Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Author Spotlight: Re/Paired by Michele Zurlo



Re/Paired is the second book in the Doms of the FBI series. Fans asked for Keith's story, and I delivered.

Keith Rossetti grew up the hard way--fleeing from his older sister's fists and finding addiction at a young age. It's a miracle he was able to make it into the FBI, and he fiercely guards his relationships with a handful of close friends.

 When Katrina Legato's brother brought home his Marine buddy all those years ago, she fell head-over-heels in love. Ten years have elapsed, and she hasn't forgotten that toe-curling kiss he gave her for her eighteenth birthday. She knows he's a demanding Dom who doesn't respect his submissives or keep them for long, but if that's all she can have of him, then she'll take it.

 When refusing Kat sends her to another Dom, Keith rethinks his decision. He plans to show her exactly why he's not a suitable life partner for anybody. But Kat, one of the only women he's allowed into his heart, isn't what he expected. She's no pushover. She demands more from him than anybody ever has, and he finds himself wanting to be the man she thinks he is.

 As she repairs his damaged soul, a stalker targets her. Is it just a coincidence that his mother pops back up in his life and his sister is suddenly calling his office?


 Ever wonder what goes into writing a story? The plotting and research that an author does? Where the inspiration came from for a particular character? There are many hidden secrets or information that we wouldn't know about the book or writing process. A lot more goes into the writing than we think! Here are some interesting facts you may not know about Re Paired.

1. Rossetti (Keith's last name) is the name on the tag of my purse. I couldn't think of a name when I created the character, and that was right there in front of me.

2. Some of the cases in Re/Paired were based on press releases from the Detroit US District Attorney's office and the FBI. They issue joint statements.

3. Katrina's boss's resume is the same as the Chief Prosecutor's at the Detroit Office. (Unless they've undergone some changes in the last year, in which case, it's based on the former Chief Prosecutor's resume.)
4. The details of the buildings/locations in Detroit are real.

5. The thoughts that go through Keith's head about being a Dom (the reasons he likes to do certain things) were taken from a list given to me by Master Mike--my Dom friend who has read excerpts from Letting Go 2 and Wanting Wilder for the GoodReads BDSM group.

6. I always guess whodunit when watching a TV show, so I assume anybody can. That's why the bad guy(s) don't hide.

7. I revised the parts with Layla as I plotted/drafted the third (untitled) book in the series.

8. Re/Paired took over a year to write. I completed three other novels while working on it.

9. After submitting Re/Paired to my editor at Loose Id and signing the contract, I sent a frantic email asking if I could overhaul the ending. They let me.

10. The bad guys are modeled after an amalgam people I don't like.

11. Loose Id had me cut the first 20 pages. (Yes--it was painful, but I survived.)

12. Originally I waffled between having a gynecologist scene and a harem girl scene. Then I read a book with a harem scene, so I decided to go the other way. I was going for comic relief. I think the scene ended well on all counts.

13. Keith's mom's "accent" is based on speech patterns found in southeastern Michigan, specifically the Downriver area where I grew up.

14. I refused to remove the Sandra Bullock reference during the editing process. LI has a policy of not having references that can "date" a story. I feel like Sandra is eternal.
Links:

One lucky person will have the chance to win an ecopy Re/Paired! Please leave a comment and your email address so the winner can be contacted. Thanks!

Question- What did you find most interesting about the Fun Facts Michelle wrote up about Re/Paired?

ARC Review: Hunter by Jax



Good vs. Evil
One hot white witch
The battle of a lifetime
Finding your ONE!

All of these things make Hunter one HOT, fun, intense book.

Tatyana is on her way to visit her brother, but he doesn’t know she’s on her way. Along the way, her car dies and she’s forced to walk. It’s a dark, deserted road in the middle of the night. It’s cold, freezing in face, as she only has a shawl to keep her warm. She finally makes it to the house where her brother is staying. She leans on the door to get a twig out of her shoe, when the door opens and she falls into his arms. Hunter.

