Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Thanks so much to The Romance Reviews and their Fall Into Romance Blog Hop!  I hope everyone had fun, and now it's time to announce my blog's winner, chosen at random from the comments in the original post. Ready? *ahem*


THE WINNER IS... JUANA!


Again, thanks so much for hopping along.  Happy reading!

Continuing the hop, continuing the spotlight--Kelly Apple's debut!

It's the ever fabulous TRR Blog Hop --Fall Into Romance!

What's the greatest thing about being a writer?


If anyone were to ask me that, I'd have to say that it's meeting like-minded people in the book community.  We're all readers and writers, and we all "get" each other.  That doesn't mean we all get along like one big happy family.  Oh, no. If you've ever taken a peek at some of the crazypants happenings when someone within the community has a public meltdown, you know this already.  But for the most part, we support each other and do whatever we can to share what we love.  And what is that?  A smokin' hot romance and finely told tale by someone who knows what the hell they're doing.


Which, of course, leads me to one of my favorite new authors, Kelly Apple, and her debut book, DEMON RESTRAINED!



Blurb:

Held captive by a crazed Alpha, demon Bastael hates all those he’s come across on the mortal plane. When a damaged werewolf falls into his path, he’s determined to use her and find a way to escape.

Evie wants to be safe.

Abused by her Pack and afraid for her life, Evie hides in the dark corners of the basement. The demon that’s already down there? He’s better than the Alpha upstairs.

But neither of them expects the connection that sets them both on fire.

With the Alpha’s lust for power escalating, Bas and Evie will have to find a way to break free or die trying.

Warning: This book contains one cocky demon and one werewolf who’s stronger than she looks. That’s right, folks… If the basement is a rockin’, don’t come a knockin’!


I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of this edge-of-your-seat paranormal romance, and I'm soooooo grateful for that. I have RADD (Reader Attention Deficit Disorder :P), so if a book doesn't grab me right away, it's going to wind up in my DNF pile. So, now that you know that about me, you'll understand how awesome this book is when I say...


I FINISHED IT IN UNDER FOUR HOURS.


I didn't eat.  I didn't go to the bathroom.  I didn't answer the phone.  All I did was DEVOUR this book.  Right from the first chapter--no, the opening sentence, I was captivated.  The writer plunged me into a dank and dirty basement and filled me with the frustration and dread that the hero, Bas, was enduring, and the weary-to-the-point-of-exhaustion terror that the heroine, Evie had lived with her entire life.  There are no words to describe how much I love it when a writer can do that for me.  No, wait.  There is a word for it.  Magic.  Kelly Apple made magic and sculpted it into words.


Don't believe me?  Why not pick it up and see for yourself?  Clicky to buy DEMON RESTRAINED and you'll see what I'm talking about (oh, and the sex scenes?  Oh, lawdy. So beautiful.  Almost poetic.  And holy sh!t, the hotness!!! Omigod. *fans self)


Also, don't forget that I'm doing a $10 Amazon GC giveaway, and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment below (feel free to share your love of paranormal romance!).  Winner will be chosen at random at the end of the blog hop. Happy reading!



Enjoy the hop! To go to the next blog, click on the graphic below. :)

TRR's Blog Hop Begins with a Spotlight on New Antho Sis, Rebecca Crowley!

Welcome to one of the stops for The Romance Reviews Blog Hop!

 

CLICK ON PIC TO GET TO TRR'S BLOG HOP LIST!

I would love to introduce to you a brand new author by the name of Rebecca Crowley, whose debut book, THE STRIKER'S CHANCE, is now out from Carina Press!  I decided to spotlight Rebecca's book because 1) it's an awesome sports-romance, and I love to share awesome of any kind with the world.  And 2) Rebecca is my new antho sister! 

