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The summer is warming up with two new releases from Bliss this month. One is our latest Red-Hot Bliss, Her Secret, His Surprise by Paula Altenburg, which throws the bedroom door open. The second is a traditional Bliss, Accidentally Married on Purpose by Rachel Harris, which while it’s a behind closed doors story it’s definitely not lacking in sizzle. Plus, Seven Day Fiance by Rachel Harris is on sale! See below for more details.
About Accidentally Married on Purpose:
One ring plus one wild night equals one crazy love
Sherry Robicheaux loves men. She loves love. And she loves an adventure. So when she meets a mysterious man while working backstage at a country music concert in Vegas, she’s all about what happens in Vegas staying there.
Country music superstar Tyler Blue just wants a weekend of anonymity…though there’s something about the spunky waitress with the streaks of purple hair that tempts him like no other. Until the next morning, when they both wake up with fuzzy memories…and rings on their fingers.
Convincing Sherry to maintain the ruse for his public image isn’t the hardest part—it’s reminding himself that their time spent playing husband and wife in her small town of Magnolia Springs can’t last. Tyler’s first love will always be music—and the road is no place for a sweet downhome girl.
Enter Rachel’s giveaway
About Her Secret, His Surprise:
Conflict of interest is an understatement…
Since being disowned by her strict father, Cass Stone has spent her adulthood trying to prove him wrong. Her drive has led to more success than her family ever thought she’d achieve, and life is looking great. Not even an incredible and mysterious one night stand that leaves her a single mom can trip her up…until the father of her baby stumbles back into her life, as sexy and unreliable as ever.
Logan Alexander hasn’t forgotten the night he spent with Cass two years ago, but he never expects to end up undercover as her assistant. His job saves lives—like it should have saved his brother—and he can’t afford complications. It’s difficult enough to maintain his cover as a carefree wanderer when he realizes his attraction to Cass hasn’t faded…and then he meets Cass’s daughter.
PLUS…
Pick up a copy of Seven Day Fiance this week only for just $.99!
About Seven Day Fiance:
One bad boy. One good girl. One unforgettable week.
Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning him at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.
Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little fiancé game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.
The post Spotlight and Giveaway: Bliss July Releases appeared first on Manga Maniac Cafe.
By: Mark Myers,
on 4/17/2014
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There was a young husband who took a young wife to live in a shoebox beside a busy thoroughfare. The young man attempted to treat his wife with utmost sincerity and kindness, but often found that his tongue got in his way. Dull and ill-advised words suitable only for bachelorhood unfortunately found their way from his mouth to his young bride’s ear.
While the ever-patient bride overlooked most of the offenses, the stupid young husband constantly felt it necessary to pay penance for his outbursts by aiding his wife in her chores. After one particular peccadillo, the husband took it upon himself to do the laundry.
Knowing at least that colors and whites must go separately, he sorted the clothes into piles and decided to begin with the whites. In went the slightly dingy load while the hopeful husband added soap and waited nearby. When the buzzer rang, he jumped to his feet expecting to pull out gleaming white clothes. What to his wondering eyes did appear, but a washer full of pink. Pink, the color of panic. Nothing was the same as it had gone in.
With his bride due home soon, he frantically searched the load to find an offending single red sock. Casting it aside, he loaded the machine with bleach and ran the whites through once more. Bing – cycle over, no change. Pink panic.
A key at the door
A smiling bride
A kiss before the confession
Disappointment, accusation, regret
“My favorite shirt!” she exclaimed as she held up a blushing blouse. “Ruined!”
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” pled the husband. “I’ll buy you another. What else can I do, my darling?”
“I will tell you what you can do,” she fumed. “You can promise you will never, ever, ever do the laundry again!”
“I swear it, my love,” promised the young man on bended knee. “I will never touch dirty clothes for as long as you’ll have me.”
One score and two years later, the older husband is still bound by his oath and forbidden to use the washing machine with the following exception: his rag towels.
With a family so large, the machine seems to run day and night, but can he help? Not besides folding.
I ask you the following, was the young naïve husband really so foolish decades ago, or did he craft a cunning plan sure to guarantee a life of marital slackness? Could you place that much credit for forethought on the brash youth who couldn’t keep his pie-hole closed? Would the wife’s version tell a different tale?
Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.
Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.
Pre-Order Buy Links:
Excerpt:
Angelle stopped beside a folding table boasting boxes of fresh, crispy cracklins and selected a thick piece. Cane watched, mesmerized, as she puckered those gorgeous lips and blew on the sliver. With a flirtatious glint in her eyes, she held it up to his mouth, and he opened.
Holy crap.
He’d had cracklins before. Fried pork fat was a standard gas station treat, usually shrink-wrapped and stale as shit. But this, fresh from the pot and piping hot, was unbelievable. Cane widened his eyes, and it was possible he even moaned. It was thatgood. And as he swallowed, Angel rewarded him with a rich, throaty laugh.
