plain me, suddenly, when I lose my temper, my fingers become weapons of mass destruction. Turns out I’m a semi-god, descended from Aphrodite. Sounds cool in theory, but when I accidentally put my ex-boyfriend in a coma, things go downhill pretty fast.

Now some new guy named Mac Finnegan has made it his mission in life to continually piss me off. I’m stuck learning how to use my new powers while also dealing with regular high school problems, and with this annoying—and super-hot—guy all up in my business, I’m about to flip out.
But it gets worse. I just learned there’s this watchdog council of semis who keeps an eye out for any bad apples. They think I’m the baddest of the bunch and want to take me out before I do any more damage. My nemesis Mac might turn out to be my salvation, only he’s got secrets of his own…and they may just kill us both.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Christine O’Neil] This book was actually a collaboration between me and my editor and publisher at Entangled, Liz Pelletier. She was looking for someone to write a book on an idea she had and put out a call to authors, asking them to write a sample chapter that incorporated their best YA voice. Then she would pick one of the authors to work with. 156 of us sent in writing samples, and a week later, she called me, SUPER excited about the scene I sent her (which was brainstormed in my living room when my kids and husband and I sitting around and someone made a “That’s what SHE said”. We spit-balled from there, talking about a girl who had an advice column called that, and how she was a semi-god and voila! Anyway, Liz loved it so much, she wanted to contract my story immediately. So we took the little kernel of an idea I had written, and sat on the phone until around 2 a.m. world building around that scene. What we ended up was a loose outline for Chaos (and the rest of the Kardia Chronicles series). It was literally one of the most exciting and fun creative experiences of my life!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Maggie?

[Christine O’Neil] Funny. Snarky. Screwed.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Mac had a theme song, what would it be?

[Christine O’Neil] Titanium.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Maggie is never without.

[Christine O’Neil] The entwined ring Mac gives her. (I’m giving some of these away as blog tour contest prizes, one 14k gold, three silver. They are GORGEOUS, check it!):

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Mac’s pocket?

[Christine O’Neil] Any kind of weapon (he doesn’t need them).

A picture of Maggie, because he can’t stand her. Seriously. She’s his enemy. What? IT’S TRUE. Stop looking at him like that.

A salmon. Because who would keep a salmon in their pocket, am I right?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Maggie’s greatest regret?

[Christine O’Neil] Probably not getting to spend more time with her father before he died.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Christine O’Neil] If you mean like, what authors inspire me, then I’d say Charles Dickens, J.K. Rowling, Gillian Flynn, Neil Gaiman and Stephen King.

If you mean like what gets my creative juices flowing then I think I’d have to say the world around me. Especially people. Whenever I see someone with a really distinct personality trait or a way of speaking, or a certain way they walk etc. I get really excited because it makes me want to tweak that facet of that person and use it for a character. So for example, there is a secondary character named Libby in Chaos who is super dramatic and her clothes are never appropriate for the situations she’s in but she doesn’t care. Here’s a little description of her in the book:

“She loved clothes and dressing up but always seemed to miss the mark, wearing kooky stuff like berets and leg warmers, sometimes simultaneously. Today she had on a pink puffy skirt with matching flats and her blond hair was secured in a bun at the top of her head with a pair of chopsticks. All in all, she looked like either the prettiest girl to ever escape a mental hospital or like she’d jacked a ballerina on the way to school and stolen her gear. And she didn’t give a crap.”

That trait was taken from my future daughter in law Allison. She’s the type of person who will walk out of the bedroom in the morning wearing a cocktail dress and it’ll be like, “Uh, it’s nine a.m. Where ya going?” And she’ll be like, “What do you mean? Nowhere.”

That’s so distinctly her and those are the types of things that compel me to create characters and write their stories.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Christine O’Neil] Coffee, chocolate and coffee. Wait, no. Fingers, laptop and eyeballs, I guess would be better choices, huh? But it’d be brutal without the coffee and chocolate.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What was your biggest distraction while working on CHAOS?

[Christine O’Neil] Other books in my head. That’s always the distraction. For Chaos they weren’t as loud as usual, because I was really in deep with this one. First person books always seem to control more of my brain than when I’m writing third person, and this one more so than any other. But as entrenched as I was in Maggie and her story, I still had that little tickle in the back of my brain going, “Don’t forget about THIS other story”. It’s nothing I would ever complain about, though. Having TOO many ideas is a problem I’ll happily live with :OD

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Christine O’Neil] Ooooh, let’s see, that LAST one was Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. I hadn’t caught wind of it when it first came out, but I got it a couple weeks ago and loved it so much, I couldn’t wait to read more of her work.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Christine O’Neil] Wow, I’m not sure how to answer that one. I started reading really young, like four years old, and once I started I never stopped. I was insatiable. I think the first book I actually remember reading was Charlotte’s Web. God, I cried and cried, but I loved that book. Still do.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Christine O’Neil] I’m pretty much a total geek so I love to read, play board games with my family, and watch movies and TV shows like Sherlock, Doctor Who, Orphan Black, Game of Thrones and such. We also love to make movie and show-themed cakes like this one that we made for the season premiere of Game of Thrones:

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Christine O’Neil] I tweet a lot here https://twitter.com/ConeilYA and here https://twitter.com/_ChristineBell (my adult contemporary alter-ego) & I have a Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/TheKardiaChronicles here. I love chatting with readers about books and all manner of things, so hit me up!

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Thank you!

