Hellhounds, Branded & More

If I could write odes to this little beauty, I would. If I could hang out under its balcony and sing it sweet songs, I would. If I could bake it a cake the size of Texas, draped in miles of frosting ribbons proclaiming Branded by Fire as the best Psy/Changling novel yet, I would. Then I’d eat it. The cake that is. Hmm, maybe the book, too.

From KMont at Lurv A La Mode's review of Branded By Fire! She loved Mercy and Riley's story so much, she's giving away a pre-order of the book. Go forth and enter :-)

Dear Author and SBTB are holding a giveaway, fundraiser and auction in memory of author Edith Layton. In honor of Ms. Layton's love of animals proceeds will go to support animal charities. One of the items up for auction is a bound galley of Must Love Hellhounds, which contains novellas by Charlaine Harris, Meljean Brook, Ilona Andrews & yours truly. Follow the links for more info.

There's a great profile of author Dean Koontz in USA Today.

The Knight Agency is having another Take Home Tuesday.

Jackie at Literary Escapism is hosting author Anna Katherine, giving away a copy of Salt and Silver and talking lies.

Deidre Knight and Gena Showalter are holding a Kiss & Seduce party here.

Bitten By Books is holding a "Who is your heroine?" poll.

And talking about polls, it seems like many of you think Kaleb isn't a bad guy. Interesting...

Open Thread

I'm hunkering down to finish some copy edits over the next couple of days, so I'm turning the blog over to you guys - tell us what you got to over the weekend, share fun/interesting links, chat about fun gadgets you wish you could have (or maybe that's just me - I lust after shiny new gadgets!), basically discuss whatever takes your fancy!

Friday Book Club

It's book club time - all about recommending books you enjoyed.

My recs this week - two fabulous books coming out later this year, Blaze of Memory & Must Love Hellhounds. *grin* As you might guess from that completely unbiased rec, I've been doing galleys and copy edits this week ;-)

Okay, your turn, what are your recommendations?

Berkley/Jove & Ace/Roc ARC Giveaway

Over at Dear Author.

There might be an ARC y'all may have an interest in.

Clue: B_ _ _ _ _ _ B_ F_ _ _

New Poll

...on sidebar of blog -->

Book Tour: Red Kiss - Deidre Knight & Silent Blade - Ilona Andrews

It's book tour time!

Quick heads-up: Ilona Andrews' Silent Blade, a short story with Samhain Publishing is now out. More info on Ilona's livejournal!

Now, onto today's OOTB tour!

RED KISS

A Gods of Midnight Novel
by Deidre Knight

Signet Eclipse
June 2, 2009

Immortal warrior and Spartan slave River Kassandros has a special gift—the ability to transform into any weapon. But in a recent battle, he was trapped as a dagger, unable to become human again. His one hope of salvation is a mere mortal…

When Emma Lowery beaches her kayak on an uninhabited island off the coast of Savannah, an ancient dagger seems to call out to her. Compelled by dark forces, Emma draws blood with his blade, freeing River. Now he’s stronger, angrier—and exudes more sensuality than Emma can resist.

But a sinister power wants to claim River’s destiny, and his precarious freedom. The pair must join the Spartan warriors to fight Ares himself. But can they face sacrificing their love to protect humankind from the war god’s demonic plan?

Excerpt: http://www.deidreknight.com/red_kiss_excerpt.html

ABOUT DEIDRE KNIGHT

Deidre Knight is a literary agent, mom, wife, novelist and southern woman, and proud to answer to all of these titles. Before she founded The Knight Agency in 1996, Deidre worked behind the camera in movies and television. During the thirteen years since she launched her literary agency, she has grown The Knight Agency to national prominence, shepherding authors on to every major bestseller list.

After nearly a decade of working with Knight Agency clients, helping them discover their creative potential, Deidre’s dream of writing romance came true in the form of her debut series THE MIDNIGHT WARRIORS which launched with PARALLEL ATTRACTION in the spring of 2006. She has been nominated for a plethora of industry awards including the PEARL, the PRISM, the NOR, the JABIC and the STRCA.

Deidre's riveting new series, THE GODS OF MIDNIGHT, chronicles the journey of seven passionate and immortal Spartan warriors who battle demons in contemporary Savannah. The first book in the series, RED FIRE, was released on October 7, 2008, and the series’ next installment, RED KISS, premieres June 2, 2009.

REVIEWS

“Knight’s expertise at combining sensuality and pulse-pounding action is on full display. Make room for another “Knight” on your keeper shelf.” – Jill M. Scott, Romantic Times, 4-Star Review

“This is a sensual, action-packed, steaming hot romance! Filled with demons, Gods, immortal warriors, and unique world building, Red Kiss will leave you begging for more.” – Wendy Hines, Armchair Reviews

“Ms. Knight did a wonderful job blending the old world sensibilities with the modern age.” – Eye on Romance

www.DeidreKnight.com
www.DeidreKnight.yuku.com
http://www.deidreknight.blogspot.com/

Branded By Fire Excerpt

I'm back from Conscription 2009 (great con - post on it later this week), and as promised, here's another excerpt from Branded By Fire.

Mercy and Riley have been in a meeting with Lucas and Hawke as this begins.

___________

Riley stirred beside her. “You need us the rest of the day?”

It was Lucas who answered. “No. Go . . . play.”

Hawke’s grim look turned wolf-wicked as Mercy narrowed her eyes at her alpha and left the room. She felt Riley exit beside her, though he didn’t say a word until they were back in the main corridors. “I guess the secret’s out.”

“What’re you talking about?” she said, the devil in her taking over. Seeing that bloody, broken body had been the final straw—she needed to decompress. And what better way than by teasing Riley?

“You,” he said, his voice dropping as she stopped and turned to face him, “and me.”

