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Monday, September 24, 2018

Abigail Owen: #NewRelease THE BOSS #dragons @AOwenBooks



I'm excited to welcome my friend Abigail Owen. Abigail is a regular contributor to the Paranormal Romantics blog. I've read about her new release, and it sounds like a really great book. I also read the prequel The Mate (see below, it's free) and was fascinated by how she writes dragon stories. I can't wait to read this one.

The Boss
(Fire’s Edge #1)
By Abigail Owen
The hotter the fire, the deeper the burn…
Finn Conleth leads his team of enforcer dragon shifters with an iron fist and a cold heart. Every dragon seeks his destined mate, but the process to turn the woman he once thought was his killed her and devastated him. He will never risk his heart again. His team is his family now. When his body eventually gives out, he’ll leave, living his last days alone.
Delaney Hamilton moved across the country to escape the freak fires that plague her. But when another suspicious fire erupts and rapidly escalates around her, her hopes for a new life go up in smoke. She has no choice but to turn to the mysterious men who come to her aid.
Finn knows the fire is dragon-caused, which puts Delaney’s problems directly in his jurisdiction. No matter how her wounded grey eyes call to every part of him, he refuses to risk her life in the mating process.
Until another dragon threatens to claim Delaney for his own, and Finn has to sacrifice everything to keep her alive…

Buy Links:


Book Info:
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, Amara
Author: Abigail Owen
Cover Art: KAM Designs
Page Count: 350
Word Count: 90k
Release Date: 9/24/2018
Steam Rating: Hot

Free Prequel Short Story
Get an early start on the series with a prequel short story to the Fire’s Edge series. “The Mate” is available for FREE via all retailers.


OR… Join Abigail’s newsletter to get a copy now. http://eepurl.com/Lw2XH

Praise for The Boss:
✭✭✭✭✭ Abigail Owen is a rising star in paranormal romance!  Her dragons are sexy, suspenseful, and smoking hot--an electrifying new series. ~NY Times Bestselling Author Alyssa Day

✭✭✭✭✭ Paranormal romance doesn't get much better than The Boss. A sexy shifter hero, a spunky, no-nonsense heroine, heart-clenching emotion, and worldbuilding at its best. This story nearly set my Kindle on fire. Bring on the next book cause I can't wait! ~USA Today & National Bestselling Author Anna J. Stewart

✭✭✭✭✭ It is an excellent start to the new Fire's Edge series.  Abigail Owen has a best-seller series on her hands with this one. ~Moonshine’s Corner