The prodigal son has finally returned. On Hunter’s first night back, she falls into his arms, literally.

They’re both instantly attracted to each other. There’s a sizzle, a spark. But Hunter has secrets. In fact, everyone in the house has secrets.

What follows in an intense story of attraction, bonding, magic and good versus evil.’

I admit, I was hooked from the very beginning. Jax has a way of writing that is witty, sarcastic and funny, with a dry humor. The intense scenes between Hunter and Tatyana were HOT. I could feel the passion and heat that was building between them.

Jax did an amazing job of building a world that lives along side the world we all live in. Her easy explanation account for how these witches live in our society, yet we know nothing of their world.

I liked the idea of the differing schools of magic. Each school of magic gives the witch or warlock certain advantages and disadvantages. No two witches are exactly alike. The power level of each witch is different as is the school of magic and their ability.

It was just a neat world to be a part of. Now, I don’t KNOW that this is the first in a series. But I certainly hope it is. While there were no cliffhangers, there certainly were hints of the possibility of future books with this witch coven. I certainly hope there is!

Favorite Quote: "Now, here I am, a stranded woman marching down a spooky, remote road with no one to hear me scream. I'm in a damned plot for a B horror flick!"

Find it on GoodReads!


Cover Reveal: Abel by Elizabeth Reyes




Prologue


“I’m game if you’re game,” Nellie said, staring at him anxiously.
A man’s burning urges often ignore all logic. Abel Ayala knew this was all this was. A day of sipping on cocktails and lying around the deck of a cruise ship watching scantily-clad bikini-wearing women giving him the go-ahead smiles had done it to him. But now he stood here staring into Nellie Gamboa’s eyes, a divorcee eight years older than he was who from what he’d heard was still carrying a load of emotional baggage—probably still held a torch for her ex as well. She was someone he would not and should not be thinking of in terms of releasing some sexual tension, damn it.
The fact that she’d turned her life around after what had been hailed by his friend’s wife and Nellie’s best friend, Roni, as one of the most grueling experiences any woman could go through didn’t help. She’d gone and shaped up and did a complete makeover from the mousy woman he once remembered her as. If he didn’t know it, he’d never even guess this sexy-as-hell woman would be hitting thirty soon. The sexual tension between them had been a living breathing thing and going on for months now. Only up until now he thought he might be imagining her requited feelings of lust.
His twenty-two-year-old ass had no business with a woman her age—no business getting involved with Roni’s best friend—especially knowing full well that he’d never take a relationship with her seriously. But this changed things. Nellie was telling him she was all for a no-strings-attached relationship. She was as interested in anything serious as he was. Coming off what she called the divorce from hell, she said she wanted to live it up now. He was glad for the liquid courage Nellie’s wine had provided. She said she was all for a fun-and-run experience and she’d had her eye on him for some time.
It was still a risk, his brain reasoned. Things could sour. This could even cause a rift between him and his good friend’s wife if any hurt feelings came from this. But the already throbbing parts of his body said otherwise.
She tilted her head in that sexy way she did so often with curved lips that practically called out for his. To hell with logic! Pulling her delicate frame against his immediately released some of the pent-up tension that had been building every time he’d been around her lately.
Swallowing hard, he stared at those lips—lips he’d wondered far too many times what they must taste like. “Hell yeah, I’m game,” he said as he took her mouth in his. Feeling a desire like none he’d ever felt before, he kissed her deeply, sucking her tongue, her lips. Damn, he wanted to eat her up.
He’d been fighting it—over thinking it—for months. This was just his ever-so-curious body’s reaction to finally giving into a longing that had peaked tonight as they’d enjoyed a few friendly dances. That’s all it was. But he needed more than just a kiss now. God he wanted so much more, and since she was game . . . He pulled away from her just long enough to catch his breath and take a look around the almost-empty deck.
“I’d invite you back to my room, but Hector and Charlee might—”
She tugged his hand and was already on the move. “Let’s go back to mine.”
