Friday, January 18, 2013

Sweet Saturday: Confession


When Jaime woke to Elias kissing her she was certain she was dreaming still. After the long months of searching she finally found him.

But what kind of man had he become? A pirate, who only hours ago, she had despised — who only a week ago had murdered every man aboard her vessel and had sunk the ship to the bottom of the ocean.

Yet he held her like Elias. He kissed her like her husband — perhaps more desperately, as the long absence would have dictated. Was he still the gentle peace-loving man she had married?

She gingerly brushed a black curl behind his ear. His eyes opened groggily, not from sleep, which she suspected he hadn't done in a week, but from the lack of it. He smiled and propped himself up on an elbow.

“What troubles you mi amor?” he asked, lacing his fingers with hers.

“You are alive and in my arms. What could trouble me?”

“Yet your brow is knit in worry.” He smoothed her forehead with his thumb. “Tell me, love, what causes you so much concern?”

Jaime allowed her gaze to wander to her hand, interwoven with his. After all this time he could still read her like a book. But he had changed. She wanted to know how much but couldn't bring herself to voice the question.

“May I venture a guess?”

Jaime nodded.

“It is my beard.” A teasing glint lit his dark eyes. “I will cut it off immediately.” He rose as if to leave their bed.

“It is your beard,” Jaime replied. “And all you have become. You killed Amin. How many others?”

Elias froze and stared at his hands, as though he could see the blood dripping from them in that moment.

“Amin,” he repeated and returned his gaze to hers. “I am sorry for him.”

“You offer no explanation? No reason for such a life?”

“It is not the life I would have chosen. But here I am. And I am responsible for these men and our actions. No explanation will relieve me of the guilt.”

“Perhaps a confession then,” she said. “To ease your conscience.” She lifted her hand to caress his rough face. He was still the man she had married. A man not willing to make excuses. A man who stood for truth, even if truth condemned him.

“Yes. Most certainly I will confess to you. I would tell you first, however, now that I have found you, we will leave this life behind. Return to our daughter and live out the lives we intended for ourselves.”

Emotion choked her. That was all she ever wanted. Life with Elias and Elisabeth, in peace, safe from her father's interference.

~Pirate's Ransom (in progress)

Friday, January 11, 2013

Sweet Saturday: A Challenge


"Get up. Get up, you wretched cur!" Van Burge's eyes were alive with fury. He threaded his fingers into Colin's cravat and tugged him roughly up from the floor. "You and I will settle this. Today! Else I shall have you descried a coward! In one hour, Jackson's. Do not fail." He spat every word into Colin's face, as he gripped him by the throat.

Van Burge released Colin with an emphatic shove, then he spun on his heel and stormed out, spewing threats and curses all the way.

"Lovely," Colin moaned and swiped at the blood dripping from his lip with the back of his hand.

Two hands appeared before him, no doubt a belated offer of futile help from the traitors he once called friends.

Colin lifted his eyes to the double image of Hawthorne and Maddox, the treacherous twin spawn of Satan. He shook his head and took one of the offered hands.

"Van Burge seems in earnest," Maddox said. An irritating mocking smile lifted the corners of his mouth.

"In earnest, Anthony? Truly? Whatever gave you that idea?" Hawthorne snorted with disdain.

"What will you do?" Maddox ignored his brother and bit straight into the heart of the matter.

"Do? Why, I shall go home, set my affairs in order, and make my way to Jackson's for the bloodbath."

"You mean to go through with it then?" Hawthorne asked. Concern was etched in his expression.

"Of course. What alternative do I have?"

~Taming Wilde (Waltzing with the Wallflower #3)

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Wednesday Spotlight: J.F. Jenkins


J.F. Jenkins, author of the Dragon Saga series,the Vala series, and the Battlefield series, is my guest today! Welcome!

The New Year

As the year starts to come to a close, a lot of people look back at what they've accomplished. Looking back on the past has never been my thing, but I can say this was a good year for me. A lot was accomplished, a lot went well, and despite a few hiccups, there was little to complain about. I definitely got a lot of the things I planned on doing last year done, that's for sure. My big one was to laugh when the world didn't end on December 21st. How about you all? Anyone else get a riot out of that one?

I'm one of those people who likes to look toward the future though. The things that are coming up, the ones that have yet to be achieved, are what push me to keep moving forward every day. As soon as December rolled around, I started getting excited for the new year. I've been planning and organizing for January first. I created a reward system for when I achieved my goals. Maybe it's a little nerdy of me, but I can't help but be excited over this. It gives me so much to look forward to, because I know that when I accomplish, I'm doing something good with my time.