Excerpt:
No way was she misinterpreting the need reflecting back at her.
Say it, she silently urged. Too proud to beg out loud. Do something.
“What do you want, Finn?” she repeated.
Please.
He tipped his head down, though his gaze remained on her, but the light in those blue depths shifted, turning from banked need, held ruthlessly in check, to a possessiveness that drew her body into aching awareness.
He pulled lightly on her wrist, drawing her across what had been an impassable chasm of space, until she was flush against his hard body. His other hand came under the fall of her hair to rest against her neck.
She didn’t look away, not even as he lowered his head, his movement agonizingly slow. His mouth only a whisper from hers, he stopped.
“You,” he said. “I want you.”
Finally. She had no idea if she closed the distanced between their lips or if he did. She only knew that she was getting exactly what she wanted.
Sensation forced her eyes closed as the heat of him seeped into her skin, her body flushing with it, swamping her senses. Their tongues tangled, his mouth hard and urgent against hers, like he couldn’t get enough, like he needed to possess her. The speed of her body’s reaction was so fast, so immediate, that she went dizzy with the need, like looking over the edge of a terrifying drop.
She was too out of her element, too out of control, but she didn’t want to stop. She wanted more.
He released her wrist, wrapping his arm around her waist, her softness yielding to his hard body as he held her closer. At the same time, he loosened his grip on her neck, brushing over the sensitive skin at her nape with his fingers.
Shards of electricity zapped from that simple touch directly to her core, which throbbed in response. At the same time, warmth from that touch spread through her on a wave of a feeling akin to total acceptance. Like this was where she was supposed to be. A low moan dragged from her mouth as he lifted her, just enough that it put him in complete control. He slipped a thigh between her legs, then pressed her down.
Holy hell.
Delaney leaned into him, her body softening into his, attuned to what his wicked hands and lips were doing to her even as her heart beat fast has hummingbird’s wings just to be in his arms. She arched into him, moving against him with a moan.
His hand slid under her shirt and he brushed against the sensitive flesh at her waist, his skin warm against hers. Which only made her want more skin.
With eager hands, she tugged at his black t-shirt, breaking their kisses only long enough to pull it over his head. Then she allowed her hands to roam, to feel the rigid strength in his body, loving the heat of him, the bourbon and Coke smell of him.
A shudder shook his body. “I want you.” He paused, then said something else under his breath. Something like, “More than I should let myself.” But then his lips were back on hers, addling her senses and taking over her mind.
A bellow rent the air and jerked Delaney out of the oblivion of pleasure where she floated. She snapped her head up, breaking the kiss to listen. Another sound that she could only classify as a roar broke the stillness.
“What was that?” she asked. Fear, rather than need, had her heart tripping over itself inside her chest. “It sounds like a…wounded animal.”
Finn gave a low rumble that sounded more like a warning growl than anything a human would make, and her heart slammed into high gear. Slowly, dread pulling at her, she turned her head to look directly at him.
To encounter eyes ablaze. Not figuratively. Literally ablaze. Blue flames consumed his irises.
What the hell? Panic spiked inside her, and her breath came out in short, sharp bursts, speeding up as she absorbed what she was seeing.
Adrenaline joined the fear and she shoved his chest. Hard.
She must’ve surprised him, because Finn released her, stumbling back a few paces. She managed to keep her feet under her, then scrambled back, trying not to trip over any rocks in her path.
He held up his hands. “Delaney, don’t—”
She did the only thing she could. She ran.

Author Bio:
Award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.

No matter the genre, she loves to write witty, feisty heroines, sexy heroes who deserve them, and a cast of lovable characters to surround them (and maybe get their own stories). She currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero, her husband, and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.


Saturday, September 22, 2018

#WeWriWa - ROMANCE REKINDLED


Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors where authors share an 8 - 10 sentence snippet. Be sure to visit the other authors. You can find them here.

I'm sharing snippets from my Christmas story, ROMANCE REKINDLED. Abby's mother and new boyfriend were arrested the night before. It's Christmas Eve morning, and they're appearing before a judge, dressed as Santa. 

Please excuse the creative punctuation, necessary to keep this within the guidelines. It's also edited some from the original.

The last line from last week was: "Case dismissed.” He (Judge) banged the gavel then stood.

“But, sir—”
Santa narrowed his eyes, “Deputy Dawson, do you understand the words case dismissed?” he banged the gavel again.
“But—”
“Speak again, boy—” Santa shook the gavel at him, “—and you’ll be the one spending Christmas in jail—dismissed—get out of here—all of you.”
George and Florence stood and hugged each other, Santa left the room, and Deputy Dawg walked down the aisle with his tail between his legs, and the handcuffs on his belt jingling like the bells on Santa’s sleigh.
Outside the courthouse, the bright sun made the snow-covered trees glisten like fairy-land. Florence hugged George again, then Sam and Bethany. She looked at Abby and sighed, “This was the most fun I’ve had in years—don’t ruin it with a lecture.”
Abby thought of several things to say—none of them good, “It’s okay, Mother,” she gave her a quick hug. “Let’s go home.”



Blurb:

Abby Ten Eyck likes her life the way it is. She runs a successful business, has a well-adjusted teenage daughter, and has managed to keep men at bay since her divorce fifteen years ago. Just before Christmas, she’s hit with change. Her mother decides to sell the family home. Then she’s arrested, with an unknown man. Could this new man in her mother’s life create more upheaval? Or could his handsome son be just what Abby needs to revive her dormant feelings?

