Sunday, November 29, 2015

Cyber Monday Reader Appreciation Giveaway

Here's to the READERS and dreamers, the ones who read to remember and read to forget, the losers of sleep, and the winners with To-Be-Read piles all over their homes and blowing up their e-devices.

This Cyber Monday is for you!


Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway, and you may be one of the winners to receive:

~ e-book of BLURRING THE LINES by Marisa Cleveland
~ e-book of winner's choice from: The Men of the Zodiac series novels
~ $5.00 e-Gift card from Amazon





Here's what readers are saying about Marisa Cleveland's BLURRING THE LINES:


"This is one I highly recommend." ~ bh313 @ iTunes

"I read it in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down." ~ Maya @ Amazon

"This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I can say with complete certainty it won't be my last!" ~ Misty @ Goodreads

"Seriously hot! A definite must read." ~ Juliana @ NetGalley

"The book got my attention right from the start and I couldn't put it down until I finished it." ~ BookSnuggle @ Amazon



Already own BLURRING THE LINES?!?

Email DagnyJameson@gmail.com and provide your mailing address (U.S. only please), and we'll mail you an ERASE THE LINE wrist band!


Sunday, November 1, 2015

The First Last Boy by Sonya Weiss

 

The First Last Boy
A Southtown Brothers Novel

Sex was the plan. Falling in love wasn’t.
Eighteen-year-old Montana “Tana” Shaw has a plan for her life and she follows it to the letter. That includes losing her virginity to her best friend, Ryan Collins before she leaves for college. He’s wild, tattooed, and oh-so-tempting. She never meant to fall for him. But when Tana learns that Ryan’s past is responsible for her family’s heartache, she’s not sure her heart or their relationship can survive.
Ryan Collins is the foster boy from the wrong side of the tracks. He’s scarred, no good, and knows with a past like his that he shouldn’t get involved with Tana even if the sparks are hot enough to drive him crazy. But when the past rears its ugly head, he’ll become the guy he hates in order to save the girl he loves.

~ BUY NOW! Amazon ~


About the Author:

Sonya Weiss is a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and author. She's addicted to great books, good movies, and Italian chocolates.

She's passionate about causes that support abused animals and children. Her parents always supported her bringing stray animals home although the Great Dane rescue was a surprise.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Spotlight: Anna James

Hi Folks,

My name is Anna James and I write contemporary romance with strong heroes and heroines that conquer life’s trials and find their happy ever afters.
I want to thank the Sassy Chicks for having me here on their blog. Today I’d like to talk to you about my writing process and what went in to creating my novel, THE BUSINESS OF LOVE – Book 1 Forevermore Series, which released today.
First off, I should mention I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering and I tend to lean heavily on my spread sheets, tables, and process diagrams – lol. My writing is no different. I utilize the Three Act / Six Stage structure to plot out my novels, using an excel spreadsheet to keep track of major plot points and turning points throughout the story.
But, the very first thing I do before I start plotting, or writing of any kind is decide if I’m writing a single title story, or a book series.
There of lots of things to consider up front when writing a series, but for me, the two most important things are how many books I intend to write, and whether I’m writing multiple books that follow a primary arc (books that are meant to be read together to tell one epic tale), or an episodic series where a set of characters appear from one book to the next with each book telling a different tale.
Forevermore is an episodic series for the most part. Books one through three revolve around the Leone siblings, Dante, India and Wyatt. Book four is about one of the other major characters in book one, Trey Jackson. There’s even potential for a fifth book about one of the supporting characters in CHASING MEMORIES – book 2, if I want to continue the series. Most of the characters make an appearance in each book.
Once I decide on the type of series I want to write and who my characters are, I create character profiles for each of them, and then high level “blurbs” that list the highlights of each story.
The rest of my process isn’t necessarily set in stone.  I try to write 500 words a night, but I’m a Panser by nature (so unlike the engineering side of me!), with strong Plotter tendencies. I edit while I write until my first draft is complete. Then I go back and edit the entire draft, and when it’s done... I ship off my baby to my editor and… The baby is born!
Like reunion romances, like office affairs with a little mystery and suspense thrown in for good measure? Here’s a little snippet from THE BUSINESS OF LOVE (now available):

After the death of her beloved father, Sophia Hamilton vows to keep his memory alive by taking an active part in running the company he bequeathed a share of to her. However, Dante Leone wants no part of her as a business partner. He still hasn’t forgiven her for keeping the truth from him six years ago when they first met, but at only nineteen, to Dante’s twenty-eight, she couldn’t see why her age mattered.
To make matters worse, her car has been vandalized, her house broken into and her father’s valuable art collection stolen. She’s even been accused of staging the robbery. Is someone out to get her or is this Dante's way of scaring her off?
Sophia can either give up on her father's legacy or convince Dante she is not the manipulative liar he believes her to be. If she can’t, the company her father had poured his heart and soul into could go belly up.