Her nipples hardened to aching points, but she made her expression dismissive. “Don’t flatter yourself.” She shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and rocked back on her heels, decision made. Excitement was a taut bow inside her as she said, “I had an itch. You scratched it. End of story.”

A low growl that made her thighs clench. But she smiled and wiggled her fingers. “See ya later, wolfie.”

Riley was about to stalk after her when be belatedly realized he was no longer alone. Scenting the air, he found out how the intruder had snuck in under his defenses. His wolf didn’t consider his younger sister any kind of a threat. “Bren, don’t say a word.”

Brenna took one look at Riley’s face and bit back a laugh. Not fast enough. Her oldest brother turned to her with that look. The one that made everyone behave. But this time, she was laughing too hard to hold it in any longer.

Riley just waited until she’d gotten it out of her system before raising an eyebrow.

“You and Mercy. I love it!”

Silence.

She sniggered. “You wanted Little Miss Submissive and you got a DarkRiver sentinel.” Her giggles started again, deep in her throat.

“Brenna, I’m still your eldest brother.”

“And I’m mated to a big, bad Psy.” She put on her best annoying little-sister voice. “Plus you know you love me.”

“I know that right now, I wish I had some duct tape to put over your mouth.”

Oooh, that was interesting. Nobody really ever got to Riley. She knew he loved her to pieces, but even she had to prod and poke at him for a really long time before she got a reaction. “Mercy and Riley in a tree. K-i-s-s-i—” She shrieked as he picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and strode toward her quarters.

Her laughter came unbidden. She was giddy with delight. Riley had always been mature, contained, but he’d also had a sense of quiet humor. He was the kind of man children loved because he was both patient and open. But he’d changed after her abduction, withdrawn all that warmth, become so hard that nothing seemed to reach him. She hated that. And she loved Mercy for refusing to allow Riley to be this stranger he’d turned into.

Her nostrils flared at the familiar scent of ice laced with something that was uniquely Judd. “I assume you have a reason for manhandling my mate?” Cool words but his amusement was apparent.

“Riley likes Mercy,” she stage-whispered, trying to twist around to look at her mate. “But she told him that h—oomph.” Riley set her on her feet without warning.

She swayed, but Judd’s hands on her hips kept her upright. Pushing her hair off her face, she leaned into her sexy Psy mate and smirked at Riley. “Sooooo . . .”

“Judd.” Riley ignored her. “You’re obviously not interesting enough for my sister—she’s got way too much time to poke her nose into other people’s business.”

Judd wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin on her hair. “I’m more interested in you and Mercy.”

Growling—Riley actually growled—her big brother turned on his heel and left.

_________

Hmm, wonder where Riley's heading off to???

Updates & Friday Book Club

It's a long weekend over here, so the next post will be up on Tuesday, New Zealand time. And since it'll be June, I might have an excerpt of Branded By Fire for you ;-)

Onto the book club - all about recommending books you've enjoyed!

I've just started Unfallen Dead by Mark Del Franco. This is the third book in the excellent Connor Grey series and I can't wait to get back to it. If you're looking for a new urban fantasy series to try, I'd highly recommend this one.

Okay, your turn. What are your book recommendations?

Copy Edits

I'm working on copy edits for Blaze of Memory today, so it's busy, busy.

What're you all up to?

Wild At Heart - Patricia Gaffney

I don't know where I originally heard about Wild at Heart by Patricia Gaffney, but I'm so glad I did. It's one of those stories that's going to stay with me a long, long time.

Here's the blurb:

They called him "the lost man." He was beautiful, wild. Raised by wolves, without speech, without civilization. And when he was captured and locked in a room to be studied by scientists, he was treated more like an animal than a human being.

Only Sydney, daughter of a renowned anthropologist, saw beyond the wildness to the man. Something in his fierce loneliness called to her, imploring her to help him -- to save him. Fascinated, drawn by compassion and then desire, Sydney used gentleness to tame him, patience to educate him, kindness to make him her friend. And he would need a friend, for the world was not nearly so understanding, and his new life was still haunted by the mysterious tragedy of his past.

But now he wanted more from her than friendship. He wanted all of her -- her love, her heart, and her soul.

The amazing heart of this book is the hero - who becomes known as Michael. We see the world through his eyes, and it's a stunning shift of perspective, because he's at once innocent, and yet has an incredible clarity in the way he sees things.

The growth of Michael and Sydney's relationship runs concurrently with Michael learning to live in a world that is at first, utterly foreign to him. It's a romance that leaves me lost for words, it's so beautiful.

If you haven't read this, track down a copy (I think it might be out of print), and clear a few hours, because you won't want to put it down. Absolutely recommended.

While Googling the cover, I found a much more detailed review of this book over at Racy Romance Reviews, so follow the link if you'd like to read more.

Win a copy of Angels' Blood

Over at TKA's Take Home Tuesday :-)

NZ/Aus Author Series: Annie West

Winners: The random winner's of Annie's giveaway are:

Orannia - The Greek's Convenient Mistress
Una - Blackmailed Bride, Innocent Wife

Congratulations! Please email your addresses to: annie AT annie-west DOT com

_______________

It's time to meet the second guest in my monthly series on authors from my corner of the world.

Today's guest is the lovely Annie West! Annie, a Waldenbooks bestselling author, writes for Harlequin Presents (called M&B Sexy down under). She's also an Australian, but we don't hold that against her ;-)

Please give a warm welcome to Annie everyone! And check out the presents she's bought along to share.
______________

Hi, Nalini! Thanks so much for the invitation to come and join you. This is a real treat. I’ve been admiring your work for a long time.