“Ca c’est bon?” she asked, grinning when he grabbed another handful.
He touched her nose and popped a piece in his mouth. “Good would be an understatement.”
Grinning, she took a fried morsel for herself and sent the balding, overweight gentleman tending the table a wink. “Now that’s what we like to hear.” Then she closed her eyes as she savored the treat.
The sounds of Angel moaning, and watching her face soften in the throes of a foodgasm, had to be the sexiest damn thing Cane had ever seen. His pants tightened, embarrassingly so considering he knew the audience was still watching, but what pushed him over the edge was when her eyes opened. The pleasure in them was his undoing.
Feeling the weight of the crowd’s disapproving stares and not giving a damn, figuring now was as good a time as any to give the people the show they clearly wanted, he grasped her hip and tugged her forward, pausing only to inhale her gasp of surprise before brushing her mouth with his.
It was like setting off a damn forest fire.
Angelle, his shocking little hellcat, pounced. Forgetting all about their audience, or maybe not giving a damn either, she wound her arms around his neck, lifted onto her toes, and kissed him back with everything she had. Cane had intended to steal a quick taste, take the edge off his craving for her, and prove their point with the town’s people. But hell if he was gonna be the one to back down now. Tightening his grasp on her slim hips, he brushed his thumbs across the smooth, exposed skin near her waistband. He deepened the kiss, thrilling over her telltale shiver. Whimpering, she yanked on the hair at his nape and sucked his bottom lip into her mouth. Hot damn.
Okay, now he had to start backing down. With all her male relatives watching, not to mention the knives and axes still lying around from the butchering earlier, if Cane valued his life, he needed to wrangle control of the situation. He’d heard patience was a virtue. That was a line of bull—he’d always sucked at waiting for anything he wanted. But for Angel, he was willing to try.
Loosening his grip on her belt loops, Cane slowed the intensity of the kiss. He smoothed the hem of her shirt down, grazed her lips one last time, and, placing his forehead against hers, inhaled through his nose. Sunflowers mixed with cayenne may be his new favorite scent. Angelle released a heavy breath, a flush blooming on her cheeks. She darted a glance at the crowd, then looking into his eyes, grinned lazily. “My goodness. If anyone doubted we were a couple before, I guess that showed them.”
About the Author
I grew up in New Orleans, where I watched soap operas with my grandmother and stayed up late sneak reading my mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun cowgirl living in Houston, I still stay up way too late reading my favorite romances, only now, I can do so openly. I firmly believe life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powdered-sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations.
When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, I homeschool my two beautiful girls and watch reality television with my amazing husband.
I write YA, NA, and Adult Fun & Flirty Escapes. Taste The Heat is my adult romance debut, and I’m also the author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES, as well as a ton of other books to come. I love hearing from readers and dishing books!
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
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And!!!! Tracy is also giving away a charm bracelet at each stop on the tour!!! US Shipping address.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tempted in the Tropics Suddenly Smitten Series Book 2 by Tracy March
Publisher: Entangled Publishing – Bliss
Cover Artist: Jessica Cantor
BN
About the book:
The only thing they agree on is the sultry heat between them
Nothing’s more important to Paige Ellerbee than her struggling bakery, Sweet Bee’s. When Lane Anderson, the temporary new doctor hot enough to rival McDreamy, moves in next door, though, she’s sure things are looking up. Until he threatens her business in their first conversation.
Lane just wants to practice medicine responsibly—not argue with the flighty bakery owner next door. But when he finds himself traveling down to the Caribbean to play guitar for Paige’s best friend’s wedding, suddenly the sight of the blonde in a bikini eclipses the fact they can’t agree on anything. And as their vacation romance grows, his reservations about starting something after getting burned by love are washed away like sand on the beach.
But once Paige and Lane land back home, will these polar opposites be able to forgive their feud and find lasting love?
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:
To be together is dangerous. To stay apart is impossible.
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.
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.
Enter Claire’s tour wide giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card and charm necklace.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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:
The only thing they agree on is the sultry heat between them.
Nothing’s more important to Paige Ellerbee than her struggling bakery, Sweet Bee’s. When Lane Anderson, the temporary new doctor hot enough to rival McDreamy, moves in next door, though, she’s sure things are looking up. Until he threatens her business in their first conversation.
Lane just wants to practice medicine responsibly—not argue with the flighty bakery owner next door. But when he finds himself traveling down to the Caribbean to play guitar for Paige’s best friend’s wedding, suddenly the sight of the blonde in a bikini eclipses the fact they can’t agree on anything. And as their vacation romance grows, his reservations about starting something after getting burned by love are washed away like sand on the beach.
But once Paige and Lane land back home, will these polar opposites be able to forgive their feud and find lasting love?