The second the elevator doors closed, Abel pushed her against the wall, pulling her by the waist to him, and his mouth and tongue sucked at every inch of hers. She panted softly, running her fingers through his hair as he moved down to her soft neck and sucked softly then a little rougher.
As the moving elevator came to a stop, Abel tore himself away. No sooner had the doors opened when they were out in a rush to her room. They turned the corner down the long corridor of rooms.
“How far down?” Abel asked.
“All the way to the end,” she replied, taking even longer strides.
Feeling crazed with anticipation, Abel’s eyes searched for the ice/vending machine room like the one on his floor. The moment he saw it, he pulled her in it.
He answered her confused expression with a kiss as he closed the door and pushed her against it. “I need to refuel.”
All right, he needed to get laid more often. This was ridiculous. Obviously he’d been spending too much time training and not enough socializing, because he’d never felt this kind of urgency. Duly noted—he’d move a few things around in his schedule. She lifted her leg, bringing it around him.
“Careful,” he warned, biting her lower lip, “or I may just finish you up right here.”
“Do it,” was her only response and he froze.
Pulling back to look in her eyes, he could see she was serious. “Right here?” He asked, his hand already traveling down under her dress.
She nodded as his fingers felt the dampness between her legs and how hot she already was, pushing his heart into overdrive. He squeezed his eyes shut as he leaned his forehead against hers. “Sweetheart, don’t play with me.”
“I’m not,” she assured him breathlessly.
Abel opened his eyes, looking down at her big brown eyes. Up until that moment, he’d never noticed the golden specks that were sprinkled throughout. The desire he saw in them now was as urgent as his own, although he didn’t miss the slightest bit of apprehension. He couldn’t blame her. Anyone could walk in on them, though he was certain he’d be able to hold the door closed against the force of any one person or maybe two if they pushed against it. At least until he was sure she was decent. But he didn’t want her doing anything she wasn’t completely certain about.
“Are you sure about this?” He slipped his finger under her panties, her moisture inviting him all the way in.
She gasped, closing her eyes at his touch and nodded. “The kiss on the deck,” she said, her eyes remaining closed. Abel stared at her lips as she continued to speak a little more breathlessly with every caress of his finger to her silky wet skin. “The elevator . . . This . . . It’s exciting. I’ve never done something so . . .”
Nellie stopped to swallow, licking her lips, and Abel kissed her before she could finish. She didn’t have to. Suddenly the need to make this happen for her, make this experience with him be one she’d never forget, took over. It was just an ego thing. Nothing more. What guy didn’t like knowing they were a woman’s first anything?
Abel reached for his wallet, but his lips never left hers. She kissed him back just as urgently, her hands grasping the front of his shirt. She gasped harder at the sound of his zipper opening. So he stopped and looked at her wide eyes. “I’m sure,” she said before he could ask again, pulling him to her, and he groaned against her mouth.
Working fast, he got the condom on and reached under her sundress, pulling her panties down. When they hit the floor, he lifted her easily off the ground. “Wrap your legs around me.”
She did and he adjusted her, groaning loudly as he entered her. Kissing her harder now as he fucked her against the door, he tried in vain to stifle his moaning, but it felt so damn good to be inside her. Here he’d been under the assumption that women who had been married, especially for several years, wouldn’t be this tight. She was tighter than some of the younger women he’d been with, and it felt just too damn good to finally be doing what he could only fantasize about up until now—so good it was almost alarming.
With her arms tightly wound around his neck, she began to pant with every thrust, and he went even harder, her panting growing more frantic as he felt her begin to pulsate around him each time he slid into her. Just as her entire body began to tremble with pleasure, he felt her arms tighten around his neck as she pulled her mouth away from him to breathe and cry out. Abel couldn’t hold it any longer either. Groaning again, he came in an explosive climax. Sinking deep inside her, he pushed his body against hers, burying his face in her sweet neck. Nellie clung onto him for dear life, gasping for air.
“We’re…” Nellie started to say before stopping to catch her breath, “still going back to my room, right?”
Abel smiled, squeezing her naked behind and looked up into her somewhat embarrassed eyes. “You bet this hot little ass we are. That was just an appetizer. I hope you have all night, because what I have in mind is gonna take that long.”