Sam Watson embraces transition from frenetic Wall Street to a small Michigan resort town. His health is worth moving close to his dad who seems over the moon in love. But it’s the daughter of his father’s girlfriend who fascinates him. Abby Ten Eyck reminds him of his driven self. He must help her slow down before she burns out. Like he did.

ROMANCE REKINDLED is available as an e-book at:

Amazon  ~  Amazon UK  ~  iBooks  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords  ~ Nook

ROMANCE REKINDLED is now available in print at: http://a.co/d/dOlyBlT








Thursday, September 20, 2018

GUEST: Sally Brandle @sallybrandle

I'm pleased to feature a fellow Michigander on my blog today. She was raised on the other side of the state, the Lake Huron side. Please welcome Sally Brandle.


Sally, please tell us about yourself.


My dad told wonderful stories, so maybe I inherited a bit of his talent. The catalyst to write romance came while visiting my brother in Costa Rica. Reading occupied hot, humid afternoons. After plowing through seven romance novels, I declared to my husband that I enjoyed witty dialogue and the chase way more than the sex scenes. Certainly, I could pen a love story without those details. The challenge landed squarely onto my laptop.

I take pride in weaving slow-burning romance into edgy suspense stories without intimate sex scenes. Are they sweet? Not from comments by readers about the attraction elements and villains receiving appropriate consequences for their actions. I’m a Libra who strives to make everyone happy, while expecting fair treatment. Don’t mess with kids or animals in my presence or the gloves come off. That ideology’s put into action regarding Big Red, the mule, in The Hitman’s Mistake.

My home’s in the Pacific Northwest—shared by a husband, adult sons, our faithful Aussie-mix, and (nearby) my twenty-eight year old Quarter Horse gelding. My pastry-training career allowed me to travel to Montana, the setting for my series, Love Thrives in Emma Springs. Another romantic suspense series with a science twist, Double Vision, will be forthcoming.
  
What does your family think of your writing?

My family’s extremely supportive. Being frugal and working consistently since I turned fifteen allowed early retirement and my commitment to write full time. When I got the text that the paperback version of The Hitman’s Mistake arrived, I’d just hopped on Lance for an exercise session in the arena at my barn. Excited as I was, I finished riding, took care of a friend’s horse, and then headed home. My husband had gathered our son and friends in our dining room. They’d decorated the boxes, chilled champagne, and I walked in hearing the song, “Celebrate”. I love my herd.

What did you learn from writing your first book?

I hammered out the rough draft (about 55,000 words) of my debut novel in about five days and thought it looked pretty good. That’s before I attended my first Emerald City Writers Conference and realized I may have hit basic markers delineating a romantic suspense story, but my writing skills needed vast improvement. Workshops, on-line classes, critique partners, beta readers, and fabulous editors came to my rescue. I enjoy learning and my internal drive to succeed keeps me practicing new techniques and questioning whether I can do better. Here’s a big tip to save time: take suggestions from successful people and incorporate them into your writing, if applicable.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I’ve written 8.5 books to date. That’s written, not polished, and ready for my Soul Mate Publishing editor! Each book contains elements near and dear to me. Overall, I’d say the forty-year-old characters in Book 3 make it one of my favorites. Major story line changes are necessary, so the vote’s out on how I’ll feel about the rewrite.

What are some jobs you've done that would end up in a book?

Many former jobs end up in my books. To earn college money, I worked in a warehouse, became a high school custodian during summers for higher pay, did landscaping, sold cameras, catalogued antique jewelry for a numismatist (rare coin dealer), and became the 6’ tall Easter bunny at the mall. My degree is in teaching special education, behavior disorders. I taught high school for a short time (I was 21 and so were many of my students) and then I substituted. Afterwards, I became a food service broker and taught industrial pastry baking—to students from community colleges on up to executive chefs from national parks. My third book sprinkles in baking tips and someday I’ll pen, Pastry Tips for the Dough Challenged and offer it as a freebie. Too many people turn pale at the idea of baking. It’s only a set of learnable skills, folks.