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.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Flirting With Danger by Claire Baxter
About the book:
To be together is dangerous. To stay apart is impossible.
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.
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
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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:
Danielle and Wes have been best friends since college, so when Wes needs a date for his sister’s wedding and Dani needs a partner for her company’s retreat, they devise the perfect plan: a fake engagement to get through both events unscathed. Adrenaline-junkie Wes can prove to both his ex and his family that he’s well and truly moved on, and serious-minded Dani can prove to her boss that she’s worthy of the promotion he seems to only want to give to a family-oriented employee.
But amid the fake swoons, fake kisses, and forced proximity, neither expects the very real feelings that develop. There’s nothing more dangerous than falling for your best friend…but what if the landing is worth the fall?
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
Ally Griffin is horrified to learn her new landlord is none other than the infuriating playboy Nate Hardy—the man she blames for getting her jilted at the altar six years ago. Plus, now her ex-fiancé is back in their hometown of Burronga, Australia, to marry his beautiful new bride…for real this time. Everybody’s treating Ally with kid gloves, as though she’s still heartbroken, but she’s just fine, thank you very much.
Nate Hardy is tired of his high-flying city career and bachelor lifestyle and is looking for something more real. The last thing he needs is to find himself undeniably attracted to Ally, the woman with whom he never saw eye-to-eye. But is he even capable of what Ally wants and deserves?
As Ally tries to pull her life out of the rut it’s fallen in, she doesn’t count on Nate stirring up her emotions. A short-term fling with the resident bad boy is practically irresistible, but only if she can guard her heart…
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
Roxanne Snopek is celebrating the release of her new book, Three River Ranch. Please welcome her to the virtual offices today!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Roxanne Snopek] Artistic, driven, solitary, peacekeeper, INFP + a dash of OCD & ADHD. Also, Scorpio Sun/Moon/Mercury/Neptune, so stand back when I get mad.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Three River Ranch?
[Roxanne Snopek] It’s a romance for people who don’t like reading romance! At least, that’s what reviewers are saying. It’s the story of two ordinary people with good but wounded hearts, who want to save the world and end up rescuing each other.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Roxanne Snopek] I love cowboys, so Carson was just a natural character to write. But instead of a traditional riding-the-range kind of guy, I made him a conservationist with a passion for saving the wild mustangs. The setting and world of Three River Ranch came alive for me as soon as I had this tiny bit, and the rest sort of evolved… a bit like a photo coming into focus.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Rory?
[Roxanne Snopek] Authentic. Resilient. Selfless.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things Carson would never have in his bathroom?
[Roxanne Snopek] Hm. Great question. He doesn’t buy aerosols. He doesn’t use products that have been tested on animals. Also, no harsh cleaning products! He’s a baking-soda-and-vinegar kind of guy.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Carson had a theme song, what would it be?
[Roxanne Snopek] “Born to be Wild”
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Rory’s most prized possession?
[Roxanne Snopek] Well, she loves her dog, Mistral, although she argues vehemently that animals are companions, not “possessions.” So, as far as inanimate objects, she has a crimson wrap that she wears to go out with Carson. The rich color and fabric are flattering, even for a pregnant woman!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Roxanne Snopek] Naturally, I’m a voracious reader and have been all my life. So books and writers, probably. There’s a book by the late Madeleine L’Engle called “Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art” that touched me deeply about a decade ago. Stephen King’s “On Writing” is just great, even for non-writers. Barbara Kingsolver’s “Poisonwood Bible” is the kind of book that, in my ideal life, I’d have the skill and wisdom and heart and maturity to write.
Then, of course, there’s Allie Brosh and her blog Hyperbole and a Half. Probably the funniest stuff I’ve ever read. A true outside-the-box thinker, a hilarious writer and artist. Go there. You won’t be sorry. http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.ca/
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Roxanne Snopek] Quiet. A non-sticky floor. Matrimonial cake. (I always order this if I’m in a coffee shop, but no one makes it like my mom…. dates…. oatmeal….mmm.)
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?
[Roxanne Snopek] I just finished “Don’t Say a Word” by Barbara Freethy and it was great! Suspenseful, fast-paced, great mix of romance and thriller.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[Roxanne Snopek] “Hurry Home Candy” by Meindert DeJong and “Jennie” by Paul Gallico. Both are stories of animals lost and in need of rescuing, which explains one aspect of my writing. And both end well, which explains the romance, I suppose. I don’t mind crying in a book, but I cannot bear unhappy endings. Oops. You said one book. Oh well…
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[Roxanne Snopek] I love to play in the dirt, making stuff grow if I can, pruning it or digging it out if I can’t. I like hiking through crunchy leaves with my dogs. I dabble in painting from time to time – big, splashy canvases that I stencil quotes on. I enjoy baking, but my doctor says I have to lay off starches, dang it. Also, I love to watch TV (can I admit that??) Right now I’m totally into The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Castle and am about to start watching Sons of Anarchy. I was a staunch ER fan before it ended, and St. Elsewhere before that. I LOVED Firefly. Big Bang Theory cracks me up and I still happen onto the occasional Friends episode I haven’t seen.