Here are a few of the things I'm looking to doing in 2013:

Finish writing my series, Vala.
Learn how to write some new genres and POV styles, basically expand my writing skills.
Play a lot more video games.
Read more books I enjoy.
SELF PUBLISH. EEEK!
Get more organized around my house.
Become a full time writer!

So what about you? Do you have big goals and big plans for 2013? I've already gotten a couple of those things done already as I have two new releases coming out this year in a different genre than what I'm known for. Don't hold back from achieving your dreams!


As a special treat, Jillian is offering a free copy of her newest release, a short story called The Corruption of Mila. To qualify for the drawing, leave a comment about your goals, hopes, and/or dreams for 2013. We'll draw one at random on Saturday (January 12th).


FROM THE COVER:

Mila takes a hands off approach to dating. She's independent and picky and thinks she knows it all. When her best friend decides to set her up on a blind date with a guy who answers to the name of Jax, Mila decides to take a leap of faith. After all, with a name like Jax, how can he not be a dream boat?

Like most blind dates, however, Jax doesn't meet the expectations that Mila created in her imagination. With how badly she's struck out in her past relationships, is that really such a bad thing?

*****

Looking for more of J.F.'s titles? Check out her Amazon Author Page for buy links and more information!

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Another Look: Sir Colin Wilde


Sir Colin Wilde

Being level-headed and even-keeled is a thing of the past. His broken heart has sent him over the edge. And he is convinced the only way to get over the loss of Lady Gemma is to lose himself in debauchery.

Taking his cue from the private bachelor journal of Viscount Maddox, he presses forward in his quest to become the most notorious rake the ton has ever seen.

Will Lady Gemma manage to do the impossible  coax him back to sanity and tame his wild heart?

Happy Twelfth Night!


Just want to thank everyone who participated in my 12 Days of Christmas celebration. It was a lot of fun on this end!

And Happy Twelfth Night to Melissa, the recipient of the final gift of the season. Enjoy!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas


My true love gave to me...

Twelve Kisses Later by Sandra Sookoo

FROM THE COVER:


Can you find true love in a kiss?  How about a dozen?

Lucy Duckworth is comfortable with her life and in her own skin, and her habit of picking up orphaned cats is noble.  Yet when her roommate asks her to fill in at a kissing booth during the Winter Carnival, Lucy’s even-keeled existence suddenly tilts.

Matthew Kincaide has one simple motto:  live off the land, keep your head down, don’t talk a whole lot and never trust a woman.  Divorced and not about to give a female control over him again, all he wants is to deliver his animals for the petting zoo and go home.  Too bad his annoying brother coaxes him into buying tickets for the kissing booth.

Lucy’s and Matthew’s first kiss ends with a violent sneeze, but she can’t forget that first lip-tingling, take-me-away moment.  Though Matthew’s shocked by his first reaction, he lines up for a second chance.  Surely lightning can’t strike twice.  Will winter fun and a random accident derail their quest to find out how many kisses it takes to fall in love?

Happy Twelfth Night to Alicia, the recipient of the Eleventh Day of Christmas giveaway!
*****

Wanna be in the drawing for this book? Just leave a comment below with a way to get a hold of you. I'll draw a winner at midnight and post the result tomorrow. This is the last day of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Thanks for joining me in the celebration!



Friday, January 4, 2013

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas


My true love gave to me...




FROM THE COVER:


Waltzing with the Wallflower

The Season has only just begun, but already Ambrose Benson is bored…until his brother offers him a challenge. Something worthy of his particular talents.

The object: The girl hiding behind the plants—the one in the horrible dress.

The goal: Turn her into the envy of the ton. A lady suitable for a duke.

But there is just something about the lady—in spite of all her social misgivings—something that draws him like a moth to flame and makes him want to waltz with the wallflower.


Beguiling Bridget

Driven to distraction by the redhead across the room, Anthony Benson barely hears the terms of his brother’s challenge before agreeing to them.

No matter. It will be easy. Viscount Maddox has never had any problem impressing the ladies. And four weeks is more than enough time to win over this so obviously neglected wallflower.

But things are never as easy as they seem.

The lady has lofty aspirations. And not one of them includes love or marriage. Especially not with an arrogant and self-assured playboy like the viscount. No matter how attractive he may be.


Taming Wilde

Being level-headed and even-keeled is a thing of the past. Sir Colin Wilde’s broken heart has sent him over the edge. And he is convinced the only way to get over the loss of Lady Gemma is to lose himself in debauchery.