About Anna James


Anna James writes contemporary romance novels with strong, confident heroes and heroines who conquer life’s trials and find their HEA.  Her debut story released in 2010. Since then, Anna has penned eleven novels/novellas.

Anna is married to a wonderful husband who spends countless hours picking up the slack around the house so she can pursue her dream of writing, is the proud mother of five fabulous children, and a big, loveable rescue dog the entire family adores.

You can learn more about Anna James at: 





Interested in winning a signed copy of the book?

Sign up for my newsletter here: http://annajamesromance.com/?page_id=1437 between now and September 30, 2015. I’ll do a random drawing on October 1, 2015 and choose 3 winners and post them on blog (US entrants only – sorry.) Good Luck!


Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Finding Master Right

Dominant, crop-wielding men are all Kate dreams about, but how far is she willing to go? 

Kate wants a man who will take charge—she just needs to find the right guy. Fortunately, her friend is throwing a kinky Halloween party with a guest list loaded with sexy, available men. That’s where she meets Banner.

Dark and intense, Banner’s not just a Dominant, he’s a Master looking for a slave. Kate isn’t interested in something that extreme, but when he offers to help her find the perfect Dom, while training her to be a flawless submissive, she’s glad to have a matchmaker and protector.

Banner knows they’re not compatible, yet something about Kate is impossible to resist. Once he finds her the right Dom, will he be able let her go?


Bio:

Two writers in two countries transform into the super writing duo, Sparrow Beckett, each night after wrangling their housefuls of children and pets. They trade the cape and colorful tights for tattoos and cups of coffee then set out to create a world where readers fall in love with heroes and the women who willingly go to their knees for them. Masters Unleashed is the product of two kinky minds who don’t take themselves too seriously and the portrayal of realistic, romantic, sometimes heartbreaking BDSM relationships.



Praise:

“Snappy dialogue and great pacing make for a breathless, glorious ride in Sparrow Beckett’s Finding Master Right! Provocative, sassy and dangerous—a sensually lethal combination!”—New York Times bestselling author Eden Bradley

Finding Master Right is an engaging, page-turning read. I was rooting for Banner and Kate’s happily ever after.”Sierra Cartwright, international bestselling author