(Affiliate link)

About the book:

Goodreads/Barnes & Noble/Kobo/iBooks

About the author:

Christine O’Neil is one half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from Young Adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing fun and adventure-filled romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons. Christine loves to hear from readers, so please feel free to get in touch with her via the Contact Page. Christine also writes adult romance under the name Christine Bell.

Website/Twitter/ Goodreads/

The Kardia Chronicles on Facebook

Giveaway!

3 Prize Packs!

1 sterling silver ring and a Team Mac pin as well as temporary tattoos of the magpie.

1 sterling silver ring and a Team Mac pin as well as temporary tattoos of the magpie.

1 fourteen karat gold ring, and a Team Mac pin as well as temporary tattoos of the magpie.

a Rafflecopter giveaway /p>

Tour Schedule:

Week 1

9/2/2013- Crossroad Reviews- Guest Post

9/3/2013- The Book Belles- Review

9/4/2013- Manga Maniac Cafe- Interview

9/5/2013- A Backwards Story- Guest Post

9/6/2013- Coffee, Books and Me- Interview

Week 2

9/9/2013- Books Are Magic- Review

9/10/2013- K-Books- Guest Post

9/11/2013- Curling Up With A Good Book- Review

9/12/2013- Fantasy Book Addict- Interview

9/13/2013- Ticket to Anywhere - Review

Please welcome Tessa Bailey to the virtual offices today.  She is celebrating the release of Protecting What’s His, the first in her Line of Duty series.  After we chat with Tessa, you can enter for your chance to win a copy of Protecting What’s His!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Tessa Bailey] Hot-and-bothered stay-at-home-mom turned writer, Brooklynite, foodie and hopeless romantic.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Protecting What’s His?

[Tessa Bailey] “To steal or not to steal?” is the opening line of the book. Ginger, our mostly fearless heroine is deciding whether or not to steal fifty-thousand dollars from her passed-out stripper mother. Ultimately, she decides to take the cash (and her little sister, Willa) on the run to Chicago. She thinks she’s gotten away with it until she meets homicide cop and sexy new neighbor, Lieutenant Derek Tyler.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Tessa Bailey] I like a heroine who is a little bad. And a lot impulsive. I came up with Ginger, a fast-talking country girl, as a character first. Then I gave her an important and difficult choice to make at the beginning of the book. I built the story based on that decision. Of course, I needed someone to counteract Ginger’s personality, so I came up with Derek, the sharp, young lieutenant with a need to control. Watching him as he tries to control wild child Ginger makes for a very entertaining story!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Ginger?

[Tessa Bailey] Provocative, Willful, Vulnerable

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Derek had a theme song, what would it be?

[Tessa Bailey] “Play with Fire” by the Rolling Stones

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Ginger is never without.

[Tessa Bailey ] Cowboy boots and Dolly Parton witticisms

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  What three things will you never find in Derek’s bathroom?

[Tessa Bailey] A loofah, volumizing hair gel, decorative soaps.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Derek’s greatest regret?

[Tessa Bailey] He’s not the regretful type – although that might change throughout the book 

[Manga Maniac Cafe ] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Tessa Bailey] I have a group of friends who inspire a lot of the female relationships in my book. They are opinionated and swear like sailors. A lot of the time, I’ll ask myself, what would so-and-so say here? I was encouraged to write female characters who speak with more honesty after reading Tara Sivec’s Seduction in Snacks. I adore that book. The characters remind me of my friends.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Tessa Bailey] Silence, gummy bears and warm socks.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Tessa Bailey] On Dublin Street by Samantha Young.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Tessa Bailey] When I was fourteen, I was at a boring family reunion in Maine. I found an old, beat-up copy of “Hidden Fires” by Sandra Brown in my grandmother’s suitcase. It was my first romance novel and I never looked back.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Tessa Bailey] Play with my 19-month old, read, go to concerts, think up my next story.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Tessa Bailey] My website is www.tessabailey.com

On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tessa-Bailey/107783312730783

Follow me on Twitter @mstessabailey

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Ready for your chance to win a digital copy of Protecting What’s His? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can purchase Protecting What’s His from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About the book:

Title:  A Risk Worth Taking Author: Victoria James

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

This book had me invested in Holly’s life by the end of the first chapter.  It was heart-breaking.  It’s her big day at work, and she has worked the last ten years for this moment.  Her wardrobe was carefully picked out, and she is glowing with happiness. She is finally going to be made a partner at the prestigious design firm where she’s employed when she gets the call that makes her realize how pointless her achievement really is.  Her sister and brother-in-law have been killed in an accident, and now she’s left reeling, the guardian of her infant niece.  How can she raise a child alone?  How will she recover from yet another loss?  Everyone she has loved has died – her parents,  the grandparents who raised her and her sister, and now her sister’s gone, too.  It’s just too much, and Holly is devastated.

Returning to her rural hometown to renovate and then flip her grandparents’ house, she is confronted with painful memories of her past.  She has loved Quinn for a lifetime, but he rejected her when she was eighteen.  Now she has to put on a brave front and face him, and all of her childhood memories.  All she wants to do is get the house finished and get out of town, and back to her life in the city where she’s so busy she doesn’t have time to dwell on the emptiness of her life.

I enjoyed A Risk Worth Taking very much.  I loved the interactions between Holly and Quinn, and even enjoyed Emma, Holly’s little niece.  I usually am not a big fan of babies in romances, but Emma wasn’t just window-dressing here.  She was central to the storyline, and she helped both Holly and Quinn’s hearts to heal.  Despite her best efforts to not get caught up in her feelings for Quinn, which still burned bright, Holly’s resolve crumbled as he became an important addition to her new family.  And Quinn, though he didn’t feel worthy of Emma’s love or trust, was able to put his painful past behind him with the baby and Holly’s help. 