Taking his cue from the private bachelor journal of Viscount Maddox, he presses forward in his quest to become the most notorious rake the ton has ever seen.

Prim and proper Lady Gemma isn't about to let him soil his reputation, especially over a misunderstanding. In spite of the propriety ingrained in her since birth, she throws convention to the wind and sets about to do the impossible... seduce a rake and tame Wilde.

*****

Wanna be in the drawing for this series? Just leave a comment below with a way to get a hold of you. I'll draw a winner at midnight and post the result on tomorrow's giveaway. (Taming Wilde is yet to be released, but you will receive the third book as soon as it is available.) Be sure to come back again tomorrow for another 12 days giveaway!



Thursday, January 3, 2013

On the Tenth Day of Christmas


My true love gave to me...



FROM THE COVER:


Blaine Graham lost his mother when he was the tender age of eleven. Grief over the loss drove a wedge between him and his father, and soon proved too difficult for him to deal with. At the age of sixteen, he falsified his papers and made the trip across the border into Canada with his best friend to join the Royal Canadian Air Force and enter the war in Europe as a pilot. Ten years later Captain Graham finds himself flying commercial jets in Boston – his estranged father and his past life all but forgotten, until the day he receives a telegram from his dying father asking him to come home.

The persistent Mara Crawford, a live-in nurse, has experienced her fair share of loss as well. Her attachment to Blaine’s father drives her desire to bring reconciliation between the two men before time runs out for her patient. But her best laid plans didn’t include falling in love again.


*****

Wanna be in the drawing for The Parting Gift? Just leave a comment below with a way to get a hold of you. I'll draw a winner at midnight and post the result on tomorrow's giveaway. Be sure to come back again tomorrow for another 12 days giveaway!


Wednesday, January 2, 2013

On the Ninth Day of Christmas


My true love gave to me...

The Devil Duke Takes a Bride by Rachel Van Dyken

FROM THE COVER:


Benedict Devlyn, Duke of Banbury, has one thing on his mind and it isn't marriage. But things take a turn for the worse when his menacing and aunt throws a hitch in his plans to remain the most sinful and talked about man in the ton. After all, a man cannot keep the reputation of being The Devil Duke when he is leg-shackled to some simpering spinster.

But his aunt, bless her heart, thinks she's dying, and believes her nephew’s behavior is the only thing standing in the way between her entrance to heaven or hell. So she very lovingly and selflessly sets him up. With his childhood nemesis.

A young woman who, though she claims it was an accident, has nearly killed him thrice through her lack of grace and manners. It matters not that the minute he sets eyes on her at the Christmas ball, his blood boils with lust. He refuses to allow himself to fall prey to his aunt’s ministrations.

That is, until he is compromised and stuck in an engagement to a girl who claims she'd rather jump from a moving carriage than marry him. Funny thing that, for the very minute she says no, he finds his heart very much wants to say yes. When she doesn't leap at the chance to marry him, he sets about to not only prove that he's worthy of her favor, but also worthy of her heart.

Happy New Year to Pam, the recipient of the Eighth Day of Christmas giveaway!

*****

Wanna be in the drawing for this book? Just leave a comment below with a way to get a hold of you. I'll draw a winner at midnight and post the result on tomorrow's giveaway. Be sure to come back again tomorrow for another 12 days giveaway!



Tuesday, January 1, 2013

On the Eighth Day of Christmas


My true love gave to me...
A Lot Like a Lady by Kay Springsteen and Kim Bowman

FROM THE COVER:


Ladies’ maid, Juliet Baines has gotten herself into a pickle by agreeing to go to London and taking the place of her mistress and best friend, Annabella Price, stepsister to the Duke of Wyndham. After all, what does a servant know about being a lady? But Juliet soon finds that pretending to be a lady isn’t nearly as hard as guarding her heart against the folly of wanting a man who’s completely out of reach.

Graeme "Grey" Roland Dominick Markwythe, Sixth Duke of Wyndham, approaches his duties as a nobleman with great dedication and meticulous care. And he’s a man who is not easily fooled... except when he tries to convince himself he's not utterly and madly in love with the beautiful imposter who has turned his life upside down. Will society and his responsibilities to his noble status keep him from opening his heart to the woman he loves?

*****

Wanna be in the drawing for this book? Just leave a comment below with a way to get a hold of you. I'll draw a winner at midnight and post the result on tomorrow's giveaway. Be sure to come back again tomorrow for another 12 days giveaway!