MaGM#3: Meet Author Sandra Dailey

Okay, sorry, but please pretend it's Monday again, people. The saga of my faulty gallbladder continued yesterday, so, belatedly... welcome to Meet and Greet Monday, where we pull an author or reader of romance out from out of that book they're buried in, drag them in front of everyone and introduce them! Please wave hello to today's featured guest, author Sandra Dailey:

You know what they say... the bigger the foot, the bigger the shoe.

Hi, Sandra! First, I'll ask you a series of random questions, just because I'm nosy. 

Hi Kristen! I’m delighted to be a guest on your blog. I love the opportunity to meet new readers and fellow writers. This should be fun.

Hey, fun, traumatizing, it's all semantics. Okay, let's jump right in: if you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

I’d love to have the power of ‘Invisibility’. There’s two ways this power would work well for me. 1 - As a writer, I work at home. Constant interruptions plague me. 2 - Also, as a writer, I love to listen in on other people’s conversations. You can get some great ideas that way. As they say, truth is often stranger than fiction.

See Sandra listening in? Neither do they... Image Credit

That totally makes sense to me. If they can't see you, they can't interrupt you. Or, in the case of persistent eavesdropping, smack you with a restraining order. Do you have any hidden talents?

It’s not really hidden, but most people who know me would say I have a talent for sarcasm. It serves me well. 1 – It tends to spill out into my writing and helps spice up my characters. 2 – People with a good sense of humor are drawn to me. 3 – People with no sense of humor avoid me. I’m good with that.

And boom. We're kindred spirits. I love sarcasm! I was wondering about that strange, magnetic pull you seemed to have... So, if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’d love to live in one of those little bungalows out on the water in Bora Bora. It’s beautiful and secluded, a perfect place to write. I’d like to see who’d knock on my door in the middle of the day there.

Sandra's dream hut. Image Credit

Looks gorgeous, doesn't it? Wonder how much real estate in Bora Bora goes for. If I budget my money right, I could probably afford something more like this:

Is there room in your hut for me, Sandra? Image Credit

Speaking of money, what would you do if you won the lottery?

Bora Bora, here I come! I guess I’d also need a boat for those coffee and chocolate runs. You can’t write without coffee and chocolate. It’s a fact.

You buy a boat to go get your chocolate, and I'll just buy a chocolate boat to eat in my cardboard box. 

I won't tell you how many hours I've spent daydreaming about lottery winnings. I've even promised to buy everyone I know a pony if I ever win... On an unrelated note, are you a good liar?

I believe I've established that I’m a writer. I spend my days, and often my nights, making up fictitious stories and relating them in a believable way. According to my rankings, I’m a pretty good liar. My confession, there you have it.

Image Credit

Ha, I love that being a writer gives us a legitimate, tax-deductible reason to put lies to paper. And kudos on those rankings! Wait, you're not lying about those, right? 

Okay, next: pick up the book closest to you. Turn to page 12. What's the first full sentence on the page?

Gunshots, shouts, and the squeal of tires against pavement erupted outside the heavy industrial door. (Hard As You Can by Laura Kaye)

I do like the sound of gunshots in a romance - especially by page 12. I haven't read any by Laura Kaye yet. I'll have to check her out! Probably the best thing about being romance writers is that we can read all the other authors we want and call it research or market analysis. 

Image Credit

Who is your favorite author of all time?

Oh, that’s a hard one. I guess I’d have to say James Patterson. I’m addicted to his Alex Cross and Michael Bennett series'.

I'm sensing a suspense theme here. So what about your books? What are you currently working on?

I have three stories in the works. A suspense called Close Enemy, (sequel to Common Enemy), a suspense called Independence Day, and a mystery called Deep Blue. However, my publisher doesn’t often agree with my titles, so we’ll see what happens to them later.

Image Credit

I personally think those titles sound fantastic. What book have you released most recently?

That would be Common Enemy, a romantic suspense involving a scarred man determined to protect a single mother and her five-year-old daughter from her psycho ex-husband.

Can we read a little of it?

Here’s a bit from the villain’s point of view ~

Bobby Ray Butler watched the sunset through the barred window of his prison cell. He squinted as the florescent lights automatically came on. They’d turn off again to leave him in darkness at nine o’clock. It had been the same for the last five years, five months and twenty days.