Oh, and I *love* Bikram yoga. Yoga of all kinds, really, but something about the heat really works for me.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?
[Roxanne Snopek] www.roxannesnopek.ca
Facebook: RoxanneSnopekAuthor
Twitter: @RoxanneSnopek
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/RoxanneSnopek
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!
GIVEAWAY TIME!!
Ready for your chance to win a digital copy of Three River Ranch? Just fill out the widget to enter. Earn extra entries for following. Open Internationally.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can order Three River Ranch from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the link below.
More about the book:
Needing a fresh start from her two-timing fiancé, Aurora McAllister answers a realtor’s ad for a guesthouse on the beautiful, serene Three River Ranch. She shows up at Three River tired, heartbroken, and with no one but her trusty Labradoodle as a companion.
Cowboy Carson Granger has enough trouble in his life without adding a woman and her dog to the mix. There’s the untamed mustang he’s prepping to release into the wild, not to mention his father’s crazy will, which stipulates that if Carson wants to fully inherit Three River, he’ll need to find a bride. Carson wants nothing to do with love and especially not a marriage of convenience. But he soon realizes Rory, and everything she represents, might just be exactly what he needs.
Sometimes love arrives on your doorstep when you least expect it…
More about the author:
Roxanne Willems Snopek is an award-winning freelance writer of everything from corporate newsletters to personal essays. Author of the Amazing Stories series of true life animal adventures, she now focuses on fiction. Snopek grew up in Saskatchewan and now lives in British Columbia.
| Title: Three River Ranch Author: Roxanne Snopek Publisher: Entangled – Bliss |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
Needing a fresh start from her two-timing fiancé, Aurora McAllister answers a realtor’s ad for a guesthouse on the beautiful, serene Three River Ranch. She shows up at Three River tired, heartbroken, and with no one but her trusty Labradoodle as a companion. Cowboy Carson Granger has enough trouble in his life without adding a woman and her dog to the mix. There’s the untamed mustang he’s prepping to release into the wild, not to mention his father’s crazy will, which stipulates that if Carson wants to fully inherit Three River, he’ll need to find a bride. Carson wants nothing to do with love and especially not a marriage of convenience. But he soon realizes Rory, and everything she represents, might just be exactly what he needs. Sometimes love arrives on your doorstep when you least expect it…
Review:
Ah! A series romance with mustangs! How could I resist? Especially when Three River Ranch is a launch title for Entangled Publishing’s new Bliss line. I was most eager to start reading this one!
This is a nice introduction to the Bliss line. The story moves along at a rapid clip, and it reminded me of a Harlequin Romance. Just enough angst to propel the plot forward and softer sex scenes. A feisty heroine who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, and a slightly socially awkward hero to challenge her resolve to not get involved with men. I am not a big fan of baby books, so I wasn’t totally charmed to learn that Rory is pregnant, but her situation made her character more interesting. After being dumped by her two-timing fiancé, she is left to fend for herself, pregnant and jobless. When she rents a house on a ranch, she thinks her prayers have been answered. She’ll take a little time for herself, have her baby in a less stressful setting, and then make a life for herself and her child, all by herself. Men are heartless jerks and she’s better off without one.
It is with a great deal of dismay that Rory first sets eyes on her new home. The place is a complete dump, and it’s not fit for her to live in. Then she discovers that she actually rented the other dwelling on the property, which has been kept up since the death of the ranch’s owner, but that his estranged son, Carson, is back in town and he intends to living in the house. Oops! Perfect set up for lots of conflict between the protagonists. Like Rory, Carson wants nothing to do with a relationship. Women are too much trouble, and he has to focus his energy on his dream of establishing a mustang sanctuary. He doesn’t have the time or the money to waste on women. Well, except for that stupid clause in his father’s will. If Carson wants to inherit the ranch, which he desperately need for his horses, he has to get married. Pronto. So maybe Carson and Rory can work out a mutually beneficial arrangement what will get them both what they want. The land for Carson, and financial security for Rory.
I liked how large a part the animals played in the story. Rory has a service dog, and because of a heartbreaking event in her past, she wants to help families with children with disabilities obtain service animals, because she is firmly convinced that they make an impact on the lives of those families. Carson has rescued a pregnant mustang from certain death, and he is determined to nurse her back to health so she will be strong enough to deliver a healthy foal. The animals interacted with each other, which guaranteed that I remained engaged in the plot. Whenever an animal was part of a scene, the story rocked for me. When they weren’t, things got a little bogged down. Why? Because Carson could be a jerk. I had a hard time feeling any sympathy for him when he was acting like a spoiled child. He took his frustrations out on Rory, and if I were her, I would be running as far away from him as I could get. When even his best friend had to tell him he was a thoughtless douchebag, one had to wonder at how quickly he could turn over a new leaf. Carson constantly shifted blame for his bad behavior to his emotionally distant and demanding father. I wanted him to take ownership of himself and his actions, and it just took too long for his light blub moment.