This is a special time for me right now and it’s great to be able to share that with other romance lovers. Recently I sold my 10th book to Harlequin and am well into my 11th manuscript. Double digits – yay! Somehow when I got ‘the call’ for that first book I never really looked ahead as far as this. Now I feel like maybe I can make a success of writing long term, especially as I’ve just heard that my first Presents story is about to go into a ‘By Request’ omnibus of reprinted stories in the UK in August.

As well as that, I’m grinning from ear to ear about my two (count them!) current releases. The Greek’s Convenient Mistress goes on sale this week in North America and in the UK Blackmailed Bride, Innocent Wife is on shelves already (and in Aus/NZ in June). (If you’re curious and want to read an excerpt follow these links to the Harlequin sites or visit my website).

To celebrate I thought I’d give away a copy of those two titles – one book each to two contributors to the blog, chosen at random.

Both these books feature Mediterranean heroes: tall, dark, dangerous and sexy. One is Sicilian and the other from the island of Crete. I fell in love with both of them as I wrote their stories. That got me wondering what it is I enjoyed so much about these guys and why so many readers want a strong Mediterranean man in their romances.

For me there are attributes I particularly enjoy writing and reading in a Mediterranean hero. They’re strong, charismatic and sexy, with a sense of assured masculinity that just seems to ooze from them. They’re fantastic lovers and they know how to please a woman.

They may, I admit, be slower than their heroine to realise when they’re in love. Actually, one of the things I enjoy is watching a strong, self-assured hero, who’s been used to striding through his world, in charge and capable, off balance when he finds his emotions engaged for the first time, all because of one woman. Especially if that woman isn’t the sort to whom he thought he’d be attracted. Especially if he hadn’t expected to fall in love. Or maybe he didn’t even believe in love.

He’ll be a man used to taking charge. He’s powerful and pragmatic, often with a strong sense of responsibility – especially for family and friends. In protective mode, this hero will move heaven and earth to care for and keep safe those people who are important to him. He’d act swiftly, possibly ruthlessly, against anyone threatening them. Which makes life interesting if he perceives the heroine as a threat! It also means he’ll do whatever is necessary to protect the woman he loves – something I find appealing - even if a heroine is perfectly capable of fending for herself.

His strength demands an equally strong heroine to match him.

He has a sense of honour. His values may be different to those of others. He may not care what others think and may dare to do things others won’t, but he has boundaries he will not cross and standards he’ll fight to maintain.

He’s proud. And we all know what they say about pride going before a fall. Don’t you love to watch a hero realise he’s been on the wrong track in his assessment of the heroine, then fight to make things right?

He’s passionate and capable of caring deeply. He may have a dark side, which has an appeal all its own.

You could argue that he shares quite a few characteristics with heroes from some fantasy and historical novels.

Does this sort of hero appeal to you? Do you like your men dark, passionate and maybe a little dangerous? What characteristics make a hero memorable for you?

Annie

Friday Book Club

It's Friday Book Club time - all about sharing your book recommendations!

I did a reread of one my favorite Jayne Ann Krentz books this week. Sweet Fortune is an absolutely wonderful story. I couldn't put it down once I picked it up, even though I've read it so many times before.

I love the heroine, Jessie, but it's the hero, Hatch, who really makes this book for me. I love the way he thinks, the way his mind works. Here're a couple of favorite lines:

"If you are angry or hurt or feeling neglected, I think you'll complain directly to management, not go behind my back and cry on some other man's shoulder."

"Complain to management." Her lip quivered. "Oh, Hatch. What am I going to do with you?"

Those lines alone make me want to go raid my JAK collection for more re-reads!

Okay, your turn. What've you read lately that you'd like to recommend?

Bollywood: Ek Vivaah...Aisa Bhi

This is a sweet, heart-tugging and very traditional film. I loved it. The literal translation of the title doesn't quite get the meaning across, so I'm going to give you a less literal translation that goes more to the heart of the story: "And there exists...love like this, too."

Here's the trailer.

Thank you & Website

First up, a huge thank you to all of you who've volunteered to help with the German translation. You guys are awesome!!

Second, the website updates have gone live - along with a fun short story. Enjoy!

German Speaking Volunteers Needed

Speaking of German translations, I'm noticing a lot of website hits from Germany (hello everyone!), and I was thinking I should set up a page on the website with information in German. Except I don't speak German. *g*

Anyone want to volunteer to help me out with some translating? Email me! (nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com)

Also a thank you to the person who already helped me out with a translation recently :-)

German Cover - Mine to Possess

The German edition releases October :-)

Silent on the Moor - Deanna Raybourn

I have been hanging out for Silent on the Moor ever since I finished the first two Lady Julia Grey books, and it did not disappoint. It was, in fact, wonderful, fabulous, utterly satisfying!

Here's the blurb:

Despite his admonitions to stay away, Lady Julia arrives in Yorkshire to find Brisbane as remote and maddeningly attractive as ever. Cloistered together, they share the moldering house with the proud but impoverished remnants of an ancient family—the sort that keeps their bloodline pure and their secrets close. Lady Allenby and her daughters, dependent upon Brisbane and devastated by their fall in society, seem adrift on the moor winds, powerless to change their fortunes. But poison does not discriminate between classes….

A mystery unfolds from the rotten heart of Grimsgrave, one Lady Julia may have to solve alone, as Brisbane appears inextricably tangled in its heinous twists and turns. But blood will out, and before spring touches the craggy northern landscape, Lady Julia will have uncovered a Gypsy witch, a dark rider and a long-buried legacy of malevolence and evil.

If you're not reading this series, you must! I'd recommend starting with the first book, Silent in the Grave, because though the mysteries all stand alone, Julia and Brisbane's relationship grows through the books.

You can check out excerpts and book details on Deanna Raybourn's website.

I know several of you are already reading this series. Are there any you'd recommend as being similar?