A Risk Worth Taking is a feel good read.  You’ll get caught up in Quinn and Holly’s romance, and cheer along as they both learn to trust again.   As Holly puts aside her sadness, she begins to remember all of the happiness she has turned her back on. As she remembers what is really important in life, she is willing to face the risks, and the rewards, of loving Quinn. 

Grade:  B+

Review copy provided by publisher

I have been enjoying quite a few Entangled series releases, and I thought it would be fun to share some info about the books slated to hits store shelves today.

BLISS

The Practice Proposal by Tracy March

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

Just For Summer by Jenna Rutland

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

Indulgence

A Risk Worth Taking by Victoria James

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Tempted by Trouble by Michelle Smart

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

Faking It by Diane Alberts

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

The Baby Bargain by Jennifer Apodaca

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

The Cinderella Makeover by Hope Tarr

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

Date by Mistake Anthology

Buy it here:

Amazon

B&N

Books on Board

And don’t forget about Jennifer Probst’s latest, All The Way.  Jennifer was my special guest yesterday, so please click here to see what we talked about.

Book Blurb:

Buy Links:

Amazon

B&N

Please welcome best-selling author Jennifer Probst to the virtual offices today! This is a return visit for Jennifer, and I’m so excited to host her again.  The Marriage Bargain is one of the first Entangled books that I reviewed, and Jennifer is one of their first authors that I interviewed!

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Welcome back, Jennifer!  If you had a theme song, what would it be?

[Jennifer Probst] Well, before I got married it was “Another One Bites the Dust.” Now it’s more a motto from Finding Nemo – “Just Keep Swimming.”

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about All The Way?

[Jennifer Probst] Absolutely! It’s a love story of revenge and redemption between a restaurant owner and a food critic. My hero walked away from everything he loved and broke my heroine’s heart. Now he’s back  to right his wrongs, but it’s a hard journey back into her bed and heart. It’s filled with lots of sexual tension, humor, food, music, and fun!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Jennifer Probst] I’ve always wanted to write about a food critic and the restaurant world, and I loved the idea of a story centering around a man who made mistakes when he was young and the path back to make things right.

I actually wrote this story a decade ago so I’m thrilled to finally share it with readers!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Miranda?

[Jennifer Probst] stubborn, feisty, fearful

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Gavin is never without.

[Jennifer Probst] A need to get Miranda into bed!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Gavin’s greatest regret?

[Jennifer Probst] Breaking Miranda’s heart

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What were your greatest influences while working on All The Way?

[Jennifer Probst] Frank Sinatra. Everything Italian. Family dynamics. Great food. Spiritual philosophies.  Opera.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Jennifer Probst] JR Ward’s The Black Daggerhood series – I’ve read three in a row and can’t stop!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How has your life changed since The Marriage Bargain was released last year?

[Jennifer Probst] Like the glass slipper fit. I’m completely grateful and humbled to be able to write full time now, and dedicate myself to sharing my stories with readers. I have an agent, a few fantastic publishers I adore, and the ability to work from home so I can be with my kids. Doesn’t get better than that!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Jennifer Probst] I love my family. I adore getting together with everyone over a great dinner, seeing my nieces, taking vacations, just enjoying time together. I love reading, dogs, food, wine, and hanging with my friends.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Jennifer Probst] I love readers! I’m consistently on twitter, facebook, and respond to all emails. Visit my website at www.jenniferprobst.com or drop me an email at [email protected]

Thanks so much for having me here today!!

[Manga Maniac Café] Thank you!

You can purchase All The Way from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below:

Book Blurb:

About Jennifer Probst:

Jennifer Probst is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary romance fiction, both sexy and erotic.  Visit her at the following:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2965489.Jennifer_Probst

Website: http://jenniferprobst.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage

Twitter: @JenniferProbst

Paige Cuccaro is making a return visit to the virtual offices.  She’s here today to talk about her latest release From Here To Eternity.  After the interview, please enter for your chance to win a special prize pack.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had a theme song, what would it be?

[Paige Cuccaro] High Hopes. I’m the little old ant trying to move rubber tree plants.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about From Here to Eternity?

[Paige Cuccaro] At its core, From Here to Eternity is a story about rediscovered love—the kind of love that becomes a part of you, that sustains you during the best and worst times. The story is set in the future when science has advanced to the point where a person’s life can be extended indefinitely by means of mind transfer into androids that look exactly like the person who’s thoughts, memories and personality they house. This raises the question –How do you define, life? It’s that question that puts the heroine, Rachel and her husband, Dr. Nate Burns at odds. Nate would do anything to have his wife with him. But when he’s forced to chose between her most base moral belief and protecting the secret of eternal life he must do the one thing that would make his life bearable at the same time it goes against everything Rachel believes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Paige Cuccaro] I’m a huge nerd. I love sci-fi stories, especially robot stories. I started thinking (and not for the first time) what it would be like to be an android, like a super advanced version of the six million dollar man. We’ve already come so far in medicine, able to replace limbs with more and more advanced robotic arms and legs. It seems a natural progression that we’ll get to the point where we can literally replace every part and the only thing standing between a human and a fully robotic human will be replacing a person’s brain with a robotic one. That would mean transferring a person’s thoughts, memories, personality, everything that makes them who they are into a robotic brain. If we were able to do that…would you still be able to call that person human? Poof…story born.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Rachel?