Overall, I did enjoy Three River Ranch, with the reservations mentioned. This is the first Bliss title that I have read, and I am looking forward to sampling more of them.
Grade: B-
Review copy provided by publisher
| | Title: Playing at Love Author: Ophelia London |
May Contain Spoilers
From Amazon:
Show choir teacher Tess Johansson loves three things: music, her job, and sharing that passion with her students. But when a school budget crisis forces funding to be pulled from either the sports or music programs, she finds herself going head to head with Jack, the gorgeous new football coach who broke her heart fifteen years ago.
Jack Marshall wants two things: to be closer to his young daughter and to make his mark as a football coach. Taking the new job, with the promise that he’d have time to build a solid team, gave him both. But now he must win the season with a group of boys who aren’t anywhere near ready or he’ll lose everything he’s worked so hard for. Being pitted against Tess, the summer love he never forgot, is like being fourth and long with only seconds on the clock.
On opposing sides of a fierce battle and with everything at stake, Tess and Jack find themselves torn between doing what it takes to win and doing what it takes to be together.
Review:
When I saw this new Bliss title, I jumped at the chance to read it. It has my favorite trope – you guessed it – second chances at love. I just can’t resist that one, so as I settled into my seat for the flight back from OKC, I started gobbling up this book. It is a sweet romance, with rapid pacing and fun characters.
Tess loves her job as the show choir teacher at Franklin High. She loves mentoring her students and pushing them to be the best they can be. When her job is threatened due to budget cuts, she is on the defensive. The only way to save her show choir is to take first place at Regionals, and even then, she has to hope that the new football coach, Jack, meets with failure. If Jack can’t win 4 out of 6 games with the beleaguered football team, his new position will be going down the toilet. Their rivalry is fueled by Jack’s betrayal when they were teenagers. As the entire town starts to choose sides, Jack and Tess must decide what’s most important – winning or falling in love.
I liked Tess, and felt that I got to know her and what made her tick. She’s appalled to face a ghost from her past, and infuriated when Jack’s football team threatens the survival of her show choir program. She loves her job, and she needs a paycheck to help keep her parents’ home out of foreclosure. When Jack comes waltzing back into her life after breaking her heart all those years ago, Tess doesn’t want to have anything to do with him. She still hasn’t gotten over his betrayal. She can’t trust men, and something always drives her away from a serious, steady relationship.
Jack has always regretted what he did that summer, all those years ago. Now he has a chance to make up for it, but Tess won’t give him the time of day. He’s beyond dismayed to learn that his new dream job may go up in smoke, and he can’t believe that his team has to compete with the show choir for survival. The added conflict to their relationship kept me engaged in the story. Since one of the programs has to go, I kept wondering how either protagonist would accept defeat. As the competition began to divide the school, and eventually, the community, both Jack and Tess began to see the damage that was being done as pranks between supporters began to get out of hand. I enjoyed reading along as they tried to come up with a mutually agreeable solution to the mess they found themselves in. As their October deadline approached, they each began to question what was really important in their lives. As they worked through this dilemma, it seemed that their relationship would take one step forward and two back, but I never felt that the pacing suffered, regardless of all of the new road bumps they encountered.
Playing at Love keeps a flirty tone throughout. I didn’t feel that Tess and Jack’s past was explored enough, but the story kept me entertained through a mechanical delay, a late flight crew, and a layover at DFW. My one nitpick – I felt that it lacked depth, and the ending was wrapped up too quickly, and too conveniently. Still, there is a good time to be had by all, and I believe that Jack and Tess won’t squander their second chance at a happy ever after.
Grade: B
Review copy provided by publisher
Kelley Vitollo is the author of Lucky Break, a new release from Entangled Publishing’s recently launched Bliss imprint. Kelley dropped by the virtual offices to introduce herself, and she brought along a copy of Lucky Break for one of you to win!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Kelley Vitollo] Mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, reader, writer, romantic, sensitive, friendly, emotional, determined, likes fun. Feels very lucky.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Lucky Break?
[Kelley Vitollo] It’s a friend to lovers story about two best friends, who don’t talk for a few years, because Sidney left for Hollywood without saying goodbye. She thought she was following her dreams. Kade knew she was his dream and when Sidney comes home for a short visit, sparks fly, even though they both know it isn’t smart. It’s basically about two people finding their friendship again, falling in love, and discovering who they are and what they want in life.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Kelley Vitollo] The book started with Sidney. I had the first scene of the book in my head. I knew she was a down-on-her-luck actress who had to go home again. Kade grew from there. I wanted a friends to lovers story because my hubby and I were best friends before we fell in love. Once I had Sidney and Kade, the story just grew from there.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Sidney?