How did this happen?  Executive Director of Carina Press, Angela James, had an open call for holiday subs with various themes. Rebecca and I were chosen out of who-only-knows how many writers be a part of GIFTS OF HONOR, a military-themed holiday homecoming anthology releasing November 21st. She's really getting her writing career started off with a bang, and if you needed any more convincing of that, just read the blurb for THE STRIKER'S CHANCE:

BLURB:

Landing the PR contract for North Carolina's new soccer team could take Holly Taylor's career to the next level. Her task? Make Kepler "Killer" de Klerk, an athlete with a party-hard reputation, a star. But revamping the sexy footballer's image while battling her unwanted attraction to him is easier said than done.
The car accident that derailed Kepler's European career also gave him some much-needed perspective. He's ready to give up on fame and focus on the game he loves. The last thing he needs is a headstrong brunette pushing him back into the spotlight, even if butting heads with her is the most fun he's had in ages.
The more time Holly spends with Kepler, the more she sees how different he is from his tabloid persona. But when she's offered her dream job for a price, she finds herself torn between the career she's spent years building and the man she doesn't want to give up.
55,000 words

Sounds great, right? Well, here's a chance to pick it up, as well as a few others if you know how to manage your GC money right, heh.  I'm offering a $10 Amazon gift card at the end of the hop to one lucky commenter (SPAMMERS DON'T COUNT!), so leave a comment below.

***

 

BUY LINKS FOR STRIKER'S CHANCE:

 

AMAZON | CARINA PRESS | B&N

 

 

 

Enjoy the hop! To go to the next blog, click on the graphic below. :)

Some reviews for UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST, plus last day for my giveaway!

I’ve been having so much fun letting the world know about UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST that I’ve neglected to talk about the people who’ve already read it.  And before I let the chance slip away, let me thank all those who take time out of their busy day to sit down and read one of my books.  I’m so grateful!

 

In My Humble Opinion:

 “I got a kick out of this story” – 4-star review for UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST-In My Humble Opinion Blog  http://inmho-read.blogspot.com/2013/08/ugly-ducklings-finish-first-by-stacy.html

 

Tome Tender:

“This is a perfectly delightful story” UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST 4 stars from @sailon at Tome Tender Book Blog – http://tometender.blogspot.com/

 

Gin’s Book Notes:

“If I had to use three words to describe Ugly Ducklings Finish First they would be—Fun, Fast, and Light!” 4 stars, Gin’s Book Notes  http://ginsbooknotes.com/2013/08/04/book-review-ugly-ducklings-finish-first/

Book-A-Holic Anon:

“Their relationship is quick, hot and filled with a bit of angst as they both realize that they have something special that might be worth holding on to.  I’d love a chance to see them in a few years just to see how things are going so if Stacy wants to write more about Bitterthorn I’d be happy to read it.”  4 stars, Book-A-Holic Anon http://bookaholicanon.com/2013/08/04/ugly-ducklings-finish-first-stacy-gail-4-stars/

Guilty Pleasures

"Ugly Ducklings Finish First is an exceptional story" Guilty Pleasures 4.5 stars @CarinaPress http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/687150888  http://bit.ly/16eABEg

 

Tory Michaels World

“Ultimately, this was a great book and definitely worth reading. 5-star rating” Tory Michaels’ World, . http://torymichaels.blogspot.com/2013/08/arc-review-ugly-ducklings-finish-first_13.html

Reading The Paranormal

“I sat down to read this on a day when I needed something light and playful and I can say -- with confidence -- that I got just that. Wiley and Payton are SO DAMN CUTE together that it worked.” Kelly Rubidoux, 5 stars, Reading the Paranormal http://www.amazon.com/review/RXO9ND9DYLXRR/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00CC68FWK&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=283155&store=books

 

I’ve left links to all the reviewers who’ve taken valuable time out of their schedules to read UDFF, so if you’re a booklover, you might want to take a peek at their various sites. Each one is dedicated to the love of books, and the one thing these peeps have in common is their delight in sharing that love.  So drop in and say hi, okay?  Happy reading!

 

BLURB:

Metal Mouth. Queen Geek. Dr. Payton Pruitt heard it all growing up. But she’s over it, and attending her ten-year high school reunion is the perfect way to prove it to herself. Even if there’s only one person she’s interested in seeing in Bitterthorn, Texas: Wiley Sharpe.