He’d worn the same orange jumpsuits every one of those days. He’d eaten the same tasteless food and walked the same exercise yard. Any time he was outside his cell, he’d had to watch his back. The bad guys here were dirty, diseased, and mean. The good guys fell to them or learned to be just as bad. Bobby Ray had gone to great lengths to avoid all but a select few.

He earned a minuscule amount of money working on the grounds. Almost every dime of it had gone into pads of paper. The only time his mind was truly calm were the hours he spent sketching his pictures.

He peeled a picture from the wall where it hung from a small piece of tape he’d had to beg for. He’d never beg for anything again. The circumstance that put him here wasn't right. A man should be able to trust his wife. King of his castle and all that crap.

He carefully lifted another picture from the collage on his wall. He’d be leaving soon and wouldn't leave a single one behind. No one here deserved to even look at them

He’d been through hell, but soon it would be his turn to send someone else. The difference was, her hell would be permanent. There’d be no reprieve, no escape, and no second chance.

Sounds right up my alley and I love the concept. Where can we buy it?

Common Enemy is available in ebook and print through Amazon only until the end of June when it goes worldwide. However, it’s currently being offered at a reduced price:

Get Common Enemy here in ebook for $2.99.

Or grab a print copy for $11.08.

Score! Sweet, sweet bargain prices. Thanks so much for letting yourself be subjected to MaGM, Sandra. Where can we stalk non-threateningly find out more about you and your books? 

Peeping tom. Image Credit

sandradailey.blogspot.com

Facebook

Twitter

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Kristen. I’d love to hear from you and your friends.

No problem, Sandra! And don't worry, the emotional effects of this interview will heal eventually... [  

MaGM#1: Meet Author Diane Burton

Welcome to the first-ever Meet and Greet Monday, where we pull an author or reader of romance out from out of that book they're buried in, drag them in front of everyone and introduce them. Please wave hello to today's featured guest, author Diane Burton!

First, I'll ask Diane a series of random questions, just because I'm nosy.

What is your middle name? Marie

Goes good with my middle name - Ann! 

Where were you born? On an Air Force Base in Illinois. My dad was in the Army Air Corp (predecessor of the U.S. Air Force. He met my mom at a roller skating rink. The rest is history. LOL

That's just gotta be one of the best parent meeting stories - can't you just picture them holding hands, skating around the rink?

These are not Diane's parents. But aren't they cute? Photo Credit

What would you do if you won the lottery? Pay off our mortgage and our children’s mortgages; set up college accounts for the grandchildren; take my family on a cruise; donate to my favorite charities; invest the rest.

Hmm, I don't see anything in there about buying a hovercraft. Just sayin'.

What's your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving. No gifts, just family getting together for a traditional meal. I love cooking for Thanksgiving because I don’t have to think about what to prepare—same thing every year. 

I love Thanksgiving, too. Sometimes my birthday even falls on it, which is doubly awesome, but the turkey is the definitely best part. Mmm, tryptophan...

What color socks do you have on? I’m not wearing socks. I usually go barefooted in the house unless my feet are cold, then I wear plain old white socks.

Diane, you a closet hippie. Rock those bare feet! Take a look at Diane's pic again and tell me she doesn't look like has hippie tendencies...

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Right where I am. We moved to be close to our grandchildren. Besides, I love West Michigan.

I'm kind of fond of West Michigan, myself. Which is good, because I live here, too.

Do you still have a camera that uses real film? Yes, but I never use it. Hubs has cameras from the early 1900s.

I love old things, and my grandpa used to collect antique cameras. What a fantastic hobby!

But does Diane's husband have one of these? Photo Credit

Next, I asked a little about Diane's professional life. She's an author, you know. Writes out of this world stuff. Literally.

Pick up the book closest to you. Turn to page 12. What's the first full sentence on the page? This is hard because I usually don’t read print books. I’ll answer with what’s on my Kindle. From In The Black by Sheryl Nantus: The two hundred-plus miners jumped to their feet as one, stomping their booted feet in a deafening chorus.