Her eyes sparkled now with excitement and she nodded. Hot damn! She was going to be more fun than he’d expected.


About me? Well, I was born and raised and continue to live in sunny southern California. I'm married and have two wonderful teens. My love for writing began when I was just a kid though, I never really had any dreams or aspirations of doing it for a living. Then along came the age of eReaders and I saw an opportunity to get my writing out for the world to read without jumping through hoops and getting past the red tape of trying to get traditionally published.
 
For Funsies: 11 things about me:

1. I'm considerably tall for a woman about 5'9 and I love wearing HIGH heels. Though I don't so much lately. But I used to do the Valerie thing when I was younger BIG shoes! Good thing my husband is 6'3. =)

2. I chew my nails. *sigh* a habit I've sadly never been able to break out of.

3. I love to sing. Yep karaoke is a good friend of mine.

4 . Like in so many of my stories I married my first love. And we're still together after almost 18 years. Unlike most of my stories we've NEVER broken up. Not even for a day. And yes ladies he is an alpha through and through.  =)

5. My first job was a cashier at Kmart.  My first real job (and by real I mean I was counting on it to pay the bills) 411 operator for the phone company. "What city please?" lol

6. I own and love Great Danes. And yes Diesel was the name of my first one. He's passed now =( but now we have Dexter.

7. In case none of you have guessed it by now.  I have quite the potty mouth. Writing Manny and Max's and Romero's dialogue was much easier for me than you guys would imagine. In fact toning down the language in my books is actually harder for me. =/

8. I LOVE the holidays! And I mean LOOOOVE the baking, cooking, decorating, shopping, wrapping, playing the songs, choosing the perfect tree you name it. I'm always a little down in January every year when it's all over. =(

9. You may have noticed my characters are always grubbing. That's because I love to cook. Most of the dishes mentioned in my books are some of my specialties. =)

10.  I'm a tree nerd. BIG time. I have a half acre backyard and I love spending time out there planting more and more trees. =)

11. I love deviled ham and crackers. Unsalted tops please.  

Monday, April 29, 2013

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Darkness Before Dawn by Claire Contreras

Is love ever enough?

Faced with obstacles she could have never imagined, Blake is brought to darkness and back by forces in her past she never knew existed. Desperate to stay connected to the only thing he loves, Cole is forced to revisit his past and align himself with the people who knew about Blake’s disappearance.


Separation has forced both Blake and Cole to learn how to live under the worst circumstances, each of them alone in their own hell. When they reunite, can they be the same two people they were before darkness swept upon them?


Told in separate points of view, Darkness Before Dawn is the continuation of Blake and Cole’s fight to make it to the light.



Snippet:

“I didn’t know you were awake,” I reply turning my body toward him and caressing his arm.
He gives me a lopsided smile. “I just woke up. How can you be so pretty in the morning?” he muses as his eyes scan my face.
“I’m not,” I groan throwing my head back on to the hard mattress. “This bed sucks.”
He chuckles. “You are,” he replies as he covers my body with his, opening my thighs with his and settling his weight between my legs. “You’re the most beautiful creature ever made...and you’re right, this bed sucks ass.”
“You’re just saying that because you want to have sex,” I say with a laugh as I look at him, thinking the same about him.
He tilts his head as he regards me. “Nah, we’re going to have sex anyway, I don’t have to sweet talk you into doing that.”
My laughter is cut short when he grinds against me, the hardness in his boxers making me gasp and tilt my pelvis toward it.

To read a longer snippet from DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN CLICK HERE.


Claire is giving away one custom made bookmark made by Oh Whimsical Me!! To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment with your email address and add to your Goodreads list.


LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...