Breaking Book News

I'm very happy to announce that I'm now contracted to write four more Psy/Changeling books and two more Guild Hunter books.

Woohoo! :-)

Friday Book Club

It's book club time - all about recommending books. Leave a note in the comments about a good book(s) you've read recently, and if you like, a line or two about why.

My reading this week was hot, hot, hot! You can blame Jaci Burton and Maya Banks for that. I read two novellas by Jaci (Unwrapped, and Unraveled), and an ARC of Sweet Persuasion (June) by Maya.

The stories were very different from one another, but one thing's certain - both Jaci and Maya know how to write heat with heart, never forgetting the romance in erotic romance.

To read excepts, check out Maya's site here, and Jaci's site, here.

Okay, your turn - what're your recs?

Edited to add: Maya is giving away a copy of Sweet Persuasion on her blog - contest closes soon, so be quick.

Q&A Session and Writing

Okay, looks like most people want the Q & A session after the release of Branded By Fire, so we'll do it a few weeks after the release - for both series. We can also do one after Blaze of Memory (releasing Nov).

The plan today is to polish up a little short story I'm working on for the website. Hoping to get some updates up soon.

Btw, I'm on Twitter now. I don't tweet that often, but I think I'm starting to understand the addiction. Anyone else tweeting?

This and That

First up, I know there are some questions in the previous thread that I haven't yet answered - I'll be getting to those today. We'll have a proper Q&A session later on in the year, so you can hit me with your questions then as well.

When would you like the session - after the Branded By Fire (July) release, or after Must Love Hellhounds (Sep)? Leave a note in the comments with your preference.

Also, a link - The Knight Agency is giving away a copy of Marley Gibson's Ghost Huntress: The Awakening. Be quick - it ends soon.

Links & Inspiration

I saw this on the NZ Herald site and found it incredibly inspiring - it's a short piece on an injured British soldier, Major Phil Packer, who completed the London Marathon two weeks after starting it.

Also, a couple of links to blogs giving away copies of my books - Meljean Book (Angels' Blood) & new author Suzanne McLeod (Visions of Heat or Mine to Possess).

I spent the past week reading and watching dvds, but it's back to work today. I'm going to polish up a novella, then start working on the next Psy/Changeling book.

What're you all up to?

Friday Book Club

It's Friday Book Club time again! This is all about recommending books, so leave a comment about a book you enjoyed, and, if you like, a few words about why.

I've been reading fabulous book after fabulous book. Most of it's not releasing for a while, so I won't tease you...too much. But I have to share - I'm on that happy good-book-run high.

Meljean Brook's Demon Forged will be out in October and it's fantastic. It has all the elements I love in Meljean's books - strong, gorgeously drawn characters, a world so real I totally believe it, and the punch of powerful emotion.

Ilona Andrews' next Kate Daniels book (out March 2010) is awesome. I'll post more on this closer to the release date, but trust me, you'll love it.

I'm currently halfway through Ilona Andrews' On the Edge (out in October) and it's soooooo good! The world and the characters are so real they leap off the page. I can't wait to get back to it!

More to come on all these books nearer their releases, but if you're not reading Meljean and Ilona, you need to!

Okay, hit me with your recs!

Branded By Fire Spoiler Thread

This is the thread where you can freely discuss BRANDED BY FIRE and the previous books in the Psy/Changeling series. *SPOILERS* allowed, so if you haven't read Branded yet, click away! This link will take you back to the main blog.

So, if you're sure this is where you want to be....let the discussion begin!

Also, if you're looking for the Caressed By Ice Spoiler thread, Mine to Possess Spoiler thread, or the Hostage to Pleasure Spoiler thread, follow the links.

For those of you who aren't bloggers, you can still comment - just choose the Anonymous option and sign off the comment with your name if you'd like folks to know who you are.

NB: This thread is for readers, so if you have a question specifically for me, email me at nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com.

Interview & OOTB Tour: Bride of the Wolf - Jennifer St Giles

I've got an interview and the giveaway of a backlist book over at Beth Kery's.

And I've also got an OOTB book tour for you from the lovely Jennifer St Giles! Check out the details below.

Bride of the Wolf
by Jennifer St. Giles (Shadowmen Series Book 4)
Release Date 4/28/09

When the heroic werewolf Navarre is trapped in the twilight realm, his Shadowmen comrades are unable to rescue him. Only a passionate woman with a spirit as wild as his own can set him free….

Oil heiress Marissa Vasquez fled the jungles of Belize to avoid becoming a pawn in her vicious uncle’s wicked schemes. Though she has found temporary sanctuary in little Twilight, Tennessee, only in her dreams does she taste freedom. At night, her spirit intertwines with a magnificent black wolf, and they run together under the glow of a forest moon. When a wounded stranger is brought to the camp where she is hiding, she glimpses in his eyes the mysterious being who has been the partner of her visions. But before she can explore her strange reaction to this man, they are kidnapped and imprisoned once again.

Navarre is a shapeshifting Shadowman, captured by the evil Vladarian vampire who hopes to control Marissa. Injured and blind, he struggles to regain his warrior’s strength as they fight for their freedom — and their lives. Together, their spirits form a powerful link matched only by the passion they discover in each other’s arms. But can a mortal woman attain true love with a man who is half wolf? And will their enemies give them time to find an answer?

Reviews

“With a spin that will shake fans with delight, Jennifer St. Giles continues to make The Shadowmen saga one of the best urban romantic fantasy series on the market today.”—Klausner

“Magically believable and overflowing with affecting emotions, BRIDE OF THE WOLF holds your attention during every gripping scene.” Singletitles.com

“Jennifer St. Giles packs an emotional punch that will take your breath away.” Bitten by Books, Brianna.