“The writing duo Sparrow Beckett has a winner in their opening entry in the Masters Unleashed series. It’s a pleasure to watch as Kate and Banner grow together and adapt to each other’s needs. A family tragedy tests their mettle and the strength of their connection.”—RT Book Reviews (4 Stars)



~~~ LINKS ~~~



Buy links:

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Pre-orders and Parties!

DirtyBoysOfSummer_highres


SIXTEEN Full-Length Novels! Only $0.99 DIRTY BOYS OF SUMMER is available for PRE-ORDER



The official release date is June 2nd, 2015, and it's only available until July 5th, 2015.

Authors / Books Involved:
C.L. Stone: Liar: The Scarab Beetle Series
Lynn Rush: Frostbite
Krista & Becca Ritchie: Kiss the Sky
Julie Prestsater: Before Someday – Part One: The Wait Dawn Rae Miller: Crushed
Tamara Mataya: The Sowing
Rachel Higginson: Bet on Us
Jen Fredrick: Unspoken
Julie Cross: Letters to Nowhere
Carey CorpC: The Halo Chronicles: The Guardian Marisa Cleveland: Accidental Butterfly
Opal Carew: Taken by Storm
Jamie Blair: Lost to Me
Avery Aster: Love, Lex (Undergrad Years)
Evangeline Anderson: The Academy
Gennifer Albin: Teaching Roman

Pre-order it today for only $0.99!!

... and then CLICK HERE to RSVP for the Facebook Party on June 2nd. It's going to be epic. There's even an entry on the giveaway just for you if you RSVP for the party!


...and don't forget to enter the amazing GIVEAWAY after you pre-order!





Friday, January 30, 2015

BIG WIG Tamara Nicola

Tamara Nicola is focused, driven, and goal-oriented, so it's no wonder that Vicki Tracy, chair for this year's Big Wigs Night at the Museum, asked her to jump onboard with organizing the event.

 

If you're friends with us on Facebook, no doubt you've seen the photos from our delicious working dinner.

 

Here's what you missed:

 

Do you have a nickname?

Yes. Blanche. My sister is nicknamed "Jane." The nicknames were dubbed by my late father, Richard Jones, and came from the movie "Whatever happened to Baby Jane" - a movie about two sisters who were trying to kill each other.

 

Why do you feel a children's museum is important to a community?

It brings a much needed facility for children and families to interact, imagine, learn, and play.

 

What do you do in your spare time?

What spare time?

 

What is your work schedule like?

Booked solid.

 

If you could offer just one piece of advice to anyone, what would it be?

Never, ever let anyone tell you that your goals are not attainable.

 

What's your dream day?
Tamara: Being with my family anywhere, any day, with no plans.

 

...and now let's get a little personal!

 

What's on your nightstand right now?

Fifty Shades of Grey. My friend, Caryn, is having her wedding shower with a "Fifty Shades" theme. I figured I'd better read it.

 

What's the craziest thing you've done for love?

Actually went to a football game and wore a jersey. My friends, who know I'm a "non-sports" person, were shocked! And yes, he fooled me, too, by proclaiming that he liked to dance. We're even.

 


~ Bonus Material! ~

 

Favorite Holiday? --- Christmas

Favorite Movie? --- Sixteen Candles

Favorite Place in the World? --- Istanbul, Turkey. It really is that fabulous.

Morning or night? --- Morning

Beaches or pools? --- Pools

Cupcakes or ice cream? --- Ice cream

 

 

We can't wait for you to meet Tamara at the Big Wigs Night at the Museum on February 7th!

 

 

Please call 239-260-1714 or visit cmon.org for tickets or sponsorship information for Big Wigs Night at the Museum.




Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Cover Reveal: Chlorine & Chaos

Ready for something a little…wrong?

How about something so wrong it’s right?


CHLORINE & CHAOS 
Flawed Heroes, Book One
Jessalyn Jameson

***Coming March 10, 2015***

Cover Artist: Michelle Johnson, Blue Sky Design


Former rebel-punk foster child. Has-been golden boy swim champ. Second chance at the love of a lifetime, or all-consuming mistake?



Drowning in guilt, Sage Shepard and Brandon Tiggs have spent the last seven years blaming themselves for their post-graduation break-up. Brand numbs the pain by sleepwalking through his monotonous existence. Sage seeks solace in random strangers—names optional. 

When Sage returns to the town she left years ago, she unknowingly walks right back into Brand’s life. Mid-divorce, Brand sees Sage’s return as the opportunity of a lifetime. But Sage doesn’t believe in second chances, and still hasn’t forgiven herself for the mistakes she made in the most important relationship of her existence. 

Their all-consuming love reignites, and as passion threatens to undo them, it’s all either can do to stay afloat. 
Some mistakes refuse to stay in the past.

Sometimes ‘wrong’ is the best kind of right.

Links: Amazon (pre-order) | Goodreads 




Pre-order GIVEAWAY!

If 'wrong kind of right' looks like your thing, as a little bonus incentive, Jessalyn is giving away a $25.00 Amazon gift card to anyone who pre-orders CHLORINE & CHAOS through Amazon! 
Simply forward your receipt of purchase email, or a screenshot of the same to this email.

Winner will be revealed on March 10, 2015 on Jessalyn's Twitter, so be sure to follow her there! 




About the Author:


Jessalyn Jameson writes sexy, troubled love stories that break the rules and sit just outside the romance box. Jameson’s couples mess up, break up, make up . . . and fight their way to their HEA.
Nothing worth having comes easily—why should a happy ending be any different?

