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Monday, January 7, 2013

#BlogTour - HAUNTED LAIRD by Tara Nina

Please welcome my guest today, a fellow Ellora's Cave author, Tara Nina! Congrats on the new book, looks so yummy!

~Cindy
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Book BLURB:
Haunted Laird
Tara Nina

Book four in the Cursed MacKinnons series.

Lynn’s ghost-hunting trip in Scotland takes an unpleasant turn when she’s kidnapped from her camp by a group of men rambling about curses and a brotherhood. In a daring escape, Lynn falls over a cliff and awakens in a cave being guarded by a ghost, who insists she’s the key to freeing a man who has been cast in stone by an evil curse. And what a man he is…

Padon has been imprisoned for over two centuries, frozen in stone. He is awoken when a sexy siren recites the anti-curse, but he is only partially free. Stone by day, man by night. Passion ignites between him and his savior immediately, which makes falling to the curse each morning that much harder. He and Lynn seek a resolution by making the trek to Padon’s family castle. But the kidnappers have other plans and will do whatever they must to make sure this couple never makes it to their destination.

BIO:
Hot Romance~Sexy Attitude best describes Tara Nina’s writing style. She creates for Ellora’s Cave in sensuality ranges from steamy hot to simmering sweet, which includes paranormals, contemporaries and romantic suspense. She is a Southerner living in the northern wilds of New Jersey complete with grown children, three dogs, and a mountain man for a husband.
ONLINE LINKS:
·       Website:  http://taranina.com
·       Blog: http://taranina.blogspot.com/
·       Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tara.nina
·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/taranina
·       Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/taranina
·        Youtube   

BUY NOW LINK:
·       Amazon paper book
·       Amazon Kindle copy

NOTE:
For USA Buyers of Double Dilemma, Portal to Passion and  Night Prey will be mailed both a signed cover flat and a signed book plate for their book. All other USA buyers Tara Nina books purchased will get a signed book plate.  Please email a copy of your purchase receipt to Vickie@innovativeonlinebooktours.com along with your mailing address.
Giveaway:  2 $20.00 Amazon Gift Cards  signed books 1- Eyes of Stone, 1- Silken Delights, 1-Portal to Passion.

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By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.
An Excerpt From: HAUNTED LAIRD
Copyright © TARA NINA, 2012
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
She looked through the thinnest area of the waterfall and focused on the statue. Light from the menagerie of lanterns Jasper had provided shone on the stone surface, giving it an oddly beautiful appeal. Lynn felt compelled to speak the verse as she stood in the mist of the falling water.

“Ceum saor de clach
Be Ye Biast air duine
’Tis Gaol dara slighe
Ge Ye be mèinne
Dh’oidche mur dh’là”

Seeing nothing happen, a slight bit of disappointment filled her. She took a breath and leaned her head into the more rapid pulse of the waterfall and rinsed the suds from her hair and body. Lynn stepped back from the stream, brushing the hair and water from her eyes. The moment she regained her focus, she froze. The gasp lodged in her throat.

Was she dreaming?

When he woke, the realization he was no longer at Castle MacKinnon hit him in the chest with an invisible solid blow. What happened? Where was he? And most importantly, where was his family?
Padon stumbled forward with his sword held tightly, ready to strike. MacGillivray was behind this. He felt most certain that dark-eyed devil lingered near. He swung around, trying to gain his bearings. Shock shook him to the core as he recognized his surroundings.

He was in the hunting cave. But how? Last he remembered he was aiming to kill MacGillivray for attacking his brathairs. Padon surveyed the area for any signs of life, knowing only he and Jasper knew of this cave’s location. Jasper had to be behind his being here.

He shook his head. Had it been a dream? Try as he might he couldn’t remember clearly what had happened. Had he been on a hunting trip with Jasper, drunk too much and dreamed the whole brathairs-turned-to-stone-by-MacGillivray scenario? The tension in his chest eased a tad but not entirely. He lowered his sword and knelt by the stream, cupping some water for a drink, hoping to wash away the severely dusty sensation from his mouth.

He had barely swallowed when he saw her. A vision most beautiful stood washing her hair in the waterfall. ’Twas it a dream? He splashed the water on his face and blinked but she still remained. How had she gotten here? No woman had ever ventured into their hunting cave.

“Go to her. She is your salvation.”

The words whispered to his ears in the sound of his friend Jasper’s voice. He jumped to his feet and spun around but didn’t see him. Anger, confusion and fear mixed within him. What the hell was going on? What sort of sorcery was this? Hearing voices but seeing no one… He slowly turned to the vixen who now stood staring at him from the other side of the waterfall. No one was here but her.

Maybe she had the answers he sought, since Jasper seemed to be playing games with him.

Taking deliberate steps, he shortened the distance. Before entering the water, he set his sword on a large rock and dropped his kilt to the ground. No need getting his only clothing wet while he interrogated the woman. He smiled inwardly, knowing he was no small man and being naked only added to his intimidation strategy. At least that’s what he hoped when it came to the weaker sex. Determined to get answers, he forged through the water and onto the ledge.
Coming face-to-face with her rattled his fierce demeanor. She was not simply a woman, but a gorgeous specimen of female flesh. Though she tried to cover herself with her hands, she failed miserably. He doubted even his oversized hands would hide those scrumptiously large breasts. Taut pink nipples peeked from beneath the arm and hand that attempted to shield them. Instant hunger pitted in his stomach for a sample of their flavor.