Who is your favorite author of all time? Jayne Ann Krentz. She is so versatile, writing contemporary romantic suspense, historical romantic suspense (as Amanda Quick), and futuristics (as Jayne Castle). I discovered her back in the 1980s when she wrote for Dell Candlelight. And I’ve read all of her books. I even found a futuristic she wrote before that.

What are you currently working on? A contemporary mystery featuring a female P.I. It’s set in a small, fictional resort town on Lake Michigan. The Case of the Bygone Brother will be available in July.

The Chameleon: Latest Release from Diane Burton

What book have you released most recently? The Chameleon (An Outer Rim Novel): Think Legally Blond meet Mata Hari. Socialite Jileena Winslott appears to be the spoiled, bubble-headed daughter of an industrial magnate. In reality, she’s her father's smart, savvy aide, who yearns to run the family business. When her father sends her on a covert mission to the Outer Rim, she has the chance to prove herself. But he insists she take along a fake fiancé—the man she’s secretly loved for years.

Can we read a little of it? 

“The company belongs in the family,” Jileena said.

“You have to accept that your brother is dead.”

Despite her heartache, she stood in front of her father, hands on her hips, determined to bring this to a head. She’d danced around the subject long enough, dropping hints that he ignored. He may have groomed her older brother to take over, but she wasn’t going down without a fight. “I am family.”

With his trademark stare—one that made competitors back off and employees quake—he pinned her in place. “You don’t have what it takes to replace me.”

His remark sent such an arrow of hurt through her she snapped, “Neither did Konner.” The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to retract them.

Father slumped back in his chair. The desolation in his expression broke her heart.

Immediately, she dropped to her knees in front of him. “I’m so sorry, Daddy. I shouldn’t have—”

In a gesture she remembered from childhood, he smoothed her hair away from her forehead then tipped up her chin. “What you say is true. He had no stomach for this cutthroat business. And neither do you, thank the Divine One.” He patted her head twice. “You don’t have to worry about that. Now get up. We have work to do. Plans to make.”

“Plans?”

“Baby, I’m sending you to Galeria 7 to check out this discovery.”

“To the Outer Rim?” Jileena’s jaw dropped. While her father had sent her on discreet missions before, he’d never sent her that far from the Central Planets—especially since Konner had died out on the Frontier.

“You will check the site and do your own analysis. Put that geology degree of yours into practice. If, indeed, it is high-grade lambidium, you will negotiate mining rights with the local tribe.”

“M-Me?”

He’d done it again and seemed to enjoy surprising her. He couldn’t mean it. He wasn’t sending her. He had to be teasing. Yet he’d never been intentionally cruel. At least, not to her.

“I certainly can’t send Sindaro. As soon as reporters learn he left for the Rim, rumors would fly and negotiations would fail.”

He was right about that. If secrecy was paramount, Father had to send someone whose presence was innocuous. Someone like his fluff-brained daughter.

“Discretion is imperative. No one will suspect you are going out to the Rim for anything other than a vacation.”

Hope began to trickle through her. He’d never had her negotiate anything as important as mining rights. He was giving her a chance. A chance to prove herself.

I love your writing, Diane. I'm a big fan of yours after One Red Shoe, and I can't wait to try your Sci-Fi on for size. Where can we buy The Chameleon?

Amazon

Smashwords 

Kobo

Barnes & Noble

And where can we stalk you at, social media-wise?

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads: Diane Burton Author

Pinterest

Amazon Author Page

Thanks for playing, Diane. And everyone else, be sure to come back next week and meet another talented writer, Melissa Keir! [  

Book Review: The Best Medicine by Tracy Brogan

I'm not sure if I want you to read this book or not. I mean, I completely loved The Best Medicine. I've read it twice already and it has earned a paperback place of honor on my keeper shelf. I'd even consider myself a newly-minted perma-fan of Tracy Brogan. But if I recommend this book to you, I will have to share Tyler, and I don't want to do that because he's my book boyfriend.

Book: The Best Medicine

Author: Tracy Brogan

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating:  [  [  [  [  [  (5 out of 5 hearts!)