When she’s not writing, you can usually find her with a drink in hand and a far-off look in her eyes, always dreaming up her next chaotic couple. Married to the hottest guy in the room, a mother to one sassy tween and two spoiled dogs, obsessed with Supernatural (Team Dean), The Vampire Diaries (Team Damon), and Craft beer, Jessalyn is a homebody with a gypsy soul.

CHLORINE & CHAOS is the first in Jameson’s Flawed Heroes series.
Please stay tuned for Jake’s story in WHISKEY BURNED, coming late 2015.



Friday, January 23, 2015

Amanda Usen's IMPULSE CONTROL



Today we're excited to feature Amanda Usen and her new release, IMPULSE CONTROL!

Check out this super awesome YouTube video from Amanda and her husband!



Aries (March 21-April 19): Your passionate nature will work in your favor today. Get down, get dirty, and don't give up. Keeping the focus on your partner will guarantee success.

Welcome to the IMPULSE CONTROL release blitz! I'm thrilled to introduce Book One of the Men Of The Zodiac Series for Entangled Indulgence. Russ Donovan is an Aries, and he embodies all the best—and worst—traits of the sign. He's a survivalist, a former Green Beret, twice-voted the toughest man alive, and he's dynamite in bed. No, really. When I handed IMPULSE CONTROL in to my editor, I told her she'd fall in love with Russ on page ninety-six. I don't know where that particular part ended up page-number-wise once the book was formatted, but here's a snippet that shows Russ is a hot lover:

She crab-crawled away from his mouth. A baby wipe could only do so much, and she’d been hiking for two days. Ethan had hated going down on her. “Uh, I don’t think…can’t we just…um…”
He stopped her progress with a heavy hand on each thigh. “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do, but don’t stop me because you think I’m going to do something I don’t want to do.” His breath whispered against her bare skin, making her ache. What would his tongue feel like? She felt herself getting wet, almost able to forget about her self-consciousness, but not quite.
He moved an inch closer. “I never do anything I don’t want to do.”
She braced her hands on his shoulders. “What about this show? You didn’t want to film with me.”
“I didn’t want to film with you before I met you.”
He climbed back up beside her, curling the long length of his body around hers. Disappointment squeezed the air out of her lungs, and she closed her eyes, cursing the stupid baggage that had just lost her what would likely have been a transformative experience. Why did she care what he thought of her?
“It didn’t take long to change my mind. I began picturing you in nothing but those pink heels, and filming was the least of what I wanted to do with you.” He gathered her to his chest, pressing the evidence of his desire firmly against her hip. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll make you come with my fingers, and then I get to do it again any other way I want, provided it can’t get you pregnant, communicate the diseases I swear I don’t have, or get us arrested in any U.S. state. Does that sound fair?” He nuzzled her temple. “I’m sorry I rushed you.”
She opened her mouth to say he hadn’t, but it would have been a lie. Instead, she told the truth. “I want to do this, but I’m scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“That it will take forever, and you’ll get impatient and angry, and I’ll feel like an idiot.”
His mouth settled over hers, softly seducing. His tongue stroked hers, and she felt it between her legs. She swallowed a moan. His hand caressed her arm and waist, coasting over her curves, before sliding between her thighs. “I don’t care if it takes all night. If it takes longer than that, we’ll stay in the tent tomorrow. Trust me, I’ve got you.” He spoke in between kisses. “Give me a chance.”

        Susannah has issues. She's just come out of a horrid marriage that made her feel unattractive on every level, and the way Russ seduces her past her inhibitions melts me every time. He makes her feel safe, beautiful, and desired, and then he goes straight-up sexy beast on her. Gah! Frankly, despite fifteen years of a blissful marriage, I'd kill for one night in a tent with Russ Donovan. Oh, yes, those Aries are ardent, passionate lovers. Enthusiastic. Creative. Energetic. Relentless... I guess it's logical to expect a hot hookup from a fire sign, but nothing stops Russ Donovan. Not a little bit of a post-baby belly. Not stretch marks. Or low self-esteem. Because sexy isn't just parts coming together. Sexy is hearts coming together. Desire mixed with trust. At least for these two, alone in a tent on a snow-covered mountain.

Does she give him a chance? Darn right she does! However, Russ has baggage, too, and if they want to create anything more substantial than great memories, Susannah is going to have to plan her next move carefully...


            
Daily #giveaways and 1 Grand Prize up for grabs during the blitz for IMPULSE CONTROL, an Entangled Indulgence novel by Amanda Usen!

He can't resist a challenge. She can't resist a dare...

To celebrate IMPULSE CONTROL, there will be daily #giveaways on each day of the blitz! Each day THREE winners will receive a signed print copy of one of Amanda’s backlist titles (international winners will receive a digital copy). Daily drawings will be held at 4:00pm EST and winners will be announced on Amanda’s Facebook page and on Twitter.

And wait, there’s MORE! The grand prize winner, chosen at the end of the blitz, will #win a digital copy of each new release in the Men of the Zodiac Series, as they release each month, for a total of 12 books over the year! Winner will be announced on Amanda’s Facebook and Twitter at the end of the blitz.