[Paige Cuccaro] Opinionated.

Loyal

Determined.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Nate is never without.

[Paige Cuccaro] His Global eyewear. In the future it’s their connection to the world, phone, news, entertainment…everything.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Rachel’s purse?

[Paige Cuccaro] A mini travel tool kit. A copy of Scientific Journal. A tape measure.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Nate’s greatest regret?

[Paige Cuccaro] That he had to betray his wife’s beliefs.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What were your greatest creative influences while writing From Here to Eternity?

[Paige Cuccaro] Isaac Asimov. I adore his robot stories.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] List three things on your desk right now.

[Paige Cuccaro] A stuffed leopard holding a heart that says True Love, a can of diet Pepsi and a scented Marshmallow Fireside candle.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Paige Cuccaro] Sacrifice of Passion by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Paige Cuccaro] I’m a huge movie buff. I love watching movies, romantic comedies, sci-fi, adventure, you name it! Except horror. Life’s scary enough. I don’t need a movie to add to things.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Paige Cuccaro] Twitter: @paigecuccaro

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaigeCuccaro

Blog: beingpaige.blogspot.com

Website: www.PaigeCuccaro.com

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway Time!!!

Paige and Entangled Publishing are hosing a tour wide From Here To Eternity Prize Pack including 3 DVDs, 2 of Paige’s previous books and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

To enter, just fill out the widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can order From Here to Eternity from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below:

About the book:

Please welcome special guest Nicole Helm to the virtual offices today.  Nicole is here to chat about her new release Seven Night Stand.  She also brought along a $10 Amazon gift card for one of you to win after the interview!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Nicole Helm] I’m a mom of two young boys who writes contemporary romance novels between changing diapers and fielding incessant toddler questions.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Seven Night Stand?

[Nicole Helm] Seven-Night Stand is about a reality TV scout, Vivvy Marsh, who lands at a small private airfield in Kansas to try and find a reality TV show that will work. She’s pretty desperate for Harrington Airfield & Mechanics to be the setting for that show, but small airport owner Nate Harrington has way too many skeletons in his closet to let that happen. What he does let happen is a seven-night stand that turns complicated when feelings enter the equation.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Nicole Helm] I actually wrote the first 1,000 words for a contest where the opening scene had to have a man and a plane. Nate and his airfield were born. The reality TV idea came from something my grandpa mentioned in passing once regarding someone calling him from a TV station with the possibility of doing a show on his business (which is an airfield, although a different kind of one than the Harrington Airfield in my book). It never came to fruition, but it was enough of a seed in my brain for me to use it as a story premise.

The characters themselves came from the idea of wanting a woman to be bowled over by a man and a plane in the first thousand words. Thus, hunky Nate was born. He’s got a little swagger, so I knew he’d need a confident woman who didn’t take anyone’s crap. And that’s how Vivvy came to be.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Vivvy?

[Nicole Helm] No-nonsense, guarded, driven.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Nate had a theme song, what would it be?

[Nicole Helm] Oooh, I love this question! A good theme song for Nate would probably be Guys Like Me by Eric Church. Even though Nate’s a successful businessman, he’s a little rough around the edges, and he definitely embodies his small town.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Vivvy is never without.

[Nicole Helm] Her cell phone–her only connection to the outside world when she’s in Kansas.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Nate’s bedroom?

[Nicole Helm] This is hard. Nate’s a pretty laid back guy, but I’d have to go with a suit, throw pillows, and hair dye.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Vivvy’s greatest regret?

[Nicole Helm] Spending so much of her life fearing connection.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Nicole Helm] Books. I’m a lifelong reader, I was once an English major and then an English teacher, so books of all shapes and sizes influence–not just my writing life–but my life in general. I also love music, especially country music. A lot of story ideas have started from listening to a country song.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Nicole Helm] My iPad, something distracting my kids, and the internet so I can procrastinate when I get stuck.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Nicole Helm] Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O’Keefe. I think Molly is writing some of the most complex, interesting heroines in contemporary romance right now and this book totally blew me away.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Nicole Helm] I’ve been a reader my whole life. I remember my dad reading me and my sister a picture book called "Pudgy Pals" when we were tiny, tiny, and I remember the first books I read on my own were a collection of Dr. Seuss books, but I have always, always loved to read. I think I was born with it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Nicole Helm] Spend time with my husband and kids, watch St. Louis Cardinals baseball, hike (if it’s a nice day), bake, and, of course, read.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Nicole Helm] My website: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Helm/125277964228020?ref=hl

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5832703.Nicole_Helm

But the best bet is Twitter because, as my husband can attest, I spend waaay too much time on it. @NicoleTHelm

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway Time!!

Nicole is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card!  Please fill out the widget to enter. Earn extra entries by following. Open to US addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can order Seven Night Stand from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About Seven Night Stand:

Reality TV scout Vivvy Marsh loves her job, but she’ll lose it if she doesn’t find a hit. When she’s sent to Kansas to scout a show, it looks like a bust…until she meets sexy pilot, Nate Harrington. His family would make the perfect show to save her career.
Nate can’t deny his attraction to Vivvy, but no way can he let this show take off. The Harrington family is riddled with secrets, and she wants it all out in the open. For the next seven days, he’s going to stop at nothing to keep her out of his family’s business, even if it means keeping her distracted in his bedroom.