About the Book:

Everyone in Bell Harbor thinks career-minded plastic surgeon Evelyn Rhoades needs a husband. Everyone, that is, except for Evelyn…sort of. Even if she did want a husband (which she doesn’t…most of the time), she’d never let something as intangible as fate determine who she marries. No, if she’s going to find someone to spend her life with, she’ll do it scientifically: with a carefully crafted list of criteria and an Internet dating site.

But when intoxicated, law-breaking Tyler Connelly crashes into her life by way of a stolen Jet Ski, unruly emotions defy common sense. Sure, he’s sexy, charming, and determined to win Evelyn’s affection, but all evidence points to him being the worst possible choice. He’s too young for her. Too irresponsible. Too underemployed. And, oh yeah, he’s her patient.

But Tyler knows firsthand how the best-laid plans can crumble under the weight of destiny. Now all he needs to do is to teach Evelyn that, in matters of the heart, love often supersedes logic.

My Thoughts:

This is the first Tracy Brogan novel I've ever read and I can honestly say I haven't felt this way about an author since Emily Hemmer. Okay, that sounded creepy. Not a stalker, ladies, I promise! I'm just so excited to have found a book that can snag me emotionally while making me laugh out loud. The Best Medicine is seriously a must-read if you're a fan of humorous contemporary romances, for three reasons: it's written with a skewed, laugh out loud sense of humor, there's a realistic and quirky heroine, and the hero is will make you drool. Like, a lot. 

Don't believe me? Let me present some evidence:

Skewed Sense of Humor (Exibit A)

I could give you so many examples. Divorced parents that send each other Gorilla Grams and pick up the other's dry-cleaning, only to drop it off at the Salvation Army. Friends that drop Portuguese phrases like foda pena in daily conversation. Blind dates who think testicular implants are going to be the next big thing (and they're willing to let you in on the ground floor). But, in my opinion, this opening sentence says it all: 

"Birthday parties, in my opinion, are a lot like pelvic exams--a little uncomfortable, a little awkward, a little too personal, but an unavoidable yearly nuisance--like a pap smear, only with presents."   

Realistic and Quirky Heroine (Exibit B)

Evie is great. She's skeptical of anything smacking of true love, after the humorously volatile example her parents set for her (see above), and she's afraid to have children because she doesn't know how to entertain them. Plus, she never has food in her apartment. Kids need to eat. And when she finally decides that her biological clock has been ticking long enough and she should cave to the pressure of the close-knit Bell Harbor community, where life is like a Viagra commercial followed by a Toys 'R' Us advertisement (oh yeah, Tracy is great with comparisons), she makes a list of what she wants in a future husband. A weighted list with things on it like "civic awareness."  

Drool-Worthy Hero (Exibit C)

Tyler. Connelly. Don't tell my husband, but boy-oh-boy did this man make me drool. If I was single and he was, well, real, I'd give Evie a run for her money. He's hot, funny, works harder than three normal men put together and has a protective streak a mile wide. A real-life knight in shining armor who is not afraid to buy tampons. Lots of tampons. He might not meet the requirements on Evie's list, but I'd take him with a quickness. I mean, if I weren't married. And if he was real.

I can't stress this enough: buy this book. (Well, pre-order this book. It goes on sale May 13.) Read this book. Love this book. Really, that about sums it up. I'm just super glad I spontaneously bought Brogan's Highland Surrender at my MMRWA retreat a few weeks ago. I can't wait to see what she does with historical romance.

About the Author:

Tracy Brogan is an award-winning, bestselling author of both contemporary and historical romance. She was a Romance Writers of America® RITA Finalist for Best First Book (Crazy Little Thing), and a two-time Golden Heart Finalist. Her latest titles include Hold on My Heart and Highland Surrender. She resides in Michigan with her husband, their children, and their overly indulged dogs.

Connect with Tracy Brogan:

Blog 

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads 

Buy the Book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Disclaimer: I received a free advance review copy of The Best Medicine from Tracy Brogan, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

New book!

Image Credit: Broken Barnet

Just in the last hour or two, I've worked out a plot for my next book, and it's coming together like gangbusters. I've got a Harlequin line picked out for it already (Desire), 819 words down in a fresh new MS Word document and I'm off to get an outline scribbled down before I blank on everything and forget where I'm going already.