If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?

My advice would be to love myself. In college, my suitemate combed her hair in front of a mirror every morning and said aloud, “You are beautiful, Elaine.” Was she a stunning model type? Nope, but she ate healthy and worked out. She radiated an inner confidence without conceit, and she never lacked for dates.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work?

I hope my readers learn to forgive themselves, love themselves, and trust themselves. My heroines are faced with challenges and figure out they’re not only capable, but even stronger when they allow others to help them. That being said, our world can be mighty scary. If you haven’t read The Gift of Fear, it gives concrete reasons to trust your intuition in real time.

Tell us about your latest release.


My recent release, The Hitman’s Mistake, is a contemporary romantic suspense. It incorporates the sense of community I found training folks from smaller towns in Montana. I grew up in rural Michigan, with unlocked doors and neighbors willing to lend a hand. My heroine in HM needs to work through past setbacks, trust her intuition, and be ready to love and be loved again. The Love Thrives in Emma Springs series, centers on old-fashioned values and appreciating a slower pace in a fast world. If you like The Hitman’s Mistake cover and want to see it win a contest, I’m in the running until Sept 25th on the Moonlight and Mystery site. I’d appreciate your vote! 


Blurb


She needs his trust. After Miranda Whitley stops crooked cops from assassinating a prominent Seattle judge, she’s next on the hit list, and her survival depends on the man she’s had one awkward encounter with—buff FBI Agent, Grant Morley. But can she find him in time?

He needs the truth. The last person Grant expects to discover on his annual horseback trip delivering supplies to a Montana mountain hermit is alluring Miranda Whitley, nearly dead from a bullet wound in her side. An accidental witness or the cold-blooded accomplice to would-be assassins?

Miranda must convince Grant of her innocence, evade the killers intent on preventing her testimony, and fight her unwanted attraction for the agent…an attraction which seems to be mutual. Fortunately, love thrives in Emma Springs. If you love sizzling chemistry, determined assassins, and Montana scenery, then you’ll love Sally Brandle’s galloping thriller.


Excerpt

Setting: Our heroine’s pruning indoor plants in the lobby of Seattle’s Justice Building after hours.


***
Soft taps came from a few feet behind her. She tilted her head.
Footsteps? From the stairwell? Miranda released her grip, and the tree limb sprang free. She swung her head and watched the branch skim the fly of the trousers on the man now towering over her right shoulder.
Not Ike. She froze.
“Oh, didn’t see you there—” he sidestepped, and her cup scrunched in protest under his big boot. The lid popped off and the double shot of Kona glugged into a mocha-scented pool.
He jumped to avoid the puddle. “Energy conservation put you in the shadows. Sorry, I nailed your coffee.” His swinging backpack missed her nose by inches.
She twisted her body and scooted her butt until her shoulder jammed against a carved pot.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“It’s okay,” she mumbled, keeping her head lowered to avoid further contact with the bag-wielding klutz wearing black trousers. Must’ve been him she’d glimpsed a few minutes ago, while the elevator doors had closed on the floor below Ike’s.
“I’ve never been attacked by a branch. Must say, you deployed it well,” the deep voice announced. He stopped directly in front of her.
His hiking boots made her size-nine high-tops appear dainty.
Not the shoes of a snobby lawyer or a lost, post-trial pimp trying to find his way out of the building. Still, the flailing branch served him right for sneaking up on her. “I didn’t hear you.”
“And I shouldn’t text and walk,” he said in a lighter, almost sexy tone. “I’m Grant.” He dropped his pack and stuck out his hand.
An FBI tag printed ‘GRANT MORLEY’ hung from the bag.
She peered from under her cap’s brim and gulped.
Him.
Agent of Interest. Her heart took off at a gallop.

Buy links:


Last question, Sally. Where can readers find you?