“BRIDE OF THE WOLF is yet another intense and powerful story from the very talented Jennifer St. Giles.” CK’s Kwips and Kritiques, Debbie

Excerpt: http://jenniferstgiles.com/brideofthewolf.shtml
Website: jenniferstgiles.com
Blog: jenniferstgiles.blogspot.com

USA Today Bestselling Author, Jennifer is a former nurse and homeschooling mother of three. She has won a number of awards for writing excellence including, two National Reader’s Choice Awards, two time Maggie Award Winner, Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Romance Writers’ of America’s Golden Heart Award, along with RT Book Club’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Historical Gothic/Mystery.

Books: The Mistress of Trevelyan 8/04, His Dark Desires 11/05, Midnight Secrets 5/06, Touch A Dark Wolf 9/06, Darkest Dreams 12/06, The Lure of the Wolf 7/07, Silken Shadows 12/07, Kiss of Darkness 4/09, Bride of the Wolf 5/09. Point of No Return: Mammoth Book of Vampire Romances Book 2 9/09. Romance’s first graphic e-book through betweenyoursheets.com. Jennifer St. Giles writing as Jennifer Saints in Wild Irish 5/09 and Smooth Irish 5/09.

Guest Author: Travis Heermann - Heart of the Ronin

Today, I've got a special guest for you - friend and fellow author Travis Heermann. Travis and I met while we were both working in Japan, where Heart of the Ronin is set - so he definitely knows his setting!

Here's what the Ronin trilogy is about (from Travis's website):

Set in 13th-century Japan, The Ronin Trilogy tells of the rise and fall of a young warrior named Ken'ishi. With only his father's mysterious blade to guide him, he walks dangerous lands in search of honor--and the truth about his parents' murder.

You can also download an excerpt on the website.

Please welcome Travis to the blog everyone!
_____________________

First of all, many thanks to Nalini for inviting me into her space. Second, a bit about me and my book. I'm speculative fiction author; my recent novel, Heart of the Ronin, was released in library-edition hard-cover in February of this year, and I've been delighted with the response it's getting from readers and reviewers.

These days, in addition to being a freelance writer and author, I also teach English Composition at the University of Nebraska at Omaha while I work on my M.A. in English. Heart of the Ronin is a historical fantasy set in 13th century Japan. If you like a story with monsters, spirits, shapeshifting animals, spies, intrigues, ninja, samurai, and forbidden love, then check out my website at www.travisheermann.com for more information.

A female reader recently pointed out to me the immense differences between sex scenes written by women (i.e. Nalini) and those written by men (i.e. Yours Truly). The conversation went something like this:

Reader: "You know, in this book [Slave to Sensation], the juicy bits go on for pages and pages and pages. Hell, the entire book is foreplay! Then there's this part in yours [Heart of the Ronin]..."

Me: "Oh, yeah?"

Reader: "Well, yeah, the juicy bit lasts all of a paragraph."

Me: "No way! They've been leading up to it for a hundred--"

Reader: "One paragraph. Boom. In and out. Done."

Me: "Well, it's--"

Reader: "That's soooo like a man. How typical."

Me: "Yes, but it also says--"

Reader: "Gimme feelings, give me build-up, give me aftermath."

Me: "But for a hundred pages--"

Reader: "--There was romantic tension between them, yeah, but then he has to leave! With that much build-up, you need more payoff. I mean, big payoff. At least a chapter long."

Me: "But what about the adventure, and the intrigue, and the drama, and--"

Reader: "Gimme juice. Romance is all about the juice."

Me: "Sigh. Noted. Anything else?"

Reader: "[The hero] Ken'ishi sounds hot. Gimme more of that. Write juicy bits like [Nalini] does."

How can one argue with that?

Blaze of Memory Blurb

Here's the blurb for Blaze of Memory (Nov). A hint - there's a bit of a "twist" when it comes to the heroine's name. Who is she? *grin*

Nalini Singh returns to the Psy/Changeling world and its “breathtaking blend of passion, adventure, and the paranormal”* as a woman without a past becomes the pawn of a man who controls her future…

Dev Santos discovers her unconscious and battered, with no memory of who she is. All she knows is that she’s dangerous. Charged with protecting his people’s most vulnerable secrets, Dev is duty-bound to eliminate all threats. It’s a task he’s never hesitated to complete…until he finds himself drawn to a woman who might yet prove the enemy’s most insidious weapon.

Stripped of her memories by a shadowy oppressor, and programmed to carry out cold-blooded murder, Katya Haas is fighting desperately for her sanity itself. Her only hope is Dev. But how can she expect to gain the trust of a man who could very well be her next target? For in this game, one must die…

Guild Hunter Book #2 Title Change

It's now titled "Archangel's Kiss", which I absolutely love!

Brenda Novak Auction

The annual Brenda Novak auction to benefit diabetes research is now on. There's heaps of fun stuff to bid on, including a couple of things from yours truly *cough* ARC *cough*.

Inaugral Friday Book Club

It's our first book club day!

Basically, it's all about recommending books. So if you've read a good book recently, leave a note in the comments with the recommendation, and, if you like, something about why you were so happy with the story, or why you think others would enjoy it.

I read Pretend Mistress, Bona Fide Boss by my bud Yvonne Lindsay this week. It's got a sexy alpha hero, a heroine with secrets, and is undoubtedly hot. I wanted to beat the hero over the head at times, but to be honest, that's part of the fun. It makes it so much better when they grovel *grin*

I totally enjoyed being swept away into the high stakes world of the Rogue Diamonds. Also, Yvonne does a really great job of describing some beautiful places in New Zealand. I live here and I wanted to go tour!

Okay, your turn - what's your book rec? If you haven't read anything you want to recommend, how about telling us which books recommended in the comments capture your interest?