My advice to anyone out there that wants to write romance or write professionally in any genre, really? Join a writers group. I don't think it's a coincidence that I'm all fired up and full of ideas just one day after a great session with a bunch of like-minded professional romance-inistas. [  

Book Review: The Break-Up Psychic by Emily Hemmer

As a writer, I follow all kinds of blogs and Facebook pages and Twitter feeds. Like, hundreds. That’s probably why I don’t get enough writing done, actually. But it’s all worth it when I find a writer like Emily Hemmer. Her blog and Facebook page have cracked me up from the get-go, and when she posted an Oprah meme letting FB fans know her book was free (“You get a free book! And you get a free book! Everyone gets a free book!), I jumped on it. Read the first two pages. And then proceeded to devour The Break-Up Psychic in just a few hours.

Book: The Break-Up Psychic

Author: Emily Hemmer

Publisher: Emily Hemmer

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Rating:  [  [  [  [  [   (5 out of 5 hearts!)

About the Book:

Ellie has a bad habit of picking the wrong man; a cheating ex-boyfriend, a mild-mannered foot fetishist, and let’s not forget about the hillbilly with the impolite hard-on. But when Sam James, the oh-so-hot bad boy Ellie has sworn to stay away from, keeps turning up like a bad penny, she’s going to need more than her psychic senses to see what’s coming her way.

My Thoughts:

I love romance and I love humor, but it seems like finding a book that combines those two elements effectively is harder than walking a tightrope while wearing flippers and carrying a big suitcase. Either you get a book that’s heavy on the hilarity, but the relationship doesn’t quite ring your bell, or the love story between the main characters is honest and believable but the funny stuff falls flat. I'm happy to say that neither of those were an issue here.

Ellie, The Break-Up Psychic herself, is a likeable character that I can easily picture being friends with. She’s got rotten luck in the man department, and has been burned many times—so many, that when she meets Sam, a sexy, motorcycle-riding mechanic with “bad idea” written all over him, she doesn’t trust her head, her attraction, or the notable lack of psychic alarm bells that usually go off when she’s about to get her heart stomped on again.

Sam and Ellie’s relationship struck me as believable and realistic, perfectly created with complexity and depth. And I almost hesitate to confess this, since it’s never happened before in all the years I’ve been reading romance, but I’d seriously consider Sam for the position of my book boyfriend. In a word? Yum. Plus, the supporting cast, Ellie’s best friend Luanne, coworkers Brooke and Amber (I love Amber – she’s got to be some close relative of my favorite Parks and Recreation character, April Ludgate), and everyone else that shows up throughout this story, are really well-written. No cookie cutter characters here, that’s for sure, even among the secondaries.

And finally, add Emily Hemmer’s unique brand of humor (quirky, surprising, offbeat) into the mix. It’s not just that there are funny scenes that leave you like oh, that situation was hilarious (even though some of them are, like the mysterious teddy bear massacre or the flavored body powder taste-testing)—it’s more like shiny comedic threads are woven throughout the whole story. Kind of like the caramel in Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food. That ice cream would be delicious without it, but add the caramel, and the whole experience is elevated from tasty to BUH-BAMM.

In all? Two thumbs up. I don’t make the promise of a five-star read lightly and The Break-Up Psychic is totally worthy of the rating.

About the Author:

According to her Yahoo! Shine horoscope for 2013, this year looks to be the best of Emily’s life. She has plans to publish three books, win countess accolades from her peers, and literally roll around on a bed made of money. She also plans to purchase a new dishwasher.  (Emily’s full bio is here. I just liked this part the best.)

Connect with Emily Hemmer:

Blog 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Goodreads 

Buy the Book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Break-Up Psychic from Oprah Winfrey—I mean, Emily Hemmer, during a Facebook contest. The review was my idea and when I asked permission to post it, I was promptly told to put that shit up. 

PSA: Now Accepting Romances to Review!

Written a romance lately? Want somebody to review it? Hey, I can probably do that!