Haynet (horse-enthusiast site) Reviewhttp://hay-net.co.uk/the-hitmans-mistake-a-review/



 Happy trails to all, Sally.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

GUEST: Jenna Jaxon @Jenna_Jaxon

Today, I'd like to welcome author Jenna Jaxon. We met through Weekend Writing Warriors, a blog hop where we post 8-10 sentence snippets of a published book or a work-in-progress. I've read many snippets from Jenna's book. Now it's time to meet her.



Welcome, Jenna. Please tell us about yourself.


I am a multi-published author of historical romance. I write in all time periods (Medieval, Georgian, Regency, Victorian) because, passion is timeless.  I’ve been reading and writing historical romance since I was a teenager, starting with Kathleen Woodiwiss’s The Wolf and the Dove.  I’m also a Stephen King fan, and so I love the dark side of romance, a twist, suspense, a surprise and I try to incorporate all of these elements into my stories. For my day job, I’m a theatre director and educator at a private university in Virginia. I make my home in Gloucester, Virginia with her family, including two very vocal cats and one quiet one.


When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

In the third grade. I wrote a story called Miss Priss Finds a Kitten, including illustrations. I always enjoyed reading and writing, and might have become a writer earlier in my career, however, in high school I fell in love with theatre and that shifted my focus until about 10 years ago.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

During the school year, depending on my class schedule, I usually get up early and write for a couple of hours before going to school.  If that doesn’t work, I have to wait until I get home from work (usually late because of play rehearsals) and then sit down and write until between midnight and 2:00 am. Weekends I usually write early, before the family is up and disturbing me. During the summers I try to go different places to write, again for quiet and fewer distractions. My favorite place to write is a cabin in upstate New York that’s completely off grid. All the peace and quiet a writer would want and friends who know when to leave you alone and when to share a glass of wine.
  
What do you enjoy most about writing?

Plotting. I am a plotter from top to bottom. I cannot begin to write unless I have an outline (they usually run 12 to 15 pages) and I have to start at the beginning and go straight through to the end.

I do, however, allow for inspiration to insert itself into the outline. If something occurs to me that will enrich or excite the plot, I have no problem incorporating those things into the book, but I have to have that detailed roadmap from the beginning.

Still I love, love, love figuring out how to make the plot work, how to make connections and actions that drive the characters. That’s the real fun part.

How many hours a day to you spend writing?

I have written up to 10 hours in a day, however, that was an exception and because I had a deadline I had to make. Normally, I write a chapter a day, which takes me about four hours. If I only have to write for four hours, then usually the pages are good. When I have to push for 2-four hour sessions, the second session needs more work in revision and my head becomes fuzzy.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to read, I love to travel (although I really got my fill of that this past summer), and recently I love to sit and binge watch old television series. I just finished watching 13 seasons of Supernatural with my elder daughter, and am currently watching Call the Midwife with my younger daughter and The West Wing because it’s my favorite TV show ever!

If I were a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?

Well, the first thing I’d ask is what historical period do you like best. That would color my answer. If you liked medieval, I’d say Betrothal from the Time Enough to Love series because a lot of readers have really loved my heroine Alyse. If you like a bit wilder period, Only Scandal Will Do would be perfect. It’s got lots of action, a very plucky heroine who can use a sword with the best of them, and a hero who starts out as a villain, but changes his tune. If you like Regency, as a lot of readers do, I’d suggest To Woo A Wicked Widow, which is a bit of a different Regency as it’s about a widow who wants to enjoy her freedom but gets sidetracked by a particularly handsome earl.

What two authors would we find you reading when taking a break from your own writing?

Jo Beverley, even though I’ve already read almost all of her books. I love them so much I re-read them a lot. And Diana Gabaldon. I’m waiting avidly for the next Outlander book to release!


Tell us about your latest release.





My most recent release was Wedding the Widow, book 2 in The Widows’ Club series for Kensington Publishing. The premise of the series is that a group of war widows band together and help one another begin life again a year after their loss. Wedding the Widow is the story of Elizabeth Easton, who was devastated by the loss of her husband. Even a year later she’s not prepared to let go of her love for him—until she meets the dashing, handsome Lord Brack. When one night of passion leads to a horrible faux pas and desperate consequences, Elizabeth and Jemmy have to fight tooth and nail for their Happy Ever After.