[Kelley Vitollo] Determined, confused, loving.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things Kade would never have on the menu at Lucky’s?
[Kelley Vitollo] Oh! That is a hard one! Umm… nothing too frilly. Kade is a small town, simple guy, so none of that fancy stuff. Maybe nothing with Hollywood in the title since it’s what he almost lost Sidney to. LOL. Other than that, I think he would be pretty open 
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Kade had a theme song, what would it be?
[Kelley Vitollo] Your Everything by Keith Urban
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Sidney’s most prized possession?
[Kelley Vitollo] Probably her antique sewing machine.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Kelley Vitollo] Oh, another good question. I’m a huge fan of Lucy Monroe and Toni Blake. They both write emotional books with men I can’t help but fall in love with.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Kelley Vitollo] I’m really simple when it comes to writing. I’m not one of those authors who has to have music or anything like that. I’m usually writing with Dora the Explorer going in the background, so as long as I have my laptop, I’m good. I do really love writing at the bookstore or coffee house though. I find it relaxing.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?
[Kelley Vitollo] It’s actually a YA novel called, Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. For adults books I recently read Holly Lane by Toni Blake and really enjoyed it. I’m also a huge JR Ward fan.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[Kelley Vitollo] Wow. That’s hard. Honestly, I would probably have to say Harry Potter. As a teen, even though I loved writing, I didn’t read much. Harry Potter started my reading again. Then, when I became a stay-a-home mom for the first time, I found romance and immediately fell in love. The first one I picked up was A Soft Place to Fall by Barbara Bretton.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[Kelley Vitollo] I’m a huge reader. I have to read every day. I love spending time with my kids and husband. Going to the bookstore, dinner or movies with a friend. I like to scrapbook, though I don’t do it as much as I’d like to.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?
[Kelley Vitollo] I’m on Twitter @KelleyVitollo, at my website http://www.kelleyvitollo.com/ or on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kelley-Vitollo/377170388965628
Thank you so much for having me!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!
GIVEAWAY TIME!
Thanks to Kelley and Entangled Publishing, I have a digital copy of Lucky Break for one of you to win! Just fill in the widget below to enter. Extra entries for following. Open Internationally.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Didn’t win? You can order Lucky Break from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the widget below
Please welcome Rachel Astor to the virtual offices today! She is the author of Sugar Rush, a launch release for Entangled Publishing’s brand new Bliss line. Check out what she has to say about her new book.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
[Rachel Astor] I’m a wife and stepmom first and a writer second, though I love all of it. I write light, fun books that I hope put smiles on reader’s faces
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Sugar Rush?
[Rachel Astor] Dulcie Carter has her dream job. She’s been running her family’s sweet shop, Candy Land Confections, on her own since her mom passed away. It’s a great job, but with rent, supplies, and everything else, she needs to keep it hopping with sugar-crazed customers. Add school and trying to have a life and she’s drowning in caramel nougat.
Then she meets Nick… a breath of fresh air. Dulcie’s got a high for him way stronger than any sugar rush. Until, that is, she discovers who he really is: the son of her biggest competition.
When an invitation arrives for the annual Chocolatier’s Taste of the Year contest arrives, Dulcie can’t toss it fast enough, remembering last year’s horrifying “incident” when she tried to come up with a flavor all on her own for the first time and came in last place. But then she runs into Nick again, he goads her so far, she vows she’ll beat his sell-out factory store any day.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?
[Rachel Astor] The concept actually came first, though Dulcie and Nick were not far behind. I love to think about my readers and what might make them happy, so my plots tend to be closely related to jobs or events that I see as being tons of fun—such as running a candy store! And what better way to fall in love than within that theme of chocolate and candy? It can’t help but be a sweet romance! 
Dulcie was the first character I came up with and it was tons of fun getting into the mind of a chocolate genius- and as a side note, the name Dulcie means ‘sweet.’
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Dulcie?
[Rachel Astor] Hard-worker, sweet (of course!), and maybe a little nervous most of the time.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] An evil witch just turned Nick into candy. Describe his new form.
[Rachel Astor] Nick would be the Dark Chocolate of Desire, a decadent double chocolate confection that you know you shouldn’t have, but just can’t quite resist.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Dulcie had a theme song, what would it be?
[Rachel Astor] Actually, Dulcie sort of does have a theme song. She wakes up to I Want Candy playing on her iPod every morning.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Nick’s most prized possession?
[Rachel Astor] His $800 automated coffee machine
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?