Image Credit: Huffington Post

Who am I kidding? I'm in Michigan. Not someplace warm and grassy. Reading outside anytime in the next five months would go more like this:

Image Credit: The Guardian

If you're interested in having your book reviewed, check out my Request Review page. To get an idea of my review style, go here or here, or maybe here. If you want more info on how I go about writing romance reviews, see On Writing Book Reviews.

Book Review: Love in Touch by Lucy May Lennox

I'm so glad I have the opportunity to review books. Everything I've read so far has been fantastic, despite the fact that a couple of them have fallen pretty far outside my normal, comfortable romance novel boundaries. I've been dipping my toes in other genres, people, and I love it! This next book, Love in Touch, by Lucy May Lennox, broadened my horizons. Drastically. In really incredible ways. Feel free to read on, while I try to explain.

Book: Love in Touch

Author: Lucy May Lennox

Publisher: Dev Love Press

Genre: Wounded Hero Romance

Rating:  [  [  [  [  [   (5 out of 5 hearts!)

About the Book:

Kassie has felt adrift ever since her dad died when she was in college. Now 24 and living in Seattle, she gets interested in learning sign language through her roommate, a sign language interpreter. One day at a Deaf community event, she sees a young man sitting off by himself. Kassie feels compelled to try signing to him–the fact that he’s strikingly handsome doesn’t hurt.

Jake has been deaf and blind since birth. His disability has cut him off from the world, but beneath his isolated exterior, is a smart, sweet guy with a dry sense of humor. Despite the odds, he’s highly educated, but at 26, he’s gotten stuck in a rut, with few friends and no clear career plans. Until a sweet-smelling girl introduces herself to him unexpectedly, and opens up a whole new world to him.

Jake is more intelligent, more genuine than anyone she has met before, and for the first time Kassie starts to feel like her life has some direction. But as their friendship deepens into something more, the difficulty in communicating with each other only grows, and it seems like everyone they know thinks their relationship won’t work. How can they come to a deeper understanding of each other, and find a future together?

My Thoughts:

I read an excerpt of Love in Touch on a blog somewhere--I can't even think of where, now--and, in the comments, mentioned that I'd really like to review it. It seemed like such a fascinating love story and, I could tell from the brief excerpt, well-written. Plus, there was that hauntingly gorgeous cover. Something about this book just tugged at me. Next thing you know, I had a kind email and an e-copy of the book in my inbox.

Four hours later (at work, mind you... oops) I'd finished it. 

Can I just say, I was not disappointed? Kassie and Jake were just so real and I was so invested in their story, that by the end of the book, I just wanted it to keep going and going so I could find out how the rest of their lives went. 

This book was so completely outside any kind of romance I've ever read. I was utterly unfamiliar with the "Wounded Hero" romance. (And please correct me if you're familiar with this genre and there's a better known name for it!) The most "wounded" hero in any other book I'd ever read was some guy from the 1820's who came back from the war with a limp and an attractive scar slashed through his right eyebrow. Not like Jake, who was born deaf and blind because of an illness his mom suffered during pregnancy. How could he and Kassie overcome those kind of barriers to create any kind of meaningful relationship?

The answer is, sometimes painfully, sometimes awkwardly and uncomfortably, and often in heartwrenching and beautiful ways. This was not a condescending, "normal" girl lowers her standards and finds a way to make it work with a person with disabilities. (Please note my quotations, because really? Normal? What even IS that?) This was a true love story, with curiosity, openness, heartache, patience and passion. It was an adventure in discovery between two people (I understand they're not real, but their fully-developed personalities and problems and friends and character arcs make them really feel real), who stumble their way through incredible odds to create something amazing. 

If you couldn't tell, I absolutely adored this book and would recommend it to anyone. Five stars. Er, hearts.

About the Author:

Lucy May Lennox is a lifelong resident of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Her first ambition in life was to become a child actor, but when she grew too old to be an adorable prodigy, she turned to writing instead. A connoisseur of novels featuring men with physical disabilities, she grew frustrated with all the cliches, ignorance and stereotypes and decided to write her own positive take on disability. In addition to writing, Lucy also enjoys cooking and gardening, and is an amateur opera singer.

Connect with Lucy May Lennox:

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Buy the Book:

Paperback

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Love in Touch in exchange for a fair and impartial review.