Guest Author: S.J. Day - Eve of Darkness

I've got a great guest blog for you today from urban fantasy author S.J. Day! The first book in her dark, sexy and action-packed Marked series, Eve of Darkness, has just released, with the next two books in the series releasing back to back in the next couple of months.

Here's the start of the blurb: Cursed by God, hunted by demons, desired by Cain and Abel... All in a day's work.

Oooh... You can check out an excerpt here: http://www.sjday.net and see the book trailer here: http://www.sjday.net/trailer/

S.J has agreed to stop by to answer any questions/comments you have, so please welcome her to the blog!
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First, I must do a *squee* over being invited to blog with Nalini!! (Thank you!)

I just returned from the RT Booklovers Convention a couple days ago. While I was there, I participated on a panel called "Historical and Paranormal: Mixing the Mystical with the Past." One of the questions that were asked was, “How do you keep immortal characters from becoming cynical and jaded?”

Since the two heroes of my Marked series are Cain and Abel--arguably two of the oldest people ever--this was a fun question to answer. The two brothers have seen and done just about everything. Aren’t they sick of living at this point? And how would such an attitude affect their characterization?

The overall answer provided from the panel of speakers was that for the most part, their immortal characters are indeed sick of the same old/same old, but that the story usually begins with a life-altering event that shakes everyone out of their complacency and triggers a new series of problems to be addressed. They are no longer bored because they’re faced with a dilemma that is new and therefore requires traveling unfamiliar avenues of thought and action.

My answer was a bit different. It’s true that when we first meet up with Cain and Abel, they’ve just experienced a life-altering event--the introduction of my heroine, Eve. However, the two brothers aren’t yet completely world-weary when the story begins. They’re not just going through the motions, even after living endlessly. Why not? Because they’re ambitious. Cain and Abel both have goals yet to be met and those goals are fluid. It’s hard to think you’ve done it all when you’re still striving to get somewhere and you’re continually challenged by obstacles and missteps.

I, personally, went through the same thing while writing the first three Marked books. New genre, new name, new publisher, new goals and expectations. Despite having written a dozen+ books before, there wasn’t much familiar about the process, which made it exciting and fun. The new and unknown keeps things interesting. Hopefully, you’ll find the same to be true about the Marked series!

Hugs,
S. J.

Kay Stockham - His Son's Teacher

Kay Stockham has made me a fan. I flat-out adored this book.

First up, here's the blurb:

Nick Tulane ordinarily won't admit weakness in himself or in those he loves. But when he learns his son is about to fail in school, the single father is desperate to find a tutor. And Jennifer Rose is perfect.

In fact, Jenn might be too perfect. Nick's starting to fall for the attractive teacher, and he can't let that happen. Because opening up to Jenn means sharing the secret that has always made him feel like an outsider in his own family. Still, with his son showing signs of following in his footsteps, Nick can't keep the truth hidden. But once she knows, will Jenn accept him weakness and all?

There's such emotional depth in this book. Nick and Jenn both have things that make them feel less than good about themselves (in Jenn's case, it's her weight), and because of that, they don't believe they could ever be good enough for each other.

But this book isn't about misunderstandings or things a simple conversation would solve. It's about the kind of emotional scars that can hurt bone deep. For example, Nick's secret is tied deeply to who he is and how he sees herself. The same with Jenn. His Son's Teacher tells the story of these two finding themselves as well as finding each other.

Kay Stockham managed to tear out my heart and make me smile at the same time. Yes, there's a lot of emotion in this story, but there's laughter, too.

Also, Nick is hot. *grin* Seriously, I have a crush on this hero. You will, too, after you read this, trust me. He's just wonderful.

For an excerpt, check out Kay's website.

Have you discovered any new authors recently? What made you fall in love with their work?

New Poll

...on sidebar --->

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Branded By Fire ARC Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest - it was amazing to see so many entries! I wish I had more to give away. Even if you didn't win the ARC, I hope you'll all go out and grab a copy when Branded By Fire releases this July.

Without further ado, the winner, per the random number generator is:

AN

Congratulations!

Updates & Weekly Catchup

Okay, I know I said come back the day after the Branded By Fire ARC giveaway ends, but there are a lot of entries. I've got a bunch in my inbox as well, and I want to make sure everyone goes in the draw, so I'm going to collate all the entries over the weekend, and post the winner on Monday.

Also, I've been thinking of doing a Friday book club. Instead of us all reading the same book and talking about it, I thought we'd all recommend something we'd read recently and enjoyed, maybe with a few words about a favorite scene or character. What do you think?

Onto the catchup. I'm on the final stretch of Angel book #2. What are you all up to?

Rugby Players & Links

Yes, rugby players. Swapping jerseys. Go forth and watch.

No need to thank me *grin*

Also, we've announced the winners of Yvonne Lindsay's giveaway (see the top of her guest blog).

And there's still time to enter the Branded By Fire ARC draw, so scroll down and drop your name in the hat if you haven't already.

Edited to add: Debut author and fellow Kiwi, Maree Anderson is giving away a pdf ARC of Even Demons Get the Blues (an erotic paranormal romance from Red Sage), over here.

NZ/Aus Author Series: Yvonne Lindsay

Winners: Thanks for giving such a warm welcome to Yvonne. She's chosen the winners of her giveaway and they are - Una, Azteclady & Tracy. Congratulations! Email me at nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com with your mailing address and I'll pass it on to Yvonne.

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Today, we kick off a new monthly series of guest blogs with writers from my part of the world.

First up is fellow Kiwi author and my good friend (and not just because she put me in the dedication to her latest book *squee*), Yvonne Lindsay!

Everyone, please welcome Yvonne!

Pssst - she's come bearing gifts!!

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Thanks, Nalini, for inviting me to join you on your blog!