Nicole’s Bio:

I grew up with my nose in a book and a dream of becoming a writer. Luckily, after a few failed career choices, a husband, and two kids, I get to pursue that dream.
I write down-to-earth contemporary romance over the backdrop of America’s flyover states for Entangled Indulgence and Samhain Publishing.
I live in Missouri with my husband and two young sons, and write my novels one baby’s nap at a time. I’m slightly (okay, totally) addicted to Twitter (nicolethelm), the St. Louis Cardinals, and someday owning a barn.
You can contact me at [email protected]. I am a contributor at the From Fact to Fiction blog and the Entangled Indulgence Author’s blog.
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicole-Helm/125277964228020?ref=hl
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nicolethelm
Website: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com
Blog: www.nicolehelm.wordpress.com/blog
Seven Night Stand Buy Links:
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seven-night-stand-nicole-helm/1114300676
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Seven-Night-Stand/book-ZhbPXJ2v8EumCA_tC8Jdhw/page1.html?s=L2AYTnOAwkuKvZQ48mIjqA

Jennifer Shirk hijacked the virtual offices to share her favorite romantic books with you!  How does her list stack up against yours?

HI, all! Jennifer here.

Valentine’s Day is past, but if you’re a romance reader love is ALWAYS in the air. (Or at least we want it to be, which is why we read these books in the first place!)

I have a sweet romantic novella out now called A Little Bit Cupid, which I think is VERY romantic since it centers around the premise of love at first sight.

But everybody has different feelings on what is classified as "romantic", so I thought it would be fun to show you my Favorite Romantic Books–especially for those who haven’t read my books or don’t know me.

Maybe we even share some of the same personal favs! Check them out below!

Jennifer’s Top Ten Most Romantic Books

10) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (a classic and one of those romances that obviously goes way beyond just mere good-looks attraction)

9) Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (a funny YA, but one where even though these two come from different worlds, they are meant to be together. Very sweet.)

8) Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins (the hero Malone was not your "all talk and no action" kind of guy. In fact, he was the opposite–but actions speak WAY louder than words)

7) Blue-eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas (boy, oh boy, this hero was HOT and noble and knew exactly how to romance the poor "broken" heroine)

6) Jewel of the Sun by Nora Roberts (love a big old Irish hero with heart of gold)

5) The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (melancholy story but emotional and romantic YA)

4) Perfect by Judith McNaught (gorgeous hero kidnaps heroine to prove his innocence and they end up falling in love–perrrrrrrfect!)

3) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (do I really need an explanation on this one?)

2) Honey Moon by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (two tortured characters but together they’re able to heal one another. LOVE this book!)

1) Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas (Sam was so sure of himself and so sure he wouldn’t fall in love with the heroine. They even would make sure to tell each other daily "I don’t love you." Ha! Love it when the hero gets bamboozled. )

Well, that’s my list and I’m sticking to it. I hope you all get to check out these books as well as my book A Little Bit Cupid.

Thanks so much for having me today!

What’s your favorite romance book? Have you read any of the books on my list?

Thanks, Jennifer, for sharing your Top Ten Romantic Reads with us!

About Jennifer Shirk: Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy–which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.

She writes sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Samhain Publishing, Avalon Books/Montlake Romance and now Entangled Publishing. She won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC’s Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her first book, The Role of a Lifetime.

Lately she’s been on a serious exercise kick. But don’t hold that against her.

Feel free to follow her on Twitter or become a friend on Facebook.

Connect with Jennifer here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferShirk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorjennifershirk
Website: http://www.jennifershirk.com/
Blog: http://www.jennifershirk.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3112488.Jennifer_Shirk

About A LITTLE BIT CUPID: Finding love should be easy, but wedding photographer Pheobe Ward knows better. When Cupid shows up on a crazy mission to help her —and save the world in the process—Phoebe realizes love might be even more complicated than she thought. Even with Cupid showing her Mr. Right , she can’t stop thinking about his best friend, Mr. Wrong.
Cal Crawford has never had time for love, but now he’s falling for Phoebe. Which means it’s got to be just plain wrong to set her up with his best friend, right? But even though seeing Phoebe with someone else will break his heart, he can’t walk away from her.

Phoebe can’t afford to choose the wrong guy with the fate of the world at stake. But maybe Cupid has it wrong. Maybe she has to rely just a little bit on Cupid, and a whole lot more on her heart.

Buy links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Little-Bit-Cupid-ebook/dp/B00B1228ZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359644248&sr=8-1&keywords=a+little+bit+cupid
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-little-bit-cupid-jennifer-shirk/1114144344?ean=2940015995244&itm=1&usri=a+little+bit+cupid
Books on Board: http://www.booksonboard.com/index.php?BODY=viewbook&BOOK=1455229&TITLE=A+Little+Bit+Cupid&AUTHOR=Jennifer+Shirk

iTunes Bookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-little-bit-cupid/id593745761?mt=11

A LITTLE BIT CUPID on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17244482-a-little-bit-cupid

Please welcome Victoria Vane to the virtual offices today!  Victoria is here to talk about her historical romance Treacherous Temptations, and after the interview, you can enter for a chance to win a Treacherous Temptations prize pack, courtesy of Entangled Publishing!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Victoria Vane] Obsessive compulsive writer, insomniac, horse lover, romantic, Georgian junkie

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Treacherous Temptations?