Winners will need to contact Amanda with their preferred digital book, email address and shipping address, at amanda AT amandausen DOT com.



Synopsis:
Survivalist Russ Donovan is the toughest man in America, with a reality TV show to prove it. Now he’s been strong-armed into filming a new show with dainty lifestyle expert Susannah Stone. But while “At Home in the Wild” could mean millions for his family’s charity, Russ plans to put Little Susie Homemaker to the test—in the Adirondack Mountains in the dead of winter. And there's no way she'll be able to hack it...


Susannah is tougher than she looks. She's had to fight her way through life, and there's no way she'll let a bossy mountain man show her up. When she gets him on her turf, he’s in serious trouble. But now she's run into a bit of problem. Because no one—least of all Russ and Susannah—expects sparks to fly both on camera and off. And now everyone will see their risqué rivalry break all of the rules...

Find out more at:  Goodreads |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble  |  More Buying Options



About Amanda:
Amanda Usen knows two things for certain: chocolate cheesecake is good for breakfast, and a hot chef can steal your heart. Her husband stole hers the first day of class at the Culinary Institute of America. They live in Western New York with their three children, one gerbil, four fish, a tortoise, and a beagle. Amanda spends her days teaching pastry arts classes and her nights writing sexy contemporary romance. If she isn’t baking or writing, she can usually be found reading a book and trying to get out of cooking dinner.




Connect with Amanda: Website Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads  Pinterest

Thanks for stopping by!

xox
~Risa


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Marissa Collections's Jay Hartington

If “Generosity Is Good For Your Health”*, then Jay Hartington must be in superb shape! He’s today’s featured BIG WIG for The Golisano Children’s Museum’s BIG WIG Night at the Museum, and he can be summed up in three words:


Cool, calm, collective

Here’s why Jay is someone you’ll want to meet at the Big Wigs Night at theMuseum

Jay and MarissaCollections has been a supporter of The Golisano Children's Museum since the museum's capital campaign. Every year he tries to find a new, interesting way to continue this support.

When asked why, Jay elaborates...

C'mon provides a great launch pad for the children of this community to learn and be creative. Having a daughter of my own makes it all that much more special, and we look forward to visiting for years to come.

So what's this BIG WIG do in his spare time?

Work ;) read, play tennis, and travel... His one bad habit he won't break is checking his phone too much, and unfortunately, it's the one thing he can't live without. But his dream day would be walking aimlessly around NYC with his family and letting the day play its course.

Sounds lovely! But if you can't get to NYC, then you might spot Jay at the last restaurant where he ate dinner, Bleu Provence.

...and his one piece of advice to anyone?

Be curious in life.


Jay's Favorites:

Season: Fall
Holiday: Thanksgiving
Book: Good Earth
Place in the world: Sardinia

Fast Facts:

Beaches or pools? beach
Dark or milk chocolate? dark
Straight up or with a twist? straight up
Flowers or chocolates? flowers
Laptop or desktop? laptop
Motorcycle or bicycle? bike
Health food or junk food? a little of both
Morning or night? night
Coffee or tea? coffee



Thanks for stopping by the blog! We hope to see you at the Big Wigs Night at the Museum on February 7th! Please call 239-260-1714 or visit cmon.org for tickets or sponsorship information.


*”7 Science-Backed Reasons Why Generosity Is Good For Your Health”


Saturday, January 10, 2015

Fire Commissioner, Cattleman, Chairman

When Chairman Chris Lombardo was recruited to the museum by Simone Lutgert and Shelia Davis, like a gentleman, he didn't say no to the two ladies. He agreed that a children's museum was important to the community because, as he said, "I am a big kid, and I need some place to go."

As far as his involvement with ANight at the Museum, he was the Chair of the Board, so...

That definitely makes him perfectly suited for this year's theme: BIG WIGS!

But even though he's most known as a fire commissioner, he's also a cattleman and loves to go exploring! He has an antique swamp buggy but occasionally races Formula One style cars.

If you're looking for ways to connect with Chairman Lombardo at the Big Wigs Night at the Museum, try these conversation starters!

1. He prefers tea. Earl Grey with one lump of sugar... sugar, not some silly artificial sweetener. He wants the real stuff.

2. He prefers evening. Late evening.

3. When given the choice of chocolate or vanilla, he chooses vanilla... but says Pistachio is the real deal.

4. Between oceans and pools, he sides with oceans. Why? "...because it has sharks... it is not a real adventure unless there is something in the water that could eat you."


 ~ Quotes from Chairman Lombardo ~

On last year's event: "I loved the band! But I also liked the sculpting, and the nitrogen bubbles and digital graffiti and..."

On his favorite part of the museum: "The air launch rockets! But soon it will be the NEW digital Graffiti wall."

On pink or black: "Sunset, that is my favorite color, but if you insist, it would be black over pink."


... and now for the giveaway...


Always be in fashion with a C'mon t-shirt! See Rafflecopter details to enter!


Please call 239-260-1714 or visit cmon.org for tickets or sponsorship information for Big Wigs Night at the Museum.