Well, this month is a month I never dreamed would come along. It’s the month that sees the release of my tenth title with Silhouette Desire. Frankly, I’m totally amazed.

Seeing PRETEND MISTRESS, BONA FIDE BOSS on the shelves is super exciting and I’m in the mood to celebrate :-) so I’m giving away one copy of each of the three Rogue Diamonds books (CONVENIENT MARRIAGE, INCONVENIENT HUSBAND—SECRET BABY, PUBLIC AFFAIR—PRETEND MISTRESS, BONA FIDE BOSS) to three randomly chosen commenters.

When I brainstormed the Rogue Diamonds mini-series, I had no trouble dreaming up the close knit powerful alpha trio of friends. I think it was a comment from an interview given by Keanu Reeves, where he mentioned demon riding, that started the ball rolling and gathering plot outline in my head. These guys are definitely risk takers.

As usual, for me, finding the women who deserved them was a whole lot harder (I don’t tend to share my toys and my heroes are pretty much the same.) When it came to Adam’s story I had a string of ideas running through my head. I wanted more than your average mistress, more than your average boss/secretary story—all of which meant that Lainey needed to have a big backstory, one that was powerful enough to drive this book and, coincidentally, this hero to the end of his tether.

I’ve always been drawn to the story of Pygmalion, of the statue, Galatea, brought to life and love and I started to play with how this could work in a modern setting—with a twist. Of course, there always has to be a twist. Why would she prefer to be the inanimate ‘statue’ like woman who flew under a man’s radar? What would drive her to risk that anonymity? And so Lainey Delacorte came to life.

Thinking about it, fairy tales, myths and legends often have a strong influence on my stories, even when I’m not fully conscious of it until the book is done. What’s your favourite tale of old?

Contest Closed.

Branded By Fire ARC

Contest now closed. Winner to be announced Monday.

I have an ARC of Branded By Fire to give away today! (As you can see, it's currently being read, but he's promised to return it without paw prints. :-))

If you'd like to go into the draw to win it, just leave a comment on this post by midnight April 24th, 2009 (New Zealand time). If you have trouble commenting, email me your entry at nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com. I'll make sure you go into the draw.

Don't forget to come back the day after the contest ends to check if you've won - I'll redraw if I can't track the winner down in 72 hours. (Edited to add: If you enter as Anonymous, email me your details and the number of your comment.)

And if you win, please do a review of it somewhere before the release date (July 7th!).

Contest now closed. Winner to be announced Monday.

Links & OOTB Tour: Kiss of Darkness by Jennifer St. Giles

First up today, I've got an OOTB tour with the lovely Jennifer St. Giles!

Kiss of Darkness by Jennifer St. Giles
Out now!

In Kiss of Darkness, a vampire bite has Sheriff Sam Sheridan on the fast track to hell and demons are taking over Twilight Tennessee. He's battling not only to save both his soul and his town, but also his love for one woman, Emerald Linton.

Emerald has a secret that could destroy both her and Sam. She is an angel, and if she can't save Sam from turning evil, then she'll have to kill him, no matter how much of her heart belongs to him.

Sam is determined to take as many demons and vampires down with him as he can and to protect Emerald, but as the seductive dark power in him grows will he condemn Emerald to share his doomed fate, or will they both find a way out of hell?

Excerpt: http://jenniferstgiles.com/kissofdarkness.shtml

Website: jenniferstgiles.com

Blog: jenniferstgiles.blogspot.com

Reviews

"A FANTASTIC PARANORMAL THRILLER, FRAUGHT WITH DANGER, THRILLS AND SENSUAL PASSION." PAULA MYERS FRESH FICTION

“In the first of back-to-back Shadow- men releases, St. Giles unleashes hell. With each successive chapter in this pulse-pounding series, the stakes increase. The lead protagonists have been snapping at each other since they met, and the author skillfully builds on that tension to up the sexual ante. St. Giles is on a roll!” 4 stars Hot RT Bookclub.

“In my opinion this series is one of the best. It is definite a keeper. The struggle between good and evil is told in a way that holds your attention. I, for one, cannot wait for the next installment of this entertaining series. You must read this series. It is great.” Top Pick Night Owl Romance
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Also, you should go wink at Meljean Brook.

Oh, and don't forget to drop by Beth Kery's blog where she's got guest authors and giveaways galore to celebrate the release of Daring Time.

And most definitely don't forget to come back tomorrow <-- subtle hint. I'm off to edit the final scene in the second Guild Hunter book!

Glimpse Inside A Writer's Brain

I need a word.

Okay.

It means something is coming.

Hmm, arbor?

Isn't that related to plants?

No, it's like "And she knew it arbored great things."

Are you sure?

No, I know it's wrong. I just can't figure out the right word so I think you should put arbor in until we figure it out because it's making me CRAZY.

How about the thesaurus?

Good idea, but we need a synonym to look up first and I got nothing.

Huh. [Arbor] it is.

Some time later...

Augur! The word is augur! *Dance of joy ensues*

You know, all of a sudden, I can think of lots of synonyms.

This & That

Sorry to disappear on you all! It's coming down to the crunch on the second Angel book. I have deadline brain.

But someone sent me this link and I had to share it - Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent. I hope she makes it all the way to the top!

More good news - Jaci Burton has made some very cool lists with Riding on Instinct. Congrats Jaci!

Also, check out this Nightline article on Harlequin Books, featuring Gena Showalter.



p.s. Something fun happening later this week!

OOTB Tour: Eternal Moon by Rebecca York

A new Out of the Blogosphere book tour for you!

ETERNAL MOON by Rebecca York

In ETERNAL MOON Rebecca York creates a classic clash between good and evil–with a werewolf twist.