[Victoria Vane] Treacherous Temptations is a dark and somewhat erotic Georgian romance with strong elements of intrigue. (Think Dangerous Liaisons with Jacobite intrigue and South Sea scandal.) It is also, in essence, my personal homage to the classic novels of the 18th century in which virtue vs. vice and the seduction of a virgin were predominate themes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Victoria Vane] As noted above, it was largely inspired by the book/film Dangerous Liaisons which can be seen in the primary characters of Hadley and Barbara who are closely modeled after Valmont and the Marquise de Meurteil. The innocent Mary is actually modeled after a real historical character by the same name who was also one of the great heiresses of her time.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Mary?

[Victoria Vane] Innocent and unworldly but sensible.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Hadley had a theme song, what would it be?

[Victoria Vane] HA! I LOVE this question! I am tied between two songs:

George Thorogood’s Bad to the Bone:

I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I’ll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I’m here to tell ya honey
That I’m bad to the bone

or Greg Allman’s I’m no Angel:

So you find me hard to handle … well …I’m easier to hold
So you like my spurs that jingle
And I never leave you cold
So I might steal your diamonds … I’ll … bring you back some gold
I’m no angel

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Mary is never without.

[Victoria Vane] Her common sense, although Hadley surely threatens it at times.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Hadley’s bedroom?

[Victoria Vane]  Hard to say. I don’t think anything is off limits to Hadley!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Mary’s greatest regret?

[Victoria Vane] That even though she is incredibly wealthy, she doesn’t have the freedom to live her life as she pleases.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Victoria Vane] History. Almost everything I write has a strong connection to something real that I read. This includes all of my characters.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Victoria Vane] Besides my computer? Music, caffeine, and chocolate

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Victoria Vane] That’s really a tough one! I really don’t get my socks knocked off easily, but for romance, I would have to say that two similar books really stand out in my mind: Flowers From The Storm by Laura Kinsale and The Madness Of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley. These are both excellent books that feature tortured heroes who are misunderstood by all of those around them. I really loved how these authors showed their respective heroes’ inner struggles. A close third on my list would be Firelight by Kristen Callihan which is a Victorian twist on Beauty and the Beast.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Victoria Vane] I have loved to read as long as I remember. I was particularly addicted to fairy tales and hors books when I was in elementary school, but when I was in the fourth grade one of my teachers read Lloyd Alexander’s The Black Cauldron aloud to the class. After that, I devoured the entire series and even read it aloud to my younger siblings. My next favorite book was Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty. I still cry when I read it!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Victoria Vane] I read, walk my dog, ride my horse, and play the Celtic harp.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Victoria Vane] Email: [email protected] , Web: http://authorvictoriavane.com,
Blog: http://victoriavane.wordpress.com, Facebook: Author Victoria Vane
Twitter: @authorvictoriav. I am also very active on Goodreads!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for your chance to win a Treacherous Temptations prize pack? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can order a copy of Treacherous Temptations from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About the book:

Title:  Real Men Don’t break Hearts Author: Coleen Kwan

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

Real Men Don’t Break Hearts is a fun, quick read.  It’s about second chances and changing your outlook on life.  Both Ally and Nate learn to forgive and put the past where it belongs – in the past.  They finally take the lessons learned from a few challenging moments in their lives and start to look to the future.  Ally is especially chained to her past, having suffered a heartbreaking and humiliating breakup six years earlier.  Having been burned painfully by her fiancé, she turns her focus on saving her grandmother’s souvenir shop and decides that she’s not ready to trust again.  After being jilted at the alter, and worse, having hated Nate Hardy, her intended’s cousin, deliver the news, she’s not willing to put her heart at risk like that again.

Nate, a delinquent in his younger days, made it big in Sydney, but now he’s looking for something else.  All of his money and fancy toys don’t mean anything to him, and he’s searching for a new direction, and a new purpose, for his life.  He decides it’s time to face his past, as well as make up for some of the poor choices he made when he was younger.  Moving back to Burronga, the small town where he grew up, he reopens his deceased brother’s landscaping business.  Along the way, he is forced to realize that neither he, nor his older brother, were blameless for their poor reputations and the reluctance of some of those in town to welcome him back home.  Especially Ally Griffin.  He’s always thought of her as prissy, but as he gets to know her, he begins to think that he’s judged her unfairly.

I enjoyed how both Ally and Nate are made to reassess their opinions of each other as the story progressed.  Ally is having a hard time making ends meet at the shop, and she’s past due with her rent.  When she discovers that Nate is her new landlord, she’s terrified that he’ll kick her out, causing her to lose both her business and her home, the apartment above the shop.  She also hasn’t forgiven him for destroying her relationship with her ex. She has blamed him for years for being abandoned at the altar, and having to come to terms with her anger and resentment is hard for her.  She has blamed Nate for so much for so long that it’s hard to just let it go.  As she gets to know him better, though, she begins to realize that she misjudged him and that he’s not the cause of her relationship dissolving.

Nate’s attempts to make amends for his past mistakes makes an engaging backstory.  He’s matured and realizes what a turd he was when he was a teen.  He defaced public property, harassed the next door neighbor, and committed petty crimes.  He was on a ruinous path, and now he realizes how lucky he was to be able to put that behind him.  I liked the interactions between Nate and the neighbor and her crabby dog the best, and felt moved by Nate’s attempts to fix the relationship that he and his brother broke.

Real Men Don’t Break Hearts pushed all the right buttons for me.  Enemies to lovers, redemption, and discovering your path in life, one that makes you happy and enriches the person you are, are all themes I love to read about, and Coleen Kwan explores them with compassion and compelling prose. This is the first book I’ve read by her, but it won’t be the last.