[Rachel Astor] Sophie Kinsella, Meg Cabot, and a ton of other writers.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?
[Rachel Astor] Silence, coffee, and a notebook with an Ultra Fine Point Sharpie beside me.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?
[Rachel Astor] The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern absolutely blew me away!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?
[Rachel Astor] Hmmm. That’s tough, I’ve loved to read since I was a little kid. One book that really stands out from when I was a bit older was Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?
[Rachel Astor] I walk by the river near my house every day that it’s nice, run around with the kids’ sports and activities, and am also a bit of a TV/movie–aholic. Some of my favorite shows are Fringe, So You Think You Can Dance, and probably not surprisingly, Cupcake Wars.
[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?
[Rachel Astor] I’m at RachelAstor.net as well as @rachelastor on Twitter and http://www.facebook.com/astor.rachel on Facebook. You can check me out on Goodreads as well!
[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!
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From one Princess to another!
Have a super birthday, dear LS :)
Love, Lo, Bri, Princess Bliss and Emma♥
By: Laura,
on 7/26/2011
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It’s Vacation Time around the office lately, especially now that ALA is over. But one of the delights of being offline is getting to catch up once you’re back online: it’s always fun to see that the electronic world has continued to spin even in your absence. Here are some of the posts I’ve read and loved since being back in the office:
- From Abby the Librarian: first, I loved her discussion of summer reading clubs – she’s had a phenomenal turn-out for hers…further evidence that libraries and librarians provide vital and popular services. I also enjoyed her post on ALA’s Emerging Leaders program. I was an ALA Emerging Leader (Class of 2008) and agree with everything Abby had to say – it really is a great program and I encourage librarians who meet the qualifications to apply (you still have a little time left – the deadline is August 1st!).
- Jenny Brown (of Shelf Awareness fame) over at twentybyjenny wrote a lovely reflection of Kevin Henkes’ JUNONIA: “For a child, sometimes the small shifts can feel like tectonic plates realigning their world. That’s certainly the case for Alice. And with Alice as a companion, children know that if she can survive all these changes, they can, too.“
- The Reclusive Bibliophile created a booklist “if you like cooking, baking, and candy making…” Some of my favorite foodie books are on there, and I’d love to add THE KING’S TASTER by Kenneth Oppel, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, and just wait until you read our upcoming BLISS by Kathryn Littlewood (February 2012)!
- Jennifer Hubert Swan over at Reading Rants reviews Candace Bushnell’s SUMMER AND THE CITY, the sequel to THE CARRIE DIARIES. It’s the perfect summer beach read (both Jen’s blog and SUMMER AND THE CITY)!
- Melissa Rabey at librarian by day has a fun cover comparison post that involves Chris Crutcher’s DEADLINE, and she also posted a review of P.J. Converse’s SUBWAY GIRL.
- A lovely review of
I was going to post more zoo photos today but I realized that they depress me.
I like zoos that can give animals enough space to roam and mimic their natural habitats as best as they can. I know some zoos save animals from dying by offering them a life of captivity instead. In most cases I don't find this to be kind.
All I have to offer you this Wednesday are a couple of ATC's of mutts I made up.
I'm also including a photo of my sweet cat, Bliss who had another mini crisis which put me into a major financial crisis. She's fine and she's worth it!
Hug your fur babies. They are not going to be here forever.
On that note, Happy Animal Wednesday!!
Bliss, the Queen on her Royal Throne accompanied by Ratty and Mousie.
At the moment she's not very amused by the Court Jester...
Emma, the Court Jester with a few of her many toys and Bliss's feather wand.
Now if only she would learn to pick up after herself ;)
The funny thing is, Bliss spends her evenings gathering all the toys (babies) into one pile while we're alseep!
Happy Animal Wednesday! May you be as entertained by your kids as I am.
Someone at our house got into the catnip yesterday and decided it was time to start decorating.
Now she doesn't know how to get out of the snowglobe!
We're all just so happy that she's back to normal again, abusing drugs and getting into trouble ;)
The picture is blurry because I may have gotten into the catnip a bit myself!
Tis the season ;P
--
I’m alive. I’m happy. I’m blessed.
And I have a LOT of catching up to do!
Look for news and stories next week. Until then, keep eating pie.
November skies,
November sighs,
Blissful me.
for more SWS, click here :)
Most of you know this has been a tough couple of weeks at our house.
Hubby and I have been crying "UNCLE!" for two weeks now because of a nasty virus that has chosen us as hosts. Today I finally feel like a human being and he is close behind me.
That didn't come out quite right!
And our dear kitty Bliss sent us on a spin to the emergency vets for the past six days when she became covered head to toe in blood as she was grooming. She was severely anemic with a chance she wouldn't pull through. She barely escaped transfusions because she stayed borderline critical. She has been poked, prodded, ultrasounded and xrayed to the max and we still can't find a single reason for the bleeding. Unfortunately we were finding other things of concern which had us going back.