Renata Cordona is the reincarnation of an ancient goddess. She and her lover have met again and again down through the ages–only to be destroyed by a demon bent on conquering the world. In her twenty-first century incarnation, Renata is a private detective.

As the book opens, Renata is on an undercover assignment to catch a serial killer who has been murdering female real estate agents, when she’s almost attacked by a pack of vicious dogs. They are chased off by a lone wolf who swiftly disappears. Then, out of nowhere, werewolf Jacob Marshall materializes, and his electrifying touch brings out all the sexual longings she’s repressed because everyone she has ever loved has died a horrible death. Is Jacob the key to breaking the ancient curse that hangs over them? Or will the evil stalking them down through the ages destroy them both–this time for all eternity?

Excerpt: http://www.rebeccayork.com/sneakpeekparanormal.htm



ABOUT REBECCA YORK

USA Today best-selling novelist, Rebecca York (aka Ruth Glick) is the author of over one hundred books She has authored or co-authored more than 50 romantic suspense novels and 20 romances. But she never thought she could become a writer because her horrible spelling earned her poor marks in English classes in high school. She married well–to a man who can spot a misspelled word from fifty paces. He proofreads all her manuscripts to make sure there are no typos or spellos.

Rebecca’s KILLING MOON was a launch book for Berkley’s new Sensation romance imprint in June 2003. EDGE OF THE MOON and WITCHING MOON followed. Her first Berkley novella was in CRAVINGS, with Laurell K. Hamilton. CRIMSON MOON, published in January 2005, was her 100th book. The eighth book in her Moon series, ETERNAL MOON, is out from Berkley in April 2009. For many years, she has also written Harlequin Intrigue’s very popular 43 Light Street series. Her next is MORE THAN A MAN, August 2009.

Her many awards include two RITA finalist books, two Lifetime Achievement Awards from Romantic Times, five NJRW Golden Leaf Awards and a Prism Award. Her Intrigue, NOWHERE MAN, was named by Affaire de Coeur as the best Contemporary Novel of 1998. THE SECRET NIGHT was ROMANTIC TIMES’ best Intrigue of 2006.

REVIEW

In a new twist on her long-running paranormal Moon series, York adds in an ancient battle between the powers of good and evil. As always, York delivers engaging plots with dynamic characters. Definitely one of the genre's best!
---Jill Smith, Romantic Times

Web site: http://www.rebeccayork.com

Movies: Jodhaa-Akbar

I love this movie. It's about the marriage of alliance between a Mughal emperor (Akbar) and a Rajput princess (Jodhaa). This movie has got everything - the arranged marriage, the unexpected passion, the fantastic historical setting, the intrigue....but really, I'm there for the love story.

Here's the trailer (with English subtitles).



And here's a link to one of my favorite scenes from the movie. No subtitles but I think you'll figure out what's happening. Wait till around the 2.35 mark - talk about tension!

Needless to say, I have the collectors edition dvd :)

Seen any good movies/dvds lately?

Watch out this Easter

There have been reports of sudden strange behavior among pets, including an urge to bounce everywhere, and eat large amounts of carrots. Is it a bug, a virus, or is it...the rabbit snatchers?!
It's a long weekend over here, so stay safe if you're heading out of town, and of course - eat lots of chocolate!

NYT Article

On romance novels in the current climate.

Stationery Addiction

I went out to run some errands the other day and decided to stock up on pens. (I use up several while editing a manuscript.) Then I entered the stationery store.

End result: Ten pens for editing, ten sparkly pens (in all different colors!) and a whole set of post it notes (orange, pink, yellow, blue, green and even purple).

I'm pretty sure I have more fun stationery shopping than clothes shopping. Any other stationery addicts out there?

Ellizabeth's Wolf - Lora Leigh

It's no secret that I love Lora Leigh's Breed books - Elizabeth's Wolf was no different. In fact, I think it might be one of my favorite entries in the series.

Here's a blurb (from Lora's website):

She brought him back from death and made him live again.

Dash thought himself alone, a soldier, a fighting machine and no more.

Elizabeth made him realize he was a man.

Danger surrounds the woman his soul marked as his mate, death and blood and a treachery that goes beyond even his worst nightmares. But he will protect her and what she claims as her own. He was created to kill, trained to do it efficiently, and only a man bound to her, heart and soul, will have the strength to save Elizabeth and her prized possession.

He is a lone wolf. A man alone. No pack, no family, no one to call his own until one single, innocent letter awoke Elizabeth’s wolf.

What did I love about it? I think it's what I love about all of the Breed books I've read--the sheer emotional punch, the intensity of the relationship between the hero and heroine.

I have to mention Dash - he's a great hero. Deeply protective, honorable, and endearing in his determination to go it alone rather than put others in the line of fire.

The heat between Elizabeth and Dash is through the roof, so we warned - you might need to keep a fire extinguisher handy. *g*

This is a really great book. It's full of heart, passion and rock-solid love. Can't ask for much more than that. :-)

You can read an excerpt on Lora's website.

Have you read the Breed series? Thoughts?

Free Short Story & TMCC

Updated: Issue has been fixed! You might have to hit refresh to get the page to load, but the story is now available.

Edited to add: We're having some issues with the website, so the short story link doesn't currently work. I'll update this once it's been resolved!

The free short story A Gift For Kit, is now up. Enjoy!

Also, I see that Amazon is offering The Magical Christmas Cat for the bargain price of $6, so if you've been waiting to grab it, here's your chance.

Weekend

It's the weekend, woohoo! I'm planning to catch up with some writing buds.

Tell me what you're up to!

Random Random

Did you know you can do your Google searches in Klingon & pirate? (Info via Wikipedia)

No Life Without Wife

E-Mails

I'm a little behind on my e-mails, but I'm going to try to clear the decks today, so if you've contacted me, you should get a response within the new couple of hours.