Grade: B

Review copy provided by publisher

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

I love the tag line for Waking Up Dead by Emma Shortt.  Where there is horror can there be love?  You betcha!!  I don’t know much about this book other than it will be in stores in October, and it has ZOMBIES!  Can’t wait!

What are you waiting on?

Today, Wendy Sparrow is visiting the virtual offices!  Wendy’s here to chat about Frosted, and then you can enter to win a beautiful sterling silver snowflake necklace with blue and white Swarovski crystals as well as a copy of Frosted!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Wendy Sparrow] Wife. Mother. Quirky. Obsessive and compulsive. Addicted to Mtn Dew. Professional Insomniac. Believer in happily-ever-afters. Easily amused.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Frosted?

[Wendy Sparrow] Frosted is Jack Frost’s love story. Seven years ago, as prophesied, Kate fell through the ice and into his world. Jack is the Peter Pan of winter at the time. He’s giddy that he’s found his queen and doesn’t see any obstacles. Kate, on the other hand, comes from a broken family and she’s never thought anything could last forever let alone have an immortal bond with a guy she’d thought was only part of a song. In return for marrying him, Jack lets Kate go back to the mortal world so she can say goodbye…and Kate runs off to Florida—out of his reach.

Seven years have passed—five years longer than Kate had agreed to—and Jack is done waiting. His kingdom and its king both need their queen back. Frosted is that story. The courtship of Kate by the king of winter.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Wendy Sparrow] I had this dream about a girl, Kate, walking on the sidewalk and avoiding stepping off with a serious determination—she was not going to step in the snow. She looked down into a frozen puddle and saw Jack Frost’s reflection and he’s irked because she’s his queen and she’s out of reach. I typed it down and tossed it in a folder and then a year later, I heard Kate say in my head, “You’re going to have to find yourself a new queen,” and it was time to write it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Kate?

[Wendy Sparrow] Insecure. Independent. And even though it doesn’t seem like it at times…deep down…she’s hopeful.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Jack had a theme song, what would it be?

[Wendy Sparrow] Let it Snow. Actually, I guess it should maybe be the Christmas song where he’s been tagged as a nose-nipper…but he hates that. Don’t ever sing that around him.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Kate is never without.

[Wendy Sparrow] Seven layers of clothing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Jack’s bedroom?

[Wendy Sparrow] A roaring fire. A book on dealing with death. A DVD with the stop motion animated TV special Jack Frost.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Kate’s greatest regret?

[Wendy Sparrow] Kate regrets the extra years she took to realize…uhh…I almost spoiled it. Phew. Close one. She regrets running away.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Wendy Sparrow] Does insomnia count? Insomnia and my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are usually what drive me to write. I can’t sleep if I’ve got a story stuck in my head—and I already don’t sleep much.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Wendy Sparrow] Mountain Dew. Quiet. My laptop. Everything else is negotiable.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Wendy Sparrow] I just read a suspense last month that had a haunted house filled with secret passages on a bayou and some elements of the paranormal. It was just about as much fun as you can have with a book without it getting kinky. The Secret of Cyprier Bayou by Jana DeLeon. Last year, though, I read a lot that were fantastic. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, the False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen, and I, Robot by Isaac Asimov just to name a few.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Wendy Sparrow] Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Wendy Sparrow] When I’m not writing, I’m either reading or on Twitter—I’m fairly addicted to both.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Wendy Sparrow] Twitter. @WendySparrow I will talk to anyone about anything and due to my insomnia…the hour usually isn’t a factor.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!!

[Wendy Sparrow] Thanks for having me on your blog!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

First, Wendy is giving away this beautiful necklace:

Fill out the widget to enter for a chance to win it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ready for your chance to win Frosted? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can order Frosted from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About Frosted:

About Wendy Sparrow:

At home in the Pacific Northwest, Wendy Sparrow writes for both an adult and young adult crowd. She has two wonderfully quirky kids, a supportive husband, and a perpetually messy house because writing is more fun than cleaning. She enjoys reading with a flashlight under a blanket—the way all the best books should be read—and believes in the Oxford comma, the pursuit of cupcakes, and that every story deserves a happily ever after. Most days she can be found on Twitter where she’ll talk to anyone who talks back, and occasionally just to herself.

Wendy can be reached at the following:

website:  http://wendysparrow.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Wendy-Sparrow/471652932872034

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/WendySparrow

Blog:  http://ladybugsroar.blogspot.com/

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3346109.Wendy_Sparrow

Cindi Madsen dropped by the virtual offices to chat about Falling for Her Fiancé, a romance published under Entangled’s Bliss imprint.  Cindi also pens YA stories, so be sure to check out All The Broken Pieces!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Cindi Madsen] Romance writer of both adult & YA who loves writing, reading, music, dancing, junk food & shoes. Also loves her awesome, supportive family.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Falling for Her Fiancé?

[Cindi Madsen] Best friends since college, Wes and Dani decide to fake an engagement to get Wes through his sister’s wedding, where his ex is a bridesmaid, and Dani through a company retreat and hopefully earn her a promotion. Along the way they start realizing there might be something more than friendship between them.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Cindi Madsen] My editors were talking about their wish list for the Bliss line, something I’d talked with my editor about writing, and she said she loved the friends to lovers storyline. Her editing assistant said she wanted a fake engagement. That night when I went to go to sleep, suddenly I was thinking about friends who fake an engagement. I started thinking of how funny it’d be as they lied their way through it, and all the slip ups and forced proximity & faked kissing that had them start wondering how much was fake. I couldn’t fall asleep until I had the whole thing mostly outlined in my head, and got a sense of how the characters played off each other. I knew I had to write it ASAP.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Dani?