BLURB:

Of all the widows of Lyttlefield Park, Elizabeth Easton seems least likely to remarry. Though many gentlemen would love to get to know the charming Mrs. Easton better, she is devoted to the memory of her late husband. Which is why she’s so shocked to be overtaken by passion during a harvest festival, succumbing to an unforgettable interlude with the handsome Lord Brack . . .

After enduring years of war, Jemmy, Lord Brack, plans to defer matrimony in favor of carefree pleasure. But who could resist a lifetime with Elizabeth Easton, a woman as marvelously sensual as she is sweet? Yet despite their mutual desire, she refuses to consider his proposal. With scandal looming, and their families bitterly opposed to the match, Jemmy must find a way to convince Elizabeth to risk her wary heart on him—and turn one infamous night into forever . . .

EXCERPT:
“What luck, my dear, to have drawn a waltz for our set.” Lord Brack’s twinkling blue eyes caught Elizabeth’s attention. He used that distraction to pull her close to him and lay his hand flat on her back.

What had this roguish young man been up to while she’d been pouring out her troubles to Fanny?

“Indeed, I did not believe Lady Braeton one to court scandal.” The intimacy of the waltz was said to be suited only to married couples. She now agreed wholeheartedly.

“Not scandal, surely?” Brack took the opportunity of a whirling step to draw her body closer to him, tightening his arm around her.

“Lord Brack!” How dare he?

“Jemmy, if you remember.” Effortlessly, he steered them around the circle of dancers. Whatever he was, he was skilled on the dance floor.

“Jemmy, then. You are holding me much too tightly.” Secretly she found his nearness thrilling, though she couldn’t let him know that.

“Nowhere near as tightly as I want to hold you.” He inched her even closer. “As I have done in the past.” He pressed his mouth close to her ear. “I remember holding you against me, all of you against all of me. Don’t you remember how lovely that felt, Elizabeth? Don’t you want to feel that again?”

Gasping for breath, Elizabeth fought the surge of passion that threatened to overwhelm her merely by his closeness. She vividly remembered their bodies entwined on her bed, kisses raining down all over her neck and breasts. Heat exploded at her core and she fought to continue dancing as though her body had not suddenly been engulfed in those flames once more. If she was to continue the charade, she must steer the conversation into safer waters.

“I believe the past should remain in the past, Lord—”

His eyes threatened to cut her like a finely honed blade.

“Jemmy.” She eased away from him a trifle. Enough room to let her take a deep breath. “Could we please walk about the room? I am not used to dancing so much nor so fast.” She managed a cajoling tone and fluttered her fan before her face, both to conceal her eyes and to cool her as much as possible. The room itself seemed to exude heat.

“Of course, my dear.” He immediately broke off the waltz and offered his arm. “Even though it took ten minutes of negotiating and a gold sovereign to arrange this dance with the orchestra leader.”

“You didn’t?”

“I most certainly did. How else could I guarantee I’d end up with you in my arms this evening?” He chuckled low in his throat and drew her arm through his.

“You are much more devious than I imagined. At Lyttlefield Park I would have said you were the perfect gentleman.” Instead, Lord Brack was turning out to be one of those gentlemen Mama had warned her about. The trouble was, she was no longer a young, inexperienced girl. Maybe she no longer needed to travel the safe path.

“I can be your perfect gentleman, Elizabeth. A knight in shining armor who rescues you from an uneventful life—”

“My life is not uneventful, I will have you know.” She rapped his arm with her fan so sharply feathers flew.

“I can guarantee I will make it more meaningful, more exciting than you ever dreamed.” He stopped at the far end of the ballroom near a set of closed French doors. “I wish the night was not so cool. We could take the air out on the balcony,” his voice became huskier, “and I could kiss you again.”

BUY LINKS:








Last question. Where can readers find you? (social media, etc.)


Readers can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and my blog.





Thanks, Jenna, for sharing yourself and your newest release with our readers.