Now a respected lawyer, Wiley didn’t live down to the label Most Likely to Be Slapped with a Paternity Suit. But recent acts of vandalism suggest someone still sees him as a heartbreaker, and the reunion seems a likely place to find the culprit. Instead, Wiley comes face-to-face with his old pal Payton—and is wowed not only by her transformation into a ravishing swan, but by the connection they still share.

Payton is pleased the playboy she used to tutor has grown into an honorable man, but she’s too smart to fall for a guy with roots in a place she couldn’t wait to leave. But while Payton is an academic genius, Wiley is the one with the PhD in pleasure, and he intends to use it to convince her to stay…

63,000 words

FYI: Be on the lookout for the second Bitterthorn book, STARTING FROM SCRATCH, a Carina Press holiday novella coming this November and edited by the amazing Angela James!

 

***

Buy links for UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST:

Carina Press, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Google Play, ebooks. com, Kobo, BAM (Books-A-Million), ARe, iTunes

 

Want a Chance to win a $25 Amazon GC?  Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway!

 

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UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST snippet, STARTING FROM SCRATCH news, + Giveaway!

Whew! I’m officially DONE with STARTING FROM SCRATCH. *happy dance* I stayed up until three in the morning doing a final read-through, and I'll admit I cried so hard at the end, my eyes are still red and puffy.  But I’m happy with it.  Really, really, happy.  I have that feeling of wanting to dust off my hands and say, “I did my best. Now where’s the wine?”

There was a funny moment in these edits.  For the most part, all I had to do was a final read-through.  But there was one comment my editor left in that she tweeted about, she was so thunderstruck.  The copy editor wanted to know why the hero, Sully, couldn’t remember someone.  Well, Sully has RA, or retrograde amnesia, due to a TBI. 

 

 

Ha!  Just thought I’d share. :D  (To learn more about SFS, please feel free to take a peek at its unofficial blurb on my Latest Projects page)

Also, UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST is doing great! I’m thrilled that people seem to really enjoy the explosive chemistry between Wiley and Payton, so I thought I’d share a bit of it with you.  Enjoy!

***

He moved until the sun-heated steel of the pickup pressed into her back. He leaned into her as though he hungered to tattoo himself with the imprint of her body. Hungry for that herself, she pushed past his suit jacket with greedy hands to flatten them against his back, her fingertips dipping in beneath his waistband. A sound between a growl and a moan grated deep in Wiley’s throat, and that purr of approval made her shudder as his pleasure heightened her own. Restlessly his hands roamed down to the swell of her bottom, before his fingers curled on the folds of her skirt as though frustrated by the barrier. It was a frustration that was contagious, resonating inside her until the need for flesh against flesh was a physical ache. Without a thought she rubbed her body against his until every nerve threatened to spontaneously combust.

A groan rippled from Wiley as if he was being tortured, and he ground his hips against hers in wordless demand to merge into her hidden depths. Her mind drained of every coherent thought when she felt the iron-hard thrust of his manhood, pulsing against her with an urgency she understood all too well. She wanted him outrageously, more than she wanted air, more than she needed water, and she didn’t even care they were a breath away from making love in broad daylight in a public parking lot.

Then a horn sounded in the distance, followed by a testy shout, and only then did she realize they weren’t alone in the universe. “Uh…Wiley? This…this is—”

“Right. This is so right, Payton.” Lifting her just a little, he balanced her weight between the side of the pickup and his legs, pressing his hips closer. A helpless whimper of pleasure escaped her as the position parted her legs until her inner thighs clamped over his hips. There was an unmistakable gleam of triumph in his eyes a moment before he buried his mouth against her throat. “I’ve never felt anything more right.”

Logic told her she shouldn’t believe him. But with his hips pumping against the veiled juncture of her thighs and his mouth sampling the flavor of her pulse in her neck, she wanted to forget all about logic and just believe. Believe he felt the same overwhelming wave of passion that was engulfing her, believe that what had come before had merely been a prelude for this moment. Everyone had a history. What mattered was now, this moment.