[Cindi Madsen] Caring, athletic, family-oriented

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Wes had a theme song, what would it be?

[Cindi Madsen] Interesting question. I’m going with Afterlife by Switchfoot. It’s on the playlist for the book and since Wes is all about being impulsive the following lyrics fit:

And I wonder why would I wait till I die to come alive?

I’m ready now

I’m not waiting for the afterlife

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Dani is never without.

[Cindi Madsen] She played basketball in college, so while she doesn’t carry a ball around, she does have one in the trunk of her car, so she can play at a moment’s notice. And of course she’s pretty attached to her cell phone, especially whenever the “SexyBack” ringtone plays, because that means Wes is calling. (He programmed it in, telling her the song was just “so me”)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Wes’ bedroom?

[Cindi Madsen] Candles

Folded laundry—his laundry is in piles, or hung up if he’s on top of things

Before Dani came to visit, he’d probably say a dress, especially one that looked backwards. But after he gets a look at the “backwards dress” on Dani, he’s all about it.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Dani’s greatest regret?

[Cindi Madsen] Moving to Arkansas with her ex-boyfriend, following his dreams instead of her own.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Cindi Madsen] Music. I love the way it can make you feel and transport you. I want to put those emotions into my book, which is why I make playlists for my books. Other than that, I read a lot and really well-written movies and TV shows also get my creative juices flowing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Cindi Madsen] Music

Mountain Dew

My laptop

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Cindi Madsen] Something Like Normal by Trish Doller. That book was recommended to me by a couple of my twitter peeps, and it was AMAZING!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Cindi Madsen] So hard. I’m going to have to go with Anne of Green Gables. I mentioned it in another interview, but one of my teachers, a woman named Shelly Russell turned me onto them when I was in grade school, and I loved them. Then my mom gave me The Witch of Blackbird Pond and that pretty much cemented my love of reading.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Cindi Madsen] Usually watching movies with my husband, or desperately trying to catch up on all the cleaning I let go while I was writing (watching movies is MUCH more fun) We also like to go out to eat as a family.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Cindi Madsen] Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/CindiMadsen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CindiMadsenBooks

email: [email protected]

website: http://cindimadsen.com

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for your chance to win a copy of FALLING FOR HER FIANCE?  Entering is easy!  Just fill out the widget below.  Earn extra entries for following.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win? You can order a copy of FALLING FOR HER FIANCE from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About FALLING FOR HER FIANCE:

Buy Links:

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/falling-for-her-fiance-cindi-madsen/1114137785?ean=2940015969276

About the Author:

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Please welcome special guest Coleen Kwan to the virtual offices today.  Coleen dropped by to chat about her Entangled Publishing release Real Men Don’t Break Hearts.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Coleen Kwan] I am a daydreamer. I feel it’s important to unplug every day, especially in today’s world of constant electronic connection.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Real Men Don’t Break Hearts?

[Coleen Kwan] It’s a romance between a reformed bad boy and a good girl wanting to break out of her rut. Nate and Ally have never got along, especially after Ally blames him for her ex-fiancé jilting her at the altar. When Nate returns to his hometown and becomes her new landlord, she’s furious, yet at the same time curiously attracted to him.

Nate has come home because he’s tired of his high-living bachelor lifestyle and wants something different. His efforts to re-invent himself are hampered by his sudden growing attraction to Ally, the girl who’s always despised him.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Coleen Kwan] I’d always wanted to write a romance between a rake and a Miss Goody Two Shoes set in a small town where memories of past misdeeds aren’t easily forgotten. Nate and Ally gradually filtered into my imagination as two flawed people on a journey of self-discovery.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Ally?

[Coleen Kwan] Loyal. Self-effacing. Passionate.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Nate had a theme song, what would it be?

[Coleen Kwan] “Bad to the Bone” by George Thorogood.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Ally won’t leave the house without.

[Coleen Kwan] Her purse.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Nate’s pockets?

[Coleen Kwan] A comb (Nate is not the vain type). A little black book (His Lothario days are over). Cigarettes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Nate’s greatest regret?

[Coleen Kwan] Getting into trouble and causing his late older brother headaches.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Coleen Kwan] Other writers. My lifelong habit of burying my nose in books has been the biggest influence on my writing and my creativity. Good writing and storytelling always inspire me.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Coleen Kwan] My laptop. A cup of tea. Quiet.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Coleen Kwan] “Fevre Dream” by George R.R. Martin. I started it not knowing what to expect and found it un-put-downable. For days and weeks I was haunted by his tale of vampires on the Mississippi.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Coleen Kwan] The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton. Blyton is not very PC these days, but when I was a child she was my favorite author by far.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Coleen Kwan] I try to catch up on my TBR pile or I watch TV. I’m a natural couch potato!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Coleen Kwan] My website is www.coleenkwan.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage

Twitter www.twitter.com/ColeenKwan

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

You can purchase Real Men Don’t Break Hearts from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.

About the book

Purchase from Barnes &Noble: http:/tinyurl.com/a9qxs8c

 About Coleen Kwan

Coleen Kwan has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing. She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance.

Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching The Office.

Author Website: http://www.coleenkwan.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage

Twitter: @ColeenKwan

GoodReads: http://tinyurl.com/a3pzyaq