Long story short, miraculously, as soon as we got home from the hospital last night she turned the corner to wellness! I personally think St. Francis hitched a ride with us and I'm not a particularly religious person (in the traditional sense.)Every leg is shaved in a different pattern but vain as she is, Bliss could care less.
She's happy to be home in the studio listening to Debussy and watching the rainbow maker dance across the room. And Mom is very happy ;)
Thank you all for your prayers and love for her recovery. Let's hope we're home free.
Now here are some other reasons why we're all getting better in this house.
The love ♥ of friends!
This wonderful orange polka-d
"It's as if you were guided by some greater power and knew just what was needed."
I got this wonderful card in the mail today and it immediately trumped the post I was going to do for Animal Wednesday. The polo pictures will have to wait until next week.
This guy won my heart!
I'm fasting today and will be out of commission for most of tomorrow.
Meanwhile, enjoy this blissful feline :)
This one's for you Annie & Spike♥
Lately our cat Bliss has been wanting to cuddle up with our dog, Emma.
Not long ago Bliss went into attack mode when we first moved back to Rhode Island. Bliss wasn't well and she took it out on the dog. Emma won't soon forget that!
So when Bliss wants to cuddle, Emma gets up and slithers away.
Not so yesterday. I was at the computer and heard a low moan come from Emma. My first reaction was 'she's having a seizure' because she has epilepsy. (We call it Emma-lepsy)
Anyway, I turned around to see Bliss pinning down Emma like a Sumo wrestler! Bliss is twice Emma's size and weight.
Bliss was determined to get that damn dog to cuddle!
Emma extricated herself after I snapped this picture:)
Happy Animal Wednesday!
Now go cuddle!
There is a lot of music in my head. I always have a song playing in the background of my mind and I ALWAYS wake up hearing a song on Radio Laurie. That song often reflects my mood. This makes it easy to figure out what I'm feeling.
Yeah, weird. I know. But it is the only brain I have.
The selection of songs makes things stranger. I grew up on a college campus in the 60s, fell in love with "classic rock" in the 70s, survived disco (barely - polyesther still makes me break out in hives), and became a fan of hip-hop, indie rock, and country. The only music I don't enjoy is opera and I'm sure one of these days I'll get around to it.
Oh, and I'm a preacher's kid who sang in a gospel chorus. So the playlist on Radio Laurie is rather.... eclectic.
I have more thoughts to add to our ongoing discussion about the suckitude of book pirates. (You really should read through the comments posted on Tuesday and Wednesday - totally fascinating. Thank you to everyone who posted!) But not today.
Today I woke up with this song in my head:
(Much love to our Canadian sisters and brothers a snowball's throw away from the Forest!)
Today is a happy day for MANY of reasons. Play the music clip above while you read through them.
1. CHAINS (paperback) has made the New York Times Bestseller List!!!! (The list of February 7th.)
2. AND, CHAINS (paperback) made the Top Ten list of the National Association of Independent Booksellers.
3. AND, WINTERGIRLS was honored with spots on the American Library Association's Best Books for Young Adults list AND the Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers list!
4. But wait! There's more! WINTERGIRLS earned an Honorable Mention Cuffie from America's booksellers. (LOVE this award - best sure to read the entire list.)
5. Still not dancing? There's MORE. Amazon.com named me to their list of the 8 most influential YA authors of the past decade. Was flabbergasted by that one.
Whew! All this joy is balancing out my book pirate frustration rather nicely, I must say.
I am off to the Kindling Words writer's retreat today. Not sure if I'll be blogging there or not, but I'll come home with lots of pictures, I promise.
I'll leave you with another version of this song, just to keep your toes tapping all day. (It is from Sister Act 2. The lead singer is Ryan Toby.)
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This young wife was wise to such a ploy and smiled sweetly, gave her husband a kiss before saying, “Don’t worry, my sweet husband, we will work on this until you get it right” She followed the same tactic for many household chores, until upon retirement the now wiser husband built himself a workshop and disappeared for hours each day.
i think my husband actually tried that. Twenty-one years later, he is still doing laundry ;) B Blessed!
Haha. I still claim ignorance and incompetence.
That’s funny. I guess a potter has to examine the clay to decide whether the clay can actually be molded into something useful. My young wife gave up on this lumpy mess.
Mark, this is funny. After 42 1/2 years with the same woman I have yet to try to wash a load, and she has not yet even suggested I should learn to. I must be beyond help!!! Lol. Great post. Thanks:-)
She had big dreams that I could be something, but honey were dashed early.
She just played it. Lol
Hahahahaha. I think the young man was crafty and very smart. Hmmmmmm… :-)
An IQ test wouldn’t bear that out, but everyone stumbles into some luck at times.