In a parking lot behind a greasy spoon.

“Dear God, Payton, I want you now. Right now.”

“Now?” Urgent, demanding, he rocked his hips against hers, and there was no way she could stifle a low moan.

“I love the noises you make.” His voice was rough with need, a velvet rasp that could have seduced the devil himself. “I could have you right here.”

“Wiley… Oh God, wait.” Somewhere along the way she had pulled his shirt out from the waistband of his pants. It took most of her strength to stop herself from stroking her hands over his lower back, and the remainder of her strength got eaten up by the willpower it took to push him away. “Please, just…wait a second.”

“Wait?” He repeated the word like he’d never heard it before. “We’ve waited too long already. Years.”

“But—”

“I love the taste of you.” Dragging the strap of her dress from her shoulder, he let his lips trail to the exposed skin. “I think I’m addicted.”

***

BLURB:

Metal Mouth. Queen Geek. Dr. Payton Pruitt heard it all growing up. But she’s over it, and attending her ten-year high school reunion is the perfect way to prove it to herself. Even if there’s only one person she’s interested in seeing in Bitterthorn, Texas: Wiley Sharpe.

Now a respected lawyer, Wiley didn’t live down to the label Most Likely to Be Slapped with a Paternity Suit. But recent acts of vandalism suggest someone still sees him as a heartbreaker, and the reunion seems a likely place to find the culprit. Instead, Wiley comes face-to-face with his old pal Payton—and is wowed not only by her transformation into a ravishing swan, but by the connection they still share.

Payton is pleased the playboy she used to tutor has grown into an honorable man, but she’s too smart to fall for a guy with roots in a place she couldn’t wait to leave. But while Payton is an academic genius, Wiley is the one with the PhD in pleasure, and he intends to use it to convince her to stay…

63,000 words

 

FYI: Be on the lookout for the second Bitterthorn book, STARTING FROM SCRATCH, a Carina Press holiday novella coming this November and edited by the amazing Angela James!

 

***

Buy links for UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST:

Carina Press, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Google Play, ebooks. com, Kobo, BAM (Books-A-Million), ARe, iTunes

 

Want a Chance to win a $25 Amazon GC?  Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

STARTING FROM SCRATCH is up on Amazon! Plus, a UDFF giveaway

*ahem*

I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT! :)

Despite the fact that UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST is only one week old as of today, the next book in the Bitterthorn, Texas series has already gone up on Amazon, can you believe it?  STARTING FROM SCRATCH won’t be out until November 21^st (a rare Thursday release), yet it’s up for pre-order. Wow. *confetti dance*

 

As for UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST, it’s been the most successful release I’ve had with Carina Press, and I’m thrilled about it.  I suspect it's because a lot of people can relate to Payton and Wiley; I know I can.  There’s just something magical about lifelong friends deciding to leave those safe but familiar waters, and take a shot at becoming lovers.  It’s a scary thing, risking that cherished friendship to reach for something even more profound, but it's worth it.  At least, Wiley and Payton think so, and the passionate love and depth of understanding they create proves it.  In taking that chance--and pushing through all the bumps thrown in along the way--they discover a love and devotion that's strong enough to see them through even the worst storm.

 

BLURB:

Metal Mouth. Queen Geek. Dr. Payton Pruitt heard it all growing up. But she’s over it, and attending her ten-year high school reunion is the perfect way to prove it to herself. Even if there’s only one person she’s interested in seeing in Bitterthorn, Texas: Wiley Sharpe.

Now a respected lawyer, Wiley didn’t live down to the label Most Likely to Be Slapped with a Paternity Suit. But recent acts of vandalism suggest someone still sees him as a heartbreaker, and the reunion seems a likely place to find the culprit. Instead, Wiley comes face-to-face with his old pal Payton—and is wowed not only by her transformation into a ravishing swan, but by the connection they still share.