Her other arm and hand did their best to cover the treasure between her thighs. It disappointed him to not get even a glimpse of her mound. Would she balk if he removed her hand so he could see? Padon shook off the idea. He needed answers, not sex. But his body pleaded otherwise as his shaft stirred to life. The awakening of his senses kept him perusing her attributes and muddled his thoughts with desire.
Though she was short in stature, she made up for it with her incredibly voluptuous figure as far as he was concerned. If her bottom was round and filled his hands, she’d be perfect. Absently he flexed his palms, curling his fingers in and out as if he could somehow feel her there without actually touching her. It didn’t help ease the growing tension in his bawls for this woman. Being in her presence made him remember he was a man as his cock twitched and stiffened even more.

Padon forced his gaze to lift from her assets and look upon her face. Its shape was that of a cherubic angel. Auburn curls carelessly framed her features. Her lips trembled and it pained him to read fear in her bright-blue eyes. In an attempt to calm her, he reached to cup her cheek but she leaned away from his touch. He dug deep to find his voice and hoped it came across soothing.

“I will nay hurt thee, mi wee one. I only ask thee for answers.”

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Happy New Release, Tori Richards!

Please welcome my guest today, Tori Richards! Happy new release :)

~Cindy
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HAPPY NEW YEAR’S! I want to thank my host today, who has graciously allowed me to be a guest on her blog. I’m a grandma, otherwise known as Tory Richards, who writes smut, otherwise known as erotic romance. I have 15 published books but I’m here today to plug my second self-published book, a short erotic romance between an ex-Texas Ranger and a plus-sized model. Warning… it’s hot! I’m talking up against the wall sex that will leave you breathless, and hungry for more. And probably a little in love with the sexy hero. A Perfect Fit came out Jan 5, on Amazon Kindle. Below is a brief blurb and excerpt intended for mature, over the age of 18, readers.
BlurbAn ex-Texas Ranger is hired to protect a beautiful plus-sized model from a possible serial killer! They mix like oil and water but in bed, their uncontrolled passion ignites an inferno! Can their obsession for one another turn into something deeper?
Excerpt“Well, before I can get dressed, I have to undress.” Normally Marissa would have called for an assistant. She sashayed up to Beau. “I need help, cowboy. Can you please unlace me so I can get out of this thing?” She presented her back to him, then lifted her hair out of the way and waited, holding her breath. She had to admit, the thought of his eyes roaming over her body made her hot.
            There was the slightest of hesitations before she heard his low drawl, “Yes ma’am.”
            Warm breath tickled the fine hairs at the back of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. She felt the graze of his knuckles against her flesh, and was surprised at how proficiently his fingers worked at undoing the laces that held her corset closed. It wasn’t long before Marissa felt the bodice give way, and then she was able to take in a deep breath again. When she felt Beau’s hands at the small of her back, she knew he was almost done. Then he sucked in his breath, and hesitated. Marissa smiled, knowing why.
            “Is that an order, darlin?” His tone seemed a little raspy.
            He was referring to the tattoo she had across the top of her buttocks. Fuck me hard and fast. She’d done it on a dare. Realizing where his gaze was turned her hotter.
            The vixen inside her prompted her into leaning closer to him. She glanced over her shoulder and made eye contact. “More like a…suggestion.” Their gazes held. Marissa couldn’t believe how brazen she was acting. But she was suddenly horny beyond belief, and something about this big Texan got her juices flowing.
            A tick appeared in his clean-shaven jaw. “Something tells me you like shocking people Miss Lambert.”
            Miss Lambert? So he was determined to keep it business between them. His way of remaining professional. Interesting. She was more determined than ever to break down his self-control, and as his hands continued what they were doing Marissa let her hair fall.
            “Almost done?”
            “You’ll know when I’m done,” he growled.
Amazon Kindle Page - http://www.amazon.com/Tory-Richards/e/B002DBFNUQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Tory Richards Website/Blog – toryrichards.com
Face book – www.facebook.com/tory.richards.7
Twitter – twitter.com/#!/ToryRichards


Friday, January 4, 2013

Birth of a Novel: Are we there yet?

Unlike building a piece of furniture or painting a room, writing a novel has no real end so it's important to know when you've accomplished all you set out to do and then BACK AWAY FROM THE LAPTOP!

Now, it's not about word count so much as that sense that the story has come to a logical and satisfying conclusion. If you set a goal of 50,000 words, but came up a little short or a little over, that's okay. You'll plump things up or pare them down once you start self-edits...Ha! And you thought you were done. It's called a first draft for a reason.

But how to tell if a first draft is truly complete? First things first, does it have a beginning, middle and conclusion? If you answered yes, you're on the right track. Now it's time be a little more critical. Did you write enough to develop the characters fully? Did you illustrate their motivations? Did you take them on enough of a journey to reach the conclusion without the reader feeling as though you rushed? Did you tie up any sideplots you developed, or at least those that won't be addressed in a sequel? (OMG, did she just mention a sequel? You mean I have to do this again???) Did your main characters grow and change? Did you conclude the main plot line in a way that let's your reader know the journey is over?

If you answered no to many of these question, you still have work to do. But if you answered yes to all these questions, it's likely you've completed your first draft! YAY! Now it's time to break out the champagne, celebrate, pat yourself on the back and update your twitter status cuz you have accomplished something amazing.

Tomorrow, the real work begins.

Next time we'll go over self-edits and beta reader edits or what I like to call, "It's my manuscript and I'll cry if I want to."

Cheers,
Cindy

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Back from the dead


Happy New Year everyone! I'm so sorry I've been uncommunicative this holiday season, but my son and I both had pneumonia for the better part of December and I'm only now getting back on my feet. We are mending, but it is a slow road and my energy level is just starting to return to normal. Because of this, I'm totally backed up on emails, blog comments and greeting new Twitter and Facebook connections. Please bear with me as I get caught up. If you sent me anything that requires immediate attention, it might not hurt to resend it so it doesn't get lost in the sea of emails and posts. Thanks so much for your patience and I can't wait to reconnect with the world of the living :)


Cheers,
Cindy