Payton is pleased the playboy she used to tutor has grown into an honorable man, but she’s too smart to fall for a guy with roots in a place she couldn’t wait to leave. But while Payton is an academic genius, Wiley is the one with the PhD in pleasure, and he intends to use it to convince her to stay…

63,000 words

FYI: Be on the lookout for the second Bitterthorn book, STARTING FROM SCRATCH, a Carina Press holiday novella coming this November and edited by the amazing Angela James!

 

***

Buy links for UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST:

Carina Press, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Google Play, ebooks. com, Kobo, BAM (Books-A-Million), ARe, iTunes

 

Want a Chance to win a $25 Amazon GC?  Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway!

 

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UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST Almost Didn't Make It

UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST almost never made it into the hands of an editor.  Why?  Read on...

Over a year ago, Executive Editor of Carina Press, Angela James lamented on Twitter that she hadn’t seen any small town contemporary romances in ages.  At the time, I was slaving away on The Earth Angels, a paranormal miniseries Angela had already picked up and shot off to my latest editor (much love to Andrea Kerr!), so my mind wasn’t anywhere near what she was asking for.  But when I saw this tweet, it stopped me in my tracks.

It was like a sign from above.

I actually typed a response tweet that basically yelled, “I VOLUNTEER!”  After all, it just so happened that I had a contemporary romance, UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST, sitting in a computer file.  It was exactly what she was asking for--sensual and fun, and set in a small Texas town called Bitterthorn.  The only reason I’d never sent it off was that I felt the market seemed a wee bit soft on contemporary romances that didn’t have a jet-setting billionaire in it. I mean, there are a lot of things in Bitterthorn—sweet tea, block parties with smokers full of turkey legs and brisket, and a ruggedly sexy lawyer who was once voted Most Likely to be Slapped with a Paternity Suit. But no billionaires. (Maybe a millionaire or two, but that’s not the point…)

I erased the tweet before I could send it. I was working to establish myself as a speculative fiction writer (futuristic, paranormal, a planned urban fic series). While writing contemporary romance is second nature to me, I’d made the decision to take my writing in another direction, and I was going to stick with it.  Except… I DID have a manuscript just sitting there.  Seemed like a waste not to do anything with it…

It took me two days to work up the nerve to send off UDFF, and I’m so glad I did. When it got accepted, I wondered why I’d hesitated in the first place.  There's a saying that Angela uses when it comes to reluctant writers: "If I don't see your work, how can I say yes to it?"  I'm still interested in speculative fiction, but this experience has reminded me just how much I love contemporary romance.  I think I'm going to be doing this for a while. :)

 

BLURB:

Metal Mouth. Queen Geek. Dr. Payton Pruitt heard it all growing up. But she’s over it, and attending her ten-year high school reunion is the perfect way to prove it to herself. Even if there’s only one person she’s interested in seeing in Bitterthorn, Texas: Wiley Sharpe.

Now a respected lawyer, Wiley didn’t live down to the label Most Likely to Be Slapped with a Paternity Suit. But recent acts of vandalism suggest someone still sees him as a heartbreaker, and the reunion seems a likely place to find the culprit. Instead, Wiley comes face-to-face with his old pal Payton—and is wowed not only by her transformation into a ravishing swan, but by the connection they still share.

Payton is pleased the playboy she used to tutor has grown into an honorable man, but she’s too smart to fall for a guy with roots in a place she couldn’t wait to leave. But while Payton is an academic genius, Wiley is the one with the PhD in pleasure, and he intends to use it to convince her to stay…

63,000 words

FYI: Be on the lookout for the second Bitterthorn book, STARTING FROM SCRATCH, a Carina Press holiday novella coming this November and edited by the amazing Angela James!

***

Buy links for UGLY DUCKLINGS FINISH FIRST:

Carina Press, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Google Play, ebooks. com, Kobo, BAM (Books-A-Million), ARe, iTunes

 

Want a Chance to win a $25 Amazon GC?  Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway